佛說善夜經一卷
唐三藏法師義淨奉 制譯
如是我聞：
一時薄伽梵在王舍城竹林園所。去斯不遠有一苾芻，住溫泉側。時有一天顏貌端嚴光明殊妙，過初夜分詣苾芻所。彼天威光周圓赫奕，悉皆照耀普遍溫泉，合掌禮敬在一面坐，白苾芻言：「大德！仁頗先聞善夜經不？」苾芻答曰：「我未曾聞如是經典。」復問天言：「仁先知不？」天曰：「我亦不知。」苾芻曰：「誰有知者？」天曰：「無上慈父在竹林園，仁今可往詣彼請問。如佛所說，當奉行之。」說是語已忽然不現。時彼苾芻至天曉已，詣世尊所，頂禮雙足，在一面立，白言：「世尊！昨夜有天，過初更後來詣我所，光明照曜周遍溫泉，而問我言：『仁頗先聞善夜經不？』我言：『未聞。』我問彼天：『仁先知不？』答言：『不知。』我復問言：『誰有知者？』彼言：『無上慈父在竹林園，仁可往問。如佛所說，當奉行之。』說是語已忽然不現。我緣斯事，故來至此請問世尊。」佛告苾芻：「汝識彼天不？」答言：「不識。」「汝今當知，彼是三十三天勝妙天子威德大將名曰栴檀，為欲利益諸眾生故，來覺悟汝，問是經名。」時彼苾芻復白佛言：「世尊！我今願聞善夜經典，唯願世尊哀愍為說。」爾時世尊告苾芻言：「此善夜經具大功德，若有聞者能斷煩惱，速證菩提。汝應諦聽，善極作意，吾當為說。過去諸法不應追念，未來諸法亦不希求，現在諸法勿生染著，如是行者名真解脫。」爾時世尊即說頌曰：
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:
「過去不應念， 未來不希求，
於現在時中， 皆如法觀察。
妄想心難遣， 智人應善觀，
宜可速勤修， 焉知至明日？
由彼死王眾， 與汝鎮相隨，
是故我牟尼， 善夜經今說。
常願諸有情， 離苦獲安樂，
不造諸惡業， 恒修於眾善。」
Don’t dwell on the past, Nor long for what’s yet to come. In the present moment, Observe with clarity and calm.
The restless mind is hard to tame; The wise watch closely, free from blame. Practice diligently while you may— Who knows what comes with tomorrow’s day?
The King of Death walks by your side; This truth you cannot set aside. Thus the Sage, in compassion’s light, Speaks the Sutra of the Good Night.
May all beings, far and wide, Find release from pain, in peace abide. From all wrong deeds may they refrain, In wholesome acts, may they remain.
爾時世尊為欲利益一切眾生，令於長夜得安隱樂、離諸障惱，於生生處增長善根，常遇三寶、不墮惡趣，復更說此陀羅尼曰：
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:
「怛姪他 毘尼婆(引)喇儞 跋柁摩單滯 摩膩儞㨖㨖㨖㨖瞿里健陀里 旃茶里摩登祇(上)薩囉爛帝 莫呼剌膩攝鉢利 斫羯囉婆(引)枳 攝伐里莫訶攝伐里 步精揭(巨列)儞 儞弭儞名揭儞 訖栗多(引)儞 莎(引)訶(引)僧拽體(天移)曇(去)頞𡃤伽帝 捺囉伽帝謗蘇迦波(引)𧜟劫布得(都洛)迦波(引)𧜟答布檀泥(去)莎訶」
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.
「若有苾芻、苾芻尼、鄔波索迦、鄔波斯迦，及餘善男子善女人等，於此善夜經中，若一伽他、若一句呪，讀誦受持、供養尊重，明解其義為他演說，當知是人於一切時無諸災厄，亦無抂橫及諸衰惱，能知過去七生之事，亦不忘失大菩提心，決定能趣涅槃正道。若有善男子善女人，受持讀誦此善夜經者，於未來世所生之處，必定當得宿住之智，常受尊貴安隱快樂。」復說頌曰：
"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:
「此人一切時， 無有枉橫事，
由造順時業， 永離非時死，
擁護諸眾生， 令離病憂怖，
不祥及惡夢， 險路常安隱。
若男子女人， 戴持此經者，
具相人敬重， 所願皆圓滿。
若於身語意， 所有諸不善，
由此經威力， 終無有惡報。
若水火王賊， 雷電毒害等，
怨家戰諍時， 念經皆得脫。
又復有明呪， 若能讀誦者，
於一切時中， 長善滅諸惡。」
This person, at all times, Will never meet with misfortune or wrongful harm. By performing deeds in harmony with proper timing, They will be forever free from untimely death. Protecting all beings, They keep them free from sickness, worry, and fear. Bad omens, nightmares, and treacherous roads Always remain safe and peaceful for them.
If a man or a woman Carries and maintains this Sutra, Handsome and virtuous, people will respect them, And all their wishes will be fulfilled. Whatever unwholesome actions They may have committed in body, speech, or mind, Through the spiritual power of this Sutra, They will never experience negative retribution.
In times of flood, fire, royal punishment, or thieves, Lightning, poison, or other dangers, During conflicts with enemies or in battle, Reciting this Sutra brings liberation.
Moreover, there is a sacred mantra— Those who recite it, At all times and in all circumstances, Will cultivate goodness and eliminate all evils.
即說呪曰：
Then he spoke this mantra:
「怛姪他 儞弭尼民達哩 窒哩盧迦(引)盧枳儞 窒哩輸攞陀唎儞 惡矩比 姪哩底奴麗 矩都軍底 矩都屈此 雞㗚底矩比儞 擁護擁護我某甲於一切恐怖處 於一切疾病苦痛處 於一切憂愁相惱處於一切毒蟲毒藥處 於一切鬼魅厭禱處 於一切王賊水火處 於一切猛獸驚怖處 於一切謗讟言訟處 於一切怨家鬪諍處 於一切身意惡業處 所有語業四過處 於一切厄難危亡處 并執金剛神 常衛護我某甲并諸眷屬莎(引)訶(引)」
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)
復說呪曰：
Reciting the spell, he said:
「恒姪他 呬里呬里弭里弭里 畢舍脂鉢拏 攝伐里止里莎訶」
Om, tadyatha: hili hili mili mili, bhishacipanhe, shavari siddhi svaha.
爾時世尊說是經已，時彼苾芻及諸大眾，人天八部、諸鬼神等，皆大歡喜，信受奉行。
佛說善夜經
Sutra on the Auspicious Night Spoken by the Buddha