最無比經
Unsurpassed Sutra
大唐三藏法師玄奘奉詔譯
Translated by the Tang Dynasty Tripitaka Master Xuanzang by Imperial Decree
如是我聞：
Thus I have heard:
一時，薄伽梵在室羅筏住誓多林給孤獨園，與其無量大苾芻眾，無量菩薩、天、人等俱。
Once, the Blessed One was residing in Śrāvastī, at the Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park, together with a vast assembly of monks, numberless bodhisattvas, gods, and human beings.
爾時，尊者阿難在空閑處獨坐思惟，生如是念：「若善男子或善女人，以淨信心受三歸依，作如是言：『今我某名，歸依於佛兩足中尊、歸依於法離欲中尊、歸依於僧諸眾中尊。』如是歸依得幾許福？」
At that time, the venerable Ananda was sitting alone in a quiet place, deep in thought, and this reflection arose in him: “If a good man or a good woman, with pure faith, takes the Three Refuges, saying: ‘I, [name], now take refuge in the Buddha, the most honored among the two-footed; I take refuge in the Dharma, the most honored for abandoning desire; I take refuge in the Sangha, the most honored among all assemblies.’ How much merit does such a refuge bring?”
作是念已，日初出時於本住處，從座而起整理衣服，安詳而出往如來所。到已，頂禮世尊雙足，偏袒一肩，右膝著地，合掌恭敬，而白佛言：「惟我向者，在空閑處獨坐思惟，作如是念：『若善男子或善女人，以淨信心受三歸依，作如是言：「今我某名，歸依於佛兩足中尊、歸依於法離欲中尊、歸依於僧諸眾中尊。」如是歸依得幾所福？』我未能了，惟願世尊哀愍為說，令諸眾生得正智覺。」
Having thought this, at daybreak he rose from his seat in his dwelling, adjusted his robes, and walked calmly and gracefully to where the Buddha was. Upon arriving, he bowed his head at the World-Honored One’s feet, bared one shoulder, knelt on his right knee, and with joined palms said respectfully: "Just now, while sitting alone in a quiet place, I pondered this: 'If a good man or good woman, with pure faith, takes refuge in the Three Treasures, saying, "From this day forward, I, [name], take refuge in the Buddha, the most honored among the two-legged beings; take refuge in the Dharma, the most honored of all that is free from desire; take refuge in the Sangha, the most honored of all communities"—how much merit does such refuge bring?' I do not understand this. Please, World-Honored One, in your compassion, explain it to me so that all beings may attain true wisdom."
爾時，世尊告阿難曰：「善哉，善哉！汝真妙慧能善思惟，能善請問如來斯義。汝今諦聽！極善思惟，吾當為汝分別解說。」
At that time, the World-Honored One said to Ananda: "Excellent, excellent! Your wisdom is truly wonderful, as you are able to think clearly and ask the Tathagata about this matter. Now listen carefully and think it through. I will explain it for you in detail."
阿難白佛：「唯然。世尊！願樂欲聞。」
Ananda said to the Buddha, "Of course, World-Honored One. We would be happy to listen."
爾時，世尊告阿難曰：「汝今當知，此贍部洲縱廣周匝七千踰繕那，北廣南狹形如車箱，人面亦爾。假使於中合為一段，或甘蔗林，或蘆葦林，或竹林等，或復稻田、胡麻田等，側塞充滿無有間隙。如是假使遍贍部洲諸預流果，側塞充滿亦無間隙，如甘蔗等。如是一切預流果人，若善男子或善女人，滿一百歲，以諸世間上妙樂具、衣服、飲食、臥具、醫藥，奉施供養，恭敬禮拜。於彼一一預流果人般涅槃後，如法焚身收其遺骨，起窣堵波高廣嚴麗，皆以種種塗香、末香、薰香、花鬘，上妙幡蓋、寶幢、音樂、燈燭光明，讚歎供養。汝意云何？由是因緣，彼所生福寧為多不？」
At that time, the World-Honored One said to Ananda: "You should know that this Jambudvipa continent extends seven thousand yojanas in circumference. It is wide in the north and narrow in the south, shaped like a chariot box—and so too are the faces of its people. Suppose you gathered together all of this into one mass—sugarcane groves, reed beds, bamboo forests, rice paddies, sesame fields—filling it so densely that there was not an inch of space between them. Now imagine that, in the same way, this entire Jambudvipa were completely filled—without any gaps—with people who have attained the fruit of stream-entry, just like those sugarcane groves.
If a virtuous man or woman were to honor each and every one of these stream-enterers with the finest worldly luxuries—clothing, food, bedding, medicine—and with offerings, respect, and veneration for a full hundred years; and after each stream-enterer passed away, cremated their remains according to the proper rites, collected their relics, built grand and beautiful stupas adorned with all kinds of fragrant ointments, powders, incenses, flower garlands, excellent banners, jeweled canopies, music, lamps, and radiant lights, all the while praising and making offerings—what do you think? Would the merit generated from such deeds be great?"
阿難白佛：「甚多。世尊！甚多。善逝！」
Ananda said to the Buddha, "Many, World-Honored One! Many, Well-Gone One!"
佛告阿難：「若善男子或善女人，以淨信心，作如是言：『今我某名，歸依於佛兩足中尊、歸依於法離欲中尊、歸依於僧諸眾中尊。』是善男子或善女人獲福無量。阿難當知，如前所說供養福德，比此三歸所生福德，於百分中不及其一，於千分中亦不及一，於百千分、數分、算分、計分、喻分，乃至鄔波尼殺曇分亦不及一。」
The Buddha said to Ananda: “If a good man or a good woman, with a pure and faithful heart, says, ‘From now on, I take refuge in the Buddha, the most honored among all beings; I take refuge in the Dharma, the foremost for releasing desire; I take refuge in the Sangha, the most noble among all communities,’ that good man or woman will gain immeasurable merit. Ananda, you should understand: all the merit gained from offering and giving, as I described earlier, compared to the merit gained from this Threefold Refuge, is less than one hundredth, less than one thousandth, less than one hundred thousandth, less than one in a million, a billion, or even an incalculable fraction of it.”
爾時，世尊復告阿難：「且置此方南贍部洲。於此東方毘提訶洲，縱廣周匝八千踰繕那，形如半月，人面亦爾。假使於中合為一段，或甘蔗林，或蘆葦林，或竹林等，或復稻田、胡麻田等，側塞充滿無有間隙。如是假使遍彼東方毘提訶洲一來果人，側塞充滿亦無間隙，如甘蔗等。如是一切一來果人，若善男子或善女人，滿二百歲，以諸世間上妙樂具、衣服、飲食、臥具、醫藥，奉施供養，恭敬禮拜。於彼一一一來果人般涅槃後，如法焚身收其遺骨，起窣堵波高廣嚴麗，皆以種種塗香、末香、薰香、花鬘，上妙幡蓋、寶幢、音樂、燈燭光明，讚歎供養。汝意云何？由是因緣，彼所生福寧為多不？」
At that time, the World-Honored One said again to Ananda: "Setting aside this Jambudvīpa in the south, let us consider the eastern continent of Videha. It is eight thousand yojanas in circumference, shaped like a half-moon—and so are the faces of its people. Suppose that entire continent were filled without any gap—like a dense sugarcane field, a reed thicket, a bamboo grove, or a continuous patch of rice and sesame fields—with people who have attained the fruit of once-returning. If a good man or good woman were to offer these once-returners the finest worldly pleasures—clothing, food, bedding, and medicine—for two hundred years, reverently serving them with respect and honor; and after each of these once-returners had passed into final nirvana, they properly cremated the body, collected the relics, and built a magnificent, lofty stūpa, adorning it with various perfumes, fragrant powders, incense, flower garlands, splendid banners, jeweled canopies, music, lamps, and radiant lights, accompanied by praises and offerings—what do you think? Would the merit generated from these actions be great?"
阿難白佛：「甚多。世尊！甚多。善逝！」
Ananda said to the Buddha, "Many, World-Honored One! Many, Well-Gone One!"
佛告阿難：「若善男子或善女人，以淨信心，作如是言：『今我某名，歸依於佛兩足中尊，歸依於法離欲中尊，歸依於僧諸眾中尊。』是善男子或善女人獲福轉勝。阿難當知，如前所說供養福德，比此三歸所生福德，復於百分不及其一，於千分中亦不及一，於百千分、數分、算分、計分、喻分，乃至鄔波尼殺曇分亦不及一。」
The Buddha said to Ananda: "If a good man or good woman, with a pure and faithful heart, declares: 'Now I, [name], take refuge in the Buddha, the most honored among beings with two feet; take refuge in the Dharma, the most honored for leaving desire behind; take refuge in the Sangha, the most honored among all communities'—this good man or good woman gains blessings that surpass all others. Ananda, you should know that even the vast merit from the offerings spoken of earlier cannot compare to the merit born from this act of taking refuge. It is not even one-hundredth, not one-thousandth, not one-hundred-thousandth, not one part in a trillion, not one part that can be counted, calculated, compared, or even imagined."
爾時，世尊復告阿難：「且置東方毘提訶洲。於此西方瞿陀尼洲，縱廣周匝九千踰繕那，形如日輪，人面亦爾。假使於中合為一段，或甘蔗林，或蘆葦林，或竹林等，或復稻田、胡麻田等，側塞充滿無有間隙。如是假使遍彼西方瞿陀尼洲不還果人，側塞充滿亦無間隙，如甘蔗等。如是一切不還果人，若善男子或善女人，滿三百歲，以諸世間上妙樂具、衣服、飲食、臥具、醫藥，奉施供養，恭敬禮拜。於彼一一不還果人般涅槃後，如法焚身收其遺骨，起窣堵波高廣嚴麗，皆以種種塗香、末香、薰香、華鬘，上妙幡蓋、寶幢、音樂、燈燭光明，讚歎供養。汝意云何？由是因緣，彼所生福寧為多不？」
Then the World-Honored One said to Ananda: "Leave aside the eastern continent of Videha. Now consider the western continent of Godhāniya, which extends nine thousand yojanas in circumference and is shaped like a sun-wheel, and the faces of its people are likewise. Suppose that the entire continent were packed solid, without any gaps, with sugarcane fields, reeds, bamboo groves, rice paddies, or sesame fields. Then, in the same way, suppose that the entire western continent of Godhāniya were packed solid, without any gaps, with people who have attained the state of non-returning, like those sugarcane fields. If a man or woman, for three hundred years, were to offer all the finest worldly gifts—clothing, food, bedding, and medicine—to each and every one of these non-returners, honoring and revering them. And after each non-returner's passing, if they were to cremate the body according to custom, collect the relics, build a magnificent stupa, and adorn it with scented paste, incense powders, fragrant flowers, garlands, splendid banners, jeweled canopies, music, lamps, and brilliant lights, offering praise and veneration—what do you think? Would the merit generated by these actions be great?"
阿難白佛：「甚多。世尊！甚多。善逝！」
Ananda said to the Buddha, "Many, World-Honored One! Many, Well-Gone One!"
佛告阿難：「若善男子或善女人，以淨信心，作如是言：『今我某名，歸依於佛兩足中尊，歸依於法離欲中尊，歸依於僧諸眾中尊。』是善男子或善女人獲福轉勝。阿難當知，如前所說供養福德，比此三歸所生福德，復於百分不及其一，於千分中亦不及一，於百千分、數分、算分、計分、喻分，乃至鄔波尼殺曇分亦不及一。」
The Buddha said to Ananda: "If a good man or good woman, with a pure and faithful heart, declares: 'Now I, [name], take refuge in the Buddha, the most honored among beings with two feet; take refuge in the Dharma, the most honored for leaving desire behind; take refuge in the Sangha, the most honored among all communities'—this good man or good woman gains blessings that surpass all others. Ananda, you should know that even the vast merit from the offerings spoken of earlier cannot compare to the merit born from this act of taking refuge. It is not even one-hundredth, not one-thousandth, not one-hundred-thousandth, not one part in a trillion, not one part that can be counted, calculated, compared, or even imagined."
爾時，世尊復告阿難：「且置西方瞿陀尼洲。於此北方大俱盧洲，縱廣周匝十千踰繕那，地形四方，人面亦爾。假使於中合為一段，或甘蔗林，或蘆葦林，或竹林等，或復稻田、胡麻田等，側塞充滿無有間隙。如是假使遍彼北方大俱盧洲阿羅漢人，諸漏已盡無復煩惱，心得自在具正解脫，正智解脫，其心調順如大龍象，所作已辦捨諸重擔，逮得己利不受後有，梵行已成，身心無礙，知眾生性，具六神通、證八解脫，側塞充滿亦無間隙，如甘蔗等。如是一切阿羅漢人，若善男子或善女人，滿四百歲，以諸世間上妙樂具、衣服、飲食、臥具、醫藥，奉施供養恭敬禮拜。於彼一一阿羅漢人般涅槃後，如法焚身收其遺骨，起窣堵波高廣嚴麗，皆以種種塗香、末香、薰香、花鬘，上妙幡蓋、寶幢、音樂、燈燭光明，讚歎供養。汝意云何？由是因緣，彼所生福寧為多不？」
Then the World-Honored One said to Ananda: "Consider first the western continent of Godāna. To the north lies the great continent of Uttarakuru, which is ten thousand yojanas in both width and circumference, with four-sided terrain that matches the four-sided faces of its inhabitants. Now imagine all that territory reduced to a single mass – fields of sugarcane, reeds, bamboo, and plantations of rice and sesame, packed so densely together that there is no empty space between them, filling the entire region.
Next, imagine every single being in that great northern continent of Uttarakuru being Arhats – those who have completely eradicated all defilements, freed themselves from afflictions, attained mastery of mind, perfect liberation, and wisdom of true liberation. Their hearts are calm and disciplined like great dragons or elephants; they have accomplished what needed to be done, laid down all burdens, gained their true purpose, and ended future rebirth. They have fully realized the holy life, their bodies and minds are unhindered, they understand the nature of all beings, possess the six supernormal powers, and have realized the eight liberations. Imagine these Arhats filling the continent completely, with no empty space between them, like the sugarcane fields we mentioned.
Now, if a virtuous man or woman, for four hundred years, were to offer these Arhats the finest worldly pleasures – excellent clothing, food, bedding, and medicine – reverently and respectfully. And after each Arhat’s passing, if they were to cremate the body properly, collect the relics, and build a magnificent stupa adorning it with fragrant ointments, powders, incense, flower garlands, fine banners, jeweled canopies, music, lamps, and brilliant light, while making offerings of praise. What do you think? Due to these causes and conditions, would the merit they generate be great?"
阿難白佛：「甚多。世尊！甚多。善逝！」
Ananda said to the Buddha, "Many, World-Honored One! Many, Well-Gone One!"
佛告阿難：「若善男子或善女人，以淨信心，作如是言：『今我某名，歸依於佛兩足中尊，歸依於法離欲中尊，歸依於僧諸眾中尊。』是善男子或善女人獲福轉勝。阿難當知，如前所說供養福德，比此三歸所生福德，復於百分不及其一，於千分中亦不及一，於百千分、數分、算分、計分、喻分，乃至鄔波尼殺曇分亦不及一。」
The Buddha said to Ananda: "If a good man or good woman, with a pure and faithful heart, declares: 'Now I, [name], take refuge in the Buddha, the most honored among beings with two feet; take refuge in the Dharma, the most honored for leaving desire behind; take refuge in the Sangha, the most honored among all communities'—this good man or good woman gains blessings that surpass all others. Ananda, you should know that even the vast merit from the offerings spoken of earlier cannot compare to the merit born from this act of taking refuge. It is not even one-hundredth, not one-thousandth, not one-hundred-thousandth, not one part in a trillion, not one part that can be counted, calculated, compared, or even imagined."
爾時，世尊復告阿難：「且置北方大俱盧洲。總四大洲有鐵輪山周匝圍繞，一日一月之所照臨。假使於中所有一切諸山大海，悉皆除屏合為一段，或甘蔗林，或蘆葦林，或竹林等，或復稻田、胡麻田等，側塞充滿無有間隙。如是假使遍輪圍中，諸獨覺人成就種種勝阿羅漢所有功德，側塞充滿亦無間隙，如甘蔗等。如是一切諸獨覺人，若善男子或善女人，滿十千歲，以諸世間上妙樂具、衣服、飲食、臥具、醫藥，奉施供養，恭敬禮拜。於彼一一諸獨覺人般涅槃後，起窣堵波高廣嚴麗，皆以種種塗香、末香、薰香、花鬘，上妙幡蓋、寶幢、音樂、燈燭光明讚歎供養。汝意云何？由是因緣，彼所生福寧為多不？」
Then the World-Honored One said again to Ananda: "Put aside the great northern continent of Kuru. The four great continents are entirely encircled by the Iron Ring Mountains, all illuminated by one sun and one moon. Suppose that within this realm, all the mountains and seas were removed and compressed into a single mass—whether a grove of sugarcane, reeds, or bamboo, or fields of rice or sesame—packed so tightly that there is no space at all between them. Now imagine the entire region of the Wheel (the cosmos) was similarly filled, without any gaps, with Pratyeka-Buddhas—each possessing the sublime virtues of an Arhat. If a virtuous man or woman, for a full ten thousand years, were to honor and revere each of these Pratyeka-Buddhas with the finest worldly offerings—clothing, food, bedding, and medicine—offering them with respect and homage; and after their passing, were to build magnificent stupas for each, decorated with fragrant ointments, powdered incense, scented pastes, flower garlands, exquisite banners, jeweled canopies, music, lamps, and radiant light, all offered with praise and veneration—what do you think? From this act, would the merit they generate be great?"
阿難白佛：「甚多。世尊！甚多。善逝！」
Ananda said to the Buddha, "Many, World-Honored One! Many, Well-Gone One!"
佛告阿難：「若善男子或善女人，以淨信心，作如是言：『今我某名，歸依於佛兩足中尊，歸依於法離欲中尊，歸依於僧諸眾中尊。』是善男子或善女人獲福轉勝。阿難當知，如前所說供養福德，比此三歸所生福德，復於百分不及其一，於千分中亦不及一，於百千分、數分、算分、計分、喻分，乃至鄔波尼殺曇分亦不及一。」
The Buddha said to Ananda: "If a good man or good woman, with a pure and faithful heart, declares: 'Now I, [name], take refuge in the Buddha, the most honored among beings with two feet; take refuge in the Dharma, the most honored for leaving desire behind; take refuge in the Sangha, the most honored among all communities'—this good man or good woman gains blessings that surpass all others. Ananda, you should know that even the vast merit from the offerings spoken of earlier cannot compare to the merit born from this act of taking refuge. It is not even one-hundredth, not one-thousandth, not one-hundred-thousandth, not one part in a trillion, not one part that can be counted, calculated, compared, or even imagined."
爾時，世尊復告阿難：「且置如是一四大洲，一日一月所照臨處。乘此復有小千世界，有鐵輪山周匝圍遶，其中具有千日千月、千四大海、千蘇迷盧大寶山王、千七金山輪圍山等，千贍部洲、千毘提訶、千瞿陀尼、千俱盧洲、千四天王天、千三十三天、千夜摩天、千覩史多天、千樂化天、千他化自在天、千梵眾天，一大梵王於中自在，如是名為一小千界。乘此復有中千世界，有鐵輪山周匝圍繞，其中具有千小千界，如是名為一中千界。乘此復有大千世界，有鐵輪山周匝圍繞，其中具有千中千界，是名三千大千世界。假使於中所有一切諸山大海，悉皆除屏合為一段，或甘蔗林，或蘆葦林，或竹林等，或復稻田、胡麻田等，側塞充滿無有間隙。如是假使遍滿其中諸佛、如來、應、正等覺，側塞充滿亦無間隙，如甘蔗等。如是一切諸佛、如來，若善男子或善女人，滿二萬歲，以諸世間所有一切上妙樂具、衣服、飲食、臥具、醫藥，奉施供養，恭敬禮拜。於是一一諸佛、如來般涅槃後，如法焚身收佛馱都，起窣堵波高廣嚴麗，皆以種種塗香、末香、薰香、花鬘，上妙幡蓋、寶幢、音樂、燈燭光明，讚歎供養。汝意云何？由是因緣，彼所生福寧為多不？」
阿難白佛：「甚多。世尊！甚多。善逝！」
佛告阿難：「若善男子或善女人，於一佛所，二萬歲中，以諸世間所有一切上妙樂具、衣服、飲食、臥具、醫藥，奉施供養，恭敬禮拜。般涅槃後如法焚身，收佛馱都起窣堵波，高廣嚴麗，亦以種種塗香、末香、薰香、花鬘，上妙幡蓋、寶幢、音樂、燈燭光明，讚歎供養，其福尚多無量無邊不可稱計，況滿三千大千世界諸佛、如來、應、正等覺，經二萬歲如前供養，所生福德而可彌多，無量無邊不可稱計？」
佛告阿難：「若善男子或善女人，以淨信心，作如是言：『今我某名，歸依於佛兩足中尊，歸依於法離欲中尊，歸依於僧諸眾中尊。』是善男子或善女人獲福轉勝。阿難當知，如前所說供養福德，比此三歸所生福德，復於百分不及其一，於千分中亦不及一，於百千分、數分、算分、計分、喻分，乃至鄔波尼殺曇分亦不及一。」
爾時，世尊復告阿難：「若善男子或善女人，歸依佛竟、歸依法竟、歸依僧竟，乃至復能一彈指頃受持十善，由是因緣獲福轉勝。阿難當知，如前所說惟受三歸所生福德，比此兼修一彈指頃十善福德，復於百分不及其一，於千分中亦不及一，於百千分、數分、算分、計分、喻分，乃至鄔波尼殺曇分亦不及一。」
爾時，世尊復告阿難：「若善男子或善女人，歸依佛竟、歸依法竟、歸依僧竟，乃至復能一日一夜受持八戒，獲福轉勝。阿難當知，如前所說，一彈指頃十善福德，比一日一夜八戒福德，復於百分不及其一，於千分中亦不及一，於百千分、數分、算分、計分、喻分，乃至鄔波尼殺曇分亦不及一。」
爾時，世尊復告阿難：「若善男子或善女人，歸依佛竟、歸依法竟、歸依僧竟，乃至復能盡其形壽受持五戒，獲福轉勝。阿難當知，如前所說，一日一夜八戒福德，比盡形受五戒福德，復於百分不及其一，於千分中亦不及一，於百千分、數分、算分、計分、喻分，乃至鄔波尼殺曇分亦不及一。」
爾時，世尊復告阿難：「若善男子或善女人，歸依佛竟、歸依法竟、歸依僧竟，乃至復能盡其形壽受持勤策、勤策尼戒，獲福轉勝。阿難當知，如前福德比此福德，復於百分不及其一，於千分中亦不及一，於百千分、數分、算分、計分、喻分，乃至鄔波尼殺曇分亦不及一。」
爾時，世尊復告阿難：「若復有能盡形受持尼正學戒，獲福轉勝。阿難當知，如前福德比此福德，復於百分不及其一，於千分中亦不及一，於百千分、數分、算分、計分、喻分，乃至鄔波尼殺曇分亦不及一。」
爾時，世尊復告阿難：「若復有能盡形受持苾芻尼戒，獲福轉勝。阿難當知，如前福德比此福德，復於百分不及其一，於千分中亦不及一，於百千分、數分、算分、計分、喻分，乃至鄔波尼殺曇分亦不及一。」
爾時，世尊復告阿難：「若復有能盡形受持大苾芻戒，獲福轉勝。阿難當知，如前福德比此福德，復於百分不及其一，於千分中亦不及一，於百千分、數分、算分、計分、喻分，乃至鄔波尼殺曇分亦不及一。」
爾時，世尊復告阿難：「若善男子或善女人，能發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心，盡未來際受持菩薩三聚淨戒，無缺無犯，所獲福德無量無邊，不可思議不可比喻，最勝最尊，最上最妙。」
爾時，尊者阿難聞佛所說，受持三歸乃至菩薩三聚淨戒，所獲福德無量無邊。歡喜踊躍歎未曾有，而白佛言：「甚奇！世尊！如是法門，最勝希有不可思議，明甚深義，功德廣大難可挍量。其名何等，我當奉持？」
佛告阿難：「今此法門名『最無比』，挍量種種真實功德，以是名字汝當奉持。所以者何？此經中說最無比法，一切世間甚難聞故。」
時薄伽梵說是經已，尊者阿難、大苾芻眾，無量菩薩及諸天、人、阿素洛等，聞佛所說，皆大歡喜，歎未曾有，信受奉行。
最無比經