佛說大乘造像功德經卷上
The Buddha Speaks the Mahayana Sutra on the Merit of Making Images, Part One
大唐于闐三藏提雲般若奉 制譯
Great Tang Tripiṭaka Master from Khotan, Śikṣānanda, Translated by Imperial Decree
如是我聞：
Thus have I heard:
一時，佛在三十三天波利質多羅樹下，與無量大比丘眾及無量大菩薩眾俱，彌勒菩薩摩訶薩而為上首。
Once, the Buddha was staying beneath the Pārijāta tree in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, together with a vast assembly of great monks and a vast assembly of great bodhisattvas, with the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya as their foremost.
爾時世尊在彼天上，三月安居，為母說法，於諸天眾多所利益，令無量諸天離苦解脫。無量諸天皆蒙法利，獲大福果。時彼眾中有一天子，壽將欲盡，五衰相現，以聞法力，命終之後還生此天，永離惡道。
At that time, the World-Honored One was dwelling in that heavenly realm, passing the three-month rainy-season retreat, and taught the Dharma for his mother. He brought great benefit to the assembled gods, leading countless gods to freedom from suffering and to liberation. Countless gods received the benefit of the Dharma and attained great blessings and rewards. Among that assembly was a certain god whose life was about to end, and the five signs of decay appeared. But through the power of hearing the Dharma, after his life ended he was reborn in that same heaven, forever free from the lower realms.
爾時，閻浮提中無有如來，譬如暗夜，星中無月；如國無君，如家無主，歡娛、戲樂一切都息。是時眾生孤獨無依，皆於如來心懷戀慕，生大憂惱，如喪父母，如箭入心，共往世尊曾所住處，園林、庭宇悉空無佛，倍加悲戀，不能自止。
At that time, there was no Tathagata in all of Jambudvipa — like a dark night with no moon among the stars; like a country without a ruler, like a home without a master. All joy and amusement had come to a halt. The beings of that time were lonely and had no one to rely on. Their hearts yearned for the Tathagata, and a great sorrow arose in them, as though they had lost their parents, as though an arrow had pierced their hearts. Together they went to the places where the World-Honored One had once stayed, but the gardens and courtyards were all empty, with no Buddha there. Their grief and longing doubled, and they could not stop themselves.
爾時，優陀延王住在宮中，常懷悲感，渴仰於佛，夫人、婇女諸歡樂事皆不涉心，作是念言：「我今憂悲，不久當死。云何令我未捨命間得見於佛？」尋復思惟：「譬若有人，心有所愛，而不得見，見其住處及相似人，或除憂惱。」復更思惟：「我今若詣佛先住處，不見於佛，哀號感切，或致於死。我觀世間無有一人能與如來色相、福德、智慧等者。云何令我得見是人除其憂惱？」作是念已，即更思惟：「我今應當造佛形像，禮拜供養。」復生是念：「若我造像不似於佛，恐當令我獲無量罪。」復作念言：「假使世間有智之人咸共稱揚如來功德，猶不能盡，若有一人隨分讚美，獲福無量；我今亦然，當隨分造。」
At that time, King Udayana was staying in his palace, filled with sorrow and longing for the Buddha. The pleasures of his queens and maidens no longer touched his heart. He thought to himself: "I am overwhelmed with grief, and I will not live much longer. How can I see the Buddha before my life ends?" Then he reflected: "Suppose someone cherishes a loved one but cannot see them. Seeing where they lived, or someone who resembles them, might ease their sorrow." He thought further: "If I go to where the Buddha once stayed but do not see the Buddha, my weeping and longing may be so intense that it kills me. Looking at this world, I see no one who can match the Tathagata in appearance, merit, or wisdom. How can I see such a person to relieve my grief?" Having thought this, he considered again: "I should now create an image of the Buddha, and bow to it in worship." Then he thought: "If the image I make does not resemble the Buddha, I fear I will commit immeasurable sin." Then he thought: "Even if all the wise people in the world together praised the Tathagata's merits, they still could not fully express them. Yet if even one person praises him according to their ability, they gain immeasurable merit. I too should do the same—I will create an image according to my ability."
即時告勅國內所有工巧之人，並令來集。人既集已，而語之言：「誰能為我造佛形像，當以珍寶重相酬償。」
He immediately issued a royal decree summoning all the skilled craftsmen in the country, ordering them to gather together. Once they had all assembled, he addressed them, saying: "Whoever can craft an image of the Buddha for me will be richly rewarded with treasures."
諸工巧人共白王言：「王今所勅，甚為難事！如來相好，世間無匹。我今何能造佛形像？假使毘首羯磨天而有所作，亦不能得似於如來。我若受命造佛形像，但可摸擬螺髻、玉毫少分之相，諸餘相好光明威德誰能作耶？世尊會當從天來下，所造形像若有虧誤，我等名稱並皆退失！竊共籌量，無能敢作。」
All the skilled craftsmen said together to the king, "What you now command, O King, is an extremely difficult task! The Tathagata's hallmarks and excellences have no equal in the world. How could we now fashion an image of the Buddha? Even if the heavenly craftsman Vishvakarman were to attempt it, he still could not make anything that truly resembled the Tathagata. If we accept your command and make an image of the Buddha, we can only approximate a small portion of his features—perhaps the spiral coil of hair on his head or a hint of the curl of white hair between his brows. As for all his other hallmarks, excellences, radiance, and majestic virtue—who could possibly reproduce them? The World-Honored One will surely descend from the heavens, and if the image we make has any flaws or inaccuracies, our reputations will all be ruined! We have discussed this privately among ourselves, and none of us dares to undertake it."
其王爾時復告之曰：「我心決定，勿有所辭！如人患渴，欲飲河水，豈以飲不能盡，而不飲耶？」
The king then told him again, "My mind is made up, so do not refuse! Suppose a person is dying of thirst and wants to drink from a river—would he refuse to drink just because he cannot drink it all dry?"
是時諸人聞王此語，皆前拜跪共白王言：「當依所勅！然請大王垂許我等，今夜思審，明晨就作。」復白王言：「王今造像應用純紫栴檀之木，文理、體質堅密之者，但其形相為坐、為立、高下若何？」
At that moment, everyone who heard the king's words came forward, bowed, and knelt together, saying to the king, "We will follow your command! But we ask Your Majesty to permit us to carefully consider this matter tonight and begin the work tomorrow morning." They then said to the king, "For the statue Your Majesty wishes to make, you should use pure purple sandalwood, of a kind with fine grain and dense, solid texture. But as for its form—should it be seated or standing, and how tall should it be?"
王以此語問諸臣眾，有一智臣前白王言：「大王！當作如來坐像。何以故？一切諸佛得大菩提，轉正法輪，現大神通，降伏外道，作大佛事，皆悉坐故。是以應作坐師子座、結加之像。」
The king asked his ministers about this, and one wise minister stepped forward and said to the king: "Great King, you should make a seated image of the Tathagata. Why? Because all Buddhas attain great Enlightenment, turn the wheel of the true Dharma, display great supernatural powers, subdue outer-path teachers, and carry out the great work of the Buddha—all while seated. Therefore, you should make an image seated on a lion throne, in the crossed-legged posture."
爾時毘首羯磨天遙見其事，審知王意欲造佛像，於其夜中作是思惟：「我身所解最為巧妙，世間之中無如我者。我若為作，應少似佛。」即變其身，而為匠者，持諸利器，至明清旦，住王門側，令守門人具白王言：「我今欲為大王造像！我之工巧世中無匹。唯願大王莫使餘人！」
At that time, the god Vishvakarma saw this from afar and understood that the king wished to create a Buddha image. During the night, he thought to himself: "My craftsmanship is the most skillful; there is no one in the world like me. If I make it, it should resemble the Buddha closely." He then transformed himself into a craftsman, took up various tools, and at dawn the next day stood beside the king's gate. He told the gatekeeper to announce to the king: "I wish to make an image for the great king! My craftsmanship is unmatched in the world. I only beg the great king not to let anyone else do it!"
王聞此語心大欣慶，命之令入。觀其容止，知是巧匠，便生念言：「世間之中何有此人？將非毘首羯磨天或其弟子，而來此耶？」王於爾時即脫身上所著瓔珞，手自捧持，以挂其頸，仍更許以種種無量諸珍寶物。時王即與主藏大臣於內藏中，選擇香木，肩自荷負，持與天匠，而謂之言：「善哉，仁者！當用此木為我造像，令與如來形相相似。」
When the king heard these words, his heart was filled with great joy and delight, and he ordered the man to be brought in. Observing his appearance and demeanor, the king recognized him as a skilled craftsman and thought to himself: "How could there be such a person in this world? Could he be Vishvakarma, the divine craftsman, or one of his disciples, who has come here?" At that moment, the king removed the ornaments and beads from his own body, held them in his hands, and placed them around the craftsman's neck. He then promised him countless rare treasures of every kind. The king and the minister in charge of the treasury then selected fragrant wood from the inner treasury. The king himself carried it on his shoulder and brought it to the divine craftsman, saying: "Excellent, kind sir! Use this wood to carve an image for me, one that resembles the Tathagata in appearance."
爾時天匠即白王言：「我之工巧雖云第一，然造佛形相終不能盡。譬如有人以炭畫日，言相似者，無有是處；設以真金而作佛像，亦復如是。有外道言：『梵王能作一切世間，然亦不能造佛形像盡諸相好！』但我工巧世中為上，是故我今為王作耳！今晨即是月初八日，弗沙宿合毘婆訶底出現之時，佛初誕生，還有此應。此日祥慶，宜應起作。」發是語已，操斧斫木，其聲上徹三十三天，至佛會所。以佛神力聲所及處，眾生聞者，罪垢、煩惱皆得銷除。爾時如來即便微笑，種種歎美其王功德，乃至遙授阿耨多羅三藐三菩提記。
Then the heavenly craftsman said to the king: "Though my craftsmanship is said to be the finest, still I cannot fully capture the Buddha's form and likeness. It is like someone trying to draw the sun with charcoal and claiming it looks similar—there is no such possibility. Even if one were to fashion a Buddha image from pure gold, it would be the same. Some non-Buddhists say: 'Brahma can create all the worlds, yet even he cannot craft a Buddha image that fully embodies all the marks and features!' But since my craftsmanship is supreme in the world, I will now make one for you, great king! This very morning is the eighth day of the month, when the Puṣya constellation aligns with the rising of the Venus star—the time when the Buddha was first born. This day is auspicious and celebratory, and it is fitting to begin the work now."
Having spoken these words, he took up his axe and cut into the wood. The sound of it rose up to the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, reaching the assembly where the Buddha was. Through the Buddha's spiritual power, wherever that sound reached, beings who heard it had their karmic defilements and afflictions dissolved and eliminated. Then the Tathagata smiled gently and praised the king's merit in various ways, even going so far as to bestow upon him, from afar, the prophecy of supreme and perfect enlightenment.
爾時三十三天主白佛言：「世尊！今在人間頗亦有人曾於曩生作佛像不？」
At that time, the ruler of the Trayastrimsa Heaven said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, are there people here in the human world who, in past lives, have made images of the Buddha?"
佛言：「天主！諸有曾經作佛像者，皆於過去先已解脫，在天眾中尚復無有，況於餘處？唯有北方毘沙門子那履沙婆，曾於往昔造菩薩像，以斯福故，後得為王，名頻婆娑羅。復因見我，今得生天，有大勢力，永離惡道。優樓頻螺迦葉、伽耶迦葉、那提迦葉並曾於往世修故佛堂，由此因緣永得解脫；憍梵波提昔作牛身，追求水草，右遶精舍，食諸草竹，因見尊容，發歡喜心，乘茲福故，今得解脫；尸毘羅曾持寶蓋，供養佛像；阿㝹樓䭾然一支燈亦以供養；輸鞞那曾掃佛堂；阿婆摩那於佛像前燃燈施明；難陀比丘愛重尊儀，香水洗沐：有如是等無量諸阿羅漢，皆悉曾於佛像之所薄申供養——乃至極下如那伽波羅，於像座前，以少許黃丹畫一像身而為供養——由此福故，皆永離苦而得解脫。天主！若復有人能於我法未滅盡來，造佛像者，於彌勒初會皆得解脫。若有眾生非但為已而求出離，乃為欲得無上菩提造佛像者，當知此則為三十二相之因，能令其人速致成佛。」
The Buddha said: "Lord of the Gods! All those who have ever made images of the Buddha were already liberated in the past. They are not even found among the heavenly beings, let alone anywhere else. Only Valikasha, son of Vaiśravaṇa in the northern region, once made an image of the Bodhisattva in a former life. Through that merit, he later became a king named Bimbisara. Then, because he saw me, he was born into heaven, possesses great power, and is forever free from the lower realms.
Uruvilva Kashyapa, Gaya Kashyapa, and Nadī Kashyapa all repaired Buddhist halls in former lives. Because of this, they attained lasting liberation. Gavāṃpati was once a cow, seeking water and grass, walking clockwise around the monastery, eating grasses and bamboo. Because he saw the revered figure, he gave rise to a joyful heart, and through that merit, he is now liberated.
Śibi once held a jeweled canopy and offered it to a Buddha image. Aniruddha lit a single lamp as an offering. Śubhāna once swept a Buddhist hall. Upamāna lit lamps before a Buddha image, giving light. The monk Nanda cherished the revered image and bathed it with scented water. There are countless Arhats such as these who all once made even the smallest offerings before Buddha images—down to Nāgapāla, who before the image's seat drew a single Buddha figure with a bit of yellow pigment as an offering—and through that merit, they all forever escaped suffering and attained liberation.
Lord of the Gods! If anyone, before my Dharma is completely gone, makes an image of the Buddha, they will all attain liberation at Maitreya's first assembly. If a being seeks liberation not merely for themselves but makes Buddha images in order to attain supreme Enlightenment, know that this is the cause of the thirty-two marks, and it will bring that person swiftly to Buddhahood."
爾時優陀延王心自思惟：「云何令我所造之像速得成就？」作是念已，語彼匠言：「汝可勤心令功速畢，使我早得瞻仰禮敬。」是時天匠運其工巧，專精匪懈，不日而成。其像加趺坐，高七尺，面及手足皆紫金色。時優陀延王見像得成，相好端嚴，心生淨信，獲柔順忍。既得忍已，益加欣慶，所有業障及諸憂惱並得銷除，譬如日出，霧露皆盡。唯除一業，現身受者，以曾於聖人起惡語故。
At that time, King Udayana thought to himself, "How can I make the image I have commissioned be completed quickly?" Having this thought, he said to the craftsman, "Please work diligently and finish the task swiftly, so that I may soon gaze upon it and pay it reverence." Then the heavenly craftsman applied his skill, working with focused dedication and without slackening, and it was completed in no time. The image was seated in the cross-legged posture, seven feet tall, with its face, hands, and feet all of a purple-gold color. When King Udayana saw that the image was completed—its features dignified and well-formed—his mind gave rise to pure faith, and he attained the acceptance of gentle forbearance. Having attained this forbearance, he rejoiced all the more, and all his karmic obstacles and worries were dissolved and eliminated, just as when the sun rises, mist and dew all vanish. Only one karmic consequence remained, to be experienced in this very life—because he had once spoken harsh words to a sage.
其王爾時即以種種殊珍異物賞彼天匠。是時天匠敬白王言：「王今造像，我心隨喜。願與大王同修此福！今王所賜，非我敢受。若要相與，待餘吉日。」作是語已，即於其夜還昇本天。
Then the king rewarded the heavenly craftsman with all kinds of rare and precious gifts. The craftsman respectfully said to the king, "For the statue you are now making, my heart rejoices. I wish to cultivate this merit together with you, great king! As for the gifts you have given me, I dare not accept them. If you wish to give them to me, please wait for another auspicious day." Having spoken these words, that very night he ascended back to his heavenly realm.
爾時諸大國王、阿闍世等，並先於佛心懷渴慕。聞王造像，功已獲成，皆生喜慶。共至王所，各以無量花香、音樂供養佛像，復以種種諸珍寶物贈奉於王，咸作是言：「大王！所作甚為希有，能拔我等愁憂毒箭！」
At that time, the great kings of various lands, including Ajatashatru, had long felt a deep longing in their hearts for the Buddha. When they heard that the king had completed the making of the Buddha's image, they were all filled with joy and celebration. Together they came to the king's palace, each offering immeasurable flowers, incense, and music to the Buddha's image, and they also presented various precious treasures to the king, all saying: "Great King! What you have done is truly rare and wonderful—you have been able to pull out the poisonous arrows of our sorrow and grief!"
爾時如來在彼天中為母說法，及諸天眾咸得利喜，所應作事皆已作訖，復告眾言：「諸天子！諸佛、世尊是常住身，若諸眾生有可度者，即為出現教化說法。若所作事畢，更無有能受法化者，如來於此即便不現，無智之人，謂佛實滅。如來身者，法身、常身，實不滅度。諸天子！一切諸佛，法皆如是，為化眾生有現、不現。」
At that time, the Tathagata was in that heavenly realm teaching the Dharma for his mother. All the heavenly beings benefited and rejoiced, and everything that needed to be done had been accomplished. He then told the assembly:
"O heavenly beings, all Buddhas and World-Honored Ones are eternal in body. Whenever there are sentient beings who can be saved, they appear to teach and spread the Dharma. When their work is done and there is no one left who can receive the Dharma and be transformed, the Tathagata then no longer appears. Those without wisdom think the Buddha has truly passed away. The Tathagata's body is the Dharma body, the eternal body — it does not truly pass into cessation.
O heavenly beings, this is how it is with the Dharma of all Buddhas — for the sake of transforming sentient beings, they appear, and they do not appear."
爾時如來復作是言：「汝等當知！此諸天眾所應度者，皆已度訖，吾今將欲下閻浮提。汝等諸天若念我者，當勤精進，勿復放逸。所以者何？放逸過失故，令汝等不得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。然汝等以於往昔曾種善根，今得在此受天快樂，便著放逸，不修福行，此諸快樂，無常所隨，一從隕墜，長淪惡道。又汝等諸天煩惱尤重，見有勝己，便生嫉妬，曾不念言：『彼天勝樂由多福業之所感致，我若勤修必亦當得。』又今汝等身色光澤如日初輝，若懷嫉妬，心黯如死炭，復當令墮大黑闇中，乃至不能自見手掌，後復當作食吐之鬼。又汝等諸天受眾福報，身相嚴潔，威勢勇猛，由嫉妬故，當受女身，永失丈夫威猛之力。
Then the Tathagata spoke again: “You should all know this: those among these heavenly beings who were to be guided to liberation have all been guided to liberation. I now intend to descend to Jambudvipa. All you heavenly beings, if you hold me in your hearts, should practice with diligence and no longer be self-indulgent. Why is that? Because the fault of self-indulgence prevents you from attaining Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Yet because in past lives you planted roots of goodness, you now dwell here enjoying heavenly pleasures, and so you cling to self-indulgence and do not cultivate meritorious practices. These pleasures are followed by impermanence; once you fall from them, you will sink for a long time into the lower realms. Moreover, you heavenly beings have especially heavy afflictions: when you see someone superior to yourselves, you give rise to jealousy, and you never think, ‘That heavenly being’s superior pleasures are brought about by abundant merit and karma. If I too practice diligently, I will surely obtain them as well.’ Moreover, although your bodies now shine with a radiance like the first light of the sun, if you harbor jealousy, your minds become dark like dead charcoal, and you will then fall into great darkness, so that you cannot even see your own palms, and afterward you will become vomiting ghosts. Furthermore, you heavenly beings enjoy abundant karmic rewards, your bodies are pure and adorned, and your majestic power is brave and mighty; but because of jealousy, you will receive a female body and forever lose the brave and mighty power of a man.”
「諸天子！我念昔者有無量諸王，皆為汝等嫉妬之心非理所害。諸天子！昔有阿修羅王名曰鄔羅，修行苦行，戒品清潔，而汝諸天等遣一天女，名鄔婆尸，惑彼王心，令虧淨行。其王染著，威德損減，被那羅延天之所殺害，并無量阿修羅眾同時敗滅。其那羅延天既殺此王，又誅其眾，因即收取鄔婆尸女而往天宮。復有一王，名曰那訶受，汝等諸天誑惑之語，助諸天眾伐阿修羅。修羅破已，汝等諸天反加其害。又汝等諸天以舍支夫人故，心生忿妬，構行讒毀，令阿伽娑仙人無故被嫌，而興惡願。又汝等諸天曾為誑惑，謂曀荼王曰：『仙人之處，多有真金。』王信此言，逼之令出。仙人由是心生憤恚，即時猛火燒殺其王。昔復有王，名曰提婆，甞設大會，以為供養，以斯福業威力自在，上此天中，受天快樂。汝諸天等，心懷嫉妬，令從忉利退墮閻浮，所有威勢並皆喪失，如月無光，如河無水。諸天子！世中有人威德自在，或得諸定，或得神通，或有成就四神足等，若起一念嫉妬之心，如是功德一時退失。如提婆達多愚癡厚重，乃於我所生嫉妬意，即時自失五種神通。」
"Gods, I recall that in the past there were countless kings who were all harmed by your jealous and unreasonable minds. Gods, long ago there was an Asura king named Ura, who practiced austerities, kept pure precepts, and yet you gods sent a goddess named Upashi to seduce his mind and make him break his pure conduct. That king became attached to her, his power and virtue declined, and he was killed by the god Narayana, along with countless Asuras who were destroyed at the same time. After Narayana killed this king and wiped out his followers, he took the goddess Upashi and returned to the heavenly palace. There was also a king named Nahashou who was deceived by your words and helped the gods attack the Asuras. After the Asuras were defeated, you gods turned around and harmed him instead. Also, because of Lady Sheshi, you gods felt jealousy, stirred up slander, and caused the sage Agastya to be blamed for no reason and to make a terrible vow. You gods also once deceived King Yitu by saying, 'The sage's dwelling has much real gold.' The king believed this and forced the sage to hand it over. The sage became furious and immediately burned the king to death with fierce fire. In the past there was also a king named Deva who once held a great gathering and made offerings. Through the power of that merit, he was reborn in this heaven and enjoyed heavenly pleasures. You gods, filled with jealousy, caused him to fall from Trayastrimsha down to Jambudvipa, and all his power and influence were completely lost, like the moon without light, like a river without water. Gods, if someone in the world has power and virtue, or has attained various meditative absorptions, or has gained supernatural powers, or has accomplished the four bases of miraculous power—if they give rise to even one thought of jealousy, all such merit is immediately lost. Just like Devadatta, who was deeply foolish, gave rise to jealousy toward me, and immediately lost his five supernatural powers."
爾時天帝釋白佛言：「世尊！我今有疑，欲有所問。言嫉妬者，云何是耶？」復作是言：「世尊！若有眾生見他勝己，生如是念：『云何令我獲彼所得？』如是之心，是嫉妬不？」
At that time, Shakra, lord of the gods, said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, I have a doubt and wish to ask about it. What is meant by jealousy?"
He continued: "World-Honored One, if a being sees others surpassing them and thinks, 'How can I obtain what they have?' — is such a mind jealousy or not?"
佛言：「不也！此是貪心，非為嫉妬。天主！其嫉妬者，自求名利，不欲他有，於有之人而生憎恚，是為嫉妬。」
The Buddha said: "No. That is greed, not jealousy. Heavenly Lord, jealousy means seeking fame and gain for oneself, not wanting others to have them, and feeling resentment and anger toward those who do — that is jealousy."
爾時諸天眾皆從座起，右膝著地，合掌向佛，而作是言：「如佛所誨，我諸天眾皆當奉行。如來、世尊為父、為主、為尊重者、為最勝者，能於我等起大慈悲而來至此，令諸天眾皆得利益。我等所願，猶為未滿，欲於如來重請一事。世尊！世間之人於我等諸天多生輕慢。何以故？以諸佛、如來人中生故，復於人中成正覺故；人中多有諸阿羅漢而得果故；諸大威德、辟支佛復於人間而出現故。如來今者，若不住此，下閻浮提，世間之人謂我等諸天，不知如來有大威德，應受諸天如法供養，復謂我等不能供養諸佛、世尊。唯願如來少住於此，受我微供，令彼人間知我等諸天供養於佛。」于時世尊默然許可。
At that time, all the heavenly beings rose from their seats, knelt on their right knees, joined their palms toward the Buddha, and said: "According to the Buddha's teaching, we heavenly beings will all put it into practice. The Tathagata, the World-Honored One, is our father, our lord, our most honored one, the supreme one. Out of great compassion for us, he has come here, bringing benefit to all heavenly beings. Yet our vow is still not fulfilled, and we wish to make one more request of the Tathagata. World-Honored One, people in the world often treat us heavenly beings with disrespect. Why? Because the Buddhas, the Tathagatas, are born among humans, and because they attain perfect enlightenment among humans; because many Arhats who have realized the fruit are found among humans; and because great and mighty Pratyekabuddhas also appear in the human realm. If the Tathagata does not remain here now and goes down to Jambudvipa, the people of the world will say that we heavenly beings do not know that the Tathagata possesses great majestic power and deserves lawful offerings from the heavens, and they will also say that we are unable to make offerings to the Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones. We only pray that the Tathagata will stay here a while and accept our humble offerings, so that those in the human realm may know that we heavenly beings make offerings to the Buddha." Then the World-Honored One silently consented.
爾時佛告大目揵連：「汝可先往閻浮提，問訊四眾，作如是言：『一切眾生憶念我者，咸應集會僧伽尸國。却後七日，皆當見我。』」
At that time, the Buddha told Mahamaudgalyayana: "You should first go to Jambudvipa and greet the four assemblies, saying: 'All beings who remember me should gather in the country of Sankassa. After seven days, they will all see me.'"
爾時大目揵連頂禮佛足。禮佛足已，如一瞬頃到閻浮提，以佛所勅告諸四眾。時優陀延王等及一切眾生，聞佛此言，若身若心歡喜踊躍，皆除憂惱，普得清涼。
At that time, Mahamaudgalyayana bowed at the Buddha's feet. Having bowed at the Buddha's feet, in the blink of an eye he returned to Jambudvipa and relayed the Buddha's instructions to the four assemblies. When King Udayana and all the beings heard these words of the Buddha, both body and mind leaped with joy. All their sorrow and affliction fell away, and they were filled with coolness and peace.
爾時，四眾比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷欲共往詣僧伽尸國，並先來集王舍城中，互相謂言：「如來、世尊下閻浮提，誰能先得恭敬禮拜，法未盡來恒為上首！」
At that time, the four assemblies — monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen — wished to travel together to the country of Sankassa. They had already gathered in the city of Rajagaha and said to one another, "When the Tathagata, the World-Honored One, descends to the human world, who among us can be the first to pay respects and bow before him? As long as the Dharma has not yet passed away, may we always be foremost!"
爾時，摩訶迦旃延聞此語已，心懷不悅，恐比丘尼得為上首。何以故？彼眾之中，有優波難陀、蓮花色二比丘尼，善能通達諸佛法藏，所得神通唯除目連更無等故。作是念已，種種訶責比丘尼眾。
At that time, Mahākātyāyana heard these words and was displeased, fearing that the nuns might take the leading position. Why? Because among that assembly there were two nuns, Upananda and Padmavatī, who were skilled in thoroughly understanding the Dharma treasury of all the Buddhas, and the spiritual powers they had attained were equaled by none except Maudgalyayana. Having thought this, he criticized the assembly of nuns in various ways.
時蓮花色比丘尼告諸尼言：「我等女人在於俗間常被尊貴，縱使種族卑賤之者，仍得丈夫恭敬禮重、承事供養。又佛法中諸比丘尼，父母、眷屬多是王種，精進持戒，不犯威儀，具諸德業，仍令禮敬初戒比丘。又尊者迦旃延，今復作此種種呵責。我為汝等設諸方便，令比丘尼出過於彼。」作是語已，與諸四眾即時往赴僧伽尸城。
At that time, the nun Padmavati said to the other nuns: "We women in ordinary society are always treated with respect. Even those of low birth still receive deference, honor, and offerings from men. Moreover, among the followers of the Dharma, most of the nuns have parents and relatives of royal lineage. They are diligent in moral discipline, do not transgress proper conduct, and possess all virtuous qualities — yet they are still made to bow to newly ordained monks. And now the Venerable Katyayana has again spoken these various words of criticism. I will devise skillful means for you all, so that the nuns may rise above this." After saying this, she immediately set out with the fourfold assembly for the city of Sngasga.
爾時，波斯匿王、阿闍世王及毘舍離國嚴熾王等，各將四兵前後導從，有大勢力，所乘象馬皆以種種寶物莊嚴，幡蓋、香花并眾妓樂，威容肅穆，狀若諸天，皆亦往詣僧伽城所。
At that time, King Prasenajit, King Ajatashatru, and the fierce King of Vaishali, each leading their four divisions of troops as front and rear escorts, possessed great power. The elephants and horses they rode were adorned with all kinds of treasures. With banners, canopies, incense, flowers, and many musicians, their majestic and solemn bearing was like that of the gods. They all also made their way to the city of Sangha.
爾時，優陀延王嚴整四兵以為侍從，乘大白象珍寶綺飾，躬自荷戴所造之像，花幡音樂隨逐供養，從其本國向僧伽尸城。
At that time, King Udayana assembled the four divisions of his army as an escort. He mounted a great white elephant adorned with precious jewels and fine silks, and personally carried the statue he had made. With flowers, banners, and music following in attendance as offerings, he set out from his own kingdom toward the city of Sangkasya.
爾時，毘首羯磨天并諸天眾，知佛將欲下閻浮提，作三道寶階，從僧伽尸城至忉利天，其階中道瑠璃所成，兩邊階道悉用黃金，足所踐處布以白銀，諸天七寶而為間飾。
At that time, the god Vishvakarman and all the heavenly hosts knew that the Buddha was about to descend to the world of Jambudvipa. They built three jeweled stairways leading from the city of Sankassa up to the Trayastrimsa Heaven. The central stairway was made of lapis lazuli, the two side stairways were made entirely of gold, and the steps where his feet would tread were laid with silver, adorned throughout with the seven treasures of the gods.
爾時，帝釋遣使往詣夜摩天、兜率陀天、化樂天、他化自在天及于梵世，而告之曰：「如來不久下閻浮提，欲有供養，願來至此！」復遣使往四天王天、大海龍王、揵闥婆、緊那羅、夜叉等眾，而謂之言：「世尊今欲下閻浮提，可持所有來此供養！」時彼諸天及龍、神等聞此語已，靡不雲集忉利天中。
At that time, Shakra sent messengers to the Yama Heaven, the Tushita Heaven, the Heaven of Enjoying Transformations, the Heaven of Mastering Others' Transformations, and the Brahma worlds, announcing: "The Tathagata will soon descend to Jambudvipa. If you wish to make offerings, please come here!" He also sent messengers to the Four Great Kings' heavens, to the dragon kings of the great ocean, and to the multitudes of gandharvas, kinnaras, yakshas, and others, saying: "The World-Honored One now wishes to descend to Jambudvipa. Bring whatever you have and come make offerings here!" When those gods, dragons, and spirits heard these words, they all gathered like clouds in the Trayastrimsha Heaven.
爾時世尊在須彌山頂，與諸天眾將欲下時，一切諸天前後翼從，威德熾盛，光明赫奕。如滿月在空，眾星共遶；如旭日初出，彩霞紛映。時佛眾會，其狀如是。
At that time, the World-Honored One was on the summit of Mount Sumeru, about to descend together with the assembly of heavenly beings. All the gods escorted him from front and back, their majestic virtue blazing, their radiance brilliant and resplendent—like the full moon in the sky surrounded by countless stars, like the rising sun at dawn reflected in a profusion of colorful clouds. Such was the appearance of the Buddha's assembly in that moment.
爾時閻浮提中，以佛威神有五種希有之事：一者、令彼諸天不見人間不淨之物；二者、令諸女人見彼天男而無欲想；三者、亦令丈夫見諸天女不生染意；四者、令於人間遙見諸天種種供養；五者、諸天之身光潔細妙，非人所覩，以佛神力顯然明著，皆可得見。
At that time, through the Buddha's awe-inspiring power, five extraordinary things happened in the world of Jambudvipa:
First, the heavenly beings were unable to see anything impure in the human realm.
Second, when women saw the heavenly men, they felt no desire.
Third, when men saw the heavenly women, they felt no attraction.
Fourth, people on earth could see from afar the many kinds of offerings being made by the heavenly beings.
Fifth, the bodies of the heavenly beings — radiant, pure, and exquisitely subtle, ordinarily invisible to humans — were made clearly visible through the Buddha's spiritual power, so that all could see them.
爾時世尊從天初下，足蹈寶階，梵王在右，手執白蓋，帝釋在左，手持白拂，其餘諸天皆乘虛空，隨佛而下。一時同奏種種音樂，各自捧持幢幡、寶蓋，散花供養。淨居天眾側塞虛空，無量百千諸天婇女，持寶珠、瓔珞歌讚佛德。復有諸天於虛空中，雨種種香及種種花，諸龍雨於微細香雨。于時空中淨無雲曀，雷聲美妙，聞者喜悅。揵闥婆神、緊那羅神奏提婆那伽微妙之曲，歌讚如來本生之事。
At that time, the World-Honored One descended from the heavens, stepping down onto the jeweled staircase. Brahma stood on his right, holding a white parasol, while Shakra stood on his left, holding a white whisk. All the other heavenly beings followed the Buddha down through the sky. Together they played all kinds of music, each holding banners and jeweled parasols, scattering flowers as offerings. The pure-abode deities filled the sky, and countless hundreds of thousands of heavenly maidens held jewels and necklaces, singing praises of the Buddha's virtues. Other heavenly beings rained down various fragrances and flowers from the sky, while dragons sent down a fine rain of fragrance. At that moment, the sky was clear with no clouds, and the sound of thunder was exquisite—all who heard it were delighted. The Gandharva deities and Kinnara deities played the subtle melodies of the divine nagas, singing praises of the Tathagata's past lives.
于時閻浮提內，王及臣人并四眾等，周匝遍滿僧伽尸城，或散香花或持幡蓋，吹螺擊鼓，種種音樂向空供養，舉手合掌瞻仰於佛。人、天名花上、下交散，繽紛而下積至於膝。諸外道眾見斯事者，咸亦發心歸依禮敬。
At that time, throughout the land of Jambudvipa, kings, ministers, and the fourfold assembly all gathered, filling the city of Sāṃkāśya completely. Some scattered fragrant flowers, some held banners and parasols, some blew conch shells and beat drums, offering all kinds of music into the air as they raised their hands in reverence and gazed up at the Buddha. Celestial and human flowers of every kind cascaded down from above and drifted up from below, falling in a profusion that piled up to knee height. Even the followers of other paths, seeing these things, all aroused the aspiration to take refuge and bow in reverence.
爾時世尊足蹈寶階，次第而下，至於半路。四天王天即於其所，廣設供養。此供殊妙，劫初已來，未曾有也！
At that time, the World-Honored One stepped down the jeweled staircase, descending step by step until he reached the halfway point. There, the gods of the Four Heavenly Kings made vast offerings to him. These offerings were so exquisite and wonderful that nothing like them had been seen since the beginning of the age.
爾時如來受天供畢，復與大眾巡階而下。至最下級，欲踐地時，其蓮花色比丘尼即變其身，作轉輪王，領四種兵七寶前導，從空來下疾至佛所。諸國王等各興是念：「此轉輪王從何所來？」于時尊者須菩提，在自房中見佛下來，即整衣服，遙申禮敬。時蓮花色比丘尼捨輪王身，還復本形，遽即頂禮佛世尊足。
At that time, after the Tathagata had accepted the heavenly offerings, he again descended the steps together with the great assembly. When he reached the lowest step and was about to touch the ground, the nun Utpalavarna immediately transformed her body into a wheel-turning king, leading the four kinds of troops with the seven treasures going before him, descending swiftly from the sky to the Buddha's presence. Each of the kings thought, "Where has this wheel-turning king come from?" Then the venerable Subhuti, seeing from his own room that the Buddha had come down, straightened his robes and paid homage from afar. At that moment, the nun Utpalavarna abandoned the wheel-turning king's form, returned to her original appearance, and hurriedly bowed at the feet of the World-Honored One, the Buddha.
爾時，世尊種種呵責彼比丘尼，而謂之曰：「汝今知不？須菩提已先禮我。汝得誰教，變作輪王？汝得預出家，受具足戒，已過其分。汝智慧微少，諂詐無邊，慈悲報恩，如露一滴。豈能於我法中而為上首？」
At that time, the World-Honored One rebuked that nun in various ways and said to her: "Do you not know? Subhuti has already paid homage to me before you. Who taught you to transform yourself into a wheel-turning king? That you have been permitted to go forth from home and receive full ordination already exceeds what you deserve. Your wisdom is slight, your flattery and deceit are boundless, and your compassion and gratitude for kindness are like a single drop of dew. How could you presume to be foremost among my Dharma?"
時蓮花色比丘尼聞佛教誨，深生愧恥，即白佛言：「世尊！我今自知為過不少。從今以往，不敢復更變現神通！」
When the nun Padmavati heard the Buddha's teaching, she felt deep shame and remorse. She said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, I now realize I have made many mistakes. From this day forward, I will never again display supernatural powers!"
爾時閻浮提內，國王、大臣并四部眾，皆以所持種種供具供養於佛。時優陀延王頂戴佛像，并諸上供珍異之物，至如來所而以奉獻。佛身相好，具足端嚴，在諸天中殊特明顯，譬如滿月離眾雲曀。所造之像而對於佛，猶如堆阜比須彌山，不可為喻，但有螺髻及以玉毫少似於佛，而令四眾知是佛像。
At that time, throughout the land of Jambudvipa, kings, ministers, and the four assemblies all presented various offerings to the Buddha. Then King Udayana placed the Buddha statue on his head and, together with many precious and exquisite offerings, came before the Tathagata to present them. The Buddha's body and marks were fully perfect and majestic, standing out among all heavenly beings like a full moon free of clouds. Compared with the Buddha, the statue they had made was like a mound next to Mount Sumeru—beyond any comparison. Only its spiral hair crown and jade-like white curl bore the slightest resemblance to the Buddha, yet this was enough for the four assemblies to recognize it as an image of the Buddha.
爾時優陀延王白佛言：「世尊！如來過去於生死中為求菩提，行無量無邊難行苦行，獲是最上微妙之身，無與等者。我所造像不似於佛，竊自思惟，深為過咎！」
At that time, King Udayana said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, in the past, while in the cycle of birth and death, the Tathagata practiced countless, boundless, difficult austerities in pursuit of Enlightenment, and attained this supreme, subtle body, unequaled by any. The image I have made does not resemble the Buddha. Privately reflecting on this, I feel it is a grave fault of mine!"
爾時世尊告彼王言：「非為過咎！汝今已作無量利益，更無有人與汝等者。汝今於我佛法之中初為軌則，以是因緣故，令無量眾生得大信利。汝今已獲無量福德、廣大善根。」
At that time, the World-Honored One said to the king: "This is not a fault! You have already brought immeasurable benefit, and there is no one who could do what you have done. You are the first to set an example in my Dharma, and for this reason, countless beings will gain great benefit through faith. You have already attained immeasurable merit and vast roots of goodness."
時天帝釋復告王言：「王今於此勿懷憂懼！如來先在天上及此人間，皆稱讚於王造像功德，凡諸天眾悉亦隨喜。未來世中有信之人，皆因王故，造佛形像而獲勝福。王今宜應歡喜自慶！」
Then Shakra, the lord of gods, said to the king: "Do not be troubled or afraid here, King! The Tathagata has already praised your merit of making Buddha images, both in heaven and here in the human world, and all the heavenly beings rejoice with you. In ages to come, people of faith will, because of you, make Buddha images and gain excellent blessings. You should now rejoice and celebrate!"
佛說大乘造像功德經卷上
The Buddha Speaks the Mahayana Sutra on the Merit of Making Images, Part One