佛母大金曜孔雀明王經序
Preface to the Great Golden Peacock Bright King Sutra
《佛母大孔雀明王經》者，牟尼大仙之靈言也，總持真句、悲救要門，綰悉地之玄宗、息波瀾之苦海。二十八部之神眾，同誓護於斯經，羅剎吞毒之都軍，發慈心而警衛，藥叉大將數窮百姟，動石擎山，散支為首，捧香花於舍衛，起淨念於祇林，禮明行之牟尼，忻所談之深法，樂飡禪悅，希甘露以洗心。佛乃悲愍將來，託莎底而演教，自陳因地，為彼鳥王，被羂網羅，命如懸露。忽思古聖，無上覺皇，演陀羅尼，能超眾苦，發聲應念，繫縛氷銷，適樂青空，翔騰自在，迄於成佛，詶彼曩因，逝多林中，述斯密教。咨嗟末代，蠢蠢含靈，去聖遠遙，運生像季，多逢留難，異種魔生，修行者被惑情迷，居家者眾邪為患，妖祇祳怪，常現災祥，若不此經，何威能制？是以多聞慶喜，親奉聖言，結集貝多，周傳沙界。然此支那數朝翻譯，民雖遭難，尚未遍宣，即蓋緣往時譯者詞質而文梗，潤文者闕方便之妙言，雖聖旨不乖，尋讀者引肩而翥目。今所譯者，即中天竺國三藏國師和尚不空，善唐梵之言，窮五天之教，來於此國，勅令於大明宮，乃譯此經，勒成三卷，題云「佛母大金曜孔雀明王經」矣，莫不廣開佛日，高照重昏，祕密真詮，遍流同益，靈符既顯，萬障自袪，法藥普施，業患永滅。願此法燈常耀，總法界而清安，聖壽千春，保金枝而長茂，天龍警護，法化恒宣，佛勅流暉，塵劫不朽。
The Sutra of the Great Peacock Wisdom King is the sacred utterance of the Great Sage Śākyamuni. It is a collection of essential mantras and a crucial gateway to compassion and salvation. It weaves together the profound path to spiritual accomplishment and calms the turbulent sea of suffering. The twenty-eight classes of divine beings have sworn together to protect this sutra. The formidable armies of rākṣasas, who devour poison, develop compassionate minds and stand guard. There are hundreds of billions of yakṣa generals, who can move mountains and lift boulders. Led by their chief, they offer incense and flowers in Śrāvastī, cultivate pure thoughts in Jeta’s Grove, revere the enlightened practitioner, delight in the profound Dharma he teaches, enjoy the bliss of meditative absorption, and long for the nectar of the Dharma to purify their minds.
The Buddha, out of compassion for future generations, used the story of a blacksmith's apprentice to teach this Dharma. He recounted how, in a past life, he was once the king of peacocks. Caught in a snare, his life was as precarious as a dewdrop. He suddenly remembered the ancient teachings of the supreme enlightened one and recited the dhāraṇī, which has the power to transcend all suffering. As soon as he recited it, his bonds melted like ice. He regained the joy of flying freely in the clear blue sky. Now, having attained Buddhahood, he fulfilled his past vow and taught this secret teaching in Jeta’s Grove.
He lamented for the ignorant beings of this degenerate age, who live far from the time of the Buddha. Born into an era that is merely an image of the true Dharma, they face many obstacles and various forms of demonic influence. Practitioners are confused, and householders are afflicted by all sorts of evils. Spirit hauntings, weird portents, and constant disasters appear. Without this sutra, what power could possibly subdue them? Therefore, the learned Ānanda, having personally received the Buddha’s holy words, compiled them into palm-leaf manuscripts, which were then spread throughout the world.
While this sutra has been translated several times in China, even though people faced difficulties, it has not yet been widely disseminated. This is because previous translators used language that was rough and awkward. The editors lacked the skillful Dharma-wordplay. Although the sacred meaning was not distorted, readers had to strain their necks and squint to understand it.
Now, this translation was made by the Tripitaka Master and State Preceptor Vajrabodhi from Central India. He is a master of both Chinese and Sanskrit, deeply versed in the teachings of the five regions of India. On imperial orders, he came to the Great Ming Palace and translated this sutra, producing three fascicles. It is titled "The Sutra of the Buddha Mother, the Great Golden Peacock Wisdom King." This work will, without exception, broadly illuminate the sun of the Buddha’s wisdom, shining brightly into the deep darkness. The secret, true teachings will flow everywhere for the benefit of all. Since this divine talisman has been revealed, a thousand obstacles will naturally be removed. As this sacred Dharma-medicine is universally administered, the karmic suffering of beings will be eliminated forever.
May this Dharma-lamp shine eternally, bringing purity and peace to the entire Dharma realm. May the emperor live for a thousand springs, keeping the royal lineage ever flourishing. May the gods and dragons always protect and watch over. May the Buddha's Dharma always be proclaimed. May the Buddha's command radiate its light, imperishable for eons.
(此經須知大例，若是尋常字體傍加口者，即須彈舌道之，但為此方無字故借音耳；餘自准可依字直說，不得漫有聲勢，致使本音即便乖梵韻。又讀誦時，聲合長短，字有輕重，看注四聲而讀，終須師授方能愜當。又須粗識字義呼之，始可隨情。若至我某甲處，咸須具述所求之事。然此經有大神力，求者皆驗，五天之地，南海十洲，及北方吐貨羅等二十餘國，無問道俗，有小乘大乘者，皆共遵敬讀誦求請，咸蒙福利，交報不虛。但為舊經譯文有闕，致使神洲不多流布，雖遭厄難，讀誦者尚稀。故今綜尋諸部梵本，勘會委的，更重詳審，譯成三卷，并畫像壇場軌式，利益無邊，傳之永代耳。)
<note>Regarding this sutra, it is important to know the general rules: if a character is written in its regular form but has a small "口" added beside it, it should be pronounced with a rolled tongue. Since our language lacks a specific character for this sound, we borrow the standard character while adjusting the pronunciation. All other instances should be read directly according to the character's standard pronunciation—do not add unnecessary intonations, as this would deviate from the authentic Sanskrit rhythm.
When reciting, adjust the sound length according to the tone: vowels have different lengths, and syllables carry emphasis. Follow the tone marks indicated for each character. Ultimately, you need guidance from a teacher to recite correctly. You must also have a basic understanding of the meaning of each word before you can recite it with proper intention.
In sections where it says "I, so-and-so," you should clearly state the specific wish you are seeking to fulfill. This sutra possesses great spiritual power, and all who earnestly seek will see results. In the Five Regions of India, the Ten Continents of the Southern Sea, and more than twenty other countries including the Kingdom of Tukhāra—whether monastics or laypeople, Mahāyāna or Hīnayāna practitioners—everyone respects, recites, and earnestly requests its blessings. They all receive its benefits, and these rewards are real and not in vain.
However, because the earlier translation of this sutra was incomplete, it has not been widely circulated in China. Although people have faced hardships, few have recited it. Therefore, I have now gathered various Sanskrit recensions, compared them thoroughly, and carefully examined them. I have now translated them into three volumes, including the method for setting up the image and the ritual mandala. The benefits are boundless, and I pass this on so it may spread for generations.</note>