地神護法品第十一
Chapter 11: Earth Deities Protecting the Dharma
爾時，堅牢地神白佛言：「世尊！我從昔來，瞻視頂禮無量菩薩摩訶薩，皆是大不可思議神通智慧，廣度眾生。是地藏菩薩摩訶薩，於諸菩薩，誓願深重。世尊！是地藏菩薩，於閻浮提，有大因緣。如文殊、普賢、觀音、彌勒，亦化百千身形，度於六道，其願尚有畢竟。是地藏菩薩，教化六道一切眾生，所發誓願劫數，如千百億恒河沙。
At that time, the Earth Spirit Firm and Solid addressed the Buddha, saying: “World-Honored One, since ancient times, I have beheld and paid homage to immeasurable bodhisattva-mahāsattvas, all endowed with great, inconceivable spiritual powers and wisdom, who broadly deliver sentient beings. Among these bodhisattvas, the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha’s vows are profound and weighty. World-Honored One, this Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha possesses a great causal connection with the Jambudvīpa continent. Even as Mañjuśrī, Samantabhadra, Avalokiteśvara (Guanyin), and Maitreya also manifest in hundreds of thousands of forms to deliver beings within the six paths, their vows still have an ultimate limit. Yet the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha, in teaching and transforming all sentient beings of the six paths, has made vows extending over kalpas as numerous as the sands of hundreds of thousands of millions of Ganges Rivers.”
「世尊！我觀未來及現在眾生，於所住處，於南方清潔之地，以土石竹木，作其龕室。是中能塑畫，乃至金銀銅鐵，作地藏形像，燒香供養，瞻禮讚歎。是人居處，即得十種利益。何等為十？一者，土地豐壤。二者，家宅永安。三者，先亡生天。四者，現存益壽。五者，所求遂意。六者，無水火災。七者，虛耗辟除。八者，杜絕惡夢。九者，出入神護。十者，多遇聖因。
World-Honored One! I observe that sentient beings in the future and present, in their dwelling places, in a clean area to the south, may build a shrine chamber with earth, stone, bamboo, or wood. Within it, they may mold, paint, or even use gold, silver, copper, or iron to fashion an image of Kṣitigarbha, burn incense to make offerings, gaze upon it with reverence, and praise it. The dwelling place of such a person will immediately obtain ten kinds of benefits. What are these ten? First, the land will be rich and fertile. Second, the household will be eternally peaceful. Third, deceased ancestors will be reborn in the heavens. Fourth, the living will have increased longevity. Fifth, what is sought will be fulfilled. Sixth, there will be no disasters of water or fire. Seventh, wasteful losses will be dispelled. Eighth, evil dreams will be cut off. Ninth, when going out and coming in, divine beings will protect them. Tenth, they will frequently encounter noble conditions.
「世尊！未來世中，及現在眾生，若能於所住處方面，作如是供養，得如是利益。」
"O World-Honored One! In future ages, and for beings of the present, if they can make such offerings in the places where they dwell, they shall obtain such benefits."
復白佛言：「世尊！未來世中，若有善男子、善女人，於所住處，有此經典及菩薩像，是人更能轉讀經典，供養菩薩。我常日夜，以本神力，衛護是人，乃至水火盜賊，大橫小橫，一切惡事，悉皆銷滅。」
He addressed the Buddha once more, saying: "World-Honored One, in future ages, if there are good men and good women who, in their dwelling places, possess this sutra and the image of the Bodhisattva, and who moreover can recite and study this sutra and make offerings to the Bodhisattva, I shall always, day and night, employ my fundamental spiritual power to guard and protect such persons, so that even calamities of water and fire, thieves and robbers, great misfortunes and minor adversities—all such evil occurrences—will entirely be eradicated."
佛告堅牢地神：「汝大神力，諸神少及。何以故？閻浮土地，悉蒙汝護。乃至草木沙石，稻麻竹葦，穀米寶貝，從地而有，皆因汝力。又常稱揚地藏菩薩利益之事，汝之功德，及以神通，百千倍於常分地神。若未來世中，有善男子、善女人，供養菩薩，及轉讀是經，但依地藏本願經一事修行者，汝以本神力，而擁護之。勿令一切災害，及不如意事，輒聞於耳，何況令受？非但汝獨護是人故，亦有釋梵眷屬、諸天眷屬，擁護是人。何故得如是聖賢擁護？皆由瞻禮地藏形像，及轉讀是本願經故。自然畢竟出離苦海，證涅槃樂。以是之故，得大擁護。」
The Buddha addressed the Firm and Steadfast Earth Spirit: "Your great spiritual power is rarely matched by other spirits. Why is this? The entire Jambudvīpa land receives your protection. Even the grasses, trees, sands, and stones; the rice, hemp, bamboo, and reeds; the grains, treasures, and jewels that arise from the earth—all exist by your power. Moreover, you constantly proclaim the beneficial deeds of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva. Your merits and spiritual powers are a hundred thousand times greater than those of ordinary earth spirits. If, in future ages, there are good men and good women who make offerings to the Bodhisattva, recite and circulate this sutra, and practice according to the teachings of the *Sutra of Kṣitigarbha’s Fundamental Vows*, you shall employ your fundamental spiritual power to protect and support them. Do not allow any disasters or unfavorable circumstances to even reach their ears, much less befall them. It is not you alone who protects such persons; the retinues of Śakra and Brahmā, along with the hosts of heavenly beings, will also protect and support them. Why do they receive such protection from sages and worthies? All because they gaze upon and pay homage to the image of Kṣitigarbha and recite and circulate this *Sutra of Fundamental Vows*. Thus, they will naturally and ultimately transcend the sea of suffering and realize the bliss of Nirvāṇa. For this reason, they obtain great protection."