大方等大集經菩薩念佛三昧分卷第一
Mahāvaipulya Mahāsaṃnipāta Sūtra: Chapter on the Bodhisattva's Buddha Recitation Samādhi, Fascicle 1
隋天竺三藏達磨笈多譯
Translated by Dharmagupta, Tripitaka Master of Tianzhu during the Sui Dynasty
序品第一
Chapter 1: The Prologue
爾時，婆伽婆在王舍城耆闍崛山中，與大比丘眾千二百五十人俱，一切皆是大阿羅漢——諸漏已盡，無復煩惱，心善解脫、慧善解脫，調伏一切猶如大龍，捨離重擔不受後有，所作已辦、獲真己利，住平等智、入解脫門，自在得度眾苦彼岸——惟除尊者阿難一人。
At that time, the Bhagavan was in the Bamboo Grove on Vulture Peak Mountain near Rajagaha, together with a great assembly of twelve hundred and fifty monks. All of them were great arhats—their outflows had been exhausted, they had no more afflictions, their minds were well liberated and their wisdom well liberated. Tamed in every way like great dragons, they had laid down their heavy burdens and would receive no further existence. What needed to be done was done; they had attained their true benefit. They dwelled in impartial wisdom, entered the gate of Liberation, and freely crossed over to the other shore beyond all Suffering—all except the venerable Ananda alone.
復有無量諸菩薩摩訶薩眾，皆從十方世界來者，各與一切菩薩摩訶薩眾俱。
Also present were countless great bodhisattvas, mahasattvas, all who had come from the worlds of the ten directions.
復有無量淨居諸天子，其名曰：難陀天子、須難陀天子、栴檀那天子、須摩那天子、自在天子、大自在天子、難勝天子、善威光天子。如是等諸天子眾，過夜半已放大光明，直照於此耆闍崛山已，咸詣佛所頂禮尊足，即以天多摩羅跋香、天沈水香、天多伽羅香、天末栴檀香、及牛頭栴檀香，如是等種種諸香，慇懃再三散於佛上已，復以天散華、及天雞婆羅華、摩訶雞婆羅華、曼陀羅華、摩訶曼陀羅華、曼殊沙華、摩訶曼殊沙華、阿地目多華，以如是等種種眾華，亦慇懃再三散於佛上已，而復漸進前詣佛所，右遶三匝，一心恭敬合十指掌，稽首禮佛，退住一面。
There were also countless celestial beings of the Pure Abodes. Their names were: the celestial being Nanda, the celestial being Sunanda, the celestial being Candana, the celestial being Sumana, the celestial being Ishvara, the celestial being Maheshvara, the celestial being Durjaya, and the celestial being Suvarcas. After midnight, this entire assembly of celestial beings emitted a great radiance that shone directly upon Mount Gridhrakuta, and then they all approached the Buddha, bowed their heads at his venerable feet, and reverently scattered heavenly tamalapattra incense, heavenly agarwood incense, heavenly tagara incense, heavenly powdered sandalwood incense, and ox-head sandalwood incense—various incenses such as these—over the Buddha again and again. They also reverently scattered heavenly flowers—heavenly kimpala flowers, great kimpala flowers, mandarava flowers, great mandarava flowers, manjushaka flowers, great manjushaka flowers, and atimuktaka flowers—various flowers such as these—over the Buddha again and again. Then they gradually drew near to the Buddha, circumambulated him three times to the right, joined their palms together in single-minded reverence, bowed their heads in homage to the Buddha, and withdrew to stand to one side.
爾時，諸天子眾各如是念：「今此菩薩念一切佛三昧法門，過去諸如來、應供、等正覺已曾於彼天人大眾中宣揚，分別利益一切諸眾生故。今我世尊豈不為斯天人大眾——梵、魔、沙門、婆羅門、諸龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人等——敷演宣說如是妙典？為欲利益一切世間天人大眾故，亦令未來世一切眾生咸蒙利益故。」
At that time, the assembly of heavenly beings all had this thought: "This bodhisattva's samadhi method of mindfulness of all Buddhas—past Tathagatas, Arhats, and Fully Enlightened Ones have already proclaimed it among the assemblies of gods and humans, distinguishing and explaining it for the benefit of all living beings. Now will our World-Honored One not also, for the sake of this great assembly of gods and humans—Brahma gods, Maras, ascetics, brahmins, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans, non-humans, and so on—expound and proclaim this wonderful scripture? It is for the benefit of all gods and humans in the world, and also so that all living beings in future generations may receive its benefits."
爾時，難陀天子、須難陀天子、栴檀那天子、須摩那天子、自在天子、大自在天子、難勝天子、善威光天子，如是一切諸天子眾作是思惟已，即白佛言：「世尊！婆伽婆！今此菩薩念一切佛三昧法門，過去諸如來、應供、等正覺已曾為諸天人大眾——梵、魔、沙門、婆羅門、諸龍、夜叉、乾闥婆……、乃至一切人非人等——敷揚演說如是經典，利益世間諸眾生故。惟願世尊大慈哀愍，今亦為此天人大眾——梵、魔、沙門、婆羅門及彼一切人非人等——演說如是方等法門，令諸世間多獲利益、安隱快樂故。」
At that time, the celestial beings Nanda, Sunanda, Candana, Sumana, Ishvara, Maheshvara, Durjaya, and Suvarcas—the entire company of celestial beings—having had this thought, spoke to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! Bhagavan! This samadhi method of mindfulness of all Buddhas—past Tathagatas, Arhats, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones have already expounded and proclaimed this very sutra to the assemblies of devas and humans—Brahma, Mara, ascetics, brahmins, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas… and all humans and non-humans—for the benefit of all living beings in the world. We pray that the World-Honored One, out of great compassion and pity, will now also expound this Vaipulya method for this assembly of devas and humans—Brahma, Mara, ascetics, brahmins, and all humans and non-humans—so that the world may gain much benefit, peace, and happiness."
爾時，世尊大悲熏心，為欲利益一切世間諸眾生故，默然受是諸天子請。時諸天子見佛默然，知聖哀許，頂禮佛足，圍遶三匝，即於耆闍崛山忽然不見，還於天宮。
At that time, the World-Honored One, his heart suffused with great compassion, silently accepted the request of those celestial beings in order to benefit all living beings in the world. When the celestial beings saw that the Buddha was silent, they knew that the Sage had compassionately consented. They bowed their heads at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him three times, and then suddenly vanished from Vulture Peak Mountain, returning to their heavenly palace.
爾時，世尊過夜後分將明旦時，便作大師子王警欬之聲而復微笑。時佛、如來、應供、等正覺忽發如是殊異聲已，須臾之間，是耆闍崛山精舍所有諸比丘眾，承佛威神，一切皆悉集於如來、應供、等正覺所。
At that time, after the night had passed and as dawn was approaching, the World-Honored One gave forth the roar of the great lion king, clearing his throat, and then smiled. When the Buddha, the Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One, had suddenly uttered so extraordinary a sound, in but a moment all the monks in the Vulture Peak Monastery, by the Buddha's spiritual power, had gathered before the Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One.
爾時，復有眾多異阿蘭若處諸比丘等——具大神通、有大威德——亦皆承佛威神，俱從阿蘭若處來，入耆闍崛山集如來所。
At that time, there were also many monks dwelling in various forest hermitages—possessing great supernormal powers and great majesty—who likewise, by the Buddha's spiritual power, all came from their forest hermitages and gathered where the Tathagata was, in Vulture Peak Mountain.
爾時，王舍大城一切諸比丘尼亦皆承佛威神，入耆闍崛山，集如來所。
At that time, all the bhikkhunis of the great city of Rajagaha, also by the Buddha's spiritual power, entered Vulture Peak Mountain and gathered where the Tathagata was.
爾時，摩伽陀國主——韋提希子——阿闍世王，與無量百千眷屬前後圍遶，入耆闍崛山，集如來所。
At that time, King Ajatashatru of Magadha, son of Vaidehi, surrounded by a vast retinue of hundreds of thousands, entered Vulture Peak Mountain and gathered where the Tathagata was.
爾時，復有諸夜叉大將，其名曰：阿吒婆迦曠野居夜叉大將、伽陀婆迦驢形夜叉大將、金毘羅摩竭魚夜叉大將、須脂路摩針毛夜叉大將、摩羅陀梨持華鬘夜叉大將，如是等諸夜叉為首，并餘諸夜叉輩——有大威神、具大勢力——各與無量百千眷屬前後圍遶，入耆闍崛山集於佛所。
At that time, there were also great yaksha generals, named: Atavaka the Wilderness-Dwelling Yaksha General, Katavaka the Donkey-Shaped Yaksha General, Kumbhira the Makara-Fish Yaksha General, Sujiluma the Needle-Haired Yaksha General, and Maladhari the Flower-Garland-Bearing Yaksha General. With these yakshas at the forefront, together with the rest of the yaksha hosts—possessing great spiritual power and mighty strength—each surrounded front and back by countless hundreds of thousands of attendants, they entered Vulture Peak Mountain and assembled where the Buddha was.
爾時，復有諸阿修羅王，其名曰：大叫羅睺阿修羅王、種種可畏毘摩質多阿修羅王、須婆睺善臂阿修羅王、波訶羅舒展陀阿修羅王——有大威神、具大勢力——聞佛警聲，心生驚悚、身毛皆竪，各與無量百千眷屬前後圍遶，來入耆闍崛山集於佛所。
At that time, there were also asura kings named: the Great Roaring Rahu Asura King, the Terrifying Vemacitra Asura King, the Beautiful-Armed Subahu Asura King, and the Far-Reaching Pahara Asura King—all possessing great majestic power and tremendous strength. When they heard the Buddha's warning sound, their minds were startled with fear, and every hair on their bodies stood on end. Each of them, surrounded front and back by countless hundreds of thousands of followers, came to Vulture Peak Mountain and gathered before the Buddha.
爾時，復有此三千大千世界所有諸大龍王及其眷屬，彼各聞佛警欬聲時，心生驚悚、身毛皆竪，承佛威神，來入耆闍崛山集於佛所。
At that time, all the great dragon kings of this three-thousand great-thousand world, together with their retinues, upon hearing the sound of the Buddha clearing his throat, were startled in their hearts, with the hair on their bodies standing on end. Sustained by the Buddha's majestic power, they came into Vulture Peak Mountain and assembled in the Buddha's presence.
爾時，舍婆提大城給孤獨長者，亦與無量百千眷屬前後圍遶，自舍婆提詣王舍城，入耆闍崛山集於佛所，為欲恭敬供養如來、聽聞正法故。
At that time, the great elder Anathapindika of the city of Shravasti, surrounded before and behind by immeasurable hundreds of thousands of his followers, traveled from Shravasti to the city of Rajagriha, entered Mount Gridhrakuta, and gathered where the Buddha was—out of the wish to pay homage and make offerings to the Tathagata and to hear the true Dharma.
爾時，毘舍離大城亦有無量諸梨車子，皆生大淨婆羅門家，其名曰：善思梨車子、伏怨少壯梨車子、功德生梨車子、無邊手梨車子、舉手梨車子、然手長者子。如是等而為上首，皆已久住無上大乘，各與無量百千眷屬前後圍遶，自毘舍離詣王舍城，入耆闍崛山集於佛所。
At that time, in the great city of Vaishali there were also countless Licchavi youths, all born into greatly purified brahmin families. Their names were: the Licchavi youth Well-Reasoning, the Licchavi youth Subduer-of-Foes the Young, the Licchavi youth Born-of-Merit, the Licchavi youth Boundless-Hand, the Licchavi youth Raised-Hand, and the elder's son Blazing-Hand. Leaders such as these, all long established in the unsurpassed Great Vehicle, each surrounded before and behind by countless hundreds of thousands of followers, went from Vaishali to Rajagriha and entered Gridhrakuta Mountain to gather where the Buddha was.
爾時，瞻波大城復有無量諸長者子，已於過去供養無量無邊諸佛，種諸善根，具大威德、有大勢力，其名曰：善住長者子、利益長者子、無邊精進婆羅門子，如是等而為上首，及餘無量長者居士，各與無量百千眷屬前後圍遶，自瞻波城詣王舍城，入耆闍崛山集於佛所，為欲恭敬供養如來、聽聞正法故。
At that time, in the great city of Campā, there were also countless sons of elders. They had already made offerings to countless boundless Buddhas in the past, planted roots of goodness, and possessed great majesty and power. Their names were: the elder's son Good Abiding, the elder's son Benefit, the brahmin's son Boundless Diligence—these and others were foremost, along with countless other elders and laymen, each surrounded by countless hundreds of thousands of retinue, proceeding from the city of Campā to Rājagṛha, entering Mount Vulture Peak and assembling where the Buddha was, wishing to respectfully make offerings to the Tathāgata and to hear the true Dharma.
爾時，波羅奈城有無量種異類人眾，已於過去供養無量百千諸佛、植諸善根，皆已純熟，自波羅奈詣王舍城，入耆闍崛山集於佛所，為欲恭敬供養如來、聽聞正法故。
At that time, in the city of Varanasi, there were countless multitudes of various kinds of people. They had already made offerings to countless hundreds of thousands of Buddhas in the past and had planted roots of goodness. They had all become fully matured. From Varanasi they journeyed to Rajagaha and gathered at the Buddha's dwelling on Mount Grdhrakuta, wishing to pay respect and make offerings to the Tathagata and to hear the true Dharma.
爾時，拘尸那城復有無量諸力士末羅子，亦曾供養無量百千諸佛、世尊，以久熏修諸善根故，有大威德、具足勢力，亦與無量眷屬圍遶，自拘尸那詣王舍城，入耆闍崛山集於佛所，亦為恭敬供養如來、聽聞正法故。
At that time, in the city of Kushinagar there were also countless Licchavi youths of the Malla clan, who had likewise made offerings to countless hundreds of thousands of Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones. Because they had long cultivated and perfected wholesome roots, they possessed great majesty and virtue and were complete in strength and power. Surrounded by countless followers, they journeyed from Kushinagar to Rajagriha, entered Vulture Peak Mountain, and gathered where the Buddha was—also for the sake of honoring and making offerings to the Tathagata and hearing the true Dharma.
爾時，東方過無量恒河沙諸世界中一切大梵天王并餘天眾——有大威德、具大神通——聞佛、世尊大師子王謦欬聲時，咸大驚愕、舉身毛竪，承佛威神，各與無量千萬天眾眷屬圍遶，皆自本處發來詣此娑婆世界王舍大城，入耆闍崛山集於佛所。如是，南、西、北方、四維、上、下皆有如是無量恒河沙世界所有一切大梵天王及餘天眾——有大威德及大神通——聞佛世尊大師子王謦欬聲時，亦咸驚悚、舉身毛竪，承佛威神，各與無量千萬天眾眷屬圍遶，皆自本處發來詣此娑婆世界王舍大城耆闍崛山，集於佛所。
At that time, from the eastern direction, beyond worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, all the great Brahma kings and other heavenly beings—possessing great majesty and great supernormal powers—when they heard the sound of the Buddha, the World-Honored One, the Great Lion King, clearing his throat, were all greatly astonished, with the hair on their bodies standing on end. By the Buddha's spiritual power, each surrounded by a retinue of countless thousands and millions of heavenly beings, they all set out from their own realms and came to this Saha World, to the great city of Rajagriha, and gathered at Vulture Peak where the Buddha was. In the same way, from the southern, western, and northern directions, the four intermediate directions, above and below, all the great Brahma kings and other heavenly beings from worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges—possessing great majesty and great supernormal powers—when they heard the sound of the Buddha, the World-Honored One, the Great Lion King, clearing his throat, were likewise all startled, with the hair on their bodies standing on end. By the Buddha's spiritual power, each surrounded by a retinue of countless thousands and millions of heavenly beings, they all set out from their own realms and came to this Saha World, to the great city of Rajagriha, to Vulture Peak, and gathered at Vulture Peak where the Buddha was.
爾時，耆闍崛山其地弘博，縱廣正等，如此三千大千世界；大眾充滿，無有空處如杖頭許；然彼大眾皆有無量大威德力及大神通，一切天、人、諸龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人輩皆悉充滿。
At that time, Vulture Peak was vast and broad, extending evenly in all directions, just like a three-thousand great-thousandfold world. The great assembly filled it completely, with no empty space even the size of a staff's tip. And all in that great assembly possessed immeasurable great power of virtue and great supernatural powers—all the devas, humans, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, and human and non-human beings were all fully present.
爾時，世尊知諸世間天人大眾一切集已，復發如是大師子王謦欬之聲；發大聲已，自精舍出，至一方所而復微笑。時諸世間天人大眾覩是事已，各捨己服及諸華鬘，以種種香而散佛上，供養恭敬，至心瞻仰。
At that time, the World-Honored One knew that all the assembled heavenly and human beings of the world had gathered. He then again gave forth this great lion-king's clear sound. Having uttered that great sound, he came out from his dwelling and went to a certain place, where he smiled again. Then the heavenly and human beings of the world, seeing this, each cast off their own garments and flower garlands and scattered various incense upon the Buddha, honoring and making offerings with wholehearted reverence and gazing upon him.
爾時，大眾中有尊者舍利弗、尊者目犍連、尊者大迦葉、尊者須菩提、尊者富樓那彌多羅尼子、尊者羅睺羅、尊者大劫賓那、尊者大迦旃延、尊者阿泥樓陀、尊者護世、尊者守籠那、尊者難陀、尊者阿難等而為上首，及餘一切諸大聲聞——皆是大德，具大神通——一切皆來集斯會坐。
At that time, within the great assembly, there were the venerable Shariputra, the venerable Maudgalyayana, the venerable Mahakashyapa, the venerable Subhuti, the venerable Purna Maitrayaniputra, the venerable Rahula, the venerable Mahakapphina, the venerable Mahakatyayana, the venerable Aniruddha, the venerable Lokapala, the venerable Shrona, the venerable Nanda, the venerable Ananda, and others, who were the foremost among them, along with all the other great shravakas—all of them greatly virtuous and possessing great supernormal powers—who had all come together and were seated in this assembly.
爾時，大眾中復有尊者彌勒菩薩摩訶薩、越三界菩薩摩訶薩、踊大步菩薩摩訶薩、初發心即轉法輪菩薩摩訶薩、善思菩薩摩訶薩、大音聲菩薩摩訶薩、善行步菩薩摩訶薩、超三世菩薩摩訶薩、持世菩薩摩訶薩、文殊師利菩薩摩訶薩、不空見菩薩摩訶薩等而為上首，及餘無量無數菩薩摩訶薩，皆於過去無量諸如來所種諸善根，眾行熏修功德成滿，久已得住阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。
At that time, in the great assembly there were also the venerable bodhisattvas mahāsattva Maitreya, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Transcending the Three Realms, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Great Stride, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Who Turned the Wheel of Dharma Upon First Arousing the Mind, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Good Thought, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Great Sound, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Good Conduct, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Surpassing the Three Times, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Sustaining the World, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Mañjuśrī, and Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Unfailing Vision, who stood at their head, together with countless other bodhisattvas mahāsattva beyond number. All of them had planted roots of goodness in the presence of countless past Tathāgatas, and through cultivating all practices their merit had been perfected; long since had they firmly abided in anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.
爾時，尊者不空見菩薩摩訶薩見佛、世尊復微笑已，從座而起，整容理服，偏袒右肩，右膝著地，合掌向佛而說偈曰：
At that time, the venerable Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Amoghadarśin, seeing the Buddha, the World-Honored One, smile again, rose from his seat, composed his appearance and adjusted his robes, bared his right shoulder, placed his right knee on the ground, joined his palms toward the Buddha, and spoke in verse:
「最勝無上兩足尊， 無緣不應現微笑，
一切世間無等侶， 惟願為我演笑因。
常施貧窮諸所須， 亦說大乘最妙寶，
能與生盲決胎膜， 今事微笑何因緣？
世尊三界尚無比， 何況世間得論勝，
能作世間大導師， 今應顯笑有何緣？」
"Supreme and unsurpassed, honored among those who walk on two legs, you do not smile without a cause. There is no equal to you in all the world; I only pray you will reveal to me the reason for your smile.
You always give the poor whatever they need, and you teach the great vehicle, the most wonderful treasure, able to open the film from the eyes of those born blind. What is the cause of your smile now?
The World-Honored One has no peer even in the three realms, how much less could anyone in the world claim to surpass him. You can be the great guide of the world; now you should reveal the reason for your smile."
爾時，世尊即告不空見菩薩摩訶薩言：「不空見！汝今見斯勝地方所左右邊動眾相莊嚴，可愛樂不？」
At that time, the World-Honored One addressed the Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Inexhaustible Insight, saying: "Inexhaustible Insight, do you now see this excellent place, with its many signs of quaking and adornment on every side, so lovely and delightful?"
不空見言：「如是，世尊！如是，婆伽婆！」
"Not-Empty-Seeing said: 'Thus it is, World-Honored One! Thus it is, Bhagavan!'"
佛復告言：「不空見！汝應當知，此地方所，往古諸如來、應供、等正覺已曾受用，教化遊居。」
The Buddha again said: "Bukongjian, you should know that this place was once used by past Tathagatas, Arhats, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones, who taught and dwelt here."
爾時，不空見菩薩聞佛教已，速疾而行趣彼方處；至彼方已，便入三昧；住三昧時，自然成就上妙寶座，種種莊嚴皆悉具足；嚴飾座已，還詣佛所，頭面禮足而白佛言：「世尊！今此方處莊嚴若是，惟願世尊亦當及時處斯勝地。」
At that time, Bodhisattva Bukongjian, having heard the Buddha's teaching, went quickly to that place. When he arrived there, he entered samadhi. While resting in samadhi, a wondrous jeweled seat naturally appeared, complete with every kind of adornment. Having adorned the seat, he returned to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, since this place is adorned in such a way, may the World-Honored One also, in due time, take this excellent site."
爾時，世尊便往方所，至方所已如法昇座。於是，如來、應供、等正覺昇此座時，如此三千大千世界一切大地六種震動——所謂動、遍動、等遍動，震、遍震、等遍震，涌、遍涌、等遍涌，吼、遍吼等、遍吼，起、遍起、等遍起，覺、遍覺等、遍覺——東涌西沒、西涌東沒、南涌北沒、北涌南沒、中涌邊沒、邊涌中沒。
At that time, the World-Honored One went to that place, and having arrived there, ascended the seat in accordance with the Dharma. Then, when the Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One ascended this seat, all the great earth of these three thousand great thousand worlds quaked in six ways—namely: quaking, quaking everywhere, quaking evenly everywhere; trembling, trembling everywhere, trembling evenly everywhere; surging, surging everywhere, surging evenly everywhere; roaring, roaring everywhere, roaring evenly everywhere; rising, rising everywhere, rising evenly everywhere; awakening, awakening everywhere, awakening evenly everywhere—east surged and west sank, west surged and east sank, south surged and north sank, north surged and south sank, center surged and edge sank, edge surged and center sank.
時此大地如是動已，佛神力故，遍此世界有大光明，令諸眾生等受快樂；下至阿鼻大地獄中所有眾生，蒙光觸身，諸苦消滅，等受快樂。如是，一切諸地獄中受苦眾生、及以諸畜生輩更相殘害、閻羅王界諸餓鬼等，遇斯光已，所有苦具皆悉消除、飢渴充滿，無有眾生不受樂者。
When the great earth had trembled in this way, by the Buddha's spiritual power a great light spread throughout this world, bringing happiness to all living beings. Down to the beings in the Avici Great Hell, all who were touched by the light had their sufferings extinguished and equally received happiness. In the same way, all the suffering beings in the various hells, the animals that harm one another, and the hungry ghosts in the realm of King Yama — once this light reached them, all their instruments of suffering vanished completely, their hunger and thirst were fully satisfied, and there was no being who did not receive happiness.
當爾之時，一切眾生悉捨惡念、皆起慈心，遞相愛樂、各懷悲愍，猶如親屬，相視歡欣，和合同座。於是讚曰：
At that time, all sentient beings completely abandoned evil thoughts and gave rise to compassionate minds. They loved and delighted in one another, each cherishing feelings of sympathy and pity, like family members gazing at each other with joy and sitting together in harmony. Then they praised:
「世尊處斯座， 能放大光明，
大地六反動， 令眾生歡喜。
如來處斯座， 法王放光明，
當知如是時， 眾生等受樂。
正覺處斯座， 大智歸依處，
放光利世間， 遍照此佛剎。
奇哉！是大乘， 最勝乘無上，
如來處斯座， 利益難思議；
奇哉！是大乘， 最勝乘無上，
沙門、婆羅門， 於此莫能測。」
The World-Honored One seated on this seat Can send forth great radiance, And the earth quakes in six ways, Bringing joy to sentient beings. The Tathagata seated on this seat, The Dharma King sends forth radiance; Know that at such a time, Sentient beings all receive happiness. The Fully Awakened One seated on this seat, The great wisdom, the place of refuge, Sends forth light benefiting the world, Illuminating this Buddha-field everywhere. How wonderful! This is the Great Vehicle, The supreme, unsurpassed Vehicle. The Tathagata seated on this seat Brings benefits inconceivable; How wonderful! This is the Great Vehicle, The supreme, unsurpassed Vehicle. Shramanas and brahmins Cannot fathom this.
爾時，世尊出廣長舌遍覆於此三千大千世界已，告諸菩薩摩訶薩及諸大聲聞眾言：「諸善男子！汝等當知，昨中夜後，歘有淨居諸天難陀天子、須難陀天子、栴檀天子、須摩那天子、難勝天子、乃至須多波天子等，與無量諸天子——有大威德、具大神通——放盛光明直照耆闍崛山，來至我所。即以種種天上妙香，所謂天末栴檀乃至天多摩羅跋香等，散於我上。復以種種天華，所謂優鉢羅華乃至大曼殊沙華等，供養於我。右遶三周，頂禮我足，退住一面。彼退住已，更於我所增敬上心，合十指掌默然而住。住已，即作如是思惟：『今此一切菩薩念佛法門，過去諸如來、應供、等正覺已曾為彼天人大眾宣揚解釋，惟欲安樂彼諸眾生；今我世尊亦當為此天人大眾如是演說念佛法門，安樂利益諸眾生故。』彼諸天子如是念已，即便請我說此法門。時我默然，許為其說。諸天知已，於是不現。」
At that time, the World-Honored One extended his broad and long tongue until it covered this entire three-thousand great-thousand world system. Then he addressed the Bodhisattvas Mahāsattvas and the great Śrāvaka assembly, saying:
"Good men, you should know that after midnight last night, there suddenly appeared celestial beings from the Pure Abodes — the god Nanda, the god Sunanda, the god Candana, the god Sumana, the god Durjaya, and the god Suprabha, and so on — together with countless other celestial beings of great majesty and virtue, possessing great supernormal powers. Emitting brilliant radiance that shone directly upon Vulture Peak, they came to where I was. They scattered upon me various celestial incenses of exquisite fragrance — celestial sandalwood powder and celestial tamāla-leaf incense, and so forth. They also offered me various celestial flowers — blue lotuses and great mañjūṣaka flowers, and so forth. They circumambulated me three times to the right, bowed their heads at my feet, and withdrew to stand to one side. Having withdrawn, they further deepened their reverence toward me, joined their palms together, and remained silently standing. And as they stood there, they thought: 'This Dharma-gate of Buddha Recitation, practiced by all Bodhisattvas — past Tathāgatas, Worthy Ones, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones have already proclaimed and explained it for the assemblies of gods and humans, solely to bring peace and happiness to those beings. Now our World-Honored One should likewise expound this Dharma-gate of Buddha Recitation for this assembly of gods and humans, for the peace and benefit of all beings.'
When those celestial beings had formed this thought, they immediately requested that I teach this Dharma-gate. At that time I remained silent, consenting to speak it for them. When the gods understood this, they then disappeared."
爾時，世尊即說頌曰：
Then the World-Honored One spoke these verses:
「比丘知昨中夜後， 淨居天王摩醯羅，
將諸天眾及眷屬， 難陀及以須難陀、
須摩那天、栴檀等， 乃至難勝、須多波，
普放世間勝光明， 直照此土耆闍崛。
彼天既來至我所， 以天華、香而供養，
然始右遶我三周， 頂禮恭敬一面住。
彼諸天子默生念： 『今此念佛修多羅，
過去最勝曾廣宣， 憐愍世間眾生故；
今我釋尊十力具， 寧不演說斯法門？
利益世間諸群生、 安隱一切天人故。』
諸天念已便發請， 時我默然遂許之，
我故欲於耆闍山， 如先諸佛所演說。
天知我已許之故， 生大歡樂尊敬心，
一切咸復恭敬禮， 右遶三周然後去。
比丘汝輩當善聽， 我聞過去諸佛說，
莫於是處生驚疑， 諸如來智難可測。
往昔諸佛所行道， 我先知盡無復疑；
現在一切人中尊， 所得菩提我已證；
當來大悲愍世者， 自然法身我覺知。
我今具足無礙智， 如是大智難稱量，
超出世間無與等， 一切眾生莫能測。」
"Monks, you should know: after midnight had passed, the celestial king Maheśvara of the Pure Abodes, together with his hosts of gods and their retinues—Nanda and Sunanda, Sumana and Candana, and on to Durnigama and Suprabha—all radiated a supreme light over the world, shining directly upon Gṛdhrakūṭa here. When those gods had come to where I was, they made offerings of celestial flowers and incense; then they circled me three times to the right, bowed, and stood respectfully to one side.
Those deities silently gave rise to this thought: 'This sutra on Buddha Recitation—the most excellent ones of the past once proclaimed it widely, out of compassion for the living beings of the world. Now our Śākyamuni, endowed with the ten powers, will he not also expound this Dharma-gate, for the benefit of the many beings in the world and for the peace of all humans and gods?'
When the gods had thought this, they made their request; and I remained silent, thereby granting it. My intention was to teach on Gṛdhrakūṭa Mountain exactly as the previous Buddhas had taught. When the gods knew I had granted it, they were filled with great joy and reverence, and all of them bowed respectfully once more, circled three times to the right, and then departed.
Monks, listen well: I have heard all the past Buddhas teach this. Do not give rise to doubt or hesitation here—the wisdom of the Tathāgatas is hard to fathom. The path walked by all the Buddhas of the past, I have fully known without further doubt; the Enlightenment attained by all the honored ones among humans in the present, I have already realized; and those in the future who out of great compassion will have pity on the world—their self-existent Dharma-body I know and awaken to. I am now complete in unobstructed wisdom; such great wisdom is hard to measure. It transcends the world and has no equal; no living being can fathom it."