稱佛名號品第九
Chapter 9: Calling Upon the Buddha's Name
爾時，地藏菩薩摩訶薩白佛言：「世尊！我今為未來眾生，演利益事，於生死中，得大利益。唯願世尊，聽我說之。」
At that time, the great Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, I now wish to speak for the sake of beings in the future about matters that bring great benefit, so that they may attain great advantage amidst birth and death. I only ask that the World Honored One permit me to speak."
佛告地藏菩薩：「汝今欲興慈悲，救拔一切罪苦六道眾生，演不思議事，今正是時，唯當速說。吾即涅槃，使汝早畢是願，吾亦無憂現在未來一切眾生。」
The Buddha addressed Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, saying: "Now that you wish to arouse compassion to rescue and deliver all beings suffering from offenses within the six paths, and to expound inconceivable matters, this is precisely the time. You should speak swiftly. I am about to enter Nirvāṇa, so that you may soon accomplish this vow, and I too shall have no concern for all beings of the present and the future."
地藏菩薩白佛言：「世尊！過去無量阿僧祇劫，有佛出世，號無邊身如來。若有男子女人，聞是佛名，暫生恭敬，即得超越四十劫生死重罪。何況塑畫形像、供養讚歎？其人獲福，無量無邊。
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva addressed the Buddha, saying: "World-Honored One! In the past, countless, immeasurable asaṃkhyeya kalpas ago, a Buddha appeared in the world named Boundless Body Thus Come One. If any man or woman, upon hearing this Buddha's name, even momentarily gives rise to reverence, they will immediately transcend the heavy offenses of birth and death accumulated over forty kalpas. How much more so for those who mold or paint his image, make offerings, and praise him? The merit and blessings such a person obtains are measureless and boundless."
「又於過去恒河沙劫，有佛出世，號寶性如來。若有男子女人，聞是佛名，一彈指頃，發心歸依，是人於無上道，永不退轉。又於過去，有佛出世，號波頭摩勝如來。若有男子女人，聞是佛名，歷於耳根，是人當得千返生於六欲天中，何況志心稱念？
"In the past, countless aeons ago—as many as the sands of the Ganges River—a Buddha appeared in the world named the Tathagata of Precious Nature. If any man or woman hears this Buddha's name and, in the snap of a finger, resolves to take refuge, that person will never again regress from the supreme path to enlightenment.
"Furthermore, in the past, a Buddha appeared in the world named the Tathagata of Supreme Lotus. If any man or woman hears this Buddha's name and it enters their ears, that person will be reborn a thousand times in the heavens of the six desires. How much more so if they earnestly recite the name?"
「又於過去不可說不可說阿僧祇劫，有佛出世，號師子吼如來。若有男子女人，聞是佛名，一念歸依，是人得遇無量諸佛，摩頂授記。又於過去，有佛出世，號拘留孫佛。若有男子女人，聞是佛名，志心瞻禮，或復讚歎，是人於賢劫千佛會中，為大梵王，得授上記。
Furthermore, in the past, beyond measure, beyond reckoning, immeasurable kalpas ago, there appeared a Buddha in the world named Lion's Roar Tathāgata. If any man or woman, upon hearing this Buddha's name, with a single thought takes refuge, that person will encounter measureless Buddhas, who will bestow a prediction by touching the crown of the head.
Furthermore, in the past, there appeared a Buddha in the world named Krakucchanda Buddha. If any man or woman, upon hearing this Buddha's name, with sincere mind gazes upon and pays homage, or further offers praise, that person, within the assembly of the thousand Buddhas of the Auspicious Kalpa, will become a Great Brahma King and receive a supreme prediction.
「又於過去，有佛出世，號毘婆尸。若有男子女人，聞是佛名，永不墮惡道，常生人天，受勝妙樂。
Furthermore, in the past, a Buddha appeared in the world named Vipaśyin. If any man or woman hears this Buddha's name, they shall never fall into the evil destinies, but shall always be born among humans or devas, experiencing sublime and wonderful bliss.
「又於過去無量無數恒河沙劫，有佛出世，號寶勝如來。若有男子女人，聞是佛名，畢竟不墮惡道，常在天上，受勝妙樂。
Moreover, in the past, countless, immeasurable kalpas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, there appeared a Buddha in the world, named Ratnaśrī Tathāgata. If any man or woman hears this Buddha's name, they will ultimately never fall into the evil paths, but will always abide in the heavens, receiving sublime and wonderful bliss.
「又於過去，有佛出世，號寶相如來。若有男子女人，聞是佛名，生恭敬心，是人不久，得阿羅漢果。
Moreover, in the past, there was a Buddha who appeared in the world, named Ratnaketu Tathāgata. If any man or woman, upon hearing this Buddha’s name, gives rise to a reverent mind, such a person will, before long, attain the fruit of Arhatship.
「又於過去，無量阿僧祇劫，有佛出世，號袈裟幢如來。若有男子女人，聞是佛名者，超一百大劫生死之罪。
Furthermore, in the past, immeasurable asaṃkhyeya kalpas ago, there was a Buddha who appeared in the world, named Kaṣāya-dhvaja Tathāgata. If any man or woman hears this Buddha’s name, they will transcend the offenses of birth and death for one hundred great kalpas.
「又於過去，有佛出世，號大通山王如來。若有男子女人，聞是佛名者，是人得遇恒河沙佛，廣為說法，必成菩提。又於過去，有淨月佛、山王佛、智勝佛、淨名王佛、智成就佛、無上佛、妙聲佛、滿月佛、月面佛，有如是等不可說佛。
Moreover, in the past, there appeared a Buddha named the Thus Come One Great Penetrating Mountain King. If any man or woman hears this Buddha’s name, that person will encounter Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, who will extensively expound the Dharma for them, and they will certainly attain Bodhi.
Furthermore, in the past, there were Buddhas such as Pure Moon Buddha, Mountain King Buddha, Wisdom Victorious Buddha, Pure Name King Buddha, Wisdom Accomplished Buddha, Unsurpassed Buddha, Wonderful Sound Buddha, Full Moon Buddha, and Moon-Face Buddha. There were countless such Buddhas beyond description.
「世尊！現在未來一切眾生，若天若人，若男若女，但念得一佛名號，功德無量，何況多名？是眾生等，生時死時，自得大利，終不墮惡道。若有臨命終人，家中眷屬，乃至一人，為是病人，高聲念一佛名，是命終人，除五無間罪，餘業報等，悉得銷滅。是五無間罪，雖至極重，動經億劫，了不得出，承斯臨命終時，他人為其稱念佛名，於是罪中亦漸銷滅。何況眾生，自稱自念，獲福無量，滅無量罪。」
World-Honored One! All sentient beings of the present and future, whether celestial or human, whether male or female, need only recite the name of one Buddha to attain immeasurable merit—how much more so by reciting many names? These sentient beings, at the time of birth and at the time of death, will themselves gain great benefit and shall never fall into the evil paths. If there is a person approaching the end of life, and even one among their household relatives, for the sake of this ill person, recites aloud the name of one Buddha, then the dying person, apart from the five uninterrupted offenses, will have all other karmic retributions entirely eradicated. Even these five uninterrupted offenses, though extremely grave, leading through motion of eons to no chance of liberation, by virtue of this recitation of a Buddha’s name by another at the time of death, will gradually be eradicated within these offenses. How much more so when sentient beings themselves recite and themselves invoke—they shall obtain immeasurable blessings and eradicate immeasurable transgressions.