囑累人天品第十三
Chapter 13: Entrusting to Humans and Devas
爾時，世尊舉金色臂，又摩地藏菩薩摩訶薩頂，而作是言：「地藏！地藏！汝之神力，不可思議；汝之慈悲，不可思議；汝之智慧，不可思議；汝之辯才，不可思議。正使十方諸佛，讚歎宣說汝之不思議事，千萬劫中，不能得盡。地藏！地藏！記吾今日在忉利天中，於百千萬億不可說不可說一切諸佛菩薩、天龍八部大會之中，再以人天諸眾生等，未出三界，在火宅中者，付囑於汝。無令是諸眾生，墮惡趣中一日一夜，何況更落五無間及阿鼻地獄，動經千萬億劫，無有出期？
At that time, the World-Honored One raised his golden-colored arm and again placed his hand upon the head of the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Kṣitigarbha, speaking these words: “Kṣitigarbha, Kṣitigarbha! Your spiritual power is inconceivable; your compassion is inconceivable; your wisdom is inconceivable; your eloquence is inconceivable. Even if all the buddhas of the ten directions were to praise and proclaim your inconceivable deeds, they could not exhaust them in millions of kalpas. Kṣitigarbha, Kṣitigarbha! Remember that today, here in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, amidst this great assembly of hundreds of thousands of millions of incalculable, unspeakable numbers of all buddhas, bodhisattvas, and the eightfold host of devas and dragons, I once more entrust to you the multitudes of human and heavenly beings who have not yet escaped the three realms, who are still dwelling within the burning house. Do not allow these beings to fall into the evil destinies even for a single day and night, much less to sink into the five uninterrupted hells or the Avīci Hell, where they would pass through millions of kalpas without any hope of escape.”
「地藏！是南閻浮提眾生，志性無定，習惡者多，縱發善心，須臾即退，若遇惡緣，念念增長。以是之故，吾分是形，百千億化度，隨其根性而度脫之。地藏！吾今殷勤以天人眾，付囑於汝。未來之世，若有天人，及善男子、善女人，於佛法中，種少善根，一毛一塵，一沙一渧。汝以道力，擁護是人，漸修無上，勿令退失。復次，地藏！未來世中，若天若人，隨業報應，落在惡趣。臨墮趣中，或至門首，是諸眾生，若能念得一佛名、一菩薩名、一句一偈大乘經典。是諸眾生，汝以神力，方便救拔。於是人所，現無邊身，為碎地獄，遣令生天，受勝妙樂。」
Ksitigarbha! Beings of Jambudvipa have minds that are unsettled and unsteady. Those who habitually commit evil are many. Even if they momentarily give rise to a virtuous heart, they soon retreat from it. When they encounter conditions for evil, their thoughts of it grow with each moment. For this reason, I divide this body into hundreds of thousands of millions of transformations to teach and liberate them, each according to their capacity and nature.
Ksitigarbha! I now earnestly entrust to you the multitudes of gods and humans. In future ages, if there are any gods, or any virtuous men and women, who plant within the Buddhadharma even the smallest root of goodness—be it as slight as a hair, a speck of dust, a grain of sand, or a drop of water—you must, by the power of your way, protect and support such persons. Enable them to gradually cultivate the unsurpassed path, and do not allow them to regress or lose their progress.
Furthermore, Ksitigarbha! In future ages, whether gods or humans, according to their karmic retribution, may fall into the evil destinies. As they are on the verge of falling into those destinies, or even at the very threshold, if these beings can but recite the name of one Buddha, the name of one Bodhisattva, or a single phrase or verse from a Mahayana sutra, you must, with your spiritual power, skillfully rescue and deliver them. Manifest before that person a boundless body, shatter the hells for their sake, and dispatch them to be reborn in the heavens, where they may receive sublime and wonderful bliss.
爾時，世尊而說偈言：
Then, the World-Honored One spoke this verse:
「現在未來天人眾，吾今殷勤付囑汝，
以大神通方便度，勿令墮在諸惡趣。」
"To the beings of heaven and earth, now and in the future, I earnestly entrust you: Use great spiritual power and skillful means to guide them, So they do not fall into the realms of suffering."
爾時，地藏菩薩摩訶薩胡跪合掌，白佛言：「世尊！唯願世尊，不以為慮。未來世中，若有善男子、善女人，於佛法中，一念恭敬，我亦百千方便，度脫是人，於生死中，速得解脫。何況聞諸善事，念念修行？自然於無上道，永不退轉。」
At that time, the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha knelt respectfully with palms together and addressed the Buddha, saying: "World-Honored One, please do not be concerned. In the ages to come, if there are good men or good women who, in the midst of the Buddha's teachings, give rise to even a single thought of reverence, I will employ countless skillful means to guide and liberate such people, enabling them to swiftly attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death. How much more so for those who hear of virtuous deeds and practice them with every thought? They will naturally never regress from the supreme path."
說是語時，會中有一菩薩，名虛空藏，白佛言：「世尊！我自至忉利，聞於如來讚歎地藏菩薩威神勢力，不可思議。未來世中，若有善男子、善女人，乃及一切天龍，聞此經典，及地藏名字，或瞻禮形像，得幾種福利？唯願世尊，為未來現在一切眾等，略而說之。」
At that moment, a bodhisattva named Akashagarbha (Storehouse of Emptiness) in the assembly addressed the Buddha, saying: "World-Honored One, since I arrived in the Trayastrimsa Heaven, I have heard you praising the majestic spiritual power of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva as inconceivable. In future ages, if virtuous men, virtuous women, or even all heavenly beings and dragons hear this sutra or the name of Ksitigarbha, or behold and pay respects to his image, how many kinds of blessings and benefits will they obtain? I sincerely beseech the World-Honored One to briefly explain this for the sake of all beings in the present and future."
佛告虛空藏菩薩：「諦聽！諦聽！吾當為汝分別說之。若未來世，有善男子、善女人，見地藏形像，及聞此經，乃至讀誦，香華飲食、衣服珍寶，布施供養，讚歎瞻禮，得二十八種利益：一者天龍護念，二者善果日增，三者集聖上因，四者菩提不退，五者衣食豐足，六者疾疫不臨，七者離水火災，八者無盜賊厄，九者人見欽敬，十者神鬼助持，十一者女轉男身，十二者為王臣女，十三者端正相好，十四者多生天上，十五者或為帝王，十六者宿智命通，十七者有求皆從，十八者眷屬歡樂，十九者諸橫銷滅，二十者業道永除，二十一者去處盡通，二十二者夜夢安樂，二十三者先亡離苦，二十四者宿福受生，二十五者諸聖讚歎，二十六者聰明利根，二十七者饒慈愍心，二十八者畢竟成佛。
The Buddha said to the Bodhisattva Akashagarbha, "Listen carefully, listen carefully! I will now explain it to you in detail. If, in the future world, there are good men and good women who see the image of Ksitigarbha, hear this sutra, or even read and recite it, and who make offerings of incense, flowers, food, drink, clothing, and precious treasures, praising and paying homage, they will obtain twenty-eight kinds of benefits:
First, they will be protected and remembered by heavenly dragons. Second, their good fruits will increase daily. Third, they will accumulate supreme causes for sainthood. Fourth, their progress toward enlightenment will never regress. Fifth, their clothing and food will be abundant and sufficient. Sixth, epidemics and illnesses will not afflict them. Seventh, they will be free from disasters of water and fire. Eighth, they will have no misfortune from thieves or robbers. Ninth, people will regard them with respect and admiration. Tenth, spirits and ghosts will aid and support them. Eleventh, women will be reborn as men. Twelfth, they will be reborn as daughters of kings or ministers. Thirteenth, they will possess dignified and pleasing features. Fourteenth, they will be reborn in the heavens for many lifetimes. Fifteenth, they may become emperors or kings. Sixteenth, they will possess knowledge of past lives and spiritual insight. Seventeenth, all their wishes will be fulfilled. Eighteenth, their family and relatives will be joyful and harmonious. Nineteenth, all unexpected calamities will be eliminated. Twentieth, the paths of negative karma will be forever removed. Twenty-first, wherever they go, all paths will be open to them. Twenty-second, their nights will be peaceful with pleasant dreams. Twenty-third, their deceased ancestors will be liberated from suffering. Twenty-fourth, they will be reborn through accumulated blessings. Twenty-fifth, all sages will praise them. Twenty-sixth, they will be intelligent and sharp-minded. Twenty-seventh, they will abound in compassion and kindness. Twenty-eighth, in the end, they will attain Buddhahood."
「復次，虛空藏菩薩！若現在未來，天龍鬼神，聞地藏名，禮地藏形，或聞地藏本願事行，讚歎瞻禮，得七種利益：一者速超聖地，二者惡業銷滅，三者諸佛護臨，四者菩提不退，五者增長本力，六者宿命皆通，七者畢竟成佛。」
Furthermore, Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva! If, now or in the future, gods, dragons, spirits, or ghosts hear the name of Kṣitigarbha, pay homage to his form, or learn of his original vows and deeds, and then praise, revere, and honor him, they will obtain seven kinds of benefits: First, they will swiftly ascend to the sacred realms. Second, their evil karma will be eradicated. Third, all Buddhas will protect and draw near to them. Fourth, their progress toward enlightenment will never regress. Fifth, their inherent strength will increase. Sixth, they will gain complete knowledge of past lives. Seventh, they will ultimately attain Buddhahood.
爾時，十方一切諸來不可說不可說諸佛如來，及大菩薩、天龍八部，聞釋迦牟尼佛，稱揚讚歎地藏菩薩，大威神力，不可思議，歎未曾有。是時忉利天，雨無量香華，天衣珠瓔，供養釋迦牟尼佛，及地藏菩薩已。一切眾會，俱復瞻禮，合掌而退。
At that moment, all the countless, indescribable Buddhas from the ten directions who had gathered, along with the great Bodhisattvas and the eightfold assembly of gods and dragons, heard Shakyamuni Buddha extolling and praising the great, awe-inspiring power of the Earth Store Bodhisattva, which is beyond all thought and comprehension. They marveled at something they had never witnessed before.
Then, in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, a rain of immeasurable fragrant flowers, heavenly garments, and jeweled ornaments fell, making offerings to Shakyamuni Buddha and the Earth Store Bodhisattva. After this, the entire assembly once again gazed with reverence, joined their palms in respect, and withdrew.
地藏菩薩本願經卷下
Earth Store Bodhisattva's Fundamental Vow Sutra, Volume 2