持人菩薩經颰陀和五百人品第十四
Chapter 14: Bodhisattva Chiren and the Five Hundred
爾時，颰陀和等五百菩薩、橋曰兜菩薩，即從坐起長跪叉手，前白佛言：「我等世尊最後末世，臨法滅時當受是法，住於後世五濁之世，擁護正典持是景摸，諷誦奉持廣為人說。」
At that time, the five hundred bodhisattvas led by Bhadrapala and the bodhisattva Qiaoyuedou rose from their seats, knelt upright with palms pressed together, and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, in the final age, when the Dharma is about to perish, we will receive this teaching. In the tumultuous world of the latter days, we will protect this true doctrine, uphold this example, recite and cherish it, and widely proclaim it for the benefit of all."
復有無數諸菩薩等，各從坐起長跪叉手，諦視佛面，各興至願：「我等，世尊最後末世，被弘誓鎧受是景摸，順斯深妙佛所宣慧。諸菩薩等所積德本，道品之藏並使具足，所在遊居當擁護法，聞是經像益加喜樂受持諷誦，宣示未達深入大猷。」
Moreover, countless Bodhisattvas rose from their seats, knelt with palms together, gazing intently at the Buddha's face, each making a profound vow: "World-Honored One, in the final age, we will don the armor of great resolve, embrace this sublime teaching, and follow this profound wisdom proclaimed by the Buddha. May the roots of virtue accumulated by all Bodhisattvas and the treasure-store of the factors of awakening be brought to fullness. Wherever we dwell, we will uphold the Dharma. Hearing of this sutra and its teachings, we will rejoice all the more, embrace, recite, and proclaim it to those not yet awakened, guiding them into the great path."
時佛忻笑，口中五色光出，遍照三千大千佛土，地六返震動。賢者阿難即從坐起，長跪叉手，前白佛言：「佛何因笑？既笑當有意，光明普照地即大動。」
At that moment, the Buddha smiled joyfully, and from his mouth emerged light of five colors, illuminating the entire universe of three thousand worlds. The earth trembled in six ways. The venerable Ananda rose from his seat, knelt upright with palms pressed together, and said to the Buddha: "Why does the Buddha smile? A smile must have meaning. The light shines everywhere and the earth quakes greatly."
佛告阿難：「汝寧見此諸菩薩眾住立我前，在後末世當護正法，被弘誓鎧以救危厄？佛識念之往無數劫，於諸佛所被如是像弘誓之鎧，面從諸佛受斯經法持護三品，開導無數眾生之類，令是等來在於佛所，承三品義受是正法今立佛前，然後末世法臨沒時，多所開化未達眾生，如令受佛三品正法。在於賢劫諸佛興見，亦當從受千佛訓誨三品正法，又將來世諸佛聖所咸受亦然。
The Buddha said to Ananda, "Do you see these bodhisattvas standing before me? In the final age to come, they will protect the true Dharma, wearing the armor of great vows to rescue those in peril. The Buddha remembers that in countless eons past, at the courts of many Buddhas, they took up such vows of great armor. Face to face, they received this teaching from those Buddhas, upholding its threefold essence, and guided countless beings, leading them here to the Buddha's presence. Now they receive this true Dharma's threefold meaning and stand before the Buddha. Then, in the final age, when the Dharma is about to fade, they will teach and transform many who have not yet understood, just as they now receive the Buddha's threefold true Dharma. In the Worthy Eon, when many Buddhas appear, they will also receive the threefold true Dharma from the thousand Buddhas' instructions. And in the future, at the sacred assemblies of all Buddhas to come, they will likewise receive it."
「是等，阿難！諸族姓子！功勳名德不可得察，莫能稱計所行經法。是諸族姓子！安隱眾生而供養，假使如來班宣是等，以受正道安隱眾生，皆以不信。若不信者長夜不安，墮于惡趣。
「又復，阿難！當為汝等現其證明，如斯等類安隱眾生，正使三千世界一切眾生，皆由想行故墮地獄。假使大眾在地獄中，有一人生告地獄人：『無得恐怖，當為汝等一一道利，以時方便出大地獄苦惱之患。』則以己身一一濟之，移著安處一一人故，無數千歲忍在地獄，未曾懈廢普令致安。
「阿難！其人於眾生慈愍弘哀，寧增多不？出大地獄立大安隱？」
阿難言：「甚多！甚多！天中天！」
佛言：「假使彼人顯示神足如是巍巍，令眾生類立第一最有為之安，長樂無極成大哀愍，皆逮覆護其功德福，非心所思非言可暢。」
佛告阿難：「今故語汝，如彼菩薩於大地獄，出無數眾立之永安，所愍眾生若合集是，前所安隱順和眾生，使濟大難至有為安，百倍、千倍、億萬倍、巨億萬倍，不如族姓子受是像經。所以者何？計其所興有為之安，有極盡矣！不至無為、不離貪欲、不致滅度、逮神通正覺之業，不成寂志泥洹之要。
「又，阿難！是諸菩薩，建立眾生無上大安一切智業。又是菩薩，以大士法志學道乘，建立佛道度諸眾生，立諸聲聞、緣覺之地，勸助佛法修菩薩行住于大道。斯諸族姓子，勸助眾生行菩薩法，不料佛教諮啟大雄，受立弘慈成一切智故功無限。」
佛言：「阿難！由是正法，若千劫中若無數劫，不可計限億百載劫，懸邈如是。諸佛世尊常不空閒，展轉相教，及餘無數億百千姟劫，轉復相度使成佛，而無窮功故無限。所以者何？億千百佛本住宿世，行菩薩業建立佛道，斯等之類在在所生，受是經典各用勸助，逮無上正真之道成最正覺。將來之世無數菩薩，多所開化不可計眾，以是勸助具足佛法，成無上正真之道也。
「如是，阿難！諸族姓子訓立眾生，一切智安無上大道。欲平等有法父母者，正當謂之諸佛菩薩道法父母。今是菩薩擁護自歸普得自立，是所謂安颰陀和，橋曰兜等五百人等，則法父母，斯諸菩薩護是正典。族姓子、族姓女等，不違佛教，亦不絕一切智本，於將來世臨法欲沒，為諸眾生建立大護，住在大哀開益一切，以是勸助在於末世，而安護之不墮惡趣，令無數千億菩薩若無數佛共嗟嘆！是族姓子等，功勳之德不能究竟。所以者何？是諸族姓名勳至德不可思議。」
佛告阿難：「佛無數劫億千兆載，合集積累是正法寶。其受是法族姓子等，十方無數不可計會。諸佛世尊遊無限土，今現在者咸共擁護，學是法者皆令安隱。」
佛言：「阿難！天上世間，悉為是等諸族姓子，稽首敬禮歸命諮受，十方諸佛悉嗟嘆之，所演經法以示不逮。
「阿難！佛以豫印印是族姓決一切疑，若後末世受如是像無上正法，持諷誦說宣布同學，是族姓子及族姓女，以為疾近一切智業。臨法滅時，聞是景摸深妙經法懷喜信者，佛以授決行菩薩乘。如是至真最後末世愛護是法，建立己身而愛樂法。佛以勸助，是諸族姓子及族姓女，而不誹謗斯深妙法。佛預授決諸聲聞乘，見彌勒佛出現於世，諸漏已盡無有愛欲，用受信是深妙法故，未曾誹謗致是功報。」
佛言：「若菩薩學聞是深法信樂悅豫，亦皆授決。在於彌勒如來世時，出家學寂而復誓願，乃有殊特。佛謂是族姓子女，德本調柔功勳無際，臨法欲沒最後末世，受斯深法奉行精進，德不可量巍巍如是。」