金光明經堅牢地神品第九
Chapter 9: The Earth Goddess
爾時地神堅牢白佛言：「世尊！是金光明微妙經典，若現在世若未來世，在在處處——若城邑聚落，若山澤空處，若王宮宅。世尊！隨是經典所流布處，是地分中敷師子座，令說法者坐其座上，廣演宣說是妙經典；我當在中常作宿衛，隱蔽其身於法座下頂戴其足。我聞法已，得服甘露無上法味增益身力，而此大地深十六萬八千由旬，從金剛際至海地上，悉得眾味增長具足，豐壤肥濃過於今日。以是之故，閻浮提內藥草樹木、根莖枝葉華果滋茂，美色香味皆悉具足。眾生食已，增長壽命色力辯安，六情諸根具足通利，威德顏貌端嚴殊特；成就如是種種等已，所作事業多得成辦，有大勢力精勤勇猛。
Then Earth God Firm and Steadfast said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, this wonderful Sutra of Golden Light — whether in the present age or in the future, wherever it spreads — in towns and villages, in mountains and wilderness, in royal palaces, World-Honored One, wherever this sutra is circulated, in that land I shall arrange a lion's throne, so that the Dharma teacher may sit upon it and extensively expound this wonderful sutra. I will always stand guard there, concealing my body beneath the Dharma seat, reverently upholding the teacher's feet. Having heard the Dharma, I will feast on the supreme flavor of the nectar of the Dharma, strengthening my body and power. And this great earth, sixteen hundred thousand yojanas deep, from the diamond realm to the surface of the sea, shall be filled with all kinds of flavors, abundant and rich beyond what it is today. For this reason, within Jambudvipa, the medicinal herbs, trees, roots, stems, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits will all flourish, complete with beautiful color, fragrance, and taste. Living beings who eat them will gain longer lives, radiant health, eloquence, and peace, with all six senses fully developed and acute. Their majestic virtue and appearance will become dignified and extraordinary. With all such achievements accomplished, whatever tasks they undertake will succeed, and they will possess great power, diligence, and courage."
「是故，世尊！閻浮提內安隱豐樂人民熾盛，一切眾生多受快樂，應心適意隨其所樂。是諸眾生得是威德大勢力已，能供養是《金光明經》，及恭敬供養持是經者四部之眾。我於爾時當往其所，為諸眾生受快樂故，請說法者廣令宣布如是妙典。何以故？世尊！是金光明若廣說時，我及眷屬所得功德倍過於常，增長身力心進勇銳。
"Therefore, World-Honored One, within Jambudvīpa, peace and prosperity will reign, the people will flourish, and all beings will enjoy great happiness, their minds content and their wishes fulfilled. Once these beings have gained such majestic power and great influence, they will be able to make offerings to this *Golden Light Sūtra*, and to reverently honor and support the fourfold assembly who uphold this sūtra. At that time, I will go to their abodes, and for the sake of bringing happiness to all beings, I will invite the Dharma teachers to widely proclaim this wonderful text. Why? World-Honored One, when this *Golden Light Sūtra* is extensively expounded, the merit gained by me and my retinue will be many times greater than usual, increasing our physical strength, sharpening our minds, and filling us with courageous vigor.
「世尊！我服甘露無上味已，閻浮提地縱廣七千由旬豐壤倍常。世尊！如是大地眾生所依，悉能增長一切所須之物，增長一切所須物已，令諸眾生隨意所用受於快樂——種種飲食衣服臥具、宮殿屋宅樹木林苑、河池井泉，如是等物依因於地悉皆具足。是故，世尊！是諸眾生為知我恩，應作是念：『我當必定聽受是經，供養恭敬尊重讚歎。』作是念已，即從住處，若城邑聚落舍宅空地，往法會所聽受是經。既聽受已還其所止，各應相慶作如是言：『我等今者聞此甚深無上妙法，已為攝取不可思議功德之聚，值遇無量無邊諸佛，三惡道報已得解脫，於未來世常生天上人中受樂。』是諸眾生各於住處，若為他人演說是經，若說一喻一品一緣，若復稱歎一佛一菩薩一四句偈乃至一句，及稱是經首題名字。世尊！隨是眾生所住之處，其地具足豐壤肥濃過於餘地，凡是因地所生之物，悉得增長滋茂廣大，令諸眾生受於快樂，多饒財寶好行惠施，心常堅固深信三寶。」
"World-Honored One! Having tasted the supreme nectar of immortality, the land of Jambudvipa, seven thousand yojanas in breadth, has become far more fertile than before. World-Honored One! This great earth, on which all beings rely, is able to grow everything they need. Once all necessities are provided, beings can use them as they wish and enjoy happiness—various foods, drinks, clothing, bedding, palaces, houses, trees, gardens, ponds, wells, and springs—all these things are fully supplied because of the earth.
Therefore, World-Honored One! These beings, recognizing my kindness, should think: 'I must surely listen to this sutra, and offer it reverence, respect, and praise.' Having had this thought, they should go from their dwellings—whether in cities, villages, or open spaces—to the place where the Dharma is taught, and listen to this sutra. After listening, they should return to their homes and congratulate one another, saying: 'We have now heard this profound and supreme wonderful Dharma. We have already gathered an inconceivable store of merit, encountered countless boundless Buddhas, and been liberated from the retributions of the three lower realms. In future lives, we will always be born in heaven or among humans and enjoy happiness.'
These beings, each in their own dwelling, whether they teach this sutra to others, explain one metaphor, one chapter, or one cause, or praise one Buddha, one bodhisattva, one four-line verse, or even a single sentence, and mention the title of this sutra—World-Honored One! Wherever such beings dwell, that land will be fertile and rich beyond all other lands. Whatever grows from that earth will flourish and expand greatly, bringing happiness to all beings. They will be abundant in wealth and inclined to generosity, and their minds will remain firm and deeply faithful to the Three Jewels."
爾時佛告地神堅牢：「若有眾生，乃至聞是《金光明經》一句之義，人中命終隨意往生三十三天。地神！若有眾生，為欲供養是經典故莊嚴屋宅，乃至張懸一幡一蓋及以一衣，欲界六天已有自然七寶宮殿，是人命終即往生彼。地神！於諸七寶宮殿之中，各各自然有七天女共相娛樂，日夜常受不可思議微妙快樂。」
At that time, the Buddha said to the Earth Deity, Firm Ground: "If any sentient being merely hears a single phrase of the Golden Light Sutra, after death they will be reborn freely in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three Gods. Earth Deity, if any sentient being, wishing to make offerings to this sutra, decorates their house—even hanging a single banner, a single canopy, or offering a single piece of clothing—then in the six heavens of the desire realm, a natural palace of seven treasures will already appear for them, and after death, they will be reborn there. Earth Deity, within those palaces of seven treasures, seven heavenly maidens will naturally appear for each being, delighting together with them, experiencing inexpressible and exquisite joys both day and night."
爾時地神白佛言：「世尊！以是因緣，說法比丘坐法座時，我常晝夜衛護不離，隱蔽其形在法座下頂戴其足。世尊！若有眾生於百千佛所種諸善根，是說法者為是等故，於閻浮提廣宣流布是妙經典令不斷絕。是諸眾生聽是經已，未來之世無量百千那由他劫，於天上人中常受快樂，值遇諸佛，疾成阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，三惡道苦悉斷無餘。」
金光明經卷第二