法苑珠林 8.66

8.66

According to the Five Ṛṣis Sūtra, countless kalpas long ago, there were ṛṣis living in a thicket of the forest. Four of them were masters, and one waited upon and served them, never failing their intentions. One day, he went far away to gather wild fruit juice, and by mistake failed to return on time. The sun was already at its zenith, and the four lost their meal; harboring resentment, they cast an evil curse upon him. He was consequently affected and died, and was reborn among humans. There was a brāhmaṇa skilled in physiognomy who divined that he would become a king; later he indeed became a king. The Buddha said: 'The king was myself; the four ṛṣis were the Buddhas Krakucchanda, Kanakamuni, Kāśyapa, and Maitreya; and the brāhmaṇa was Devadatta.'