佛本行集經上託兜率品第四上
「爾時，護明菩薩大士，從於迦葉佛世尊所護持禁戒，梵行清淨，命終之後，正念往生兜率陀天。何以故？或有眾生，命終之日，為於風刀，節節支解，受於楚痛，或氣欲盡，喘息不安，以是因緣，受大苦惱，失於本心，忘其宿行，不能專正寂定其心。菩薩不然，命欲終日，正心思惟，緣其前世託生處所，有如是等希奇之法。又諸菩薩，復有一法，命終之後，必生天上，或高或下，不定一天；而其一生補處菩薩，多必往生兜率陀天，心生歡喜，智慧滿足。何以故？在下諸天，多有放逸，上界諸天，禪定力多，寂定軟弱，不求於生，以受樂故，又復不為一切眾生生慈悲故。菩薩不然，但為教化諸眾生故，生兜率天。下界諸天為聽法故，上兜率天，聽受於法；上界諸天復為法故，亦有下來兜率陀天，聽受於法。
「然此菩薩，亦生兜率，其兜率陀所居諸天，即喚菩薩，名為護明，以是因緣，號為護明。諸天展轉，稱喚護明，其聲上徹至淨居天，及到阿迦膩吒天頂。時諸天等，皆同唱言：『護明菩薩，已來生於兜率天中。』此聲下至三十三天，乃至達到四天王天，并復徹諸阿修羅宮，各共相謂：『護明菩薩，已得上生兜率陀天。』極下至於阿修羅宮，最上到彼阿迦尼吒，皆悉來集兜率陀天，聚於護明菩薩宮所，聽受於法。護明菩薩既生兜率，其兜率陀諸天宮殿，光明照耀自然莊嚴，更復出於無量無邊莊嚴之事，皆由護明菩薩功德威神力故。大梵天王及大威德阿修羅等，皆悉集來兜率天中，前後圍繞護明菩薩。復有無量無邊眾生，託生兜率，得見最勝最妙五欲，心迷忘失，不憶本行及以先業。護明菩薩生兜率天，設見最勝最妙五欲，心不迷惑，不曾忘失，正念本緣，乃至為化諸眾生故，住兜率天，天數壽命，滿四千歲，為彼諸天，說法教化，顯示法相，令心歡喜。自餘眾生生彼天者，或以往昔不清淨業故生其中，或復橫死不滿天壽。護明菩薩過去修行清淨業因，復為教化諸眾生故，盡兜率天所有壽命，是故稱言希有希有不可思議，又復得於不思議法，護明菩薩盡彼天年。
Yet this Bodhisattva was also born in the Tusita Heaven. The gods dwelling in Tusita called the Bodhisattva "Protector of Light," and for this reason, he was known as Protector of Light. The gods passed the name from one to another, and the sound of it rose up to the Pure Abode Heavens, reaching even the summit of the Akaniṣṭha Heaven. At that time, all the gods proclaimed together: "Protector of Light Bodhisattva has been born in the Tusita Heaven."
This sound descended to the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, and even reached the Heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings, penetrating also the palaces of the asuras. Each said to one another: "Protector of Light Bodhisattva has ascended and been born in the Tusita Heaven."
From the lowest, the palaces of the asuras, to the highest, the Akaniṣṭha Heaven, all gathered in the Tusita Heaven, assembling at the palace of Protector of Light Bodhisattva to listen and receive the Dharma.
After Protector of Light Bodhisattva was born in Tusita, the heavenly palaces of Tusita shone with radiant light and were naturally adorned. Moreover, they manifested immeasurable and boundless adornments, all due to the merit and majestic power of Protector of Light Bodhisattva.
Great Brahma Heavenly King and the mighty asuras, along with others, all gathered in the Tusita Heaven, surrounding Protector of Light Bodhisattva from front and back. Furthermore, countless and boundless beings were reborn in Tusita and beheld the most supreme and wonderful five desires. Their minds became confused and they forgot, no longer recalling their original practice and past karma.
Protector of Light Bodhisattva, though born in the Tusita Heaven and seeing the most supreme and wonderful five desires, was not confused in mind, never forgot, and maintained right mindfulness of his original cause. Even for the sake of teaching sentient beings, he dwelled in the Tusita Heaven for the full lifespan of four thousand heavenly years, expounding the Dharma to those gods, teaching and transforming them, revealing the characteristics of the Dharma, and causing their hearts to rejoice.
Other beings born in that heaven either were born there due to impure karma from the past, or met untimely death without completing the heavenly lifespan. Protector of Light Bodhisattva, through past cultivation of pure karma, and for the sake of teaching sentient beings, exhausted the entire lifespan of the Tusita Heaven. Therefore, it is said to be rare, exceedingly rare, and inconceivable. Moreover, he attained the inconceivable Dharma. Protector of Light Bodhisattva lived out the full heavenly years.
「爾時，護明菩薩大士天壽滿已，自然而有五衰相現。何等為五？一者頭上花萎，二者腋下汗出，三者衣裳垢膩，四者身失威光，五者不樂本座。時兜率天，見彼護明衰相現已，出大音聲，嗚呼嗚呼！共相謂言：『苦哉苦哉！護明菩薩不久應當捨離於此兜率天宮，退失威神。我等今者何可得住？』是時，彼處兜率天眾，唯聞哭聲，諸天宮殿聲響相接，此聲乃至上色界頂首陀會天，阿迦膩吒諸天眾等，各相謂言：『嗚呼哀哉！護明菩薩今已現於五種衰相，不久墜落，從兜率下。』及修羅宮，嗚呼之聲，其音遍滿，處處唯聞，不久墮落。是時諸天，聞此聲已，阿迦膩吒、他化自在色欲天等，並各下來至兜率天，夜摩諸天、四天王天，聞此聲已，皆悉集聚上兜率天。如是，乃至龍王、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊陀羅、摩睺羅伽、鳩槃荼、羅剎等地居諸天，屬色欲界諸天攝者，皆悉飛騰上兜率天，集聚一處，共相謂言：『我等今見護明天子，欲從兜率下生人間，其兜率天衰相現時，即人間數有十二年。』時，首陀會一切諸天，作如是念：『我昔曾見補處菩薩兜率天下生人間時，與此無異。彼等諸天，今見護明菩薩大士五衰相現，必定知下於閻浮提。』即發大聲，唱如是言：『人等莊嚴於此剎土，菩薩大士不久從彼兜率天來下生此處，掃治掃治，佛欲下生。』是時，此間閻浮提地，有五百辟支佛，在一林中，修道居住。時彼五百辟支佛，聞此聲已，飛騰虛空，相共往詣波羅㮈城。至彼處已，各各示現五種神通，踊身虛空，出於烟焰，次第說偈，捨於壽命，入般涅槃。
At that time, the great bodhisattva Huming, having completed his celestial lifespan, naturally manifested the five signs of decline. What are these five? First, the flowers on his head withered. Second, sweat appeared under his arms. Third, his robes became soiled and stained. Fourth, his body lost its majestic radiance. Fifth, he no longer found joy in his original seat.
When the gods of the Tusita Heaven saw these signs of decline appear on Huming, they cried out with a great voice, "Alas! Alas!" They said to one another, "How sorrowful! How sorrowful! Bodhisattva Huming will soon leave this Tusita Heaven Palace and his majestic spiritual power will fade. How can we remain here now?"
At that time, in that place, the assembly of the Tusita Heaven heard only the sound of weeping. The sounds echoed from one celestial palace to another. This sound reached even the highest heaven of the Form Realm, the Akaniṣṭha Heaven. The assemblies of gods there, including those of the Śuddhāvāsa, said to one another, "Alas, how grievous! Bodhisattva Huming has now manifested the five signs of decline. He will soon descend and fall from the Tusita Heaven."
Even in the palaces of the asuras, the sound of "Alas!" filled everywhere. Everywhere, it was heard that he would soon descend. Hearing this sound, the gods—from Akaniṣṭha, the Parinirmita-vaśavartin gods of the Form and Desire Realms, and others—all descended to the Tusita Heaven. The gods of the Yāma Heaven and the Four Heavenly Kings, hearing this sound, all gathered and ascended to the Tusita Heaven.
Thus, even the dragon kings, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, mahoragas, kumbhāṇḍas, rākṣasas, and other earth-dwelling gods belonging to the Form and Desire Realms all soared up to the Tusita Heaven. Gathering in one place, they said to one another, "We now see the celestial being Huming is about to descend from the Tusita Heaven to be born among humans. When the signs of decline appear in the Tusita Heaven, it corresponds to twelve years in the human realm."
At that time, all the gods of the Śuddhāvāsa had this thought: "We have seen in the past that when a bodhisattva in his last existence descends from the Tusita Heaven to be born among humans, it is no different from this." Those gods, now seeing the great bodhisattva Huming manifest the five signs of decline, knew for certain he would descend to Jambudvīpa. They raised a great voice and proclaimed thus: "People should adorn this land! The great bodhisattva will soon descend from the Tusita Heaven to be born here. Make ready, make ready! The Buddha is about to descend."
At that time, in this Jambudvīpa, there were five hundred pratyekabuddhas dwelling and practicing the path in a forest. Hearing this sound, those five hundred pratyekabuddhas soared into the sky and together went to the city of Varanasi. Arriving there, each one displayed the five kinds of supernatural powers. They leapt into the sky, emitted smoke and flames, recited verses in sequence, relinquished their lifespans, and entered parinirvāṇa.
「爾時護明菩薩大士，見彼天眾及梵釋天、護世、諸龍、毘舍闍等，觀察彼眾，心意泰然，不恐不驚，不疑不畏，出柔軟語，而告之言：『汝諸仁者！各各當知！如我今見有此五種衰相出時，不久從於兜率天下生於人間。』時梵釋等諸天報言：『尊者護明！如尊所見，五種衰相出現之者，尊必不久當下兜率生於人間，尊可憶念昔本行願。』時彼無量百千天眾，發是語已，遍體戰慄，身毛皆竪，心大驚怖，合十指掌，頂禮護明。
At that time, the Bodhisattva Guardian of Light, seeing the heavenly hosts—including the gods of Brahma and Indra, the world-protectors, the nagas, the pishachas, and others—observed them with a peaceful mind, free from fear, alarm, doubt, or dread. He spoke to them gently, saying: "All of you, noble ones, should understand this: as I now see these five signs of decline appearing, I will soon descend from the Tushita Heaven to be born among humans."
Then the gods of Brahma and Indra, along with the other deities, replied: "Venerable Guardian of Light, since you have witnessed these five signs of decline, you will indeed soon descend from the Tushita Heaven to be born in the human realm. Please remember your original vows and aspirations."
Upon hearing these words, the countless hundreds and thousands of heavenly beings trembled from head to toe, their hair standing on end, their hearts filled with awe. They joined their palms in reverence and bowed deeply to the Bodhisattva Guardian of Light.
「爾時，護明告彼眾言：『我今必下，決定無疑。時今已至，是故汝等應念無常，當想未來恐怖之事，汝等善觀身體穢污，心強愛著，以是諸欲共相纏繞，於生死中，不得出離。如是臭形，甚可厭惡。汝等一切，合十指掌，觀我身體，及諸眾生，相與未能免脫此法。是故汝等為我莫愁，為我莫苦。』彼諸天言：『尊者護明！唯願尊者慈悲普覆，亦莫更生其餘諸心，但念往昔本誓因緣，億劫生身，尊亦曾受天人業果。往昔所造善業因緣，憶念彼施善根法行，於諸眾生，生慈悲心。』護明菩薩，報諸天言：『汝等當知！一切眾生，於世間中及以生處，但令是有，但令是生，不免分離，況復於我？又諸眾生，皆悉無常，恩愛別離，云何得脫？』
「是時，諸天復更白言：『希有希有！尊者護明！難可思議，能於無常境界之中，臨捨壽時，心得辯才，一種達解，無有別異。尊者護明！又復一切自餘諸天，見此五種衰相現時，心即憂愁，失於正念。』護明菩薩復更重告諸天眾言：『一生補處諸菩薩等，善根增長，知諸有處，於功德中寂定其心，苦來逼切不生諸惱，乃至不隨諸苦而行，能於一切諸眾生邊，起大慈悲。』時諸天言：『如是如是！尊者護明！一切眾生，於彼人間，種諸善根，生此天宮，此處福盡，還即退下。』
「護明菩薩復告天言：『我以是故，見人天中有是過失。我今從此下生人間，為諸世間一切眾生，滅盡諸苦。』是時彼中，有一天女，愛樂戀著護明菩薩，復更別告一天女言：『我等可至閻浮提中觀我大家護明菩薩，於何處生？』彼天女言：『我今亦樂於閻浮提。何以故？我之大家欲生彼處，是故我亦願在彼間。』時二天女，復相謂言：『我亦不為此大家故，願往生彼。何以故？我此大家往閻浮提，則有無量無邊眾生種諸善根，於中信受，而行教化，復有無量無邊眾生，修諸福業，來生此處。』
佛本行集經卷第五