大乘寶月童子問法經
Mahayana Sutra of the Precious Moon Boy's Questions on Dharma
西天譯經三藏朝散大夫試鴻臚少卿傳法大師臣施護奉 詔譯
Translated by Dharma Master Shi Hu, a Tripitaka Master from the Western Regions, Court Gentleman for Ceremonial Service, Acting Junior Supervisor of
如是我聞：
Thus I have heard:
一時，佛在王舍城鷲峯山中，與大苾芻眾五萬五千俱胝，一心行菩提行無能勝菩薩等八萬百千無數俱胝那臾多，諸天人等百千那臾多。
Once, the Buddha was residing on Vulture Peak in Rajagriha, together with a great assembly of fifty-five thousand quintillion bhikṣus, all of whom were single-mindedly practicing the bodhisattva path. Also present were the invincible bodhisattva and eighty thousand million countless hundreds of billions of other bodhisattvas, along with hundreds of thousands of billions of gods and humans.
爾時，世尊於其食時著衣持鉢，與苾芻眾并諸菩薩、天、龍、神等，恭敬圍繞，入王舍大城，於彼乞食。
At that time, the World-Honored One, when it was time for alms, put on his robe, took up his bowl, and was reverently surrounded by a gathering of monks, bodhisattvas, devas, nagas, and spiritual beings. Together they entered the great city of Rajagriha to seek alms.
是時，頻婆娑羅王子名寶月童子，因為事故，乘大龍象出王舍大城。遙見世尊，即下龍象，而詣佛所。到已致敬，頭面禮足，住立一面。寶月童子白佛言：「如來、應供、正等正覺！唯願世尊，說彼十方如來所有名號。若有信心善男子、善女人，聞是名已，所有五逆等罪及一切業障，悉皆消除，於無上正等正覺速得不退。」
At that time, Prince Jewel Moon, the son of King Bimbisara, was riding a great dragon-elephant out of the great city of Rajagriha on account of some business. Seeing the World-Honored One from afar, he immediately descended from the dragon-elephant and approached the Buddha. Upon arriving, he paid his respects, prostrating his head at the Buddha’s feet, and then stood to one side. Prince Jewel Moon said to the Buddha: “Thus Come One, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, I respectfully ask that the World-Honored One teach the names of all the Thus Come Ones of the ten directions. If any faithful good man or good woman hears these names, all their sins—even the five heinous crimes—and all their karmic obstacles will be completely eliminated, and they will quickly attain non-retrogression from supreme, perfect enlightenment.”
爾時，世尊告寶月童子言：「善哉，善哉！汝能樂聞如來名號之義，此意賢善，一切罪業決定消除。童子！汝今諦聽，善思念之！我為汝說。
At that time, the World-Honored One said to the youth Precious Moon: "Excellent, excellent! Your joyful wish to hear the meaning of the Tathagata's name is truly virtuous. The intention is good, and all wrongful deeds will definitely be cleared away. Youth! Listen carefully now, and reflect well on what I say! I will explain it for you."
「童子！過於東方百千俱胝那臾多恒河沙等佛剎，彼有世界名曰無憂，彼有如來，名賢吉祥、應供、等正覺，少病少惱，乃至為諸眾生恒說妙法。彼佛壽命，六萬百千俱胝那臾多無數劫。彼世界中無其日月晝夜，唯有佛光普照一切，及照地獄、傍生、焰魔羅界一切眾生，令得解脫，無量眾生得無生法忍。」
"Child! Beyond the eastern direction, past countless worlds as numerous as the sands of a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Ganges rivers, there exists a realm called the City of No Sorrow. In that realm dwells a Tathagata, named Guanyin Auspicious One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. He is free from illness and affliction, and constantly teaches the wonderful Dharma to all beings. The lifespan of that Buddha is six hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of countless kalpas. In that world, there is no sun, moon, or day and night; only the Buddha's light illuminates everything everywhere. This light also reaches all beings in the hells, the animal realm, and the realm of Yama, enabling them to attain liberation. Countless beings thereby achieve the patience of the non-arising of phenomena."
佛言：「童子！南方過百千俱胝那臾多恒河沙等佛剎，彼有世界名曰寂靜，彼有如來，名無邊光、應供、正等正覺，為諸眾生恒說妙法。」
The Buddha said, "Young one! In the south, beyond hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddha lands—as numerous as the sands of the Ganges—there exists a world called Stillness. In that world, there is a Thus-Come One named Boundless Light, the One Worthy of Offerings, the Perfectly Enlightened One. He constantly teaches the wondrous Dharma to all beings."
佛言：「童子！西方過百千俱胝那臾多恒河沙等佛剎，彼有世界名曰歡喜，彼有如來，名喜吉祥、應供、正等正覺，為諸眾生恒說妙法。」
The Buddha said, "Young one, to the west, passing through hundreds of thousands of times the number of grains of sand in the Ganges River multiplied by a billion, there is a world called Joy. In that world, there is a Tathagata named Joyful Auspicious—one who is worthy of offerings, perfectly and fully enlightened. He constantly teaches the sublime Dharma to all beings."
佛言：「童子！北方過百千俱胝那臾多恒河沙等佛剎，彼有世界名曰不動，彼有如來，名曰寶幢、應供、正等正覺，為諸眾生恒說妙法。」
The Buddha said, "Young man, to the north, past countless realms as numerous as the sands of a hundred thousand million rivers, there is a world called 'Immovable.' In that world, there is a Tathāgata named 'Jeweled Banner'—the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One—who constantly teaches the profound Dharma to all beings."
佛言：「童子！東南方過百千俱胝那臾多恒河沙等佛剎，彼有世界名曰正行，彼有如來，名曰無憂吉祥、應供、正等正覺，為諸眾生恒說妙法。」
The Buddha said, "Young sir, to the southeast, beyond a hundred thousand billion times the number of sand grains in the Ganges River of Buddha lands, there is a world called Right Conduct. There is a Tathagata there named Worry-Free and Auspicious, one worthy of offerings, and perfectly enlightened. He constantly teaches the wonderful Dharma for all beings."
佛言：「童子！西南方過百千俱胝那臾多恒河沙等佛剎，彼有世界名曰寶幢吉祥，彼有如來，名曰寶幢、應供、正等正覺，為諸眾生恒說妙法。」
The Buddha said, "Young man! To the southwest, beyond a hundred thousand, millions, and trillions of Buddha-lands—as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River—there exists a world called 'Jewel Banner Auspicious.' In that world, there is a Tathagata named 'Jewel Banner,' one who is Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Completely Enlightened, and always teaches the sublime Dharma to all beings."
佛言：「童子！西北方過百千俱胝那臾多恒河沙等佛剎，彼有世界名曰妙聲，彼有如來，名吉祥花、應供、正等正覺，為諸眾生恒說妙法。」
The Buddha said, "Child, to the northwest, beyond a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Ganges-river-sands of Buddha-lands, there is a world called Wonderful Sound. In that world, there is a Tathagata named Auspicious Flower, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One, who always teaches the wonderful Dharma to all beings."
佛言：「童子！東北方過百千俱胝那臾多恒河沙等佛剎，彼有世界名曰安樂，彼有如來，名蓮華光嬉戲智、應供、正等正覺，為諸眾生恒說妙法。」
The Buddha said, "Young man, to the northeast, beyond a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Ganges River's sands of Buddha lands, there is a world called Peace and Joy. There, the Tathagata named Lotus Light Playful Wisdom, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, constantly teaches the wonderful Dharma to all beings."
佛言：「童子！下方過百千俱胝那臾多恒河沙等佛剎，彼有世界名曰廣大，彼有如來，名光明吉祥、應供、正等正覺，為諸眾生恒說妙法。」
The Buddha said, "Young man, far below, beyond hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddha lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River, there is a world called 'Vast and Expansive.' In that world, a Tathāgata dwells, named 'Auspicious Light,' one who is worthy of offerings and fully enlightened. He constantly teaches the sublime Dharma for the benefit of all beings."
佛言：「童子！上方過百千俱胝那臾多恒河沙等佛剎，彼有世界名為月光，彼有如來，名財吉祥、應供、正等正覺，為諸眾生恒說妙法。
The Buddha said, "Young one! Past hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddha lands, like the countless sands of the Ganges River, there exists a world called Moonlight. In that world, there is a Thus-Come One named Auspicious Treasure, who is worthy of offerings, perfectly awakened, and always teaches the wondrous Dharma for all beings."
「童子！如是一切世界佛剎，皆有清淨旃檀樓閣，所有如來名號，若人聞已，恭敬受持、書寫讀誦、廣為人說，所有五逆等一切罪業悉皆消除，亦不墮地獄、傍生、焰魔羅界，於無上正等正覺速得不退。
Young one! In all these worlds and Buddha-lands, there are pure sandalwood pavilions. The names of all the Tathāgatas are there — if someone hears them, reverently upholds them, writes them down, recites them, and widely teaches them to others, then all their grave offenses, including the five heinous crimes, are completely wiped away. They will not fall into the realms of hells, animals, or Yama’s world, and will swiftly attain irreversible progress toward supreme perfect enlightenment.
「於意云何？童子！於過去大無數及廣大無邊無數劫，時有世界名曰寶生，彼有如來，名精進吉祥、應供、正等正覺，彼十如來於精進吉祥佛所為菩薩位，於其佛前供養發願：『我等各於佛剎成無上正等正覺之時，若有眾生經剎那間至須臾之間，聞我十佛名號，聞已恭敬受持、書寫讀誦、廣為人說，所有五逆等一切罪業悉皆消除，亦不墮地獄、傍生、焰魔羅界，於無上正等正覺速得不退。』」
What do you think, child? In the distant past, countless and boundless eons ago, there was a world called Jewel-Birth. In that world, a Tathāgata appeared, named Diligent Auspiciousness, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. At that time, ten Tathāgatas, while still Bodhisattvas in the presence of Buddha Diligent Auspiciousness, made a vow before that Buddha, offering their devotion: "When each of us attains unsurpassed, complete enlightenment in our own Buddha-realms, if any living being should hear the names of us ten Buddhas—even for a moment or a brief instant—and upon hearing them, reverently accept, uphold, write, recite, and teach them widely to others: then all their misdeeds, even the five heinous crimes, shall be completely eradicated. They shall not fall into the hells, the animal realm, or the realm of Yama. They shall soon attain non-retrogression from unsurpassed, complete enlightenment."
爾時，寶月童子如是聞已，而復白言：「世尊！彼佛如來壽量云何？」
Then, having heard this, the Jewel Moon Bodhisattva spoke again, saying, "World-Honored One, what is the lifespan of that Tathagata Buddha?"
世尊答言：「彼佛壽十阿僧祇、百千俱胝、那臾多世界微塵等劫。」
The World-Honored One replied: "The lifespan of that Buddha extends for a period equal to the number of kalpas as the dust motes in ten asamkhyeyas, hundreds of thousands of kotis, and nayutas of worlds."
童子聞已，白佛言：「彼佛如來，甚為希有！如是悲心發願，為諸眾生得此壽量。」
When the young attendant heard this, he said to the Buddha, "That Tathagata is truly extraordinary! With such a compassionate heart, he made these vows, all for the sake of helping beings attain this lifespan."
佛言：「童子！若有眾生聞此十佛名號，恭敬受持、書寫讀誦、信樂修行，所有無量、無邊福德悉得具足，三業之罪亦不能生。
The Buddha said, "Young one! If any living being hears these names of the ten Buddhas, and with reverence accepts and upholds them—copying, reciting, and faithfully practicing them with joy—they will fully obtain boundless, measureless blessings and virtues, and the sins of body, speech, and mind will not arise."
「童子！若有善男子、善女人，於恒河沙等佛剎，滿中七寶供養如來，經百千歲獲福無量；若善男子、善女人聞是十佛名號，恭敬信受、書寫讀誦、為他解說，所得福德勝前供養無量無邊。」
"Child! If a good man or good woman were to fill worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges with precious treasures and offer them to the Tathagata for hundreds of thousands of years, they would gain immeasurable merit. But if a good man or good woman hears these names of the ten Buddhas, reveres and accepts them with faith, copies and recites them, and explains them to others, the merit they attain is infinitely greater than that of the former offering."
爾時，索河世界主、大梵天王、帝釋天子、四天大王、穌枲麼天子、大自在天子，以最上旃檀香粖散世尊前而為供養，白世尊言：「若有眾生於此正法，書寫讀誦、信解受持，得一切天人、阿修羅尊重禮拜，所有地獄、畜生、焰魔羅界、阿修羅身及餓鬼趣，皆得解脫。」
At that time, the Lord of the Saha World, along with the Great Brahma Heavenly King, Lord Shakra (Indra), the Four Heavenly Kings, the god Suxima, and the Sovereign God Maheshvara, offered the finest sandalwood powder before the World-Honored One as a token of reverence. They then said to the World-Honored One: "If there are sentient beings who write down, recite, faithfully understand, and uphold this true Dharma, they will be honored and respected by all gods, humans, and asuras. And all those in the realms of hells, animals, Yama’s world, the asura bodies, and the hungry ghosts will be freed from their suffering."
佛言：「若此正法，耳根得聞、受持讀誦，罪惡魔冤不能侵害，於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提速得不退。」
The Buddha said: "If this true Dharma is heard, accepted, upheld, recited, and studied, no evil or demonic harm can touch such a person. They will swiftly reach a state of non-retrogression on the path to supreme perfect enlightenment."
爾時，世尊而說頌曰：
At that time, the World-Honored One spoke this verse:
「持此世尊十名號， 如是壽命俱胝劫，
佛說功德不思議， 未來成就二足尊。」
"Those who hold these ten holy names of the World-Honored One Will live for countless eons in perfect peace. The Buddha declares these merits beyond all thought, And in the future they will attain the highest enlightenment."
爾時，頻婆娑羅王寶月童子，白於世尊而說伽他曰：
At that time, Prince Baoyue, son of King Bimbisara, addressed the World-Honored One, speaking in verse:
「大無畏善說， 無邊無量佛，
眾生最上師， 我今歸命禮。
如是今修學， 一切佛知見，
願斷於煩惱， 速成於菩提。」
Limitless fearless ones who expound what is good, Boundless, immeasurable Buddhas, Supreme teachers of all living beings, To you I now bow in devotion.
Thus I now study and train in The wisdom and insight of all Buddhas. May I cut through all afflictions, And swiftly realize enlightenment.
爾時，童子說此頌已，白世尊言：「我今如是所有忍辱、菩薩大智總持法門、方廣之教佛菩提行，如是修學行菩提行。」
At that time, having spoken this verse, the youth said to the World-Honored One: "Now I have thus learned and practiced the Dharma teachings on patience, the great wisdom of Bodhisattvas, the comprehensive teachings, the expansive scriptures, and the Buddha's path to enlightenment—practicing the Bodhisattva path in this way."
爾時，世尊復說頌曰：
At that time, the World-Honored One spoke these verses:
「若人受持佛名號， 水火盜賊不能侵，
毒藥、刀杖、王難等， 一切諸苦自消除，
如是速得於菩提， 廣令流布佛名號。
If a person upholds the Buddha's sacred name, No flood, fire, thief, or bandit can bring them harm. Poison, weapons, punishment from kings, All such suffering naturally subsides. Thus they quickly reach enlightenment, Spreading the Buddha's name far and wide.
「若此正法於末世時，有人受持讀誦，此人命終速成佛道；若以香花供養一切諸佛經多劫時，不如有人於此正法暫時書寫讀誦，所得福德無量無邊；若人以最上所愛七寶，滿於一切剎土之中，供養一切諸佛，亦不如讀誦此經得福甚多。」
If, in the final age of the Dharma, someone upholds, recites, and studies this true teaching, that person will quickly attain Buddhahood after death. If someone, for many eons, offers incense and flowers to all the Buddhas, it is still not as good as someone who, for even a short time, copies or recites this true teaching—the merits they gain are immeasurable and boundless. And if someone fills entire worlds with the most precious seven treasures and offers them to all the Buddhas, even that is not as good as reciting this sutra—the blessings gained are far greater.
佛說此經時，無量百千俱胝那臾多眾生，發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心；無量、無邊眾生得無生忍，不退轉於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。
When the Buddha taught this sutra, countless beings—hundreds of thousands of millions in number—awakened the aspiration for supreme enlightenment. Vast, limitless beings attained the insight that all phenomena are unborn and irreversible in their commitment to supreme enlightenment.
佛說是語時，寶月童子等皆大歡喜，作禮而退。
When the Buddha spoke these words, the youths, including Precious Moon and the others, were all filled with great joy. They made obeisance and withdrew.
大乘寶月童子問法經
Mahayana Sutra of the Precious Moon Boy's Questions on Dharma