校量布施功德緣品第十
Chapter Ten: The Merits of Giving
爾時，地藏菩薩摩訶薩承佛威神，從座而起，胡跪合掌，白佛言：「世尊！我觀業道眾生，校量布施，有輕有重：有一生受福，有十生受福，有百生千生受大福利者。是事云何？唯願世尊，為我說之。」
Then, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Kṣitigarbha, empowered by the Buddha's majestic spiritual force, arose from his seat, knelt respectfully with one knee on the ground, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha, saying: "World-Honored One! I observe sentient beings on the paths of karma and compare their acts of giving. Some are light, some are heavy: some receive blessings for one lifetime, some for ten lifetimes, and some for a hundred or a thousand lifetimes, receiving great benefit and reward. How is this so? I pray only that the World-Honored One will explain this to me."
爾時，佛告地藏菩薩：「吾今於忉利天宮，一切眾會，說閻浮提布施，校量功德輕重。汝當諦聽，吾為汝說。」
At that time, the Buddha addressed Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva: "Now, in the palace of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, before this entire assembly, I shall speak of the giving performed in Jambudvīpa, comparing the weight of merit. Listen attentively, and I shall explain it to you."
地藏白佛言：「我疑是事，願樂欲聞。」
Ksitigarbha addressed the Buddha, saying, "I have doubts regarding this matter and earnestly wish to hear it explained."
佛告地藏菩薩：「南閻浮提，有諸國王、宰輔大臣、大長者、大剎利、大婆羅門等，若遇最下貧窮，乃至癃殘瘖瘂，聾癡無目，如是種種不完具者。是大國王等，欲布施時，若能具大慈悲，下心含笑，親手遍布施，或使人施，軟言慰喻。是國王等，所獲福利，如布施百恒河沙佛功德之利。何以故？緣是國王等，於是最貧賤輩，及不完具者，發大慈心，是故福利，有如此報：百千生中，常得七寶具足，何況衣食受用？
The Buddha addressed Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, saying: "In Jambudvīpa, there are kings, chief ministers, great elders, great kṣatriyas, great brāhmaṇas, and others. When they encounter the most destitute and impoverished, even those who are crippled, mute, deaf, dull‑witted, or blind—all such kinds of incomplete and afflicted beings—if these great kings and others, wishing to give alms, can with great compassion, humble minds, and smiling faces personally distribute gifts widely with their own hands, or instruct others to give, speaking gentle words of comfort and encouragement, then the merit and benefit these kings and others obtain will be equal to the merit of making offerings to a hundred Buddha‑worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. Why is this? Because these kings and others have aroused a great compassionate heart toward the most poor and lowly, and those who are incomplete and afflicted. Therefore, their merit and benefit bring such a reward: for a hundred thousand lifetimes they will always be endowed with the seven treasures, how much more so with clothing, food, and all necessities of life."
「復次，地藏！若未來世，有諸國王，至婆羅門等，遇佛塔寺，或佛形像，乃至菩薩、聲聞、辟支佛像，躬自營辦，供養布施。是國王等，當得三劫為帝釋身，受勝妙樂。若能以此布施福利，迴向法界，是大國王等，於十劫中，常為大梵天王。
Furthermore, Kṣitigarbha, if in future ages there are kings, up to brahmins and others, who encounter Buddha stūpas, temples, Buddha images, or even images of bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, or pratyekabuddhas, and personally arrange for offerings and charitable giving, these kings and others shall obtain the body of Śakra Devānām Indra for three kalpas, experiencing sublime and wonderful bliss. If they are able to dedicate the merit and benefit of this charity toward the Dharma Realm, these great kings and others shall, for ten kalpas, constantly abide as Mahābrahmā Devarājas.
「復次，地藏！若未來世，有諸國王，至婆羅門等，遇先佛塔廟，或至經像，毀壞破落，乃能發心修補。是國王等，或自營辦，或勸他人，乃至百千人等，布施結緣。是國王等，百千生中，常為轉輪王身。如是他人同布施者，百千生中，常為小國王身。更能於塔廟前，發迴向心，如是國王，乃及諸人，盡成佛道，以此果報，無量無邊。
Moreover, Kṣitigarbha, if in future ages there are kings, brahmins, or others who encounter former Buddhas’ stūpas or temples, or who come upon sūtras or images that are damaged, ruined, or decaying, and who are able to arouse the resolve to repair them—whether these kings and others undertake the work themselves or encourage others, even up to hundreds or thousands of people, to join in giving and forming a connection—then these kings and others, for hundreds of thousands of lifetimes, will constantly be born as wheel-turning kings. Those others who join in the giving will, for hundreds of thousands of lifetimes, constantly be born as minor kings. If they are further able, before the stūpas or temples, to dedicate the merit with a mind of dedication, then these kings and all those people will ultimately achieve Buddhahood. Through this karmic reward, their merits will be measureless and boundless.
「復次，地藏！未來世中，有諸國王，及婆羅門等，見諸老病，及生產婦女，若一念間，具大慈心，布施醫藥、飲食、臥具，使令安樂。如是福利，最不思議：一百劫中，常為淨居天主；二百劫中，常為六欲天主；畢竟成佛，永不墮惡道，乃至百千生中，耳不聞苦聲。
Furthermore, Kṣitigarbha, in future ages, there will be kings, brahmins, and others who, upon seeing the aged, the sick, or women in childbirth, will, in a single thought, give rise to a heart of great compassion and bestow offerings of medicine, food and drink, and bedding, enabling them to be peaceful and joyful. The merit and benefit from such acts are most inconceivable: for one hundred kalpas they will constantly be lords of the Pure Abodes; for two hundred kalpas they will constantly be lords of the Six Heavens of Desire; ultimately they will attain Buddhahood, never falling into the evil paths, and for hundreds of thousands of lifetimes their ears will not even hear the sound of suffering.
「復次，地藏！若未來世中，有諸國王，及婆羅門等，能作如是布施，獲福無量，更能迴向，不問多少，畢竟成佛，何況釋梵轉輪之報？是故，地藏！普勸眾生，當如是學。
Furthermore, Kṣitigarbha! If in future ages, there are kings, brahmins, and others who can perform such acts of giving, they shall obtain immeasurable merit. If they are moreover able to dedicate this merit toward awakening, regardless of whether the dedication is great or small, they will ultimately attain Buddhahood. How much more, then, can they attain the rewards of Śakra, Brahmā, or a wheel-turning sage king? Therefore, Kṣitigarbha! Universally urge all beings to learn and practice in this manner.
「復次，地藏！未來世中，若善男子、善女人，於佛法中，種少善根，毛髮沙塵等許，所受福利，不可為喻。復次，地藏！未來世中，若有善男子、善女人，遇佛形像、菩薩形像、辟支佛形像、轉輪王形像，布施供養，得無量福，常在人天，受勝妙樂。若能迴向法界，是人福利，不可為喻。
Moreover, Kṣitigarbha, in future ages, if virtuous men or virtuous women, within the Buddha’s Dharma, plant even the smallest roots of goodness—as minute as a hair, a grain of sand, or a speck of dust—the blessings and benefit they shall receive are beyond compare.
Furthermore, Kṣitigarbha, in future ages, if there are virtuous men or virtuous women who encounter images of the Buddha, images of Bodhisattvas, images of Pratyekabuddhas, or images of a Wheel-Turning Sage King, and make offerings to them with generosity, they shall obtain immeasurable merit, constantly abiding among humans and devas, enjoying sublime and wonderful bliss. If they are able to dedicate this merit to the Dharma Realm, the blessings and benefit for such a person are beyond compare.
「復次，地藏！未來世中，若有善男子、善女人，遇大乘經典，或聽聞一偈一句，發殷重心，讚歎恭敬，布施供養。是人獲大果報，無量無邊。若能迴向法界，其福不可為喻。
Moreover, Earth Store Bodhisattva, if in the future world there are virtuous men and virtuous women who encounter the great vehicle sutras, or hear even a single verse or phrase, and with profound sincerity give rise to praise, reverence, offerings, and almsgiving, such persons shall attain immense and boundless retribution of merit. If they are able to dedicate this merit universally to the Dharma Realm, the blessings thus gained are beyond analogy.
「復次，地藏！若未來世中，有善男子、善女人，遇佛塔寺、大乘經典新者，布施供養，瞻禮讚歎，恭敬合掌；若遇故者或毀壞者，修補營理，或獨發心，或勸多人同共發心。如是等輩，三十生中，常為諸小國王。檀越之人，常為輪王，還以善法，教化諸小國王。
Furthermore, Kṣitigarbha, if in future ages there are good men and good women who encounter newly built Buddha stupas or temples, or newly produced Mahayana scriptures, and they make offerings, pay reverence, praise them, and respectfully join their palms; or if they encounter old or damaged ones and repair and maintain them, whether they initiate this intention alone or encourage many others to share in this intention—such people, for thirty lifetimes, will constantly be minor kings. Those who are donors will constantly be wheel-turning kings, and they will use wholesome teachings to educate and guide those minor kings.
「復次，地藏！未來世中，若有善男子、善女人，於佛法中，所種善根，或布施供養，或修補塔寺，或裝理經典，乃至一毛一塵，一沙一渧。如是善事，但能迴向法界，是人功德，百千生中，受上妙樂。如但迴向自家眷屬，或自身利益，如是之果，即三生受樂，捨一得萬報。是故，地藏！布施因緣，其事如是。」
Furthermore, Kṣitigarbha, in future ages, if there are virtuous men and women who, within the Buddha’s teachings, plant roots of goodness—whether by giving alms and making offerings, repairing stupas and temples, adorning or mending sutras, down to even a single hair, a mote of dust, a grain of sand, or a drop of water—if they are able to dedicate such wholesome deeds toward the Dharma Realm, the merit of these persons will bring them the most sublime bliss for hundreds of thousands of lifetimes. If they dedicate it only toward their own family and retinue, or for the benefit of themselves alone, the result of such dedication will be enjoyment of pleasure for three lifetimes, relinquishing one to gain ten thousandfold in return. Therefore, Kṣitigarbha, the causes and conditions of giving are thus.