正法華經卷第一
Chapter 1 of the True Dharma Lotus Sutra
西晉月氏國三藏竺法護譯
Translated by the Tripitaka Master Zhu Fahu of the Yuezhi Kingdom during the Western Jin Dynasty
光瑞品第一
Chapter 1: Auspicious Light
聞如是：
Thus have I heard:
一時佛遊王舍城靈鷲山，與大比丘眾俱，比丘千二百，一切無著，諸漏已盡無復欲塵，已得自在逮得己利，生死已索眾結即斷，一切由已獲度無極，已脫於慧心解得度、名曰：賢者知本際、賢者大迦葉、上時迦葉、象迦葉、江迦葉、舍利弗、大目揵連、迦旃延、阿那律、劫賓㝹、牛呞、離越、譬利斯、薄拘盧、拘絺、難陀、善意、滿願子、須菩提、阿難、羅云；菩薩八萬，皆不退轉，堅住無上正真之道，逮總持法得大辯才，常讚歎不退轉法輪，供養無數百千諸佛，於無量佛殖眾德本，諸佛世尊所見諮嗟，身常行慈入如來慧，善權普至大知度無極，從無數劫多所博聞，名達十方，救護無量百千眾生，遊於三界猶如日明，解一切法如幻如化野馬影響，悉無所有住無所住，雖見終始亦無去來，既見色像本無形貌，現諸所生永無起滅，導利群黎不著三處，分別空慧無想無願，起三脫門至三達智，無去來今現在之想，開化黎庶使了本無。
At one time, the Buddha was dwelling at Vulture Peak in Rājagṛha, together with a great assembly of bhikṣus—twelve hundred bhikṣus in all. All were free from attachment; their outflows had been exhausted, and they were without the dust of desire. They had attained mastery and realized their own benefit. The cycle of birth and death was ended for them; all bonds were severed. All had reached liberation by their own effort, having attained the ultimate. Liberated through wisdom, their minds were freed and understood liberation. Their names were: the Venerable Ājñātakauṇḍinya, the Venerable Mahākāśyapa, Uruvilvākāśyapa, Nadīkāśyapa, Gayākāśyapa, Śāriputra, Mahāmaudgalyāyana, Kātyāyana, Aniruddha, Kapphiṇa, Vakula, Revata, Pilindavatsa, Bakkula, Mahākapphiṇa, Nanda, Sundarananda, Pūrṇamaitrāyaṇīputra, Subhūti, Ānanda, and Rāhula. There were also eighty thousand bodhisattvas, all irreversible, firmly abiding in the unsurpassed true path. They had attained dhāraṇī and great eloquence, constantly praised the irreversible Dharma-wheel, and made offerings to countless hundreds of thousands of buddhas. Over measureless kalpas they had cultivated roots of virtue, praised by all buddhas, the World-Honored Ones. Their bodies always practiced compassion, and they entered the wisdom of the Tathāgata. Skillful means pervaded everywhere; their great wisdom reached the ultimate. From countless kalpas they had widely learned, and their fame spread throughout the ten directions. They saved and protected immeasurable hundreds of thousands of beings, moving through the three realms like the sun’s radiance. They understood all dharmas as being like illusions, mirages, echoes, and shadows—all without inherent existence, abiding in non-abiding. Though they perceived beginning and end, there was no coming or going. Having seen that forms and appearances are fundamentally without shape or feature, they manifested in all births yet were forever without arising or ceasing. They guided and benefited the multitudes without clinging to the three realms. They discerned the emptiness of wisdom, free from notions and aspirations, gave rise to the three gates of liberation, and attained the threefold knowledge. They had no thoughts of past, future, or present, but taught and transformed beings so that they understood fundamental non-existence.
其名曰：溥首菩薩、光世音菩薩、大勢至菩薩、常精進菩薩、不置遠菩薩、寶掌菩薩、印手菩薩、藥王菩薩、妙勇菩薩、寶月菩薩、月光菩薩、月滿菩薩、大度菩薩、超無量菩薩、越世菩薩、解縛菩薩、寶事菩薩、恩施菩薩、雄施菩薩、水天菩薩、帝天菩薩、大導師菩薩、妙意菩薩、慈氏菩薩，如是大士八萬上首。爾時天帝釋與二萬天子俱，日天子與無數眷屬俱，月天子以寶光明普有所炤，寶光天子、光燿天子俱，四大天王與萬天子俱，㷿明大梵自在天子與三萬天子俱，梵忍跡天子與三萬二千天子俱，飾乾大梵與無數天子，又梵名㷿光與無數大眾俱，來詣佛所，稽首畢退坐一面。有八龍王，與無央數千諸龍眷屬俱；四真陀羅王——慎法真陀羅王，大法真陀羅王，仁和真陀羅王，持法真陀羅王；香音神，各與營從來詣佛所，稽首畢退住一面。淨身四天子——柔軟天子，和音天子，美軟天子，悅響天子——俱來詣佛所，前稽首畢退坐一面。四阿須倫王——最勝阿須倫，欲錦阿須倫，燕居阿須倫，吸氣阿須倫——與無央數百千阿須倫人民俱，來詣佛所，前稽首畢退坐一面。四金翅鳥王——大身王，大具足王，得神足王，不可動王——俱來詣佛所，稽首畢退住一面。摩竭國王阿闍世，與十子并諸營從，來詣佛所，稽首畢退坐一面。諸天、龍神、世人，莫不歸命奉敬侍坐。
Their names were: Universal Wisdom Bodhisattva, Perceiver of the World's Sounds Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva of Great Might Arrived, Constant Vigor Bodhisattva, Never Resting Bodhisattva, Jewel Palm Bodhisattva, Seal Hand Bodhisattva, Medicine King Bodhisattva, Sublime Courage Bodhisattva, Jewel Moon Bodhisattva, Moonlight Bodhisattva, Full Moon Bodhisattva, Great Ferry Bodhisattva, Surpassing Immeasurable Bodhisattva, Transcending the World Bodhisattva, Unbinder of Bonds Bodhisattva, Jewel Deed Bodhisattva, Benevolent Giver Bodhisattva, Heroic Giver Bodhisattva, Water Deva Bodhisattva, Lord Deva Bodhisattva, Great Guide Bodhisattva, Sublime Intention Bodhisattva, Maitreya Bodhisattva. Such were the eighty thousand foremost great beings.
At that time, Śakra, Lord of the Devas, was present with twenty thousand devas. The Sun Deva was present with his countless retinue. The Moon Deva, with his jeweled light illuminating everywhere, was present along with the Jewel Light Deva and the Radiant Light Deva. The Four Heavenly Kings were present with ten thousand devas. The Great Brahmā Blazing Light, the Sovereign Deva, was present with thirty thousand devas. The Brahmā Endurance Traces Deva was present with thirty-two thousand devas. The Brahmā Adorned Dryness was present with countless devas. Also, a Brahmā named Blazing Light was present with an innumerable assembly. They all came to where the Buddha was, bowed their heads at his feet, and withdrew to sit to one side.
There were eight Nāga Kings, along with an incalculable number of thousands of nāga retinues. Four Gandharva Kings—the Gandharva King Careful of Dharma, the Gandharva King of Great Dharma, the Gandharva King of Benevolent Harmony, and the Gandharva King Upholder of Dharma—along with the Fragrant Voice Spirits, each with their own hosts, came to where the Buddha was, bowed their heads at his feet, and withdrew to stand to one side.
Four Pure Body Devas—the Soft and Gentle Deva, the Harmonious Sound Deva, the Beautifully Soft Deva, and the Pleasing Resonance Deva—all came to where the Buddha was, advanced, bowed their heads at his feet, and withdrew to sit to one side.
Four Asura Kings—the Most Victorious Asura, the Desire-Brocade Asura, the Peaceful Dwelling Asura, and the Breath-Sucking Asura—along with an incalculable number of hundreds of thousands of asura people, came to where the Buddha was, advanced, bowed their heads at his feet, and withdrew to sit to one side.
Four Garuḍa Kings—the King of Great Body, the King of Great Perfection, the King Who Attained Spiritual Powers, and the King Unshakable—all came to where the Buddha was, bowed their heads at his feet, and withdrew to stand to one side.
King Ajātaśatru of Magadha, with his ten sons and various hosts, came to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and withdrew to sit to one side.
All the devas, nāgas, spirits, and people of the world paid homage, reverently served, and sat in attendance.
爾時世尊與四部眾眷屬圍繞而為說經，講演菩薩方等大頌一切諸佛嚴淨之業。說斯經已，昇于自然師子之床加趺而坐，三昧正受定意，名曰立無量頌。尋應所宜，不見身貌、不得心意，所坐立處則有瑞應，天雨、意華、大意華、柔軟音華、大柔軟音華，散世尊上及於大會四部之眾，普佛國土六反震動。時大眾會比丘、比丘尼、清信士、清信女，天、龍、神鬼、揵沓惒、阿須倫、迦留羅、真陀羅、摩休勒、人與非人，國王君主大力轉輪聖王，各與營從，咸悉一心瞻戴世尊，意皆愕然怪未曾有。於時佛放面口結光明，普炤東方萬八千佛土，其大光明照諸佛國，靡不周遍，至於無擇大地獄中，上徹三十三天，彼此世界六趣周旋，所有蒸民一切皆現，其界諸佛現在所由，此土眾會悉遙見之；彼土覩斯亦復如是，十方諸佛所說經法，普遍聞焉。諸比丘、比丘尼、清信士、清信女，修行獨處者逮得德果一切表露，又諸菩薩意寂解脫，其出家者求報應行，皆亦悉現；諸佛世界滅度眾聖，所建寶廟自然為現。
At that time, the World-Honored One, surrounded by the fourfold assembly of disciples, expounded the scripture, teaching the great verses of the bodhisattva’s universal method and the pure deeds of all buddhas. Having spoken this sutra, he ascended the natural lion throne, sat cross-legged, entered samādhi, and attained right concentration, called “Establishing Immeasurable Verses.” Immediately responding as appropriate, his bodily form became invisible, his mind could not be grasped, and where he sat there appeared auspicious signs: heavenly flowers rained down, great flowers of intention, soft sound-flowers, great soft sound-flowers, scattering over the World-Honored One and the great assembly of the fourfold disciples. Throughout the buddha-lands, the earth quaked in six ways.
Then the great assembly—bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, upāsakas, upāsikās, devas, nāgas, spirits, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans, kings, rulers, and great cakravartin kings, each with their retinues—all with one mind gazed upon the World-Honored One, their minds astonished at this unprecedented sight.
Thereupon the Buddha emitted a light from his face and mouth, illuminating eighteen thousand buddha-lands in the eastern direction. That great light shone upon all those buddha-lands, reaching everywhere, down to the Avīci hells and up to the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Throughout those worlds, the six destinies revolving therein, all living beings became visible. The buddhas presently abiding in those lands were seen from this assembly, and likewise from those lands this assembly was seen. The teachings spoken by the buddhas in the ten directions were universally heard.
Bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, upāsakas, upāsikās who practiced in solitude attained virtuous fruits, all revealed. Moreover, bodhisattvas whose minds were tranquil and liberated, and those who had left home seeking karmic results, all became manifest. In the buddha-worlds, the jeweled stūpas of the holy ones who had attained parinirvāṇa spontaneously appeared.
於是彌勒菩薩心自念言：「今者世尊，如來、至真、等正覺，三昧正受，現大感變，多所降伏，覩未曾有，天上世間諸佛廟寺，恢闊彰顯，將何所興而有此瑞？從昔暨今未曾見也。欲問其歸，孰堪發遣解斯誼乎？」尋改思曰：「今者大士溥首童真，所作已辦靡所不達，供養過去無數諸佛，曾當瞻覲如來、至真、等正覺，如此瑞應欲請問之。」
Then the Bodhisattva Maitreya thought to himself: “Now the World-Honored One, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, abiding in samādhi, manifests this great wondrous transformation, subduing many, revealing what has never been seen before. The temples and shrines of the buddhas throughout the heavens and the world are magnified and made manifest. What is the cause of this auspicious sign? From ancient times until now, such a thing has never been seen. I wish to ask about its meaning, but who is capable of inquiring and explaining this principle?”
Then he further reflected: “Now the great being Mañjuśrī Kumārabhūta has completed what was to be done and is omniscient. He has made offerings to countless buddhas of the past and has beheld the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One. He is the one to ask about this auspicious sign.”
時四部眾比丘、比丘尼、清信士、清信女，諸天、龍、神、揵沓惒、阿須倫、迦留羅、真陀羅、摩休勒，志懷猶豫得未曾有，見斯大聖無極威曜神足變化，各各發意，欲問世尊決散疑網。慈氏大士見眾會心，便問溥首曰：「仁者惟說，今何因緣有此瑞應，大聖神足放大光明，照于東方萬八千土，諸佛世界自然為現，所說經法皆遙聞之？」
At that time, the fourfold assembly—bhikkhus, bhikkhunīs, laymen, and laywomen—along with devas, nāgas, yakkhas, gandhabbas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas, their minds filled with doubt and wonder at something unprecedented, beheld this great sage’s boundless majestic radiance and supernatural transformations. Each of them conceived the intention to ask the World-Honored One to resolve and dispel their net of doubts. The great being Maitreya, perceiving the minds of the assembly, then addressed Mañjuśrī, saying: “O Virtuous One, please explain: what is the cause for this auspicious sign today? The great sage, through supernatural power, emits a brilliant light illuminating eighteen thousand lands in the eastern direction, causing the buddha-worlds to appear naturally, and the Dharma teachings spoken there are all heard from afar?”
於是慈氏以頌而問溥首曰：
Then Maitreya inquired of Mañjuśrī in verse:
「文殊師利！ 今何以故， 導利眾庶，
放演光明？ 甚大威曜， 出于面門，
神變遍照， 十方㸌然； 天雨眾華，
紛紛如降， 意華大意， 柔軟音華，
種種若干， 其色殊妙， 栴檀馨香，
悅可眾心， 嚴淨巍巍， 皆悉周遍。
今日四輩， 欣然踊躍， 於此佛土，
十方世界， 六反震動， 莫不傾搖。
于彼光明， 則照東方， 萬八千土，
其暉普徹， 諸佛境土， 紫磨金色，
煌煌灼灼， 㷿無不接。 國邑群萌，
莫不蒙賴， 達盡上界， 入無擇獄。
眾庶受生， 用無明故， 滅沒墮落，
歸此諸趣。 斯等黎民， 覩見因緣，
若干之趣， 今現嚴淨， 賢明不肖，
中間品類， 吾於此住， 皆遙見之。
又覩諸佛， 而師子吼， 演說經典，
開闡法門， 消除眾生， 無數之穢。
歌頌聖教， 出柔軟音， 其響深妙，
令人欣踊。 各各自捨， 境界所有，
講說譬喻， 億載報應， 分別敷演，
於此佛法。 一切眾生， 所造苦患，
以無巧便， 治老病死， 猶斯等類，
說寂滅度。 比丘當知， 貧劇困惱，
眾人則處， 安雅快樂， 積累功德，
乃見聖尊， 又得逮至， 緣一覺乘，
一切令入， 於此道業， 見佛殊異，
諸所經籍， 或有志求， 無上之慧。
一切世間， 見若干形， 斯等眾類，
歌詠佛德。 仁者溥首！ 彼所言說，
我立住此， 今悉見聞， 及餘無數，
諸億千眾， 在此遊居， 吾悉覩眄。
又見佛土， 不可計數， 諸菩薩等，
如江河沙， 億百千數， 而不減少，
建志精進， 興發道意。 或有放捨，
諸所財業， 而行布施。 金銀珍寶，
明月真珠， 車𤦲馬腦， 奴婢車乘，
床臥机榻， 諸所珍異， 環珮瓔珞，
於是具足， 皆用惠賜， 悉以勸助，
上尊佛道。 今我等類， 聞斯音聲，
安住所歎， 正覺大乘， 遊於三界，
而無所猗， 其人速逮， 得獲斯願。
或以諸乘， 則而施與， 諸華伎樂，
欄楯莊嚴， 簫成鼓吹， 音節所娛，
四事如應， 惠與奉授， 以此布施，
心不悋惜。 妻妾子孫， 所重輦輿，
或慮非常， 手足與人， 志不矜愛，
皆用惠施， 欲以慕求， 此尊佛道。
復有捨身， 給諸所有， 頭眼支體，
無所遺愛， 所以布施， 用成佛道，
志願逮獲， 如來聖慧。 溥首童真！
吾瞻國王， 與眷屬俱， 而出遊立，
中宮后妃， 婇女貴人， 族姓娛樂，
俱禮佛身。 眾庶朋黨， 悉詣導師，
而於法王， 啟問經典， 則除俗服，
下其鬚髮， 而被袈裟， 以為法式。
我覩若干， 諸菩薩眾， 比丘知友，
頓止山巖， 獨處閑居， 解暢空無，
或有受經， 而讀誦讚。 吾復瞻見，
開士之黨， 英雄儔疋， 出入山谷，
專精思惟， 歷察眾相， 分別講說，
演諸佛乘， 捐棄愛欲， 永使無餘。
常自纂修， 悕仰正行， 安住諸子，
不離閑居， 則便逮得， 成五神通。
高妙之士， 志平等句， 向諸導師，
恭敬叉手， 心懷踊躍， 歌詠佛德，
以數千偈， 歎人中王。 覩無所畏，
志踊調和， 曉了分別， 出家之業，
諮稟經典， 於兩足尊， 所聞頻數，
尋即執翫， 安住眾子， 先自修已。
我又遙見， 諸佛孫息， 為無數億，
人民講法， 而現報應， 兆載難計，
志懷欣喜， 自歸正法， 勸助開化。
無數菩薩， 降伏眾魔， 秉勢官屬，
而雷擊扣， 於此法鼓， 善逝典誥。
我又覽歷， 諸天人神， 所共宗奉，
安住諸子， 不以奇雅， 益用寂然，
履行定隱， 無所猗著， 猶如師子，
開化度眾， 令發道意。 眾生在居，
手執所供， 心懷悅豫， 僉然俱詣。
又諸佛子， 立於精進， 棄捐欲塵，
常得自在， 建志經行， 遊諸樹間，
心願勤修， 根求佛道。 而護身口，
常行清淨， 禁戒安隱， 不畏生死，
於彼秉心， 具足諸行， 以斯禁戒，
寤諸不覺。 最勝之子， 據忍辱力，
為諸貢高， 卑下謙順， 輕毀罵詈，
若撾捶者， 其求佛道， 默然不校。
吾或復觀， 菩薩之眾， 一切棄離，
調戲伎樂， 與諸力勢， 親友等俱，
其心堅固， 平如虛空。 蠲除諸穢，
憒亂之意， 建立一心， 消滅陰蓋，
禪思思惟， 億百千歲， 布施立意，
求尊佛道。 或自割損， 多所惠潤，
刈除貪嫉， 閑不懷懅， 飲食供具，
所當得者， 及無數人， 諸病醫藥。
又復施與， 衣被服飾， 檀已濟裸，
無所藏積。 與營從俱， 面見最勝，
在上化立， 億百千供。 所造珍寶，
及栴檀香， 多有床座， 明珠諸藏。
現在目前， 奉上安住， 其寶之價，
直億百千。 所覩園觀， 樹葉華實，
具足鮮淨， 悅可人意。 夙夜修行，
兼加進獻， 上人正士， 諸聲聞等，
所可慧益， 品列如斯， 雜種若干，
歡喜濟乏， 深自欣慶， 而建道行，
以此所施， 願求尊覺。 或有得人，
寂然法誼， 察諸報應， 眾億兆載，
發起民庶， 使其悔過， 令捨億寶，
志願佛道。 曉了觀察， 不祕悋法，
滅除三事， 寂等如空， 安住之子，
悉無所著， 斯等智慧， 求尊佛道。
溥柔軟音， 吾復覩見， 諸滅度佛，
安住開化。 諸所現在， 大菩薩眾，
咸共奉敬， 最勝舍利。 吾覲佛廟，
億千之數， 凡難限計， 如江河沙。
在于億土， 常見尊戴， 諸所化現，
最勝由已。 七寶自然， 清淨而現，
具足里數， 二十五萬。 諸蓋幢幡，
各有數千， 廣長周匝， 各二千里，
其蓋妙好， 殊異嚴淨。 所在眾香，
珍寶自然， 諸果芬馥， 伎樂和雅。
鬼神羅剎， 肅恭人尊， 安住諸子，
所興感動， 以用供養， 舍利若斯。
今此佛廟， 昱鑠璨麗， 普布香華，
如晝度樹。 於斯人眾， 無數億千，
悉遙覩見， 煒曄斒斕， 衣毛為竪，
眷屬馳造， 欲見最勝， 顯發光明。
人中之上， 演大光燿， 妙哉明哲，
離垢無漏， 乃能闡現， 如斯弘暉，
示諸佛土， 無央數千。 見此瑞應，
得未曾有。 如是疇類， 諸大變化，
唯願溥首， 具說斯誼。 吾今欽羨，
及諸佛子， 於四部眾， 心懷悅豫。
渴仰仁者， 兼見瞻察， 今日安住，
何所因由， 奮大光明， 而從口出，
解散狐疑， 勸發欣躍。 何故佛現，
無極大光？ 如斯所變， 當有所感。
安住之子， 願用時說。 大聖所成，
此微妙法， 在于道場， 正士敷演。
世雄導師， 所由方面， 願為分別。
此諸菩薩， 欲見佛土， 無央數千，
群生倫品， 眾寶嚴淨， 諸佛自現，
無量明目。 凡新學者， 得無猶豫，
諸最勝子， 普共啟問。 悅諸人民，
天神羅剎， 四部之眾， 一切戴仰。
今者溥首， 惟具分別。」
O Mañjuśrī! For what reason now do you guide and benefit the multitude, Radiating a great light? With immense majestic brilliance, it issues from your face, A divine transformation illuminating everywhere, Shining brightly throughout the ten directions; Heavenly flowers rain down, Falling like a gentle shower, Flowers of delight, flowers of great joy, Softly fragrant flowers, Of various kinds and colors, wondrous and splendid, With sandalwood fragrance, Gladdening the hearts of all, Majestic and pure, vast and lofty, Filling everywhere completely. Today the fourfold assembly, Joyful and elated, Throughout this buddha-land, In worlds of the ten directions, Trembles in sixfold motion, All shaken and stirred. By that light, The eastern direction is illuminated, Eighteen thousand lands, Its radiance universally penetrating, All buddha-fields, Like burnished gold, Brilliant and dazzling, Reaching without exception. The beings of towns and cities, All receive its grace, Reaching even the highest heavens, Down to the Avīci hell. Sentient beings, due to ignorance, Are born, perish, fall, Returning to these various destinies. These multitudes See the causes and conditions, The various destinies, Now manifest in purity, The wise and the foolish, Those of intermediate grades— From here I dwell, And see them all from afar. I also see the buddhas, Lion-roaring, Expounding the scriptures, Opening the Dharma-gates, Cleansing sentient beings Of countless defilements. Praising the holy teachings, With gentle voices, Their sound profound and wondrous, Causing people to rejoice. Each abandoning All that belongs to their realm, They preach parables, Countless eons of karmic retribution, Expounding and elucidating This Buddha-Dharma. All the sufferings Created by sentient beings, Due to lack of skillful means To cure old age, sickness, and death— For such as these, They speak of tranquil extinction and liberation. Bhikṣus, know this: The poor, distressed, afflicted multitudes Then dwell in ease, elegance, and happiness, Accumulating merit, And thus see the Holy One, And also attain The vehicle of the pratyekabuddha. All are led into This path of practice. Seeing the Buddha’s extraordinary qualities, The scriptures he expounded, Some aspire to seek The supreme wisdom. All the world Sees various forms; These multitudes Sing praises of the Buddha’s virtues. O Benevolent One, O Foremost Leader! All that they say, As I stand here, I now see and hear, And also countless others, Hundreds of thousands of millions of beings Dwelling and moving here— I behold them all. I also see buddha-lands Beyond calculation, And bodhisattvas, Numerous as the sands of the Ganges, Hundreds of thousands of millions in number, Not decreasing, Resolute and vigorous, Arousing the mind of the Way. Some relinquish All their wealth and possessions, And practice giving. Gold, silver, jewels, Moon-pearls, genuine pearls, Lapis lazuli, carnelian, Servants, chariots and carriages, Beds, couches, seats and benches, All precious rarities, Earrings, necklaces, garlands— Thus fully endowed, They bestow them all as gifts, Entirely dedicating them To the supreme Buddha-Way. Now we, such as these, Hearing these sounds, Dwell securely, praising The Great Vehicle of right enlightenment, Moving through the triple world Without attachment; Such persons swiftly attain And achieve this vow. Or with various carriages They give as alms, With flowers, music, Balustrades adorned, Flutes, drums, and conches, Melodies for delight, The four necessities as appropriate, They give and offer, Practicing such giving Without a grudging heart. Wives, concubines, sons, grandsons, Their cherished chariots, Or even, considering impermanence, Their own hands and feet to others— Their minds not proud or attached, They give them all away, Wishing to seek This supreme Buddha-Way. Again, some relinquish their bodies, Offering all they have, Heads, eyes, limbs, Leaving nothing beloved, Thus practicing giving To accomplish the Buddha-Way, Vowing to attain The holy wisdom of the Tathāgata. O Foremost Youth! I behold kings, Together with their retinues, Going forth to wander and stand, With queens of the inner palace, Ladies, noble women, Clansmen amusing themselves, All paying homage to the Buddha’s body. Multitudes, companions, All approach the Guide, And to the Dharma-King They inquire about the scriptures, Then cast off their lay garments, Shave off hair and beard, And don the monastic robe, Taking it as the Dharma-model. I see various Hosts of bodhisattvas, Bhikṣu companions, Dwelling in mountain cliffs, Alone in secluded places, Comprehending emptiness and non-being. Some receive the scriptures, Reciting and praising them. I further behold Companies of open-minded ones, Heroes and peers, Entering and leaving mountain valleys, Diligently concentrating and contemplating, Examining all phenomena, Distinguishing and expounding, Elucidating the Buddha-vehicle, Abandoning desire and attachment, Forever leaving no remainder. Constantly cultivating themselves, Yearning for right practice, These secure abiding sons Do not leave seclusion, And thus attain The five supernormal powers. Noble ones of lofty virtue, Aspiring to the phrase of equality, Toward the Guides Reverently join their palms, Hearts filled with joy, Singing praises of the Buddha’s virtues, With thousands of verses Extolling the King among Humans. Beholding fearlessness, Minds elated and harmonious, Clearly understanding and distinguishing The undertaking of leaving home, They inquire of the scriptures From the Two-Legged Honored One; What they hear repeatedly, They then grasp and ponder, Secure abiding sons, First cultivating themselves. I also see from afar The Buddha’s grandsons and descendants, For countless hundreds of millions Of people expounding the Dharma, Manifesting karmic retributions, Trillions beyond calculation, Hearts filled with joy, Taking refuge in the right Dharma, Encouraging and guiding. Countless bodhisattvas Subdue the hordes of Māra, With his powerful officials, And thunderously strike This Dharma-drum, The proclamation of the Sugata. I also survey Gods, humans, spirits, All revering and honoring, Secure abiding sons, Not with strangeness or elegance, But rather with tranquility, Practicing concentration and serenity, Without attachment, Like lions, Guiding and liberating beings, Causing them to arouse the mind of the Way. Beings in their dwellings, Holding offerings in hand, Hearts filled with gladness, All together approach. Also, the Buddha’s sons, Established in vigor, Abandoning the dust of desire, Always attain mastery, Resolute in walking meditation, Wandering among trees, Hearts vowing diligently, Seeking the Buddha-Way. Guarding body and speech, Always practicing purity, Keeping precepts securely, Unafraid of birth and death, With such minds, Perfecting all practices, Through these precepts Awakening the unawakened. The supreme sons, Relying on the power of patience, For the arrogant, Are humble and submissive; When reviled, insulted, Or beaten and struck, They, seeking the Buddha-Way, Remain silent and do not contend. I also observe Hosts of bodhisattvas, All abandoning Frivolous amusements and entertainments, Together with powerful Relatives and friends, Their minds firm, Level as space. Eliminating defilements, Disturbed thoughts, Establishing single-mindedness, Dispelling the obscurations of the aggregates, In meditation contemplating, For hundreds of thousands of millions of years, Practicing giving with resolve, Seeking the supreme Buddha-Way. Some cut and harm themselves, Bestowing much moisture, Eradicating greed and jealousy, Secluded without regret, Food, drink, provisions, Whatever should be obtained, And for countless people, Medicines for illnesses. Again they give Clothing, garments, adornments, Almsgiving to aid the naked, Without hoarding. Together with their retinues, They personally see the Supreme One, Erected above, transforming, Offering hundreds of thousands of millions of offerings. Created jewels, And sandalwood incense, Many seats, Pearls and various treasuries. Present before them, They offer to the Secure Abiding One, The value of those jewels Worth hundreds of thousands of millions. The gardens they see, Trees, leaves, flowers, fruits, Fully fresh and pure, Delighting people’s minds. Day and night practicing, Additionally making offerings, To superior persons, true sages, The śrāvakas and others, The benefits of wisdom they bestow Are of such kinds, Various and manifold, Joyfully aiding the needy, Deeply rejoicing within, And establishing practice of the Way, Through such giving, Vowing to seek supreme enlightenment. Some attain The Dharma-meaning of tranquility, Observing all karmic retributions, Multitudes of billions and trillions, Rousing the people, Causing them to repent, Making them relinquish billions of treasures, Aspiring to the Buddha-Way. Clearly understanding and observing, Not concealing or grudging the Dharma, Eliminating the three things, Tranquil, equal, like space, Secure abiding sons, Entirely without attachment, Such wisdom, Seeking the supreme Buddha-Way. O Foremost Gentle Voice! I also behold Buddhas who have attained nirvana, Securely abiding, guiding. All those presently existing Great bodhisattva multitudes All together revere and honor The supreme relics. I see Buddha-stūpas, Hundreds of thousands of millions in number, Beyond all limits and calculations, Like the sands of the Ganges. In hundreds of millions of lands, I constantly see them honored and upheld, All manifested transformations Of the Supreme One by himself. The seven treasures appear spontaneously, Pure and manifest, Fully extending For two hundred fifty thousand leagues. Canopies, banners, pennants, Each numbering in the thousands, Wide, long, and encircling, Each two thousand leagues, The canopies exquisite, Extraordinarily adorned and pure. Wherever they are, fragrances, Jewels appear spontaneously, Various fruits richly fragrant, Music harmonious and elegant. Ghosts, spirits, rākṣasas, Reverently honor the Human Honored One, Secure abiding sons, Arousing such感动, Using them to make offerings To relics like these. Now this Buddha-stūpa, Brilliant, radiant, splendid, Universally covered with fragrant flowers, Like the coral tree. Among these multitudes, Countless hundreds of millions, All see from afar Its dazzling, variegated splendor, Their body hairs standing on end, Retinues hastening to approach, Wishing to see the Supreme One, Manifesting brilliant light. The Foremost among Humans Radiates great brilliance; Excellent, wise, Free from defilement, without outflows— Only thus can he display Such vast radiance, Showing buddha-lands Innumerable thousands. Seeing these auspicious signs, We attain what we never had before. Such kinds, These great transformations— We only wish, O Foremost Leader, You would fully explain this meaning. Now I admire, Together with the Buddha’s sons, And the fourfold assembly, Hearts filled with joy. We thirstily long for you, O Benevolent One, And also wish to observe: Today, O Secure Abiding One, For what reason Do you send forth great light, Issuing from your mouth, Dispelling doubts, Encouraging and arousing joy? Why does the Buddha manifest Limitless great light? Such transformations Surely must have a cause. O Secure Abiding Sons, We wish you would explain in due time. The subtle Dharma Accomplished by the Great Sage, At the site of enlightenment, Expounded by the true sages— O World-Hero, O Guide, From which direction it comes, We wish you would distinguish. These bodhisattvas Wish to see buddha-lands, Innumerable thousands, Classes of sentient beings, Adorned with many jewels, pure and majestic, The buddhas themselves manifesting Immeasurable clear vision. All new learners May be without hesitation; All supreme sons Together inquire. Gladdening the people, Gods, spirits, rākṣasas, The fourfold assembly, All look up with reverence. Now, O Foremost Leader, We only ask you to distinguish fully.
於是溥首告慈氏、諸大士眾會者族姓子女：「吾心惟忖，今者如來，當敷大法演無極典，散大法雨、擊大法鼓、吹大法螺，講無量法。又自追憶，乃從過去諸佛世尊見斯像瑞，彼如來等所放光明亦復若茲，猶斯識察知講大法。諸如來、至真、等正覺，欲令眾生聽無極典，故現斯應。所以者何？世尊欲令群生洗除俗穢，聞服佛法，現弘大變光明神化。又念往故無央數劫不可思議無能度量，時有如來，號日月燈明至真、等正覺、明行成為、善逝、世間解、無上士、道法御、天人師，為佛、世尊，演說經典，初語亦善、中語亦善、竟語亦善，分別其誼微妙具足，究竟清淨修梵行，為聲聞乘講陳聖諦，則令眾庶度生老死憂惱眾患入近無為。為諸菩薩大士之眾，顯揚部分分別六度無極無上正真。
Then Samantabhadra addressed Maitreya and the great multitude of bodhisattvas, along with the sons and daughters of noble families gathered there: “I contemplate in my heart that now the Tathāgata is about to expound the great Dharma, proclaim the boundless teaching, shower the great Dharma rain, beat the great Dharma drum, blow the great Dharma conch, and teach the immeasurable Dharma. Moreover, I recall that in the past, upon seeing such auspicious signs as these, the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, emitted light exactly like this; by observing such signs, one knows that the great Dharma is to be proclaimed. All Tathāgatas, the Truly Enlightened Ones, the Perfectly Enlightened Ones, wishing to enable sentient beings to hear the boundless teaching, manifest such responses. Why is this? The World-Honored One desires to cleanse sentient beings of worldly defilements, to have them hear and absorb the Buddha-Dharma, and thus reveals this vast transformation of radiant spiritual power. Furthermore, I recollect that in the past, countless inconceivable, immeasurable kalpas ago, there was a Tathāgata named Candrasūryapradīpa, the Truly Enlightened One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, the Well-Gone One, the Knower of the World, the Unsurpassed One, the Tamer of Beings, the Teacher of Gods and Humans, the Buddha, the World-Honored One. He expounded a sūtra, excellent in the beginning, excellent in the middle, and excellent in the end, with its meaning fully distinguished, subtle and complete, perfectly pure, cultivating the holy life. For the śrāvaka vehicle, he taught the Noble Truths, enabling the multitude to cross over birth, old age, sickness, death, sorrow, and distress, and to enter the near shore of nirvāṇa. For the assembly of bodhisattva great beings, he revealed and distinguished the six pāramitās, the boundless, supreme, true enlightenment.
「又族姓子，其日月燈明如來滅度之後，次復有佛，亦號日月燈明。滅度之後，次復有佛，亦號日月燈明。滅度之後，復次有佛，亦號日月燈明。如是等倫八十如來，皆同一號日月燈明，胄紹一姓。若斯之比二萬如來，佛語莫能勝。彼二萬如來最前興者，號日月燈明，最後起者，故復名曰日月燈明如來、至真、等正覺，其佛說經，初語、中語、竟語皆善，分別其誼微妙具足淨修梵行，為諸聲聞講說四諦、十二因緣，生老病死愁慼諸患，皆令滅度究竟無為。為諸菩薩講六度無極，使逮無上正真道，至諸通慧。
Furthermore, noble son, after the Thus Come One Sun-Moon-Lamp passed into final nirvana, there next appeared a Buddha, also named Sun-Moon-Lamp. After his passing, there next appeared a Buddha, also named Sun-Moon-Lamp. After his passing, there next appeared a Buddha, also named Sun-Moon-Lamp. In this manner, eighty such Thus Come Ones, all bearing the same name Sun-Moon-Lamp, descended in succession from a single lineage. Of such kind were twenty thousand Thus Come Ones, whose words none could surpass. The first to arise among those twenty thousand Thus Come Ones was named Sun-Moon-Lamp, and the last to arise was likewise named Sun-Moon-Lamp Thus Come One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. That Buddha expounded the sutra with words excellent in the beginning, excellent in the middle, and excellent in the end, elucidating its meaning with subtlety and completeness, cultivating the pure holy life. For the śrāvakas, he taught the Four Noble Truths and the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination—birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, and all sufferings—enabling them to extinguish these and ultimately attain the unconditioned. For the bodhisattvas, he taught the Six Perfections, enabling them to attain the unsurpassed, true, and perfect enlightenment and reach all spiritual powers.
「其日月燈明如來未出家時有八子：一名有志，二曰善意，三曰加勸，四曰寶志，五曰持意，六曰除慢，七曰響意，八曰法意，是八太子則如來子，神足弘普。時一一子各各典主四域天下，其土豐殖治以正法無所侵枉，而見世尊棄國修道逮最正覺適聞得佛，尋皆離俗不顧重位，詣世尊所悉為沙門，皆志無上正真之道，盡為法師，常修梵行，於無央數百千諸佛殖眾德本。」
The Thus Come One Sun-Moon-Lamp Bright, before leaving home, had eight sons: the first named Aspiration, the second Good Intention, the third Encouragement, the fourth Jeweled Intention, the fifth Steadfast Intention, the sixth Removing Pride, the seventh Resonant Intention, and the eighth Dharma Intention. These eight princes, sons of the Thus Come One, possessed vast spiritual powers. Each presided over one of the four continents of the world. Their lands were prosperous, governed with righteous Dharma, free from oppression or injustice. Upon seeing the World-Honored One renounce the kingdom to cultivate the path and attain perfect enlightenment, hearing of his accomplishment, they all abandoned worldly life, disregarding their lofty positions. They approached the World-Honored One and all became śramaṇas, each aspiring to the unsurpassed true path. All became Dharma teachers, constantly cultivating pure conduct, and planted roots of virtue before countless hundreds of thousands of buddhas.
又曰：「阿逸！時日月燈明，勸發菩薩護諸佛法，而為眾會講演大頌方等正經。時彼世尊於座寂然，以無量頌三昧正受即不復現，無身無意都不可得心無所立。世尊適三昧已，天雨意華、大意華、柔軟音華、大軟音華，而散佛上及於大會四部之眾，應時其地六反震動，國中人民各取天華復散佛上，四部弟子諸天世人愕然疑怪。其佛三昧未久威神德本，面出一光，其光普照東方萬八千佛土，靡不周遍，諸佛國土所可造作悉自然現，亦如今日諸佛土現。彼時世尊與二十億諸菩薩俱，於眾會中講說經法。諸菩薩大士覩大光明普照世間，而其佛世有菩薩，名曰超光，侍者十八人，有一菩薩而獨勞懈，名曰名聞，佛三昧正受，從三昧起，為超光菩薩講正法華方等之業，諸菩薩行皆說佛法，一處安坐具足六十劫說斯經典，眾會亦然，身不傾動心無因緣。又彼世尊六十中劫，因為諸會說法，聽者一無疲厭心不勞擾。
Again he said: "Ajita, at that time, the Buddha Sun-Moon-Lamp-Brightness, encouraging and inspiring the bodhisattvas to protect all the Buddha-dharmas, preached for the great assembly the Mahāvaipulya Sūtra of the Correct Dharma. At that time, the World-Honored One, sitting silently on his seat, entered into samādhi through immeasurable verses and was no longer visible; without body, without thought, entirely ungraspable, with mind unestablished. As soon as the World-Honored One entered samādhi, from the heavens rained down flowers of intention, great flowers of intention, flowers of soft sound, and great flowers of soft sound, scattering upon the Buddha and upon the great assembly of the fourfold congregation. Immediately, the earth shook in six ways. The people of the land each took heavenly flowers and scattered them again upon the Buddha. The fourfold disciples, the gods and humans, were astonished and perplexed. Not long after the Buddha entered samādhi, by the power of his fundamental virtue, a light issued from his face. That light universally illuminated eighteen thousand Buddha-lands in the eastern direction, leaving none unpervaded. All the Buddha-lands and their creations were naturally revealed, just as the Buddha-lands are revealed today. At that time, the World-Honored One, together with two billion bodhisattvas, preached the Dharma within the great assembly. The bodhisattva-mahāsattvas beheld the great light universally illuminating the world. And in that Buddha’s world, there was a bodhisattva named Surpassing Light, attended by eighteen persons. There was one bodhisattva who alone was weary and lax, named Renowned. The Buddha, having entered samādhi and arisen from it, preached for the bodhisattva Surpassing Light the work of the Correct Dharma Flower, the Mahāvaipulya, explaining all the practices of the bodhisattvas and proclaiming the Buddha-dharma. Seated in one place, for a full sixty kalpas he expounded this sūtra, and the assembly likewise, their bodies not leaning or moving, their minds free from causes and conditions. Moreover, that World-Honored One, for sixty intermediate kalpas, preached the Dharma for those assemblies. The listeners were not the least wearied, their minds neither fatigued nor disturbed.
「日月燈明六十劫中，為諸菩薩講演《法華》方等正經，便自說言，當般泥洹。告天世人、諸梵魔眾、沙門梵志、阿須倫、鬼神、諸比丘等：『察於其時，如來夜半至無餘界當般泥洹。』授其菩薩首藏之決，告諸比丘：『吾滅度後，首藏開士當逮無上正真道成最正覺，號離垢體如來、至真、等正覺。』佛授決已，尋於夜半而取滅度。彼世尊子等類八人，皆歸超光菩薩大士而順教勅，咸志無上正真之道，見無央數億載諸佛，供養奉侍悉逮正覺，最後興者號曰法事。十八人中有一菩薩，於利無節慇懃求供，尊己貪穢多於三病，分別句誼中而忽忘，便得於閑不復懅務。時族姓子得名聞定，以斯德本從不可計億百千佛，求願得見悉奉眾聖。」
For sixty kalpas, the Sun-Moon-Lamp Buddha expounded the orthodox sutras of the Lotus and Vaipulya for the assembly of bodhisattvas, then declared that he would enter parinirvāṇa. He announced to the devas, humans, Brahmā, Māra, śramaṇas, brāhmaṇas, asuras, spirits, and all bhikṣus: "Observe this time—at midnight, the Tathāgata will reach the realm of no remainder and enter parinirvāṇa." He bestowed the prediction upon the foremost bodhisattva, Treasury, and told the bhikṣus: "After my parinirvāṇa, the noble bodhisattva Treasury will attain the unsurpassed, true, and perfect enlightenment, and become the Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha named Stainless Body."
Having conferred this prediction, the Buddha entered parinirvāṇa at midnight. The eight sons of that World-Honored One all followed the great bodhisattva Superb Light, obeyed his instructions, and aspired to the unsurpassed true path. They beheld countless hundreds of thousands of millions of buddhas, made offerings to them, served them, and all attained perfect enlightenment. The last to arise among them was named Dharma Practice.
Among the eighteen bodhisattvas, there was one who diligently sought offerings without restraint, exalting himself with greedy defilements exceeding the three poisons. While analyzing the meanings of the phrases, he suddenly forgot them and obtained leisure, no longer burdened by toil. This noble son attained the concentration of renowned hearing. Through this virtuous root, from incalculable hundreds of thousands of millions of buddhas, he sought and vowed to behold them all, serving the multitude of sages.
溥首謂莫能勝：「欲知爾時比丘法師號超光者，則吾是也。其名聞菩薩大士而懈怠者，則莫能勝是。是故當知，見此世尊所見瑞應放其光明，吾觀察之，今日大聖當為我等講《正法華》方等典籍。」
Pūṣya addressed Anantajaya, saying, "Know that the monk Dharma teacher named Surpassing Light at that time was none other than I. The one known as the bodhisattva mahāsattva who was indolent was you, Anantajaya. Therefore, you should understand that upon witnessing the auspicious signs manifested by the Tathāgata and the radiance of his light, I observed them and knew that today the Great Sage would expound for us the Mahāvaipulya scripture, the *Saddharmapuṇḍarīka*."
於是溥首菩薩，欲重現誼，說此頌曰：
Then, the Bodhisattva Universal Wisdom, wishing to reiterate the meaning, spoke this verse:
「吾自憶念， 往古過去， 不可思議，
無央數劫。 最勝造誼， 智慧無上，
其號名曰， 日月燈明。 彼講說法，
聖達無極， 開化眾生， 不可計億。
勸助發起， 無數菩薩， 不可思議，
億百千人。 於時如來， 尊者諸子，
皆為幼童， 見佛導師， 則從所尊，
悉作沙門， 棄捐愛欲， 一切所有。
導利世者， 為講說法， 所演經典，
名無量頌， 而號最上， 厥誼如此，
開化黎庶， 億千之數。 大聖適說，
斯經典已， 能仁至尊， 處於法床，
加趺而坐， 尋有瑞應， 三昧正受，
名無量頌。 於時即雨， 大意音華，
又現電㷿， 大雷音聲， 諸天鬼神，
住於虛空， 一心奉敬， 人中之尊。
尋則感動， 諸佛國土， 從其眉間，
顯出妙㷿， 放斯光明， 無量難限，
不可計人， 怪未曾有。 其明遍照，
東方佛土， 周萬八千， 億數世界。
常以應時， 多所分別， 示于眾生，
終始根原。 或有佛土， 立諸寶蓋，
光如琉璃， 及若水精， 以導師光，
威神之曜， 現若干種， 瑰異雅麗。
諸天人民， 并鬼神龍， 揵沓惒等，
驚喜希有。 其有專精， 奉事安住，
彼諸世界， 皆自然現。 又見諸佛，
各各自由， 端正姝妙， 紫磨金色，
如琉璃中， 而有眾寶， 在於會中，
為雨法教。 其諸聲聞， 不可稱計，
嗟歎無量， 安住弟子。 一切導師，
一一世界， 又光明曜， 皆悉巍巍。
常行精進， 戒無所犯， 忍辱之力，
猶明月珠。 世尊諸子， 現無央數，
遊於閑居， 山林曠野， 一切禪定，
不起因緣， 若有加害， 不興瞋恨。
諸菩薩眾， 如恒沙數， 安住光明，
感動若斯， 心念無常， 不為放逸，
忍辱樂禪， 不捨一心。 有安住子，
普悉來現， 自伏其志， 慕尊佛道，
立審諦住， 其心寂然， 各以緣便，
多所開化。 無數佛界， 廣說經法，
世尊所為， 感應如此。 又覩大聖，
猶如船師， 所出光明， 蔽日月暉。
一切眾生， 所立歡喜， 各各問言，
此何感變？ 天人所奉， 從三昧起，
未久之頃， 導師便坐。 其菩薩者，
名曰超光， 而作法師， 佛為解說，
世間之眼， 蠲除眾趣， 唯安悅我，
示諸種大， 為我分別。 於斯經法，
吾愍眾生， 以是教化， 建立勸助。
諸菩薩眾， 聞佛教詔， 欣然嗟歎。
於時世尊， 說大經法， 所演具足，
六十中劫， 於一床上， 結加趺坐。
導師化世， 說殊特教， 彼諸佛等，
皆已滅度。 其法師者， 超光仁人，
最勝所演， 講說經典。 無央數人，
皆悉歡喜， 惟願大聖， 分別解之。
在諸天上， 及與世間， 講說經典，
自然之誼， 顯示眾庶， 此《正法華》。
告諸比丘， 吾已時到， 當於夜半，
而取滅度， 修無放逸， 堅固其心。
吾已解說， 諸經法教。 大聖神通，
難得值遇， 於無央數， 億那術劫，
常當供養。 無量佛子， 憂惱諸患，
甚亦苦劇。 時聞世尊， 所現章句，
觀於無為， 採習言教。 值覩人尊，
所見安慰， 會無數人， 不可思憶。
比丘莫懼， 吾當泥曰， 我去然後，
已不復現。 第二菩薩， 號曰首藏，
無有諸漏， 無所不入， 當究竟逮，
尊上佛道， 所號名曰， 離垢之體。
即尋於此， 夜半之時， 便取滅度，
盡執光耀。 其佛舍利， 而廣分布，
即起塔廟， 無量億載。 諸比丘等，
及比丘尼， 志悉慕求， 上尊佛道，
不可稱限， 如江河沙， 常修精進，
尊安住教。 爾時比丘， 為法師者，
超光大人， 執持經典， 一坐之頃，
演說尊法， 則具足滿， 八十中劫。
彼時侍從， 有十八人， 教化度之，
皆蒙安隱。 此等值見， 無數億佛，
至心供養， 諸大聖尊， 常尊奉教，
柔順之法， 於諸世界， 皆各成佛。
尊得自在， 受持無量， 各各授決，
使逮正覺。 於時諸佛， 皆悉究竟，
定光世尊， 最後得佛， 大仙日月，
開化聖眾， 導師所化， 巨億百千，
安住所興， 諸大威化。 法師超光，
則吾身是。 爾時侍從， 志懈怠者，
求索利養， 親屬交友， 志所願求，
但慕名聞。 周旋行來， 詣諸族姓，
捨置所學， 不諷誦讀。 彼時不肯，
分別而說， 以故其人， 唐載此名。
於佛法教， 欲使稱譽， 其人由此，
所造德本， 在住世尊， 而有瑕疵，
值見諸佛， 億千之數。 積累功德，
廣普大聖， 專修正行， 得最順忍，
又覩世尊， 於斯能行。 然於將來，
最後世時， 當得無上， 尊佛正道，
成至世尊， 號曰慈氏。 教化眾生，
無數億千， 逮得勇猛， 所在自由。
安住滅度， 仁順其教， 於彼世時，
比像如是。 我身爾時， 則為法師，
是以之故， 行哀如此。 過世覩見，
如是之類， 安住之仁， 變動若茲。
本第一察， 如斯瑞應， 彼時世尊，
無量明目， 諸釋中王， 現第一誼，
今者欲說， 《正法華》典。 吾過世時，
所聞道業， 今日變化， 而得具足。
諸導師尊， 行權方便， 大釋師子，
建立興發， 講說經法， 自然之教，
諸懷道意， 悉叉手歸。 導利世者，
今者分別， 當雨法雨， 柔軟法教，
普潤飽滿， 履道意者。 其有諸天，
入於無為， 志懷狐疑， 而有猶豫。
若有菩薩， 求斯道意， 今當蠲除，
吾我之想。」
I recall in the past, Immeasurable, countless kalpas ago, There was one of supreme virtue, With unsurpassed Wisdom (Prajñā), Whose name was Candrasūryapradīpa. He expounded the Dharma, Sagely reaching the ultimate, Transforming beings beyond calculation, Encouraging and inspiring Countless Bodhisattvas, Inconceivable in number, Hundreds of thousands of millions. At that time, the Tathāgata’s venerable sons, All being young, Seeing the Buddha as their guide, Followed their revered one, All becoming śramaṇas, Renouncing desires and attachments, All possessions. The Guide who benefits the world Expounded the Dharma for them, The sūtra he taught Was named Anantagāthā, And called the Supreme, Its meaning being thus, Transforming multitudes In numbers of hundreds of thousands of millions. When the Great Sage had finished Expounding this sūtra, The Honored One, the Able Sage, Sat upon the Dharma seat, Cross-legged in meditation, And soon there was an auspicious response: He entered a samādhi Named Anantagāthā. At that time, great Māndārava flowers rained down, And lightning flashes appeared, With great thunderous sounds. Devas, spirits, and ghosts Dwelling in empty space With single-minded reverence Honored the Honored One among humans. Soon, all Buddha-lands were stirred; From between his eyebrows Emerged a wondrous light, Radiating this illumination, Immeasurable and boundless, Causing countless beings To marvel at the unprecedented sight. That light universally illuminated Eastern Buddha-lands, Throughout eighteen thousand Million-world systems. Always in accordance with the occasion, It extensively differentiated, Revealing to beings Their fundamental origins. In some Buddha-lands, Jeweled canopies were erected, Their light like lapis lazuli Or crystal, And by the guide’s light, The majestic radiance Manifested various kinds Of wondrous and elegant beauty. Devas, humans, Spirits, dragons, Kinnaras, and others Were astonished and delighted at this rarity. Those who diligently Served and abided in Those various worlds All naturally appeared. They also saw Buddhas, Each freely manifesting, Upright and exquisite, With the color of refined gold, As if within lapis lazuli Were numerous jewels, In the assembly Showering the Dharma teachings. Their Śrāvakas Were beyond reckoning, Praising immeasurably The abiding disciples. All guides, In each world, Were further illuminated, All majestic and lofty. They constantly practiced vigor, Their precepts unbroken, Their power of patience Like a bright moon pearl. The World-Honored One’s sons Appeared in countless numbers, Dwelling in secluded places, Mountain forests, and wildernesses, All in meditation, Not arising from conditions, And if harmed, Not giving rise to anger. The assemblies of Bodhisattvas, Numerous as Ganges sands, Abiding in the light, Stirred thus, Contemplated impermanence, Avoiding negligence, Delighting in patience and meditation, Not abandoning single-mindedness. There were abiding sons Who universally came forth, Subduing their own minds, Yearning for the Buddha-way, Establishing themselves in truth, Their minds serene, Each according to opportunity Extensively transforming others. Innumerable Buddha-realms Extensively expounded the sūtra-dharma; Such were the responses stirred By the World-Honored One’s deeds. They further beheld the Great Sage Like a ship’s captain, The light he emitted Obscuring the sun and moon’s radiance. All beings Felt joy and each asked, “What is this transformation?” The one revered by devas and humans Arose from samādhi Not long after, And the guide then sat. The Bodhisattva Named Surpassing Light Acted as Dharma teacher; The Buddha explained for him, The eye of the world, Removing all destinies, “Only bring me peace and joy, Reveal the various greatnesses, Explain them for me. Regarding this sūtra-dharma, I pity beings; Thus I teach and transform, Establishing and encouraging The assemblies of Bodhisattvas.” Hearing the Buddha’s instruction, They rejoiced and praised. At that time, the World-Honored One Expounded the great sūtra-dharma, Fully teaching it For sixty intermediate kalpas, Sitting on one seat With legs crossed. The guide transforming the world Taught this extraordinary Dharma; Those Buddhas Have all already entered parinirvāṇa. The Dharma teacher, Surpassing Light, the benevolent one, Expounded the sūtra Taught by the Supreme One. Countless people All rejoiced, Wishing the Great Sage Would explain it separately. In the heavens And in the world, Expounding the sūtra, The natural meaning, Revealing to the multitudes This *Saddharmapuṇḍarīka*. He addressed the bhikṣus, “My time has come; I shall at midnight Attain parinirvāṇa. Cultivate diligence, Strengthen your minds. I have already explained All the sūtra-dharmas. The Great Sage’s spiritual powers Are rarely encountered; For immeasurable Hundreds of thousands of millions of kalpas, Always make offerings. Innumerable Buddha-sons Suffer afflictions and troubles, Extremely intense and bitter. Then hearing the World-Honored One’s Revealed verses, They contemplate the unconditioned, Absorbing the verbal teachings. Meeting the Honored One among humans, They are comforted by what they see, Gathering countless people, Inconceivable in number. Bhikṣus, do not fear; I shall attain nirvāṇa. After I depart, I shall no longer appear. The second Bodhisattva, Named First Treasury, Free from all outflows, Penetrating all, Will ultimately attain The supreme Buddha-way; His name shall be The Stainless One.” Then right at that Midnight hour, He attained parinirvāṇa, Exhausting all radiant light. His śarīra Were widely distributed, And stūpas were erected For immeasurable billions of years. The bhikṣus And bhikṣuṇīs, All aspiring to seek The supreme Buddha-way, Incalculable in number As Ganges sands, Constantly cultivated vigor, Honoring the abiding teachings. At that time, the bhikṣu Who was the Dharma teacher, Surpassing Light, the great being, Held the sūtra, And in one sitting Expounded the honored Dharma, Fully completing it In eighty intermediate kalpas. His attendants at that time Numbered eighteen; He taught and liberated them, All attaining peace and security. These ones encountered Countless billions of Buddhas, Wholeheartedly making offerings To the great sages, Constantly honoring the teachings, The gentle and compliant Dharma, And in various worlds Each attained Buddhahood. The honored ones attained mastery, Received and upheld immeasurably, Each receiving predictions To attain right awakening. At that time, all Buddhas Were fully accomplished; Dīpaṃkara, the World-Honored One, Was the last to attain Buddhahood. The great sage, sun and moon, Transformed the sagely assembly; The guide’s transformations Numbered hundreds of thousands of millions; The abiding ones arose, Performing great majestic transformations. The Dharma teacher Surpassing Light Was myself. At that time, the attendants Who were indolent in mind, Seeking offerings, Relatives, and friends, Their aspirations seeking Only fame and reputation, Circulating and traveling To various families, Abandoned their studies, Not reciting or reading. They were unwilling then To explain separately; Therefore, those people Bore this name in vain. In the Buddha’s Dharma teachings, Wishing to gain praise, Those people thereby Accumulated roots of virtue, But in the presence of the World-Honored One Had flaws; They encountered Buddhas In numbers of hundreds of thousands of millions. Accumulating merit, Universally the great sage, Diligently cultivating right practice, Attained the highest patient acceptance, And further beheld the World-Honored One Able to practice this. Yet in the future, In the final age, They shall attain the unsurpassed Supreme Buddha-way, Becoming a World-Honored One Named Maitreya. They shall transform beings In countless billions, Attaining fearlessness, Freely abiding wherever they are. Abiding in parinirvāṇa, Gentle and compliant to the teachings, In that age, The analogy is thus. At that time, I myself Was the Dharma teacher; Therefore, I act with such compassion. In past ages, seeing Such kinds, The benevolent abiding ones Stirred transformations thus. Originally the first sign, Such an auspicious response: At that time, the World-Honored One With immeasurable bright eyes, The king among Śākyas, Revealed the supreme meaning; Now he wishes to expound The *Saddharmapuṇḍarīka* sūtra. The path I heard In past ages, Today through transformations Is fully accomplished. All guiding honored ones Employ skillful means; The great Śākyan lion Establishes and inspires, Expounding the sūtra-dharma, The natural teaching; All with bodhicitta Join palms in homage. The guide who benefits the world Now explains separately, About to rain the Dharma rain, The gentle Dharma teaching, Universally moistening and satisfying Those treading the path of bodhicitta. If there are devas Entering the unconditioned, Yet harboring doubts And hesitations, Or if there are Bodhisattvas Seeking this bodhicitta, Now they shall remove Thoughts of self and ego.