Vast Jewel Pavilion Secret Dharani Sutra (廣大寶樓閣善住秘密陀羅尼經)

Wide Precious Pavilion Secret Dharani Sutra, Fascicle One

Translated by the Tripitaka Master Bodhiruci of India, under Imperial Decree during the Great Tang Dynasty.

Chapter 1: The Prologue

Thus I have heard:

Once, the Buddha was in the great city of Rajagriha. During the first gathering, he subdued countless demon armies and tamed all heretics, enabling beings to abandon the cycle of birth and death and cross the torrents of suffering. At that time, immeasurable millions of thousands of demon armies filled the world. Then, the World-Honored One, using his Buddha power, transformed the entire earth into diamond, so that all beings in Jambudvipa would feel no fear. The demon armies rained down various weapons, but they all turned into flowers. In the middle of the crossroads of Rajagriha, a lotus flower naturally emerged from the ground. It had a thousand petals, was adorned with seven precious materials, had a golden center and a crystal stem, and rose as high as the Brahma heaven. It emitted countless brilliant rays of light, illuminating the whole universe. From within the flower, a voice spontaneously arose, reciting a dharani called Shan Jue (Good Awakening). The mantra is:

Homage to the Tathagatas of the ten directions! Om mani vajri, May you come forth, O Vajra! Vajra, destroyer of obstacles! Incite, incite! O Vajra-clad one, Complete liberation! Complete liberation! All obstacles, And those who create them, Vajra-wielding beings, Arise! Om! O beings, O beings, Through the wisdom of the Buddha, All Tathagatas, In their vajra forms, Empower this! Ah, all hail!

At that time, after the lotus had spoken the mantra, it also emitted a wondrous sound. This sound filled the entire universe of a thousand million worlds, saying: "Excellent! Shakyamuni Tathagata has crossed the great ocean of birth and death, conquered the army of Mara, left behind the dust of afflictions, shattered the shell of ignorance, and lit the great torch of Dharma. Through the power and virtue of this Dharani, this earth has become as firm as diamond, and the demon armies have been subdued."

At that time, the Bodhisattva Vajrapani, filled with joy and excitement, his body hair standing on end, prostrated himself at the Buddha’s feet and asked, “World Honored One, from which Buddha did this radiant mantra first originate? I have never heard or seen it before.”

At that time, the Buddha told the Vajra Secret Lord Bodhisattva: "There is a dhāraṇī called the 'Secret of the Vast Jeweled Pavilion.' Through its power, this entire universe of three thousand great worlds can be turned into vajra, and all the weapons of the demonic armies transform into lotus flowers. By the awesome power of this dhāraṇī, the armies of demons are subdued, and lotuses spring forth at the crossroads. If not for the virtuous power of this dhāraṇī, I could not have attained perfect enlightenment, could not have subdued the countless demon hordes, could not have dried up the ocean of afflictions or lit the great torch of Dharma. For countless eons, I practiced difficult asceticisms, yet still could not attain the fruit of enlightenment. Only after hearing this dhāraṇī did I achieve true awakening. This dhāraṇī possesses great power, great excellence, and is the true Dharma—the realized Dharma body of all Tathāgatas. Whoever recites its name has already recited the names of all the Buddhas of the ten directions. Whoever chants, upholds, and practices it has already made offerings and prostrated to all the Tathāgatas of the ten directions."

At that time, the great bodhisattva Vajrapani offered the Buddha a variety of flowers, scents, ointments, and fragrant powders. After making these offerings, he circumambulated the Buddha three times to the right, prostrated himself at the Buddha’s feet, and said: “World-Honored One, this dharani possesses great power and great excellence. I sincerely hope that you will universally benefit all beings in the world—not by lesser or inferior methods, but by the supreme approach. Why is that? Because this dharani is like the true body of the Buddha himself.”

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke to the Bodhisattva Vajradhara, saying: “Sentient beings of low capacity, who do not apply themselves with diligence, are greatly disturbed and confused, dulled by ignorance, clinging to sensual desires, lacking faith in the true Dharma, showing no respect for their fathers, no respect for their mothers, no respect for ascetics, no respect for Brahmins, and no respect for the venerable—such beings are unable to attain this Dhāraṇī. Those of meager merit, scant virtue, and narrow wisdom cannot hear it, cannot uphold it, and cannot generate reverence for it. This Dhāraṇī has the power to extinguish all wrongdoings; it is the secret treasury of all Tathāgatas.”

Then the World-Honored One addressed the great Yaksha General Vajrapani, saying: "Good man! I now wish to go to the east, passing countless worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges multiplied by millions of billions. There is a world there called **Precious Lamp**. Within it lies a great city adorned with the seven jewels. The city is one yojana across on each side, filled with many beings who live in peace, abundance, and joy. The men, women, boys, and girls of that place are all adorned with various jewelry and necklaces. Fine jeweled crowns appear naturally on their heads. They have dignified and handsome appearances, great spiritual power, diligent achievement, and penetrating wisdom.

"In that city, there is a king named **Wonderful Jewel**, surrounded by eighty million ministers who assist him. The king's chief queen is named **Radiant Jewel**, with two hundred thousand palace women, all resembling heavenly maidens, serving her from front and back. The flowers, fruits, and fragrant trees born in that world are all made of the seven jewels. The aquatic flowers are composed of various precious stones, while the land-growing flowers are all made of gold. The people there have a lifespan of eighty million billions of years. They perfectly practice the ten virtuous actions and have great faith in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. That king governs the world with wholesome methods, benefiting all beings.

"In that world, there is a Buddha named **Wonderful Multicolored Jewel Abiding in Purity Tathagata**, a Worthy One, a Fully Enlightened One. He extensively carries out Buddha-work in that world, surrounded by countless great Bodhisattvas and millions of billions of sages. That Tathagata's body is the color of pure gold, endowed with thirty-two major marks and eighty minor characteristics. His halo is one fathom wide, shining brilliantly. The Bodhisattvas there all have bodies of golden hue, with dignified and excellent marks, unimpeded eloquence. They sit on jeweled lotus thrones, constantly reciting the name of the Great Jeweled Stupa of Good Abiding Secret Dharani. Through the mighty spiritual power of that dharani, they have achieved such extraordinary merits and virtues.

"That Buddha World-Honored One expounds this dharani Dharma to beings. Because beings hear this dharani, they always attain peace and happiness. They are freed from the realms of hells, hungry ghosts, animals, and asuras. All doors to evil rebirths are shut, and the pure path to heaven opens. Those beings all awaken the mind of supreme perfect enlightenment, abide in great compassion, and have no enemies—they are like milk and water mixed together.

"In the distant past, when that Buddha World-Honored One was practicing the Bodhisattva path, he cultivated this dharani Dharma and made this vow: 'May all beings born in my land be assured of attaining irreversible supreme enlightenment.' If any being hears this dharani, recites it, upholds it, diligently cultivates it, remembers it without forgetting—even if they merely hear its name, touch it with their hands, wear it on their body, see it with their eyes, or write it on cloth or walls—if any being sees it, including those who have committed the five heinous crimes or the four grave offenses, those who have slandered the true Dharma or slandered the saints, butchers, executioners, the blind, the deaf, the one-eyed, the hunchbacked, the mute, lepers, the sick, the poor and lowly, those with uncertain karma, those caught in the nets of Mara, those fallen into wrong views, those touched by Vinayaka, those harmed by evil stars, or those harmed by the seven luminaries—if these people hear the name of this dharani, they will certainly attain supreme enlightenment.

"Furthermore, even beings in animal forms—deer, birds, mosquitoes, flies, moths, ants—whether born from the womb, through transformation, from moisture, or as various insects—if these beings hear the name of this dharani, they will definitely and without any doubt attain supreme perfect enlightenment."

At that time, after the World-Honored One had spoken these words, the entire assembly was filled with great joy, and the hairs on their bodies stood on end. Then, celestial flowers—red lotus, blue lotus, white lotus, and mandara flowers—rained down from the sky. In the air, various subtle and exquisite heavenly melodies arose spontaneously. Everyone in the assembly saw light radiating from their own bodies. Before the Tathāgata, a magnificent seven-jeweled banner suddenly emerged from the earth, elegant and beautiful, pleasing to all who beheld it. The banner had four pillars, four gates, and four stairways, shining with brilliant radiance. On each of its four sides hung great jewels, whose light, like the sun, illuminated the entire world. Countless precious pearls adorned the netting, and countless jeweled bells hung from it, with colorful silk streamers and canopies, interspersed with many beautiful flowers as ornaments. At that moment, the great earth quaked in six ways—swaying, trembling, roaring, shaking, leaping, and sinking. All celestial palaces were bathed in light, and wherever the light reached, beings awakened. The heavens of the Four Great Kings and the realm of the bright immortals likewise experienced this. Suddenly, all the palaces of Māra were illuminated, filling them with great fear. The vināyakas, terrified, fled in haste, running beyond the boundaries of their realms, seeking refuge and protection in their desperation.

At that time, the World-Honored One revealed a great white light from between his two shoulders, and its radiance illuminated all worlds and all Buddha-lands. When those Tathāgatas beheld this light, they immediately understood the meaning of the Dhāraṇī that was being proclaimed. After the light had spread everywhere, it gradually drew back and circled above the crown of Shakyamuni Tathāgata's head before disappearing. Then all the Tathāgatas from the ten directions spoke with one voice, praising Shakyamuni Tathāgata, saying: "Excellent! Shakyamuni Tathāgata! You should now go to the Jewel Lamp World, to the presence of the Tathāgata named Wonderful Multicolored Jewel Supremely Pure and Good Abiding, to pay homage, draw near, and widely proclaim the great precious tower's secret Dhāraṇī of Good Abiding. Why? Because this Dhāraṇī possesses great power and great excellence, and has been lovingly protected and remembered by all the Tathāgatas of the past. Whoever hears the name of this Dhāraṇī and even touches it with their hand will surely realise the supreme right enlightenment."

At that time, when Shakyamuni, the Thus-Come One, heard the praises voiced by those ten directions' Buddhas, he emitted countless hundreds of thousands of millions of rays of light, and addressed the assembly gathered there, saying: "I now wish to go to the Jewel-Lamp World. Come quickly, for this is the moment."

Then the Thus-Come One rose from his seat, approached the seven-jeweled banner, and touched it with his hand. In that instant, from within the banner emerged a vajra-wondrous seat, fragrant, pure, and supremely exquisite. Upon this seat appeared a magnificent lotus of interwoven precious jewels, with a stem of gold and a platform of red gems. At that time, the World-Honored One arranged his seat upon the lotus and sat down.

The entire world then trembled greatly, and the Thus-Come One entered the great precious pure concentration. Once absorbed in that meditative state, by the Buddha's transcendent power, the entire assembly—including bodhisattvas, dragons, celestial beings, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans—along with countless millions of radiant immortals and their retinues, Vajra Secret Guards, Brahma and Indra, the devas of all heavens, and the Four Guardian Kings, were lifted up into space and carried to the east, passing through countless Buddha-lands, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges.

Through the Buddha's transcendent power, in the blink of an eye they arrived at the Jewel-Lamp World. Descending from the sky, they approached that Buddha and respectfully inquired: "Are you well, free from affliction, at ease in body and mind?"

Then Shakyamuni's assembly presented to that Buddha a thousand-petaled lotus made of seven jewels. At that time, the Thus-Come One of that world, amidst his profound assembly, extended his golden hand to comfort Shakyamuni, the Thus-Come One, and invited him to sit within the jeweled banner. He then said to Shakyamuni: "You have already turned the great wheel of Dharma, subdued the armies of Mara, lit the great torch of Dharma, raised the banner of Dharma, sounded the great drum of Dharma, and blown the great conch of Dharma. In that world, you have accomplished the Buddha's work and realized what was to be realized. Now, here in this Jambudvipa continent, you turn the wheel of Dharma once more, expounding the treasury of teachings."

When these words were spoken, those Buddha-lands shook in eighteen ways: first, trembling; second, surging like boiling water; third, waving like ocean waves; fourth, quaking with sound; fifth, roaring with thunderous vibrations; sixth, awakening all sentient beings. Each of these movements had three degrees: moving, moving everywhere, and moving equally everywhere.

At that moment, the heavens rained wondrous flowers and displayed countless miraculous transformations. From within the sky arose natural music. The great dragon kings rained precious treasures—fine jewels, various exquisite fragrances, splendid garments, ornate necklaces, supreme red gems, crystal, pearls, magnificent jewels of Vairocana, sun-store pearls, moon-store pearls, sun-light pearls, moon-light pearls, auspicious-treasure pearls. They rained lotus flowers of red, white, and blue, along with gold and silver blossoms, as pearl-laden streamers fluttered down in dazzling profusion.

Then the celestial beings in the sky raised joyful voices, praising Shakyamuni, the Thus-Come One, saying: "Magnificent! Shakyamuni, Thus-Come One! Magnificent! Shakyamuni, Thus-Come One! At this time you turn the wheel of Dharma once more, establishing the great precious wish-fulfilling banner of Dharma in Jambudvipa—namely, the great precious secret well-abiding dhāraṇī, the great king of incantations, the vast precious tower of Dharma—so that it may spread widely throughout the world."

At that time, the Thus-Come One, the perfectly Awakened One of various pure and well-abiding colors, emitted from between his brows a great white curl of light, giving rise to countless rays of illumination. The light reached every Buddha-land in the ten directions, and all those Buddhas who beheld it knew with certainty that this dhāraṇī was about to be spoken. The light then extended throughout the three-thousand-great-thousand-world system, reaching the palaces of devas and dragons, all the hells, the animal realms, the realms of Yama, and the hosts of asuras—all beings were bathed in the light and understood that the World-Honored One was about to teach. After the light had spread everywhere, it gradually gathered back, circled around the Buddha's crown, and vanished, as if drawn into stillness.

At that time, countless Buddhas from all directions—as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River—each manifested great miraculous powers in their own lands, accompanied by their retinues. In the sky, they created magnificent towers adorned with seven kinds of precious gems. Within these towers, they set up lion thrones made of the finest gold from Jambudvipa. Then all those Buddhas took their seats upon these thrones and gathered together at the assembly.

At that moment, the Buddha known as "Pure Jewel of Various Colors" saw the Buddhas from the ten directions arriving at the assembly. He exchanged greetings with each of them and offered various miraculous displays as a gesture of respect. After making these offerings, he returned to his own seat.

At that time, in this assembly, there was a great bodhisattva named Treasure Store. He rose from his seat, approached the Tathāgata of Pure Abiding Jewel with Multicolored Radiance, pressed his palms together, bowed respectfully, and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! Now gathered in this assembly are the Buddhas of the ten directions, great bodhisattvas, devas, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, kinnaras, mahoragas, human and non-human beings, celestial immortals, and wise immortals, with the bodhisattva Vajradhara at their head. The assembly has convened, and countless miraculous transformations have appeared. We earnestly ask the World-Honored One to teach the great treasure tower secret and pure dwelling dharani method for the benefit of all present." He made this request three times with deep sincerity. Then the Tathāgata of Pure Abiding Jewel with Multicolored Radiance said to Treasure Store Bodhisattva: "You may now go to Shakyamuni Buddha, and He will teach you." At that, the great bodhisattva Treasure Store proceeded to where Shakyamuni Buddha was, pressed his palms together, bowed in reverence, circumambulated Him three times to the right, and said: "World-Honored One! I now invite the Tathāgata to teach this great secret, pure dwelling dharani method for the benefit of all beings in this assembly."

At that time, the Bhagavan Shakyamuni Buddha, having seen the Bodhisattva Ratnākara make his request, spoke to Vajrapāṇi Bodhisattva, saying: “Noble one! You may now take the vajra and strike the ground in the midst of this great assembly.”

Vajrapāṇi Bodhisattva respectfully followed the Buddha’s command. Holding the vajra, he struck the ground before the assembly. At once, the great earth split open with a resounding crack, forming a square depression at its center, and the entire trillion-fold universe shook with six kinds of tremors.

Then, from that open cavity, a magnificent seven-jeweled pavilion suddenly arose. It had four corners, four pillars, and four gates, exquisite and extraordinarily splendid, perfect in form and radiating brilliant light. It stood upon four stairways, each three yojanas high, and its breadth and length measured a full five yojanas.

Within its central pinnacle stood a subtle jewelled stupa of fine Jambū gold, adorned throughout with countless precious pearls, draped with seven-jeweled netting, and hung with innumerable jeweled bells from its four corners, all interwoven with exquisite flowers and silken streamers.

Enshrined within that exquisite stupa were the complete bodily relics of three Tathāgatas.

At that moment, the Buddhas of the ten directions all gathered to venerate the śarīra within the stupa, as did countless bodhisattvas. They honoured and praised it, offering scattered flowers, incense, fragrant unguents, fragrant powders, hanging banners and canopies, and performing heavenly music.

Meanwhile, the entire assembly—gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, kiṃnaras, garuḍas, humans and non-humans alike—gazed upon the scene in awe, marvelling: “Where has this jeweled stupa come from?” They exclaimed in loud voices, “How marvellous! How extraordinary!” and circumambulated the spire and the jeweled stupa, singing praises. Having completed their circumambulation, they pressed their palms together and bowed in respect.

Then, from within that spire, a wonderful voice proclaimed: “Look toward the sky, all you great assemblies.”

Hearing this, everyone turned to gaze at the heavens and beheld a great cloud of radiant beryl suspended in the sky. On that jeweled cloud, the words of this vast sacred *Vajra-pavilion Secret Sumana Dhāraṇī* were inscribed in letters of pure gold.

From the sky, a second voice declared: “All of you, recite this dhāraṇī now.”

No sooner had these words been spoken than, before each and every Buddha who had gathered from the ten directions—as numerous as the sands of the Ganges—there appeared the same cloud of radiant beryl inscribed with golden letters bearing this dhāraṇī. And a voice from each proclaimed:

“Homage to Shakyamuni Tathāgata! Let the door of that relic stupa now be opened. Within it lie the complete bodily relics of three Tathāgatas; through the power of these relics, extraordinary miraculous signs now manifest. These fully awakened Tathāgatas shall reveal, here in this very assembly, this dhāraṇī together with the illuminating practice of the Mandala for its accomplishment.”

At that time, all the Buddhas who had come from the ten directions spoke with one voice, saying: "We earnestly ask Shakyamuni, the Thus-Gone One, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One, to open the door of this stupa for the great assembly, so that all beings may see the Thus-Gone One's entire body and gain great benefit." These Buddhas were known as: the Thus-Gone One Jeweled King of Flowers, the Thus-Gone One Wondrous Jewel Vajra Supreme King, and the Thus-Gone One Jeweled Pure Radiance, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One. At that moment, Shakyamuni, through his spiritual power, approached the jeweled stupa. Extending his golden hand, adorned with a hundred blessings, he opened the stupa's door with his right hand, revealing the Thus-Gone One's entire body and sacred relics within. Then, the Thus-Gone One of the entire body inside the jeweled stupa praised Shakyamuni, saying: "Well done, Shakyamuni! Now, in the land of Jambudvipa, you have turned the wheel of Dharma once more. Please ascend to the lion's seat within this stupa." At that moment, Shakyamuni, the Thus-Gone One, entered the stupa and sat together with the Thus-Gone Ones of the entire body on the same seat.

At that time, among the assembly was the Great Bodhisattva Vajrapāṇi, who bowed at the feet of the Tathāgata Shakyamuni, joined his palms in reverence, and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! All these Tathāgatas present in this stūpa—how did they come to be? From where have they come?"

The Buddha replied: "Listen carefully now, and I shall explain this to you. In ages past, beyond measure, countless, incalculable eons ago, in this Jambudvīpa, there were many people living in peace, plenty, and security. Grains grew naturally without being sown. People held no sense of 'mine' or 'yours,' and stored up nothing. In that time, the name of a Buddha had not yet appeared.

There was a great mountain called King of Jewel Mountains. Within that mountain lived three sages: one named Jewel Crest, one named Golden Crest, and one named Vajra Crest. These three sages focused their minds single-mindedly on the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha—the Three Jewels—and made this resolve: 'When shall we attain supreme enlightenment and liberate all sentient beings from suffering?'

Having made this thought, they fell silent for a moment, then renewed their aspiration once more. Through the power of this thought, they immediately entered the samādhi of compassionate, joyful, all-embracing jeweled pavilions for all beings. With their celestial eye, they looked upward and beheld the heavens of the Pure Abodes. Then a voice resounded from the sky, saying: 'Excellent, noble ones! Excellent, noble ones! You have made profound vows, seeking supreme enlightenment. Have you ever heard of the great sublime Dharma known as the Great Jewel Pavilion Secretly Abiding Dhāraṇī? The Buddhas of the past have already expounded it for the benefit of all sentient beings. Whoever hears it will never regress from supreme enlightenment. All the qualities of Buddhahood will quickly manifest before them; all samādhis will likewise appear; all dhāraṇī methods will likewise be present. They will be able to subdue all hosts of Māra, light the great torch of Dharma, and all wholesome seeds will come to fruition, perfecting the six pāramitās. All beings in the hells, among hungry ghosts, animals, the realm of Yama, and the asuras—upon hearing this mantra—will all attain liberation. Birth, aging, sickness, death, grief, sorrow, and affliction will be forever transcended.

In future ages, among the sentient beings of this Jambudvīpa, there will be those who are unfilial to their parents, who disrespect monastics, who disrespect Brahmins, who disrespect elders, who slander the true Dharma, who slander saints, who are destined for the hells, who slander the Buddhas, who slander the Bodhisattvas, who kill Arhats, who commit the five heinous offenses, who kill Brahmins, who kill calves, who rob and steal, who deliberately lie, who take what is not given, who commit sexual misconduct, who speak divisively, who speak harshly, who cheat with false measures and scales, who forcibly seize others' property, who break their word and betray their trust, who conceal others' belongings, and all who are caught up in evil deeds. When those beings hear this dhāraṇī—whether they recite it, chant it, uphold it, wear it on their bodies, write it on their clothing, place it on banners, keep it within books, or inscribe it on fine cloth, walls, boards, or tablets—even those who merely see it, hear it, pass through its shadow, or briefly come into contact with someone who holds and recites it, will, by the great power of this dhāraṇī, be certain to attain supreme enlightenment and receive immeasurable blessings in this very life. All their evil karma will be completely eradicated, all their wholesome roots will be brought to perfection, and all demonic forces will be subdued.

All who see them will rejoice, and they will be honored and respected by all beings. Kings, ministers, and all their families will delight in seeing them. Whatever they say, listeners will trust. Their hands and feet will be supple, their voices harmonious and gentle. They will be free from poverty and will not experience worldly suffering. Dangers from poison, weapons, knives, and fire will forever stay far away. Lions, tigers, wolves, and other fierce beasts will not be able to harm them. They will be free from the perils of bandits, of executioners, of butchers, of rākṣasas, of evil ghosts, of demonic possession, of venomous serpents, and of epidemics. One-day fevers, two-day fevers, three-day fevers, four-day fevers, malaria, chronic illness, eye diseases, ear diseases, nose diseases, tongue diseases, mouth diseases, tooth diseases, lip diseases, throat diseases, neck diseases, hand diseases, back diseases, waist diseases, navel diseases, hemorrhoids, dysentery, thigh diseases, foot diseases, growths, swellings, skin spots, stomach diseases, scabies, boils, leprosy, ringworm, headaches, and paralysis—all such ailments will be completely eliminated. They will not be blind, deaf, mute, or crippled. At the end of life, their minds will not be scattered, and they will not lose mindfulness. All Buddhas will appear before them to comfort them. Whether asleep or awake, walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, they will always dwell in ease. Sometimes in their dreams, they will behold Buddhas of hundreds, thousands, countless worlds, surrounded by Bodhisattvas before and behind. This dhāraṇī possesses such limitless, boundless, inconceivable power.'

At that time, the three sages, having received this Dharma, were filled with joy, leaping with delight. In their dwelling place, like fresh ghee sinking into the ground, they dissolved into the earth. On that very spot, three bamboo stalks sprouted forth—their roots of the seven jewels, with golden stems, leaves, and branches. Upon the tips of every branch hung true pearls, fragrant, pure, and luminous. All who passed by and saw them were filled with delight.

When full ten months had passed, the bamboos split open. From within each stalk emerged a young child, of handsome features and complete physical perfection. These three children, once born, each sat cross-legged beneath their bamboo and entered profound meditative states. By the seventh night, they all attained supreme enlightenment. Their bodies shone with golden light, adorned with the thirty-two marks of a great being and the eighty subsidiary signs, surrounded by radiant halos.

Then each of those three bamboo stalks transformed into a magnificent jeweled pavilion. At that moment, the Great Jewel Pavilion Secretly Abiding Dhāraṇī appeared suddenly in the sky, inscribed in golden letters. The four great heavenly kings—Jewel Crest, sovereign of the nāgas; Jeweled Treasure, sovereign of the kumbhāṇḍas; and Wonderful Pearl Light, sovereign of the mahoragas—each held aloft jeweled canopies to shade them. Pure celestial beings scattered precious pearls, and the great heavenly king Vajra Yakṣa, together with countless hundreds of thousands of followers, offered beautiful flowers in homage, declaring with one voice: 'Now has the Buddha, the World-Honored One, appeared, revealing this precious treasure!'"