Buddha's Supreme Intention Dharani Sutra (佛說最上意陀羅尼經)

Sutra of the Supreme Intention Dharani Spoken by the Buddha

Translated by Dharma Master Shi Hu, a Tripitaka Master from the Western Regions, Court Gentleman for Ceremonial Service, Acting Junior Supervisor of

Thus I have heard:

Once, the Buddha was dwelling in the City of Saving Doves, at the Ox-head Sandalwood Monastery, together with a great assembly of bhikkhus, as well as the eight kinds of celestial beings—gods, dragons, and others—who respectfully surrounded him, gazing upon him with veneration.

The World-Honored One then addressed Ananda and the great assembly, saying: "I perceive that in the final age of this Southern Continent of Jambudvipa, all beings, due to their scant merit, will be afflicted by various malevolent spirits and ghosts who will unleash disasters, disturbing beings and robbing them of peace and safety. There is a Dharani that can quell these troubles and increase blessings. I will now proclaim it. Listen with utmost attention." At that time, Ananda and the great assembly, respectfully receiving the Buddha's instruction, fell silent and listened.

The Buddha said, "Ānanda! In the past, in this Jambudvīpa, there was a monk named Transmitter of the Teaching. On the fifteenth day of the dark half of the ninth month, he journeyed northward. When he was not far from the land of China, about four leagues away, he suddenly saw a divine being standing far off in the distance. This divine being was thirty cubits tall, with a face four cubits round. When the monk Transmitter of the Teaching saw this divine being—so vast in stature, with a radiant and joyful expression—he observed him carefully and realized, 'This is no other being; this is truly the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī, the Youthful One.'

Then the monk Transmitter of the Teaching approached the divine being, prostrated himself with all five limbs touching the ground, and paid homage. Rising from his bow, he joined his palms and looked up, saying to the divine being, 'Why does the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī, the Youthful One, manifest such a form? I now know for certain that this must be no other sacred being.'

At that time, the divine being said to the monk, 'Just as you say, I am Mañjuśrī.'

The monk Transmitter of the Teaching then asked the divine being, 'Why have you manifested this form today?'

The divine being replied, 'Do you know? Now the southern continent of Jambudvīpa is about to face calamities. Beings with meager merit will be afflicted by various illnesses and suffer greatly.'

The monk asked, 'Why has this disaster suddenly arisen in the southern continent of Jambudvīpa?'

The divine being said, 'Now, on the southern side of Mount Sumeru, an Asura has arisen with an evil mind. Leading his retinue, he seeks to wage war against the gods. At that time, the Asura will obstruct the sun, moon, and stars, so that their light no longer shines. Furthermore, countless extremely evil yakṣas, gandharvas, garuḍas, and others dwelling on the southern side of Mount Sumeru, seeing this sign from the Asura, will also side with him. The gods will be defeated, and the Asuras will prevail. Then, in the southern continent of Jambudvīpa, the light of the sun, moon, and stars will suddenly become hidden and obscured. Inauspicious omens will appear everywhere: winds and rains will come at the wrong times, drought and flood will contend with each other, and the five grains and crops will flourish but bear no fruit. If any grain does form, it will be tasteless when eaten. All beings will have their strength, complexion, and vitality diminished.

Furthermore, the earth-dwelling piśācas and other evil ghostly beings will change their original forms and display monstrous shapes. They may appear as lions, tigers, wolves, dogs, or even in the form of women, disturbing beings and causing them to fall ill with all kinds of suffering ailments. These include: goiter disease, wind disease, phlegm disorders, eye diseases, headaches, abdominal pain, and even fistulas and hemorrhoids. There will also be fevers—occurring every day, every other day, for a moment, or lasting for months. Some will suffer from sores or scabs, others from scabies or leprosy. All these evil diseases will spread throughout Jambudvīpa, causing beings to experience extreme suffering. Those with meager fortune will have no escape. The elderly, the middle-aged, the youth, even the very young—all will die prematurely due to this epidemic.

Monk, moved by compassion for this situation, I have manifested this form to warn people. Monk, I now tell you: If any being wishes for themselves, their families, their villages, or even their entire country to ward off these calamities and increase good fortune, they must first deeply develop faith and reverence in the Three Jewels. Then, they should prepare fine flowers, rare fruits, incense to burn, and fragrant ointments, along with various offerings, and make offerings. They should then single-mindedly fast for seven days, eating nothing. Four times during the day and four times during the night, with courageous and focused attention, they should chant the Mahādhāraṇī of the Supreme Intention. This disaster will certainly be annihilated, and all good fortune will increase.

Monk, if you wish to recite this Mahādhāraṇī of the Supreme Intention, first you must bow respectfully and recite the name of the Tathāgata, the King of the Roaring Proclamation of Vast and Profound Wisdom. Then recite this dhāraṇī.'"

Then the divine being spoke the Mahādhāraṇī of the Supreme Intention for the monk Transmitter of the Teaching:

Namah to the All-Honored One, the Tathagata, Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One. Thus:

* Tadyathā: Vipula-gāri-te, vipula-śvari, vipula-yunī, śa-arāgate svāhā. * Namah sarva-nivāraṇi, viśkambhīṇa, tathāgatāya. Tadyathā: Hi (hī), mahī, mahā-mahī svāhā. * Namah guṇa-kārāya, tathāgatāya. Tadyathā: Gagana-kāri, gagana-saṁbhave, gagana-kīrtite svāhā. * Namah ratna-nāgāya, namas tathāgatāya. Tadyathā: Ratnōn-nāgate, ratna-saṁbhave svāhā. * Namah mahā-āditya-sarva-mīni, tathāgatāya. Tadyathā: Āma-mahī svāhā. * Namah māna-sadbhava-śrī, tathāgatāya. Tadyathā: Māna-sattvaṁ, śuddha-padma-sārī, padma-saṁbhava, kāri-hita-kāriye svāhā. * Namah sarva-buddha-bodhisattvānām, nama ārya-mañjuśriye. Tadyathā: Jaye, jaya-labhadhī (hī), mahī, mahā-mahī svāhā. * Namah ārya-valokiteśvarāya. Tadyathā: Gagana-ṭhaye, gagana-vikrānta, hi-me svāhā. * Namah ārya-samanta-bhadrāya, tathāgatāya. Tadyathā: Hi pādadrī, mahā-pādadrī, amṛta-pādadrī, vigata-rāja-śre svāhā. * Namah ārya-vajra-dīpatāya, tathāgatāya. Tadyathā: Kīrtita-sarva-ḍīmī, adhi-kīrtita-sarva-ḍīmī, vajra-saṁbhave, vajra-vīnākāya svāhā. * Namah sarva-buddha-bodhisattvānām. Tadyathā: Śvētaka-ri-bī, pra-vara-nīye svāhā. * Sadbha-nī, moha-nī, panja-nī, punnāga-ya svāhā. * Mahā-nandi, nandha-ve svāhā. * Nura-vinuriye svāhā. * Lāvakrīte svāhā. * Śānte svāhā. * Śve-nīva-paḍaye svāhā. * A-lambādriye, kāra-paśe kīrtita svāhā. * Ājñā-vidham-dye svāhā. * Dhātu-kariye svāhā. * Megha-kariye svāhā. * Mālāvantiye svāhā. * Bhu-yaya-gandaye svāhā. * Karma-sādhānaka-svāhā. * Eka-rāma-svāhā. * Āyoga-karāye svāhā. * Bhrāhma-bhāva-guthāya svāhā. * Sarva-karma-varaṇa-vihiskrītāya svāhā. * Sarva-buddha-visaṁskrītāya svāhā. * Ekasīṅga-svāhā. * Asīṅga-svāhā. * Bhūtāya svāhā. * Abhūta-svāhā. * Sarva-nu-gopa-saṁma-svāhā. * Mama sarvaṁ ca svāhā.

At that time, after the spirit had spoken this supreme Dharani, he said to the teaching monk: "You must now take this Dharani and spread it far and wide throughout the ten directions of the Southern Continent—in every country, city, town, and village—so that all beings may hear and know it. Why? Because it can increase the merit of beings, relieve them of all suffering, remove all disasters from the world, cause all evil spirits to calm their malicious minds, and bring peace and happiness to kings, ministers, and people everywhere in every land.

Monk, if a good man or good woman wishes to reverently uphold, recite, and offer to this Dharani to eliminate calamities and increase merit, they should sincerely take refuge in the Triple Gem. For seven days, they should each day prepare various incense, flowers, and food to make offerings to the Buddha. They should also each day make offerings to seven monks. Then, at midnight, in their own courtyard, they should light a large torch and, by its light, recite this Dharani. All calamities will then be resolved. Monk, if a good man or good woman does this, they themselves will be liberated.

Monk, if for fourteen days they prepare twice as many incense, flowers, and food, and make offerings to the Buddha and Sangha, then both of their parents will be liberated together.

Monk, if for twenty-one days they make offerings to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha with twice as many incense, flowers, and food, then all their children and relatives will be liberated together.

Monk, if for twenty-eight days they cultivate diligently, doubling their efforts, then all the people in the village where they live will be liberated.

Monk, in short, if for forty-nine days they continue to increase their offerings to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, the merit they obtain will extend from the king above to the people below, and the entire country will be liberated.

Monk, know this: I am now telling you to take this teaching and quickly spread it throughout this world and beyond. Why? Because it can eliminate all kinds of suffering and increase all kinds of merit for beings.

Monk, if someone hears this teaching and knows its benefits but does not respect it, does not spread it to others, and does not recite it themselves, know that this person commits the fault of hiding the Dharma, which is equal to the five heinous sins.

Monk, if a being hears this teaching and, without opposing my instructions, personally practices, recites, and makes offerings, and also helps others cultivate blessings according to the Dharma, and spreads it widely to benefit many beings, then I will know of that person from afar. I will first go to Mount Sumeru, and to the devas, asuras, gandharvas, and garudas. With a mind of compassion, I will teach, guide, and persuade them, making them joyful, so that the devas and asuras will cease their conflicts and respect each other. Then, in the land of Jambudvipa, disasters will cease, epidemics will not arise, all evil spirits will hide, and all beings will find peace and happiness."

After speaking these words, the spirit vanished from sight. The teaching monk faithfully followed and spread this teaching.

At that time, the World-Honored One addressed the great assembly, saying: "In the past, the child Manjushri, through the power of skillful means, taught such Dharma for the benefit of all beings. Now, I will once again expound it for you. You should earnestly receive, uphold, recite, and study it, and in the future, widely propagate it, so as to eliminate disasters and increase good fortune." Then, upon hearing the Buddha's words, Ananda and the entire assembly were filled with joy. They concentrated their hearts, received and upheld the teaching, bowed to the Buddha, and withdrew.

Sutra of the Supreme Intention Dharani Spoken by the Buddha