One time, the World-Honored One was staying at the Bamboo Grove Monastery in Rajagriha. Not far from there, a monk was living by a hot spring. At that time, a heavenly being of radiant beauty and brilliant light came to that monk’s dwelling after the first watch of the night. The heavenly being’s majestic glow shone brightly, illuminating the entire hot spring. With joined palms and seated to one side, the being addressed the monk: “Venerable one, have you ever before heard the Sutra of the Auspicious Night?” The monk replied: “I have never heard such a scripture.” Then the monk asked the being: “Do you know of it?” The heavenly being answered: “I do not know it either.” The monk said: “Who then knows it?” The heavenly being said: “The compassionate, unsurpassed Father is in the Bamboo Grove Monastery. You should go there and ask him. Whatever the Buddha teaches, follow it accordingly.” Having said this, the being vanished.

When dawn came, that monk went to the World-Honored One, bowed with his head at the Buddha’s feet, and stood to one side. He said: “World-Honored One! Last night, after the first watch, a heavenly being came to me. Its radiance brightly shone throughout the hot spring. It asked me: ‘Have you ever heard the Sutra of the Auspicious Night?’ I said: ‘I have not.’ I then asked the being: ‘Do you know of it?’ It replied: ‘I do not know.’ I asked again: ‘Who knows it, then?’ It said: ‘The compassionate, unsurpassed Father is in the Bamboo Grove Monastery. Go and ask him. Whatever the Buddha teaches, follow it accordingly.’ Having said this, the being vanished. For this reason, I have come here to ask the World-Honored One.”

The Buddha told the monk: “Do you know who that heavenly being was?” The monk replied: “I do not know.” “You should know now,” the Buddha said, “that heavenly being is a noble and glorious celestial of the Thirty-Three Heavens, a great general of majestic virtue named Sandalwood. For the benefit of all beings, he came to awaken you and asked about the name of this sutra.”

Then that monk again addressed the Buddha: “World-Honored One! I now wish to hear the Sutra of the Auspicious Night. Please, out of compassion, teach it to me.”

At that time, the World-Honored One said to the monk: “This Sutra of the Auspicious Night possesses great merit. Anyone who hears it can cut off afflictions and quickly realize enlightenment. Listen closely, pay careful attention, and I will teach it for you.

Do not dwell on past things. Do not long for future things. Do not cling to present things. One who practices like this is truly liberated.”

Then the World-Honored One spoke in verse:

Then the World-Honored One, wishing to benefit all beings, so that they might find peace and happiness through the long night, be free from all obstacles and afflictions, grow in virtue life after life, always encounter the Three Jewels, and never fall into the lower realms, further spoke this Dharani:

Tadyathā: Vinīvarane, padma-tantri, maṇī-nīri-ji-ji-ji-ji, golī, gandhārī, caṇḍālī, mātaṅgī sa-rāṇṭe, mahorāṇi, khā-rīpa-ri, chakravākī, khā-rīma, mahākhā-rī, bṛṅgajī, nimīnaṁ gaje, kṛta-ṇī, svāhā. Saṁvaṁka-daṁ, arnābha-gate, nārāgata-paṁ, sukhavatī, kṣapad-ka, bhodhi-svāhā.

"If there are monks, nuns, male lay followers, female lay followers, or any other good men and women who—on this auspicious night—recite, uphold, venerate, and honor even a single verse or even a single phrase of this Sutra of the Good Night, who understand its meaning and teach it to others, you should know that such people will be free from all calamities at all times, free from accidents and afflictions. They will know the events of their past seven lives, never lose the aspiration for great enlightenment, and certainly follow the correct path toward nirvana. If there are good men and women who uphold and recite this Sutra of the Good Night, in whatever place they are reborn in the future, they will surely gain the wisdom of past abodes and always live in respect, peace, and happiness." Then the Buddha spoke this verse:

Then he spoke this mantra:

Tadyatha, Nimi min dari, trilyoka(extended) lokini, Trishula dharini, akupi, jili dinuri, Kutukun ti, kutu kushu, jiliti kupini. Protect, protect me, [name], in all places of terror, In all places of sickness and pain, In all places of sorrow and affliction, In all places of poisonous creatures and poisons, In all places of demons and malevolent spells, In all places of kings, thieves, floods, and fires, In all places of wild beasts and fright, In all places of slander and lawsuits, In all places of enemies and conflict, In all places of physical and mental wrongdoing, In all places of the four faults of speech, In all places of danger and death: May Vajra-god always protect me, [name], and all my family. Svaha(extended).(extended)

Reciting the spell, he said:

Om, tadyatha: hili hili mili mili, bhishacipanhe, shavari siddhi svaha.

Sutra on the Auspicious Night Spoken by the Buddha