如來讚歎品第六
Chapter Six: The Tathāgata's Praise
爾時，世尊舉身放大光明，遍照百千萬億恒河沙等諸佛世界，出大音聲，普告諸佛世界一切諸菩薩摩訶薩，及天龍鬼神、人、非人等：「聽吾今日稱揚讚歎地藏菩薩摩訶薩，於十方世界，現大不可思議威神慈悲之力，救護一切罪苦之事。吾滅度後，汝等諸菩薩大士，及天龍鬼神等，廣作方便，衛護是經，令一切眾生，證涅槃樂。」
At that time, the World-Honored One emitted a great radiance from his entire body, illuminating all the Buddha-worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. He then proclaimed with a mighty voice to all the great Bodhisattvas, as well as to the heavenly dragons, spirits, humans, non-humans, and all beings in every Buddha-world: “Hear me now as I extol and praise the great Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha, who throughout the worlds of the ten directions manifests inconceivable, majestic, compassionate, and spiritual powers to rescue and protect all beings from suffering and evil deeds. After my parinirvāṇa, may all you great Bodhisattvas, along with the heavenly dragons, spirits, and others, employ skillful means to guard and protect this sūtra, so that all sentient beings may attain the bliss of nirvāṇa.”
說是語已，會中有一菩薩，名曰普廣，合掌恭敬，而白佛言：「今見世尊讚歎地藏菩薩，有如是不可思議大威神德。唯願世尊為未來世末法眾生，宣說地藏菩薩利益人天因果等事，使諸天龍八部，及未來世眾生，頂受佛語。」
When he had spoken these words, there was in the assembly a bodhisattva named Universal Vastness. With palms joined respectfully, he addressed the Buddha, saying: "Now I see the World-Honored One praising the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha, who possesses such inconceivable, great awe-inspiring spiritual power and virtue. I only pray that the World-Honored One, for the sake of sentient beings in the future age of the Dharma's decline, would proclaim the causes and effects of the benefits bestowed by Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha upon humans and devas, so that the eight kinds of divine beings, including dragons and celestial beings, as well as sentient beings of future ages, may reverently receive the Buddha's words."
爾時，世尊告普廣菩薩及四眾等：「諦聽！諦聽！吾當為汝略說地藏菩薩利益人天福德之事。」
Then, the World-Honored One addressed Bodhisattva Universal Vastness and the fourfold assembly, saying: “Listen attentively! Listen attentively! I shall now briefly explain to you the meritorious deeds and blessings that Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha bestows upon humans and devas.”
普廣白言：「唯然，世尊！願樂欲聞。」
Pūguang replied, "Indeed, World-Honored One! I am eager and delighted to listen."
佛告普廣菩薩：「未來世中，若有善男子、善女人，聞是地藏菩薩摩訶薩名者，或合掌者、讚歎者、作禮者、戀慕者，是人超越三十劫罪。
The Buddha told the Bodhisattva Puguang: "In future ages, if there are good men or good women who hear the name of the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Ksitigarbha, or who join their palms in reverence, praise him, make obeisance to him, or cherish and revere him, such persons will transcend sins of thirty kalpas."
「普廣！若有善男子、善女人，或彩畫形像，或土石膠漆，金、銀、銅、鐵，作此菩薩，一瞻一禮者，是人百返生於三十三天，永不墮於惡道。假如天福盡故，下生人間，猶為國王，不失大利。若有女人，厭女人身，盡心供養地藏菩薩畫像，及土石膠漆銅鐵等像，如是日日不退，常以華、香、飲食、衣服、繒綵、幢旛、錢、寶物等供養。是善女人，盡此一報女身，百千萬劫，更不生有女人世界，何況復受？除非慈願力故，要受女身，度脫眾生。承斯供養地藏力故，及功德力，百千萬劫，不受女身。
Puguang! If there are good men or good women who either paint images, or use earth, stone, lacquer, or glue, gold, silver, copper, or iron to make this Bodhisattva, and who then but once gaze upon and pay reverence to such an image, these persons will be reborn one hundred times among the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, and will never fall into the evil paths. Should their heavenly blessings be exhausted and they descend to be born in the human world, they will still be kings, not losing great benefit.
If there are women who are weary of the female body and with wholehearted devotion make offerings to painted images of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, or to images made of earth, stone, lacquer, glue, copper, iron, and the like, and if they thus persevere daily without retreating, constantly making offerings with flowers, incense, food and drink, clothing, silks and banners, streamers, money, jewels, and other precious things—these good women, upon exhausting this one retribution of a female body, for hundreds of thousands of millions of kalpas will not again be born in a world where there are women, how much less would they again receive one? Unless by the power of compassionate vows they wish to receive a female body to liberate sentient beings. By relying on the power of making offerings to Kṣitigarbha and the power of merit, for hundreds of thousands of millions of kalpas they will not receive a female body.
「復次，普廣！若有女人，厭是醜陋、多疾病者，但於地藏像前，志心瞻禮，食頃之間，是人千萬劫中，所受生身，相貌圓滿。是醜陋女人，如不厭女身，即百千萬億生中，常為王女，乃及王妃、宰輔大姓、大長者女，端正受生，諸相圓滿。由志心故，瞻禮地藏菩薩，獲福如是。
Moreover, Universal Vastness! Should there be a woman who detests her ugliness and manifold illnesses, let her but single-mindedly gaze upon and venerate the image of Kṣitigarbha for the duration of a single meal. In doing so, throughout millions of kalpas, the physical forms she receives in future births will be endowed with perfect and comely features. If this ugly woman does not detest the female form, then for hundreds of thousands of millions of lives, she will constantly be reborn as a princess, or as the consort of a king, or as the daughter of a chief minister, of a great clan, or of a great elder—reborn with upright dignity and all marks perfected. Due to the power of her single-mindedness in gazing upon and venerating the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha, such are the blessings she will obtain.
「復次，普廣！若有善男子、善女人，能對菩薩像前，作諸伎樂，及歌詠讚歎，香華供養，乃至勸於一人多人，如是等輩，現在世中，及未來世，常得百千鬼神日夜衛護，不令惡事輒聞其耳，何況親受諸橫？
Furthermore, Puguang! If there are good men and good women who, before the image of a Bodhisattva, can perform various musical offerings, sing praises, make offerings of incense and flowers, and even encourage one or many others to do the same—such people, in their present life and in future lives, will constantly be protected day and night by hundreds of thousands of spirits and deities. Evil occurrences will not even reach their ears, how much less will they personally encounter unexpected calamities?
「復次，普廣！未來世中，若有惡人，及惡神惡鬼，見有善男子、善女人歸敬供養讚歎瞻禮地藏菩薩形像，或妄生譏毀，謗無功德及利益事，或露齒笑，或背面非，或勸人共非，或一人非，或多人非，乃至一念生譏毀者，如是之人，賢劫千佛滅度，譏毀之報，尚在阿鼻地獄，受極重罪。過是劫已，方受餓鬼。又經千劫，復受畜生。又經千劫，方得人身。縱受人身，貧窮下賤，諸根不具，多被惡業，來結其心，不久之間，復墮惡道。是故，普廣！譏毀他人供養，尚獲此報，何況別生惡見毀滅？
Furthermore, Universal Vastness! In future ages, if there are wicked people, evil spirits, or malevolent ghosts who, upon seeing virtuous men or women reverently making offerings, praising, and paying homage to images of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, give rise to groundless ridicule and slander, claiming such acts have no merit or benefit; or who bare their teeth in scornful laughter, or speak against it behind one’s back, or urge others to join in the slander—whether it be one person, many people, or even a single thought of ridicule and slander—such persons, even after the thousand Buddhas of the Fortunate Eon have entered parinirvāṇa, will still bear the retribution for their ridicule and slander, suffering extreme offenses in the Avīci Hell. Only after that eon has passed will they take on the form of hungry ghosts. After another thousand eons, they will again be reborn as animals. After yet another thousand eons, they may finally attain a human body. Yet even as humans, they will be poor and lowly, with incomplete faculties, constantly bound by evil karma that entangles their minds, and before long, they will again fall into the evil paths.
Therefore, Universal Vastness! For merely ridiculing and slandering the offerings made by others, one receives such retribution—how much more so for giving rise to other evil views and attempting to destroy them?
「復次，普廣！若未來世，有男子女人，久處床枕，求生求死，了不可得，或夜夢惡鬼，乃及家親，或遊險道，或多魘寐，共鬼神遊，日月歲深，轉復尫瘵，眠中叫苦，慘悽不樂者，此皆是業道論對，未定輕重，或難捨壽，或不得愈。男女俗眼，不辨是事。但當對諸佛菩薩像前，高聲轉讀此經一遍。或取病人可愛之物，或衣服寶貝、莊園舍宅，對病人前，高聲唱言：『我某甲等，為是病人，對經像前，捨諸等物，或供養經像，或造佛菩薩形像，或造塔寺，或然油燈，或施常住。』如是三白病人，遣令聞知。假令諸識分散，至氣盡者，乃至一日、二日、三日、四日，至七日已來，但高聲白，高聲讀經。是人命終之後，宿殃重罪，至于五無間罪，永得解脫。所受生處，常知宿命。何況善男子、善女人，自書此經，或教人書，或自塑畫菩薩形像，乃至教人塑畫，所受果報，必獲大利。
Furthermore, Universal Vastness! If in future ages there are men or women who have long been confined to bed, seeking life or seeking death, yet finding neither possible; or who at night dream of evil ghosts, or of deceased family members; or who wander dangerous paths in dreams, or are frequently oppressed in sleep, roaming with ghosts and spirits—as months and years deepen, they become increasingly emaciated and ill, crying out in suffering during sleep, miserable and joyless—all these are due to retributions being weighed in the course of karmic destinies, their gravity not yet determined. Some may find it difficult to relinquish life, while others cannot recover. Ordinary men and women, with worldly eyes, cannot discern these matters.
You should then, before the images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, recite this sutra aloud once. Or take things beloved by the sick person—such as clothing, jewels, treasured objects, estates, gardens, houses, or dwellings—and in the presence of the sick person, declare aloud: "I, so-and-so, on behalf of this sick person, before the sutra and images, relinquish these various things, either to make offerings to the sutra and images, or to create statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, or to build stupas and temples, or to light oil lamps, or to give to the permanent community." Thus, inform the sick person three times, ensuring they hear and know.
Even if the faculties have scattered and the breath is about to cease, for one day, two days, three days, four days, up to seven days, continue to declare aloud and recite the sutra aloud. After this person’s life ends, their accumulated calamities and grave offenses, even the five uninterrupted offenses, will forever be liberated. In the realm where they are reborn, they will always know their past lives.
How much more so for good men and good women who themselves copy this sutra, or teach others to copy it; or who themselves mold or paint images of Bodhisattvas, or even teach others to mold or paint them—the karmic rewards they receive will certainly bring great benefit.
「是故，普廣！若見有人讀誦是經，乃至一念讚歎是經，或恭敬者，汝須百千方便，勸是等人，勤心莫退，能得未來現在千萬億不可思議功德。
Therefore, Universal Vastness! Should you see someone reciting this sutra, even with a single thought praising this sutra, or showing reverence, you must employ a hundred thousand skillful means to encourage such people, diligently applying their minds without retreating, for they will attain future and present immeasurable, inconceivable merit.
「復次，普廣！若未來世諸眾生等，或夢或寐，見諸鬼神乃及諸形，或悲或啼，或愁或歎，或恐或怖。此皆是一生十生，百生千生，過去父母、男女弟妹、夫妻眷屬，在於惡趣，未得出離，無處希望福力救拔，當告宿世骨肉，使作方便，願離惡道。普廣！汝以神力，遣是眷屬，令對諸佛菩薩像前，志心自讀此經，或請人讀。其數三遍，或七遍。如是惡道眷屬，經聲畢是遍數，當得解脫。乃至夢寐之中，永不復見。
Furthermore, Universal Vastness! If sentient beings in future ages, whether in dreams or slumber, see various ghosts and spirits, as well as various forms, who may be grieving or weeping, sorrowful or lamenting, fearful or terrified. These are all one life, ten lives, a hundred lives, a thousand lives—past fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, younger brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, and relatives—who are in the evil destinies, not yet having been able to escape, with no place to hope for the power of blessings to rescue them. They should inform their past-life flesh and blood, causing them to make skillful means, desiring to leave the evil paths. Universal Vastness! With your divine power, dispatch these relatives, causing them to face the images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and with focused mind personally recite this sutra, or request others to recite it. The number should be three times, or seven times. When such relatives in the evil destinies hear the sutra’s sound complete this number of recitations, they shall attain liberation. Even in dreams and slumber, they will never again be seen.
「復次，普廣！若未來世有諸下賤等人，或奴或婢，乃至諸不自由之人，覺知宿業，要懺悔者，志心瞻禮地藏菩薩形像，乃至一七日中，念菩薩名，可滿萬遍。如是等人，盡此報後，千萬生中，常生尊貴，更不經三惡道苦。
Furthermore, Universal Vastness! If in future ages there are those of lowly status, whether slaves or servants, or even those who are not free, who become aware of their past karmic deeds and wish to repent, should they with sincere resolve gaze upon and venerate the form and image of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, and for up to one period of seven days recite the Bodhisattva’s name until they complete ten thousand recitations, then such persons, after this present life has ended, will for thousands upon ten thousands of births always be reborn into noble and honorable circumstances, and will never again undergo the sufferings of the three evil paths.
「復次，普廣！若未來世中，閻浮提內，剎利、婆羅門、長者、居士、一切人等，及異姓種族，有新產者，或男或女，七日之中，早與讀誦此不思議經典，更為念菩薩名，可滿萬遍。是新生子，或男或女，宿有殃報，便得解脫，安樂易養，壽命增長。若是承福生者，轉增安樂，及與壽命。
Furthermore, Universal Vastness! If in the future world, within Jambudvīpa, among kṣatriyas, brāhmaṇas, elders, householders, all people, and those of different surnames and races, there are those who have newly given birth—whether a boy or a girl—within seven days, early on recite this inconceivable scripture for them, and further recite the Bodhisattva’s name, completing a full ten thousand repetitions. This newborn child, whether boy or girl, if they carry karmic retribution from past lives, will thereby be liberated, become peaceful, joyful, and easy to nurture, and their lifespan will increase. If they are born bearing blessings, their peace and joy, as well as their lifespan, will be further enhanced.
「復次，普廣！若未來世眾生，於月一日、八日、十四日、十五日、十八日、二十三、二十四、二十八、二十九日，乃至三十日，是諸日等，諸罪結集，定其輕重。南閻浮提眾生，舉止動念，無不是業，無不是罪，何況恣情殺害、竊盜、邪婬、妄語，百千罪狀？能於是十齋日，對佛菩薩諸賢聖像前，讀是經一遍，東西南北，百由旬內，無諸災難。當此居家，若長若幼，現在未來百千歲中，永離惡趣。能於十齋日每轉一遍，現世令此居家無諸橫病，衣食豐溢。
Furthermore, Puguang! Should sentient beings in future ages, on the first day, eighth day, fourteenth day, fifteenth day, eighteenth day, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth day, and even the thirtieth day of the month—these being the days on which various offenses are gathered and their gravity is determined—recite this sutra once before the images of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and all sages, then for a hundred yojanas in all four directions, there will be no calamities or disasters. For that household, whether young or old, for hundreds and thousands of years in the present and future, they will forever depart from the evil destinies. If one can recite it once on each of these ten fasting days, it will cause the household in this present life to be free from untimely illnesses and to have abundant clothing and food.
The beings of Jambudvīpa, in every movement and thought, create nothing but karma, nothing but offense—how much more so when indulging in killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and hundreds of thousands of other forms of transgression?
「是故，普廣！當知地藏菩薩有如是等不可說百千萬億大威神力利益之事。閻浮眾生，於此大士有大因緣。是諸眾生，聞菩薩名，見菩薩像，乃至聞是經，三字五字，或一偈一句者，現在殊妙安樂，未來之世，百千萬生，常得端正，生尊貴家。」
Therefore, Universal Vastness, you should know that Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha possesses such inconceivable hundreds of thousands of millions of great majestic spiritual powers and beneficial deeds. The beings of Jambudvīpa have a profound karmic connection with this Great Being. If these beings hear the Bodhisattva’s name, behold the Bodhisattva’s image, or even hear this sutra—whether three words, five words, or one verse, one line—they will attain sublime peace and happiness in their present life, and for hundreds of thousands of future births, they will constantly be endowed with dignified form and be reborn into noble and respected families.
爾時，普廣菩薩聞佛如來稱揚讚歎地藏菩薩已，胡跪合掌，復白佛言：「世尊！我久知是大士有如此不可思議神力，及大誓願力。為未來眾生，遣知利益，故問如來，唯然頂受。世尊！當何名此經？使我云何流布？」
At that time, the Bodhisattva Universal Vastness, having heard the Thus-Come One extol and praise the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha, knelt with one knee and joined his palms, then addressed the Buddha, saying: “World-Honored One! I have long known that this Great Being possesses such inconceivable spiritual powers and the great power of his vows. For the sake of future sentient beings, so that they may know the benefits, I ask the Thus-Come One, and with reverence I receive it upon my crown. World-Honored One! By what name should this sutra be called? How should I propagate it?”
佛告普廣：「此經有三名：一名地藏本願，亦名地藏本行，亦名地藏本誓力經。緣此菩薩，久遠劫來，發大重願，利益眾生，是故汝等，依願流布。」
The Buddha addressed Universal Vastness: "This sutra possesses three names: first, the Fundamental Vows of Kṣitigarbha; also named, the Fundamental Practices of Kṣitigarbha; and also named, the Sutra of Kṣitigarbha's Fundamental Pledges and Powers. Because this Bodhisattva, for countless eons past, has aroused great and profound vows to benefit sentient beings, therefore all of you should propagate it widely in accordance with these vows."
普廣聞已，合掌恭敬，作禮而退。
Having heard this, Puguang pressed his palms together reverently, made obeisance, and withdrew.
地藏菩薩本願經卷上
The Sutra of the Original Vows of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, Volume One