悲華經卷第一
Chapter 1 of the Compassionate Flower Sutra
北涼天竺三藏曇無讖譯
Translated by Dharmarakṣa of the Northern Liang Dynasty
轉法輪品第一
Chapter 1: Turning the Dharma Wheel
如是我聞：
Thus I have heard:
一時佛在王舍城耆闍崛山，與大比丘僧六萬二千人俱，皆阿羅漢，諸漏已盡，無復煩惱，一切自在，心得解脫，慧得解脫；譬如善調摩訶那伽，所作已辦，捨於重擔，逮得己利，盡諸有結，正智得解，心得自在，於一切心，得度彼岸，唯除阿難。菩薩摩訶薩四百四十萬人，彌勒菩薩最為上首，皆得陀羅尼忍辱禪定，深解諸法空無定想，如是大士皆不退轉。是時，復有大梵天王與無量百千諸梵天子俱，他化自在天王與其眷屬四百萬人俱，化樂天王亦與眷屬三百五十萬人俱，兜率天王亦與眷屬三百萬人俱，夜摩天王亦與眷屬三百五十萬人俱，忉利天王釋提桓因亦與眷屬四百萬人俱，毘沙門天王亦與鬼神眷屬十萬人俱，毘樓勒天王亦與拘辦荼眷屬一千俱，毘樓勒叉天王亦與諸龍眷屬一千俱，提頭賴吒天王與乾闥婆眷屬一千俱，難陀龍王、婆難陀龍王亦各與一千眷屬俱，如是等眾，皆已發心趣於大乘，已行六波羅蜜。
Once, the Buddha was staying on Mount Vulture Peak in Rajagriha, together with sixty-two thousand great bhikshus. All were arhats, whose defilements had ended, who had no further afflictions, and were completely free. Their minds and wisdom were liberated, like a well-trained great elephant. They had completed what needed to be done, had set down their heavy burdens, had attained their own benefit, had put an end to all bonds of existence, and with true wisdom had attained liberation. Their minds were free, and in every aspect of mind, they had crossed to the other shore—with the sole exception of Ananda.
There were also four hundred forty thousand bodhisattva mahasattvas, with Maitreya Bodhisattva at their head. All had mastered the dharanis, patience, and meditative absorption, and deeply understood that all dharmas are empty and without fixed appearances. Such great beings were all irreversible in their realization.
At that time, there also arrived the Great Brahma Heavenly King, together with countless hundreds of thousands of Brahma gods; the King of the Heaven of Comfort from Others' Emanations, with his retinue of four million; the King of the Heaven of Blissful Emanations, with his retinue of three million five hundred thousand; the King of the Tushita Heaven, with his retinue of three million; the King of the Yama Heaven, with his retinue of three million five hundred thousand; Shakra, the King of the Trayastrimsa Heaven, with his retinue of four million; Vaishravana, the Heavenly King of the North, with his retinue of a hundred thousand spirits and ghosts; Virudhaka, the Heavenly King of the South, with his retinue of a thousand Kumbhanda spirits; Virupaksha, the Heavenly King of the West, with his retinue of a thousand nagas; and Dhritarashtra, the Heavenly King of the East, with his retinue of a thousand gandharvas. Additionally, the Naga King Nanda and the Naga King Upananda each came with a thousand attendants.
All of these beings had already awakened their resolve to follow the Great Vehicle and had practiced the six perfections.
爾時世尊，眷屬圍繞，為諸大眾說微妙法，除四顛倒，生善法明，得智慧光，了四聖諦，欲令來世諸菩薩等得入三昧，入三昧已，過於聲聞、辟支佛地，於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提無有退轉。
At that time, the World-Honored One, surrounded by his assembly, was teaching the profound Dharma to the great multitude. He helped them eliminate the four颠倒—mistaken views regarding permanence, joy, self, and purity—and awakened the light of wholesome qualities. By doing so, they attained the radiance of wisdom and clearly understood the Four Noble Truths. He wished that future bodhisattvas would enter samadhi (deep meditative absorption). Once they entered this samadhi, they would surpass the stages of Hearers (Shravakas) and Solitary Realizers (Pratyekabuddhas), and would never regress from the state of unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment (Anuttara Samyaksambodhi).
爾時，彌勒菩薩、無癡見菩薩、水天菩薩、師子意菩薩、日光菩薩，如是等上首菩薩摩訶薩十千人俱，即從座起，偏袒右肩，右膝著地，叉手合掌，向東南方，一心歡喜，恭敬瞻仰而作是言：「南無蓮華尊多陀阿伽度、阿羅呵、三藐三佛陀！南無蓮華尊多陀阿伽度、阿羅呵、三藐三佛陀！希有世尊！成阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，未久而能示現種種無量神足變化，令無量無邊百千億那由他眾生得種善根，不退轉於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。」
At that time, the ten thousand leading bodhisattvas, including Maitreya, Wuchijian, Water Heaven, Lion Mind, and Sunlight, rose from their seats. Adjusting their robes to bare their right shoulders, they knelt on their right knees, joined their palms, and faced the southeast. With one heart full of joy, they looked up in reverence and said:
"Homage to the Lotus Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One! Homage to the Lotus Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One! Rare and wonderful, World-Honored One! Though it has not been long since you attained supreme enlightenment, you have already manifested countless miraculous transformations, enabling infinite numbers of beings to plant roots of goodness and to never turn back from the pursuit of supreme enlightenment."
爾時，會中有菩薩摩訶薩，名寶日光明，即從座起，偏袒右肩，右膝著地，合掌向佛，而白佛言：「彌勒菩薩！無癡見菩薩！水天菩薩！師子意菩薩！日光菩薩！如是等上首菩薩摩訶薩十千人等！以何緣故，捨於聽法，而從座起，偏袒右肩，右膝著地，叉手合掌，向東南方，一心歡喜而作是言：『南無蓮華尊多陀阿伽度、阿羅呵、三藐三佛陀！南無蓮華尊多陀阿伽度、阿羅呵、三藐三佛陀！希有世尊！成阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，未久而能示現種種無量神足變化，令無量無邊百千億那由他眾生得種善根。』世尊！是蓮華尊佛去此遠近？彼佛成道已來幾時？國土何名？以何莊嚴？蓮華尊佛何故示現種種變化？於十方世界所有諸佛示現種種無量變化，或有菩薩而得瞻見，我獨不覩？」
At that time, a great bodhisattva named Precious Sunlight arose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt on his right knee, joined his palms toward the Buddha, and said: "Maitreya Bodhisattva, Unconfused Vision Bodhisattva, Water Deva Bodhisattva, Lion Mind Bodhisattva, Sunlight Bodhisattva, and the ten thousand other great bodhisattvas who are leaders among the assembly—why did they stop listening to the Dharma, rise from their seats, bare their right shoulders, kneel on their right knees, press their palms together, and face the southeast, saying with one mind and joyful hearts: 'Homage to the Lotus-Honored Thus Come One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened Buddha! Homage to the Lotus-Honored Thus Come One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened Buddha! Rare indeed, World-Honored One! Though you attained unsurpassed perfect enlightenment not long ago, you have already manifested countless and boundless miraculous transformations, enabling immeasurable hundreds of billions of living beings to plant wholesome roots.' World-Honored One, how far is this Lotus-Honored Buddha from here? How long has it been since that Buddha achieved enlightenment? What is the name of that land? What adornments does it have? Why does the Lotus-Honored Buddha manifest various transformations? Of all the Buddhas throughout the ten directions who manifest countless and boundless transformations, some bodhisattvas can see them—why am I alone unable to see?"
爾時，佛告寶日光明菩薩：「善男子！善哉！善哉！汝所問者，即是珍寶，即是賢善，即是善辯，即是善問，汝善男子！能問如來如是妙義，欲得教化無量萬億那由他眾生令種善根，欲得顯現蓮華尊界種種莊嚴。善男子！我今當說，諦聽！諦聽！善思念之，善受攝持。」
At that time, the Buddha said to the Bodhisattva Jewelled-Sun-Light: "Noble son! Excellent! Excellent! What you have asked is truly a treasure, truly virtuous, truly eloquent, and truly a fine question. Noble son! You are able to ask the Tathagata such a profound meaning, wishing to teach and transform countless billions of beings, enabling them to plant wholesome roots, and wishing to reveal the manifold splendors of the Lotus-Honored Realm. Noble son, I shall now speak. Listen attentively! Listen attentively! Reflect on it well, and accept and hold it firmly."
寶日光明菩薩一心歡喜受教而聽。
The Bodhisattva Precious Sunlight listened with single-minded joy and acceptance, receiving the teachings.
爾時，世尊告寶日光明：「善男子！東南方去此一億百千佛土，有佛世界名曰蓮華。以種種莊嚴而挍餝之，散諸名華，香氣遍熏，寶樹莊嚴，種種寶山紺琉璃地，無量菩薩充滿其國，善法妙音周遍而聞。其地柔軟譬如天衣，行時足下蹈入四寸，舉足還復自然而生種種蓮華。其七寶樹高七由旬，其枝自然懸天袈裟。其佛世界常聞諸天伎樂音聲，彼諸眾鳥聲中，常出根、力、覺意妙法之音；諸樹枝葉相掁作聲，過諸天人五樂之音。一一樹根所出香氣過諸天香，香氣遍滿過千由旬。其樹中間懸天瓔珞。有七寶樓觀，高五百由旬，縱廣正等一百由旬，周匝欄楯七寶所成。其樓四邊有大池水，長八十由旬，廣五十由旬，其池四方有妙階道純以七寶，其池水中有優鉢羅華、拘物頭華、波頭摩華、芬陀利華，一一蓮華縱廣正等滿一由旬。於夜初分有諸菩薩，於華臺中生結加趺坐，受於解脫喜悅之樂。過夜分已四方有風，柔軟香潔觸菩薩身，其風能令合華開敷吹散布地。是時菩薩從三昧起，復受解脫喜悅之樂，下蓮華臺昇於高樓，於七寶座處，結加趺坐聽受妙法。其園觀外周匝四邊，有閻浮檀紫磨金山高二十由旬，縱廣正等滿三由旬，山有無量百千珍寶、紺琉璃珠、火珠之明間錯其間。爾時，蓮華尊佛以大光明并諸寶明，和合顯照其佛世界，其土光明微妙第一，更無日月亦無晝夜，以華合鳥栖而知時節。其寶山上有紺琉璃妙好之臺，高六十由旬，縱廣二十由旬。其臺四邊周匝欄楯七寶所成，其臺中央有七寶床，其床各有一生菩薩坐聽受法。
At that time, the World-Honored One said to Jewel-Radiance Sun: "Good man! To the southeast from here, across one hundred million buddha-lands, there is a buddha-world called Lotus. It is adorned with various ornaments, scattered with famous flowers, and permeated with the fragrance of incense. It is adorned with jewel trees, various jewel mountains, and a ground of deep blue lapis lazuli. Countless bodhisattvas fill this land, and the wonderful sounds of wholesome teachings are heard everywhere. Its ground is soft, like heavenly garments; when walking, one’s feet sink four inches into the ground, and when lifting the foot, it returns to its original state, naturally giving rise to various lotus flowers. Its seven-jewel trees are seven yojanas tall, and from their branches naturally hang heavenly monastic robes.
In this buddha-world, the sounds of heavenly music are constantly heard. Among the calls of the various birds, the wonderful sounds of the faculties, powers, and awakening factors constantly emerge. The branches and leaves of the trees rustle against each other, creating sounds that surpass the music of celestial beings. The fragrance emitted from each tree root surpasses heavenly incense and permeates the area for a thousand yojanas. Between the trees hang celestial jeweled necklaces. There are seven-jewel towers, five hundred yojanas high and one hundred yojanas square, surrounded by railings made of seven jewels. Beside the towers are great pools of water, eighty yojanas long and fifty yojanas wide. On each side of the pools are wonderful stairways made entirely of seven jewels. In the pools grow blue lotuses, yellow lotuses, red lotuses, and white lotuses, each lotus flower measuring a full yojana in diameter.
During the first part of the night, bodhisattvas are born on the lotus platforms, sitting cross-legged, experiencing the joy of liberation. After the night has passed, winds from all four directions, soft, fragrant, and pure, touch the bodies of the bodissattvas. These winds cause the lotus flowers to open, spread, and scatter upon the ground. At that time, the bodhisattvas rise from their meditation states, again experiencing the joy of liberation. They descend from the lotus platforms, ascend the high towers, and sit cross-legged on seven-jewel thrones to listen to the wonderful teachings. Surrounding the garden-pavilions on all four sides are mountains of Jambu-river reddish gold, twenty yojanas high and three yojanas square, adorned with countless precious treasures, deep blue lapis lazuli pearls, and glowing fire pearls intertwined among them.
At that time, the Lotus-Honored Buddha, with his great light combined with the radiance of all these jewels, illuminates his buddha-world. The light of this land is supremely wondrous and unequaled. There is no sun or moon, nor day or night; time is marked by the blooming of flowers and the settling of birds. On these jewel mountains are wonderful deep blue lapis lazuli towers, sixty yojanas high and twenty yojanas square. On each side of the towers are railings made of seven jewels. In the center of each tower is a seven-jewel bed, and upon each bed sits a living bodhisattva listening to the teachings."
「善男子！其佛世界有菩提樹名因陀羅，高三千由旬，樹莖縱廣五百由旬，枝葉縱廣一千由旬。下有蓮華，琉璃為莖高五百由旬。一一諸華各有一億百千金葉高五由旬，馬瑙為䩸、七寶為鬚高十由旬，縱廣正等滿七由旬。爾時，蓮華尊佛坐此華上，即於昨夜成阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。其菩提華座周匝復有種種蓮華，有諸菩薩各坐其上，見蓮華尊佛種種變化。」
"Noble son! In that Buddha's world, there is a Bodhi tree named Indra, extending three thousand yojanas in height, with a trunk and stalk five hundred yojanas in circumference, and branches and leaves one thousand yojanas across. Below it is a lotus flower with a stalk of lapis lazuli, five hundred yojanas high. Each of these lotus flowers has a billion petals of pure gold, each petal five yojanas high, with agate for its stamens and seven treasures for its pistils, ten yojanas high, perfectly round and full, seven yojanas in diameter. At that time, the Buddha Lotus Revered One sat upon this lotus throne, having just attained unsurpassed, complete enlightenment the previous night. Around this sacred lotus seat were many other lotus flowers, each with a bodhisattva sitting upon it, witnessing the various miraculous transformations of the Buddha Lotus Revered One."
爾時，世尊釋迦牟尼說是事已，寶日光明菩薩摩訶薩白佛言：「世尊！蓮華尊佛以何相貌作諸變化？惟願說之。」
At that time, the World-Honored One, Shakyamuni, having spoken these words, the great bodhisattva Jeweled Sun Radiance said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, in what form does the Buddha Lotus- venerated One perform his various miracles? Please tell us."
佛告寶日光明：「善男子！蓮華尊佛於昨夜分成阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，其佛過夜分已示現種種神足變化。其身變現乃至梵天，頂肉髻相放六十億那由他百千光明，照於上方微塵數等諸佛世界。爾時，上方菩薩不觀下方眼所緣色，所謂大小鐵圍及諸小山，但觀佛光所及世界。於諸世界有諸菩薩得授記莂，若得陀羅尼忍辱三昧，或得上位一生補處。是菩薩等所有光明，以佛光故悉不復現。如是等眾叉手向於蓮華尊佛瞻仰尊顏。爾時，惟見三十二相瓔珞其身，八十種好次第莊嚴，見蓮華尊佛及其世界種種莊嚴，如是見已，心得歡喜。爾時，如微塵數等諸佛世界中，諸菩薩摩訶薩見蓮華尊佛光明變化及其世界已，各捨本土以自神足，悉共發來詣彼佛所，禮拜、圍繞、供養、恭敬、尊重、讚歎。
The Buddha said to Ratnasūrya-prabhāsa: "Good man! Last night, the Lotus Venerable Buddha attained supreme perfect enlightenment. After the night had passed, that Buddha displayed various supernormal transformations. His body transformed and appeared, extending up to the Brahma heaven. From the crown of his head, the fleshy mound, he emitted six billion nayuta hundred thousand rays of light, illuminating buddha worlds above as numerous as dust motes. At that time, the bodhisattvas in the worlds above did not look at the forms below that the eye perceives—the great and small iron encircling mountains and the various small mountains—but only looked at the worlds reached by the Buddha's light. In those worlds, there were bodhisattvas who received predictions, or attained the samadhi of patience and dharanis, or reached the higher stage of one more birth before Buddhahood. The light of all those bodhisattvas, because of the Buddha's light, no longer appeared. All these multitudes joined their palms, faced the Lotus Venerable Buddha, and gazed up at his honored face. At that time, they saw only the thirty-two major marks adorning his body and the eighty minor marks perfectly arrayed in order. They saw the Lotus Venerable Buddha and the various adornments of his world. Having seen this, their minds were filled with joy. At that time, in buddha worlds as numerous as dust motes, the bodhisattvas and mahasattvas, seeing the transformations of the Lotus Venerable Buddha's light and his world, each gave up their own land and, by their own supernormal powers, all came together to that Buddha's dwelling place. They paid homage, circumambulated, made offerings, were reverent, honored, and praised him."
「善男子！爾時，彼佛見諸菩薩出其舌相，悉皆遍覆諸四天下行住坐等一切眾生，或有菩薩入於禪定，從禪定起在大眾中，禮拜、圍繞、供養、恭敬、尊重、讚歎蓮華尊佛。善男子！彼佛爾時示現如是廣長舌相，作變化已即還攝之。
Good man, at that time that Buddha saw all the bodhisattvas extend their tongues, each completely covering all beings throughout the four continents, whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down. Some bodhisattvas entered meditation, and rising from meditation, in the midst of the great assembly, they bowed, circumambulated, made offerings, paid reverence, honored, and praised the Lotus Honored Buddha. Good man, that Buddha then displayed such an extensive and long tongue, and after performing these miraculous transformations, immediately withdrew it.
「善男子！蓮華尊佛復放身毛孔光，一一毛孔出六十億那由他百千光明，其光微妙普遍十方，一一方面各各過於微塵數等諸佛世界。彼世界中在在處處，所有菩薩得授記已，得陀羅尼三昧忍辱，或得上位一生補處。見是光已，各各自捨其佛世界，乘神通力，皆共發來至彼佛所，禮拜、圍繞、供養、恭敬、尊重、讚歎。善男子！爾時，彼佛作此變化，即復還攝，為諸菩薩及諸大眾，講說正法，轉不退輪，欲令無量無邊眾生得大利益，得大快樂。憐愍世間為人天故，欲令具足無上大乘。」
Good man, the Lotus Supreme Buddha again emitted light from the pores of his body. From each pore came sixty billion nayuta of hundreds of thousands of rays of light. This light was subtle and wonderful, pervading the ten directions, and in each direction it reached beyond Buddha worlds as numerous as dust motes. In those worlds, everywhere and in every place, all bodhisattvas who had already received their prediction of future Buddhahood gained dharani, samadhi, and the patience that bears all things, or attained the higher stages up to the position of one lifetime remaining before Buddhahood. Having seen this light, each of them abandoned their own Buddha world, relied on the power of spiritual penetration, and all came together to that Buddha's dwelling place, where they paid homage, circumambulated, made offerings, showed reverence and respect, and praised him. Good man, at that time, after that Buddha manifested these transformations, he then withdrew them again and proclaimed the true Dharma to the bodhisattvas and the great assembly, turning the irreversible wheel, wishing to lead immeasurable and boundless sentient beings to gain great benefit and great happiness. Out of compassion for the world, for the sake of gods and humans, he wished to bring them to the fulfillment of the unsurpassed Great Vehicle.