The Sutra of the Most Holy and Supreme Dhāraṇī Sp (佛說聖最勝陀羅尼經)

The Sutra of the Most Holy Dhāraṇī Spoken by the Buddha

Translated by the Tripitaka Dharma Master Śīpahu of the Western Regions, Court Gentleman for Scattered Service, Probationary Minister of

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the city of Singala in the country of Parapata, at the Vimala Monastery. After the summer retreat had passed, on the twentieth day of the ninth month, there was a bhikkhu named Vayakarna. At that time, that bhikkhu left the great city of Singala and set out for the city of China, a distance of four yojanas. Along the way, he saw a great being, three zhang in height with a face four chi long, and knew it was the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī. Immediately he bowed at his feet, knelt with palms joined, and addressed the bodhisattva: "Why have you manifested this form and come here? Surely there is a reason." The bodhisattva replied: "So it is, so it is. Bhikkhu! The beings within this Jambudvīpa will suffer from illness and affliction. The asuras and garudas dwell on one side of Mount Sumeru, the king of mountains, and engage in battle with the devas and humans. For this reason, the sun and moon in the sky lose their radiance, and the stars do not appear. When the devas are defeated and the asuras prevail, then the various spirits and ghosts, taking advantage of this, transform into the shapes of women to harass beings, giving rise to various diseases: headaches, abdominal pain, pain in the eyes, ears, or nose; or causing boils, abscesses, scrofula, hemorrhoids, leakage, scabies, leprosy, sores, ringworm; or again, malaria fever that strikes every other day, every two days, every three days, every four days, and so forth, as well as wind disorders, phlegm ailments, and all malignant illnesses. Moreover, within Jambudvīpa, great winds and rains will fall, sometimes cold, sometimes hot, sometimes flooding, sometimes drought; the five grains will not ripen, the people will suffer famine and scarcity, and all will die prematurely. Furthermore, tigers, wolves, lions, hyenas, and other beasts will appear, harming sentient beings and seizing their vital essence. Thus, such numerous calamities will come pressing upon them with affliction."

At that time, the Great Being, having spoken these matters, addressed the Bhikkhus, saying: “I possess a sacred and most supreme Dhāraṇī, which increases wholesome roots and is able to remove all evils. If again there is a person who gives rise to a pure mind, makes offerings of incense, flowers, and so forth to the Three Jewels and to all the sages and saints, and for seven days and nights maintains pure fasting precepts while reciting this Dhāraṇī, then all these multitudes of calamities shall immediately be eliminated. The Dhāraṇī says:

Namo bhagavate Vimalamūrdhne rājāya tathāgatāya arhate samyaksaṃbuddhāya tadyathā vimala ratne vimala yoniśi ārāgati ārāgati svāhā namas sarva nīvaraṇa viṣkambhine satatāgatāya tadyathā hīma hīma mahā hīma svāhā namo ghanakarāya tathāgatāya tadyathā gaganākare gagana saṃbhave gagana kīrtite svāhā namas samanta gandhottama tathāgatāya tadyathā samaye svāhā namo aparājita gamināya tathāgatāya tadyathā amā hī svāhā namo manasāṃ bhāṣāya tathāgatāya tadyathā manasi śuddhi padma śrī padma saṃbhave kiṃkarī hiḍaṃkarīye svāhā namas sarva buddha bodhisattvānāṃ namo ārya mañjuśrīya tadyathā jaye jaye rama dhī hī mahā hī svāhā namo ārya avalokiteśvarāya bodhisattvāya tadyathā gagana dhāye gagana saṃbhave gagana mate gagana vikrānte ehe hi svāhā namo ārya samanta pradhānāya tathāgatāya tadyathā hi pradhare mahā pradhare amṛta pradhare vigata rājase mahā vigata rājase svāhā namo ārya vimala kīrti tathāgatāya anikīrtti sarva jñāna vajra saṃbhave vajra vinātake svāhā namas sarva buddha bodhisattvānāṃ tadyathā citta karaṇī vāraṇīye svāhā jhaṃ bhaṇi sāṃ bhaṇi mūla bhaṇi puṇḍarīkāya svāhā mūla nandī nandana bhaṇīye svāhā nīla vinīlīya kāla vikrīte svāhā saṃdhi savinīra paṇīye svāhā nīla vinīlīya svāhā lamba jaṭāya svāhā lūkika loka uttarāya svāhā anena vīrudhaniye svāhā dhūta karīye svāhā megha sphoṭanāya svāhā brahma ghargharāya svāhā sarva karma viśuddhāya svāhā sarva buddha visaṃskṛtāya svāhā eka śṛṅgāya svāhā bhūtāya svāhā abhūtāya svāhā sarva duḥkha praśamāya svāhā

At that time, after reciting this sacred and most supreme dhāraṇī, the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī addressed the bhikṣus, saying: “You should follow the proper ritual of this true Dharma. Each day, with sincere resolve and a purified mind, make offerings to seven bhikṣus, and present offerings to the Triple Gem and all the sages and saints. During the first watch of the night, perform the homa rite and kindle the fire; it can eliminate calamities and cause them to swiftly disperse. If there are good men or good women who uphold, recite, and widely proclaim this true Dharma for others, all their illnesses will be cured and healed.”

Furthermore, Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva addressed the bhikṣus, saying: "Listen attentively now. This sacred and supreme dhāraṇī possesses great illuminating power that widely benefits sentient beings, circulating through every land, city, town, and village in Jambudvīpa, enabling all beings to hear, receive, and uphold it. If a virtuous man or virtuous woman can recite this sūtra once, their own illnesses and sufferings will swiftly be eliminated. If recited twice, the illnesses and sufferings of their wives, sons, and daughters will all be eliminated. If recited three times, the illnesses and sufferings of all their relatives will be eliminated. If recited four times, the illnesses and sufferings of all the people in one nation will be eliminated. If recited five times, all the people within the king's domain and in every minor territory will attain peace and happiness, free from all diseases."

Furthermore, Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva said: "This true Dharma is of vast benefit and exceedingly rare. It should be swiftly propagated so that all sentient beings may attain the supreme merit. If anyone regards this scripture with a contemptuous mind, neither upholding nor reciting it, nor expounding and propagating it for others, so that all beings within the borders of that land are unable to hear it, that person incurs a transgression equal to the five heinous crimes. Therefore, O Bhikṣus! With faith and reverence, uphold this most sacred and supreme dhāraṇī, and do not allow it to be forgotten. Those who dwell on one side of Mount Sumeru—the gods, asuras, gandharvas, and others—I myself will subdue, so that the beings of Jambudvīpa may attain great peace and happiness."

When Mañjuśrī had spoken this Dharma, he suddenly became invisible. The Bhikṣu Vāyakarṇa, having heard what was said, felt great joy, faithfully accepted it, and diligently practiced it.

The Sutra of the Most Holy Dhāraṇī Spoken by the Buddha