妙法蓮華經卷第四
Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, Scroll 4
後秦龜茲國三藏法師鳩摩羅什奉 詔譯
Translated by the Tripitaka Master Kumarajiva of Kucha, under Imperial Command of the Later Qin Dynasty
五百弟子受記品第八
Here is the translation:
**Chapter Eight: The Prediction of Enlightenment for the Five Hundred Disciples**
爾時富樓那彌多羅尼子，從佛聞是智慧方便隨宜說法，又聞授諸大弟子阿耨多羅三藐三菩提記，復聞宿世因緣之事，復聞諸佛有大自在神通之力，得未曾有，心淨踊躍。即從座起，到於佛前，頭面禮足，却住一面，瞻仰尊顏目不暫捨，而作是念：「世尊甚奇特，所為希有！隨順世間若干種性，以方便知見而為說法，拔出眾生處處貪著。我等於佛功德，言不能宣，唯佛世尊能知我等深心本願。」
At that time, Purnamaitreyaniputra, having heard from the Buddha this teaching of wisdom and skillful means, delivered according to circumstances, and having also heard the prophecy given to the great disciples regarding their attainment of Supreme Perfect Enlightenment, and having further heard about the causes and conditions of past lives, and about the great transcendental powers of the Buddhas, experienced something never before felt. His mind was purified and filled with joy. He immediately rose from his seat, approached the Buddha, prostrated himself at the Buddha's feet with his head touching the ground, and then withdrew to one side, gazing upon the Buddha's venerable countenance without ever turning his eyes away. He thought to himself: "How extraordinary and rare is the World-Honored One! Responding to the various natures of beings in the world, he teaches the Dharma with skillful wisdom and insight, delivering sentient beings from their countless attachments. We cannot fully express the Buddha's virtues in words, for only the Buddha, the World-Honored One, can truly know the deep aspirations of our hearts."
爾時佛告諸比丘：「汝等見是富樓那彌多羅尼子不？我常稱其於說法人中最為第一，亦常歎其種種功德，精勤護持助宣我法，能於四眾示教利喜，具足解釋佛之正法，而大饒益同梵行者。自捨如來，無能盡其言論之辯。汝等勿謂富樓那但能護持助宣我法，亦於過去九十億諸佛所，護持助宣佛之正法，於彼說法人中亦最第一。又於諸佛所說空法，明了通達，得四無礙智，常能審諦清淨說法，無有疑惑，具足菩薩神通之力。隨其壽命，常修梵行，彼佛世人咸皆謂之實是聲聞；而富樓那以斯方便，饒益無量百千眾生，又化無量阿僧祇人，令立阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。為淨佛土故，常作佛事，教化眾生。
At that time, the Buddha said to the monks, "Do you see Purna Maitrayani-putra? I have always praised him as the foremost among those who teach the Dharma, and I have also often commended his many virtues—his diligence in upholding and aiding the proclamation of my teachings, his ability to guide, benefit, and inspire the fourfold assembly, his thorough explanation of the Buddha's true Dharma, and his great aid to fellow practitioners of the holy life. Apart from the Tathagata, no one could exhaust the eloquence of his discourse. Do not think that Purna only upholds and aids the proclamation of my teachings. In the presence of the ninety billion Buddhas of the past, he also upheld and aided the proclamation of their true Dharma, and among those who taught the Dharma, he was likewise the foremost. Moreover, he clearly understood and mastered the Dharma of emptiness taught by all Buddhas, attained the four unhindered insights, and always taught the Dharma with careful clarity, free from doubt, fully endowed with the transcendent powers of a bodhisattva. Throughout his life, he constantly practiced the holy life. The people of those Buddhas' worlds all thought he was truly a voice-hearer, but Purna, through such skillful means, benefited countless hundreds of thousands of beings, and also transformed immeasurable numbers of people, leading them to establish themselves in supreme, perfect enlightenment. To purify the Buddha-land, he constantly performed Buddha-work, teaching and transforming sentient beings."
「諸比丘！富樓那亦於七佛說法人中而得第一，今於我所說法人中亦為第一，於賢劫中當來諸佛，說法人中亦復第一，而皆護持助宣佛法。亦於未來，護持助宣無量無邊諸佛之法，教化饒益無量眾生，令立阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。為淨佛土故，常勤精進教化眾生，漸漸具足菩薩之道。過無量阿僧祇劫，當於此土，得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，號曰法明如來、應供、正遍知、明行足、善逝、世間解、無上士、調御丈夫、天人師、佛、世尊。其佛以恒河沙等三千大千世界為一佛土，七寶為地，地平如掌，無有山陵谿澗溝壑，七寶臺觀充滿其中，諸天宮殿近處虛空，人天交接，兩得相見。無諸惡道，亦無女人，一切眾生，皆以化生，無有婬欲。得大神通，身出光明，飛行自在，志念堅固，精進智慧，普皆金色，三十二相而自莊嚴。其國眾生，常以二食：一者、法喜食，二者、禪悅食。有無量阿僧祇千萬億那由他諸菩薩眾，得大神通、四無礙智，善能教化眾生之類。其聲聞眾，算數校計所不能知，皆得具足六通、三明及八解脫。其佛國土有如是等無量功德莊嚴成就。劫名寶明，國名善淨。其佛壽命無量阿僧祇劫，法住甚久。佛滅度後，起七寶塔遍滿其國。」
"Monks, Purna also ranked foremost among the teachers of Dharma of the seven Buddhas, and now among those who teach the Dharma under me he is likewise foremost. Among the future Buddhas of this auspicious kalpa, he will also be foremost among Dharma teachers, and all of them will protect and help spread the Buddha Dharma. In the future as well, he will protect and help spread the Dharma of countless, boundless Buddhas, teaching and benefiting countless living beings, establishing them in supreme, perfect enlightenment. To purify his Buddha-land, he constantly applies diligence in teaching and transforming living beings, gradually fulfilling the path of the Bodhisattva. After countless asamkhya kalpas, he will attain supreme, perfect enlightenment in this land, with the title Dharma-Brightness Tathagata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Wisdom and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One. That Buddha's land will be made of worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, three thousand great thousandfold worlds combined into one Buddha-land. Its ground will be of the seven treasures, level as the palm of a hand, with no mountains, valleys, streams, ravines, or gullies. Pavilions and towers of the seven treasures will fill it. The palaces of the gods will be close by in the air, and gods and humans will meet and see one another. There will be no evil realms and no women. All living beings will be born by transformation, with no sexual desire. They will attain great supernormal powers, light will shine from their bodies, they will fly freely, their resolve and mindfulness will be firm, and they will be diligent and wise. All will be golden in color, adorned with the thirty-two marks. The living beings in that land will always eat two kinds of food: first, the food of joy in the Dharma; second, the food of delight in meditation. There will be countless asamkhyas of thousands, ten thousands, millions, nayutas of Bodhisattvas who have attained great supernormal powers and the four unhindered wisdoms, and who are skilled at teaching and transforming living beings. The assembly of Hearers will be beyond reckoning or calculation, and all will be complete in the six supernormal powers, the three insights, and the eight liberations. That Buddha-land will be accomplished with countless virtues and adornments such as these. The kalpa will be named Treasure Brightness, and the land will be named Good Purity. That Buddha's lifespan will be countless asamkhya kalpas, and the Dharma will remain for a very long time. After that Buddha passes into nirvana, seven-jeweled stupas will be built throughout that land."
爾時世尊欲重宣此義，而說偈言：
Then the World-Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, proclaimed verses, saying:
「諸比丘諦聽！ 佛子所行道，
善學方便故， 不可得思議。
知眾樂小法， 而畏於大智，
是故諸菩薩， 作聲聞緣覺，
以無數方便， 化諸眾生類。
自說是聲聞， 去佛道甚遠，
度脫無量眾， 皆悉得成就，
雖小欲懈怠， 漸當令作佛。
內祕菩薩行， 外現是聲聞，
少欲厭生死， 實自淨佛土。
示眾有三毒， 又現邪見相，
我弟子如是， 方便度眾生。
若我具足說， 種種現化事，
眾生聞是者， 心則懷疑惑。
今此富樓那， 於昔千億佛，
勤修所行道， 宣護諸佛法。
為求無上慧， 而於諸佛所，
現居弟子上， 多聞有智慧。
所說無所畏， 能令眾歡喜，
未曾有疲惓， 而以助佛事。
已度大神通， 具四無礙智，
知諸根利鈍， 常說清淨法。
演暢如是義， 教諸千億眾，
令住大乘法， 而自淨佛土。
未來亦供養， 無量無數佛，
護助宣正法， 亦自淨佛土。
常以諸方便， 說法無所畏，
度不可計眾， 成就一切智。
供養諸如來， 護持法寶藏，
其後得成佛， 號名曰法明。
其國名善淨， 七寶所合成，
劫名為寶明。 菩薩眾甚多，
其數無量億， 皆度大神通，
威德力具足， 充滿其國土。
聲聞亦無數， 三明八解脫，
得四無礙智， 以是等為僧。
其國諸眾生， 婬欲皆已斷，
純一變化生， 具相莊嚴身。
法喜禪悅食， 更無餘食想。
無有諸女人， 亦無諸惡道。
富樓那比丘， 功德悉成滿，
當得斯淨土， 賢聖眾甚多。
如是無量事， 我今但略說。」
"Monks, listen carefully! The path walked by the Buddha's disciples, because they have skillfully learned skillful means, cannot be comprehended or imagined. Knowing that beings delight in lesser teachings and fear great wisdom, the Bodhisattvas therefore take the forms of Shravakas and Pratyekabuddhas, and with countless skillful means they transform all kinds of living beings. Though they describe themselves as Shravakas, far removed from the Buddha's path, they liberate countless multitudes, all of whom attain accomplishment. Even those with small desires and laziness, they gradually lead to Buddhahood. Inwardly they conceal Bodhisattva practice; outwardly they appear as Shravakas—with few desires, weary of birth and death—while in truth they purify their own Buddha-lands. They show beings the three poisons, and also manifest views of wrong understanding. My disciples are like this, using skillful means to liberate living beings. If I were to fully explain all the various manifestations and transformations, beings who heard it would harbor doubt and confusion in their minds.
Now this Purna, in the presence of a thousand billion Buddhas of the past, diligently cultivated the path he walked, proclaiming and protecting the Dharma of all Buddhas. Seeking supreme wisdom, in the presence of all Buddhas he appeared as a foremost disciple, learned and wise. What he taught was fearless and could bring joy to the assembly. Never once did he show weariness, and thus he aided the Buddha's work. He had already crossed over with great supernormal powers, possessed the four unobstructed wisdoms, knew the sharp and dull capacities of beings, and constantly taught the pure Dharma. Expounding meanings such as these, he taught a thousand billion multitudes, establishing them in the Great Vehicle path, while purifying his own Buddha-land. In the future, too, he will make offerings to immeasurable, countless Buddhas, protect and help proclaim the true Dharma, and likewise purify his own Buddha-land. Always with various skillful means, he teaches the Dharma without fear, liberating incalculable multitudes and bringing them to the wisdom of all modes.
He will make offerings to all Tathagatas, protect and uphold the treasury of the Dharma, and afterward attain Buddhahood, with the title Dharma Radiance. His land will be named Excellent Purity, composed of the seven treasures, and his kalpa will be named Jewel Radiance. The assembly of Bodhisattvas there will be vast in number—immeasurable billions—all having crossed over with great supernormal powers, fully endowed with majestic virtue and strength, filling that land. Shravakas too will be countless, with the three insights and eight liberations, attaining the four unobstructed wisdoms—such ones will form the Sangha. All beings in that land will have cut off sexual desire entirely; they will be born by transformation alone, with perfectly adorned bodies. They will feed on the joy of Dharma and the bliss of meditation, with no thought of any other food. There will be no women, and no evil realms.
The monk Purna will be fully complete in merit and virtue, and will attain such a pure land, with a great assembly of noble and holy ones. Matters such as these are immeasurable; today I have only spoken of them in brief."
爾時千二百阿羅漢，心自在者，作是念：「我等歡喜，得未曾有。若世尊各見授記，如餘大弟子者，不亦快乎！」
At that time, the twelve hundred arhats whose minds were free and unobstructed had this thought: "We rejoice, having gained what we never had before. If the World-Honored One would bestow a prediction of enlightenment on each of us, as he did for the other great disciples, would that not be wonderful!"
佛知此等心之所念，告摩訶迦葉：「是千二百阿羅漢，我今當現前次第與授阿耨多羅三藐三菩提記。於此眾中，我大弟子憍陳如比丘，當供養六萬二千億佛，然後得成為佛，號曰普明如來、應供、正遍知、明行足、善逝、世間解、無上士、調御丈夫、天人師、佛、世尊。其五百阿羅漢：優樓頻螺迦葉、伽耶迦葉、那提迦葉、迦留陀夷、優陀夷、阿㝹樓馱、離婆多、劫賓那、薄拘羅、周陀、莎伽陀等，皆當得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，盡同一號，名曰普明。」
The Buddha knew what they were thinking, and said to Mahakashyapa: "These twelve hundred arhats—I will now, one by one, bestow upon them the prediction of their future attainment of Supreme Perfect Enlightenment. Among this assembly, my great disciple, the monk Kaundinya, will make offerings to six trillion two hundred billion Buddhas, and then attain Buddhahood, with the title Universal Light Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened in All Things, Perfect in Knowledge and Practice, Well-Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Beings, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One. The five hundred arhats—Uruvilva Kashyapa, Gaya Kashyapa, Nadī Kashyapa, Kalodayin, Udāyin, Aniruddha, Revata, Kapphina, Bākula, Chunda, Svāgata, and the rest—will all attain Supreme Perfect Enlightenment, all sharing the same title: Universal Light."
爾時世尊欲重宣此義，而說偈言：
「憍陳如比丘， 當見無量佛，
過阿僧祇劫， 乃成等正覺。
常放大光明， 具足諸神通，
名聞遍十方， 一切之所敬，
常說無上道， 故號為普明。
其國土清淨， 菩薩皆勇猛，
咸昇妙樓閣， 遊諸十方國，
以無上供具， 奉獻於諸佛。
作是供養已， 心懷大歡喜，
須臾還本國， 有如是神力。
佛壽六萬劫， 正法住倍壽，
像法復倍是， 法滅天人憂。
其五百比丘， 次第當作佛，
同號曰普明， 轉次而授記。
我滅度之後， 某甲當作佛，
其所化世間， 亦如我今日。
國土之嚴淨， 及諸神通力，
菩薩聲聞眾， 正法及像法，
壽命劫多少， 皆如上所說。
迦葉汝已知， 五百自在者，
餘諸聲聞眾， 亦當復如是。
其不在此會， 汝當為宣說。」
爾時五百阿羅漢於佛前得受記已，歡喜踊躍，即從座起，到於佛前，頭面禮足，悔過自責：「世尊！我等常作是念，自謂已得究竟滅度，今乃知之，如無智者。所以者何？我等應得如來智慧，而便自以小智為足。
「世尊！譬如有人至親友家，醉酒而臥。是時親友官事當行，以無價寶珠繫其衣裏，與之而去。其人醉臥，都不覺知。起已遊行，到於他國。為衣食故，勤力求索，甚大艱難；若少有所得，便以為足。於後親友會遇見之，而作是言：『咄哉，丈夫！何為衣食乃至如是。我昔欲令汝得安樂、五欲自恣，於某年日月，以無價寶珠繫汝衣裏。今故現在，而汝不知。勤苦憂惱，以求自活，甚為癡也。汝今可以此寶貿易所須，常可如意，無所乏短。』
「佛亦如是，為菩薩時，教化我等，令發一切智心。而尋廢忘，不知不覺。既得阿羅漢道，自謂滅度，資生艱難，得少為足。一切智願，猶在不失。今者世尊覺悟我等，作如是言：『諸比丘！汝等所得，非究竟滅。我久令汝等種佛善根，以方便故，示涅槃相，而汝謂為實得滅度。』
「世尊！我今乃知實是菩薩，得受阿耨多羅三藐三菩提記。以是因緣，甚大歡喜，得未曾有。」
爾時阿若憍陳如等，欲重宣此義，而說偈言：
「我等聞無上， 安隱授記聲，
歡喜未曾有， 禮無量智佛。
今於世尊前， 自悔諸過咎，
於無量佛寶， 得少涅槃分，
如無智愚人， 便自以為足。
譬如貧窮人， 往至親友家，
其家甚大富， 具設諸餚饍，
以無價寶珠， 繫著內衣裏，
默與而捨去， 時臥不覺知。
是人既已起， 遊行詣他國，
求衣食自濟， 資生甚艱難，
得少便為足， 更不願好者。
不覺內衣裏， 有無價寶珠。
與珠之親友， 後見此貧人，
苦切責之已， 示以所繫珠。
貧人見此珠， 其心大歡喜，
富有諸財物， 五欲而自恣。
我等亦如是， 世尊於長夜，
常愍見教化， 令種無上願。
我等無智故， 不覺亦不知，
得少涅槃分， 自足不求餘。
今佛覺悟我， 言非實滅度，
得佛無上慧， 爾乃為真滅。
我今從佛聞， 授記莊嚴事，
及轉次受決， 身心遍歡喜。」