When these have expired, it will return to Jambudvipa, where it will be received by the king of the sea nagas, and taken into his naga palace.

When Maitreya shall be about to attain to perfect Wisdom (and become Buddha), it will again separate into four bowls,( 9) which will return to the top of mount Anna,( 9) whence they came.

After Maitreya has become Buddha, the four deva kings will again think of the Buddha (with their bowls as they did in the case of the previous Buddha).

The thousand Buddhas of this Bhadra-kalpa, indeed, will all use the same alms-bowl; and when the bowl has disappeared, the Law of Buddha will go on gradually to be extinguished.

After that extinction has taken place, the life of man will be shortened, till it is only a period of five years.