Chapter Two: The Assembly of Manifestation Bodies

爾時，百千萬億不可思、不可議、不可量、不可說、無量阿僧祇世界，所有地獄處，分身地藏菩薩，俱來集在忉利天宮。以如來神力故，各以方面，與諸得解脫從業道出者，亦各有千萬億那由他數，共持香華，來供養佛。彼諸同來等輩，皆因地藏菩薩教化，永不退轉於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。是諸眾等，久遠劫來，流浪生死，六道受苦，暫無休息。以地藏菩薩廣大慈悲，深誓願故，各獲果證。既至忉利，心懷踴躍，瞻仰如來，目不暫捨。

At that time, from hundreds of thousands of billions of inconceivable, unthinkable, immeasurable, unspeakable, countless asamkhyeya worlds, in all the places of hell, the manifested bodies of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva all gathered in the Trayastrimsha Heaven Palace. Because of the Tathagata's spiritual power, from each direction, together with all those liberated and come out of the paths of karma, each also numbering tens of millions of billions of nayutas, they all held incense and flowers to make offerings to the Buddha. All those companions who had come together had, through Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's teaching, become never-retrogressing in anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (meaning "unsurpassed, perfect and complete awakening," the full awakening realized by a Buddha). These great assemblies, since long-distant kalpas, had wandered in birth and death, suffering in the six paths, with not a moment's rest. Because of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's vast compassion and deep vows, each had gained the fruit of realization. Having come to the Trayastrimsha, they were filled with joy and gazed up at the Tathagata, their eyes unwilling to leave him even for a moment.

爾時，世尊舒金色臂，摩百千萬億不可思、不可議、不可量、不可說、無量阿僧祇世界諸分身地藏菩薩摩訶薩頂，而作是言：「吾於五濁惡世，教化如是剛強眾生，令心調伏，捨邪歸正。十有一二，尚惡習在。吾亦分身千百億，廣設方便。或有利根，聞即信受。或有善果，勤勸成就。或有暗鈍，久化方歸。或有業重，不生敬仰。如是等輩眾生，各各差別，分身度脫。或現男子身，或現女人身，或現天龍身，或現神鬼身，或現山林川原、河池泉井，利及於人，悉皆度脫。或現天帝身，或現梵王身，或現轉輪王身，或現居士身，或現國王身，或現宰輔身，或現官屬身，或現比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷身，乃至聲聞、羅漢、辟支佛、菩薩等身，而以化度。非但佛身，獨現其前。汝觀吾累劫勤苦，度脫如是等難化剛強罪苦眾生。其有未調伏者，隨業報應。若墮惡趣，受大苦時，汝當憶念吾在忉利天宮，殷勤付囑。令娑婆世界，至彌勒出世已來眾生，悉使解脫，永離諸苦，遇佛授記。」

Then the World-Honored One stretched out his golden arm and touched the crowns of the heads of the manifested bodies of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva from the hundreds of thousands of billions of inconceivable, unthinkable, immeasurable, unspeakable, countless asamkhyeya worlds, and said: "In the evil world of the five defilements I teach and transform stubborn beings like these, subduing their minds and making them give up the false and return to the right. Even so, of ten people one or two still keep their evil habits. I too have divided myself into thousands of hundreds of billions and widely set up skillful means. Some have sharp roots and believe and accept at once on hearing. Some have good fruit and succeed through diligent urging. Some are dull and dark and return only after a long time of teaching. Some have heavy karma and do not give rise to reverence. Beings of such kinds are each different, and I divide myself to liberate them. Sometimes I appear in the body of a man, or a woman, or a deva or dragon, or a spirit or ghost, or as mountains, forests, rivers, plains, streams, pools, springs and wells, benefiting people, and liberate them all. Sometimes I appear as the body of Indra, or Brahma, or a wheel-turning king, or a lay householder, or a king of a country, or a minister, or an official, or a bhikshu (a fully ordained monk), a bhikshuni (a fully ordained nun), an upasaka (a lay man) or an upasika (a lay woman), and even the body of a shravaka, an arhat (a saint who has ended all afflictions and is no longer reborn), a pratyekabuddha, a Bodhisattva, and so on, to transform and liberate them. It is not only with the Buddha's body that I appear alone before them. You see that for many kalpas I have toiled and suffered to liberate such hard-to-transform, stubborn, sinful and suffering beings. Of those who have not yet been subdued, they receive retribution according to their karma. If they fall into evil paths and suffer greatly, you should remember how I earnestly entrusted them to you in the Trayastrimsha Heaven Palace. Make all beings of the Saha world, until the time Maitreya comes into the world, be liberated, leave all suffering forever, meet the Buddha and receive his prediction."

爾時，諸世界分身地藏菩薩，共復一形，涕淚哀戀，白其佛言：「我從久遠劫來，蒙佛接引，使獲不可思議神力，具大智慧。我所分身，遍滿百千萬億恆河沙世界。每一世界，化百千萬億身。每一身，度百千萬億人，令歸敬三寶，永離生死，至涅槃樂。但於佛法中，所為善事，一毛一渧，一沙一塵，或毫髮許，我漸度脫，使獲大利。唯願世尊不以後世惡業眾生為慮。」如是三白佛言：「唯願世尊不以後世惡業眾生為慮。」

Then the manifested bodies of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva from all the worlds, together returning to one form, wept in sorrow and longing, and said to the Buddha: "Since long-distant kalpas, I have been drawn in by the Buddha, and have gained inconceivable spiritual power and great wisdom. The bodies I have divided fill hundreds of thousands of billions of worlds as many as the sands of the Ganges. In each world I transform into hundreds of thousands of billions of bodies. Each body saves hundreds of thousands of billions of people, and makes them take refuge in and revere the Three Jewels, leave birth and death forever, and reach the joy of nirvana (the state in which affliction ceases and one no longer turns in birth and death). Whatever good they do in the Buddha's Dharma, even a hair or a drop, a grain of sand or a mote of dust, a mere hair's breadth, I will gradually liberate them and let them gain great benefit. I only beg the World-Honored One not to worry about beings of later ages with evil karma." Thus three times he said to the Buddha: "I only beg the World-Honored One not to worry about beings of later ages with evil karma."

爾時，佛讚地藏菩薩言：「善哉！善哉！吾助汝喜。汝能成就久遠劫來，發弘誓願，廣度將畢，即證菩提。」

Then the Buddha praised Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, saying: "Excellent! Excellent! I rejoice with you. You are able to fulfill the great vows you have made since long-distant kalpas, and when your broad saving is nearly finished, you will at once realize bodhi."

爾時，佛母摩耶夫人，恭敬合掌，問地藏菩薩言：「聖者！閻浮眾生，造業差別，所受報應，其事云何？」

Then the Buddha's mother, Lady Maya, joined her palms with reverence and asked Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: "Holy one! The karma made by beings of Jambudvipa differs in each case; what are the retributions they receive like?"

地藏答言：「千萬世界，乃及國土，或有地獄，或無地獄，或有女人，或無女人，或有佛法，或無佛法，乃至聲聞、辟支佛，亦復如是。非但地獄，罪報一等。」摩耶夫人重白菩薩：「且願聞於閻浮罪報，所感惡趣。」地藏答言：「聖母！唯願聽受，我粗說之。」佛母白言：「願聖者說。」

Ksitigarbha replied: "Among the thousands of myriads of worlds, and in every land, some have hells and some do not; some have women and some do not; some have the Buddha's Dharma and some do not; and the same goes for shravakas and pratyekabuddhas. The retribution for sin is not found only in hells." Lady Maya said again to the Bodhisattva: "I only wish to hear about the retributions for sin in Jambudvipa, and the evil destinies they call forth." Ksitigarbha replied: "Holy Mother! Please listen and receive it; I will give a rough account." The Buddha's mother said: "May the holy one speak."

爾時，地藏菩薩白聖母言：「南閻浮提罪報，名號如是：若有眾生，不孝父母，或至殺害，當墮無間地獄，千萬億劫，求出無期。若有眾生，出佛身血，毀謗三寶，不敬尊經，亦當墮於無間地獄，千萬億劫，求出無期。若有眾生，侵損常住，玷汙僧尼，或伽藍內，恣行淫慾，或殺或害，如是等輩，當墮無間地獄，千萬億劫，求出無期。若有眾生，偽作沙門，心非沙門，破用常住，欺誑白衣，違背戒律，種種造惡，如是等輩，當墮無間地獄，千萬億劫，求出無期。若有眾生，偷竊常住財物穀米、飲食衣服，乃至一物不與取者，當墮無間地獄，千萬億劫，求出無期。」

Then Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva said to the Holy Mother: "The retributions for sin in southern Jambudvipa are as follows. If there are beings who are unfilial to their parents, even to the point of killing them, they will fall into the Avici hell, and for thousands of myriads of billions of kalpas will have no time of release. If there are beings who shed a Buddha's blood, slander the Three Jewels, or show no respect for the venerable scriptures, they too will fall into the Avici hell, and for thousands of myriads of billions of kalpas will have no time of release. If there are beings who encroach on or damage the permanent property (the wealth and holdings that belong permanently to a monastery), defile monks and nuns, or give free rein to lust in a sangharama (a monastery), or kill or harm, such persons will fall into the Avici hell, and for thousands of myriads of billions of kalpas will have no time of release. If there are beings who falsely pose as shramanas (renunciants) while in their hearts they are not shramanas, who misuse the permanent property, deceive lay people, go against the precepts, and commit all kinds of evil, such persons will fall into the Avici hell, and for thousands of myriads of billions of kalpas will have no time of release. If there are beings who steal the permanent property, grain, food, drink or clothing, or take even a single item that was not given, they will fall into the Avici hell, and for thousands of myriads of billions of kalpas will have no time of release."

地藏白言：「聖母！若有眾生，作如是罪，當墮五無間地獄，求暫停苦，一念不得。」

Ksitigarbha said: "Holy Mother! If there are beings who commit such sins, they will fall into the five Avici hells, and seeking even a moment's pause from suffering, for the span of a single thought, they will not get it."

摩耶夫人重白地藏菩薩言：「云何名為無間地獄？」

Lady Maya said again to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: "What is called the Avici hell?"

地藏白言：「聖母！諸有地獄，在大鐵圍山之內。其大地獄，有一十八所。次有五百，名號各別。次有千百，名字亦別。無間獄者，其獄城周匝八萬餘里，其城純鐵，高一萬裡，城上火聚，少有空缺。其獄城中，諸獄相連，名號各別。

Ksitigarbha said: "Holy Mother! All the hells lie within the great Iron Encircling Mountains. There are eighteen great hells. Next there are five hundred, each with its own name. After those, there are hundreds and thousands more, also each with its own name. As for Avici, the wall of the hell city is more than eighty thousand li around; the city is made entirely of iron, ten thousand li high, and fire burns thickly along its top with scarcely any gap. Within the city, the hells are joined to one another, each with its own name.

「獨有一獄，名曰無間。其獄周匝萬八千里，獄墻高一千里，悉是鐵圍，上火徹下，下火徹上，鐵蛇鐵狗，吐火馳逐，獄墻之上，東西而走。獄中有床，遍滿萬裡。一人受罪，自見其身，遍臥滿床。千萬人受罪，亦各自見，身滿床上。眾業所感，獲報如是。又諸罪人，備受眾苦。千百夜叉，及以惡鬼，口牙如劍，眼如電光，手復銅爪，拖罪人。復有夜叉，執大鐵戟，中罪人身，或中口鼻，或中腹背，拋空翻接，或置床上。復有鐵鷹，啗罪人目。復有鐵蛇，繳罪人頸。百肢節內，悉下長釘，拔舌耕犁，抽腸剉斬，洋銅灌口，熱鐵纏身。萬死千生，業感如是。動經億劫，求出無期。此界壞時，寄生他界。他界次壞，轉寄他方。他方壞時，展轉相寄。此界成後，還復而來。無間罪報，其事如是。

(Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva continued:) "There is one hell in particular called Avici. This hell is eighteen thousand li around, and its walls are a thousand li high, all enclosed in iron. Fire above reaches down to the bottom, and fire below reaches up to the top; iron snakes and iron dogs breathe fire and chase one another, running east and west along the walls. Inside the hell are beds, spread across ten thousand li. When one person suffers punishment, he sees his own body lying stretched across the whole bed. When thousands of myriads suffer, each likewise sees his own body filling the bed. This is the retribution produced by the pull of many karmas. And the sinners endure all kinds of suffering. Hundreds and thousands of yakshas and evil ghosts, with mouths and teeth like swords and eyes like lightning, and with copper claws on their hands, drag and pull the sinners. There are also yakshas who hold great iron tridents, stabbing the sinners' bodies, striking some in the mouth or nose, some in the belly or back, tossing them into the air and catching them again, or laying them on the beds. There are iron hawks that eat the sinners' eyes. There are iron snakes that coil around the sinners' necks. Long nails are driven into the hundred joints of the body, tongues are pulled out and plowed, intestines are drawn out and chopped, molten copper is poured into mouths, and hot iron is wrapped around bodies. Ten thousand deaths and a thousand births; such is the result of karma. They pass through countless kalpas with no time of release. When this world is destroyed, they are born into another world; when that world is destroyed in turn, they pass on to another quarter; when that is destroyed, they pass on again in this way. After this world is formed anew, they come back to it. Such is the retribution of Avici.

「又五事業感，故稱無間。何等為五？一者，日夜受罪，以至劫數，無時間絕，故稱無間。二者，一人亦滿，多人亦滿，故稱無間。三者，罪器叉棒，鷹蛇狼犬，磨鋸鑿，剉斫湯，鐵網鐵繩，鐵驢鐵馬，生革絡首，熱鐵澆身，飢吞鐵丸，渴飲鐵汁。從年竟劫，數那由他，苦楚相連，更無間斷，故稱無間。四者，不問男子女人，羗胡夷狄，老幼貴賤，或龍或神，或天或鬼，罪行業感，悉同受之，故稱無間。五者，若墮此獄，從初入時，至百千劫，一日一夜，萬死萬生。求一念間，暫住不得。除非業盡，方得受生。以此連綿，故稱無間。」

(Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva continued:) "It is called Avici, 'without interval', because of the karmic force of five matters. What five? First, sinners suffer day and night through the whole span of a kalpa without interruption, so it is called 'without interval'. Second, it is full whether it holds one person or many, so it is called 'without interval'. Third, the instruments of punishment, such as forks and clubs, hawks, snakes, wolves and dogs, grinding wheels, saws and chisels, chopping blades and boiling cauldrons, iron nets and iron ropes, iron donkeys and iron horses, raw hides wound around the head, hot iron poured over the body, iron pellets swallowed in hunger, and molten iron drunk in thirst, go on from year to year and from kalpa to kalpa, for numbers of nayuta (an immense number), the pain continuous with no interruption, so it is called 'without interval'. Fourth, whether man or woman, barbarian of the west or the east, old or young, noble or lowly, whether dragon, spirit, god or ghost, all who commit such sins are subject to the same retribution, so it is called 'without interval'. Fifth, if one falls into this hell, from the moment of entering until a hundred thousand kalpas have passed, in a single day and night one dies and is reborn ten thousand times, and even a moment's pause of a single thought cannot be had. Only when the karma is exhausted can one be reborn. Because it is so unbroken, it is called 'without interval'."

地藏菩薩白聖母言：「無間地獄，粗說如是。若廣說地獄罪器等名，及諸苦事，一劫之中，求說不盡。」

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva said to the Holy Mother: "This is a rough account of the Avici hell. If I were to explain at length the names of the hells' instruments of punishment and their many sufferings, even in an entire kalpa it could not be fully told."

摩耶夫人聞已，愁憂合掌，頂禮而退。

When Lady Maya had heard this, she joined her palms in sorrow, bowed, and withdrew.

爾時，地藏菩薩摩訶薩白佛言：「世尊！我承佛如來威神力故，遍百千萬億世界，分是身形，救拔一切業報眾生。若非如來大慈力故，即不能作如是變化。我今又蒙佛付囑，至阿逸多成佛已來，六道眾生，遣令度脫。唯然，世尊，願不有慮。」

Then Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! By the awesome spiritual power of the Buddha, the Tathagata, I have spread throughout hundreds of thousands of myriads of billions of worlds, dividing myself into such bodies in order to rescue all beings under karmic retribution. Were it not for the great compassionate power of the Tathagata, I could not make such transformations. Now I have again received the Buddha's entrustment: until Ajita (Maitreya Bodhisattva) becomes a Buddha, I will deliver the beings of the six paths and bring them all to liberation. Yes, World-Honored One, may you have no worry."

爾時，佛告地藏菩薩：「一切眾生，未解脫者，性識無定。惡習結業，善習結果，為善為惡，逐境而生。輪轉五道，暫無休息，動經塵劫，迷惑障難。如魚遊網，將是長流，脫入暫出，又復遭網。以是等輩，吾當憂念。汝既畢是往願，累劫重誓，廣度罪輩，吾復何慮？」

Then the Buddha said to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: "All beings who have not yet been liberated have no fixed nature or consciousness. Evil habits form karma and good habits form fruits; whether they do good or evil, it arises according to circumstance. They turn through the five paths with no rest even for a moment, and in countless kalpas of dust they are bewildered and obstructed. They are like fish swimming in a net, taking the long current for a way out; they slip out for a moment, only to meet the net again. For such people, I feel concern. But since you have fulfilled your past vows and repeated your solemn oaths through many kalpas to deliver the sinful widely, what is there for me to worry about?"

說是語時，會中有一菩薩摩訶薩，名定自在王，白佛言：「世尊！地藏菩薩累劫已來，各發何願？今蒙世尊，殷勤讚歎。唯願世尊，略而說之。」

As he said this, a Bodhisattva-Mahasattva in the assembly named King of Samadhi Self-Mastery said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! What vows has Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva made through the kalpas, that he now receives the World-Honored One's earnest praise? We beg the World-Honored One to explain briefly."

爾時，世尊告定自在王菩薩：「諦聽！諦聽！善思念之，吾當為汝，分別解說。乃往過去，無量阿僧祇那由他不可說劫，爾時有佛，號一切智成就如來、應供、正遍知、明行足、善逝、世間解、無上士、調御丈夫、天人師、佛、世尊，其佛壽命六萬劫。未出家時，為小國王，與一鄰國王為友，同行十善，饒益眾生。其鄰國內，所有人民，多造眾惡。二王議計，廣設方便。一王發願，早成佛道，當度是輩，令使無餘。一王發願，若不先度罪苦，令是安樂，得至菩提，我終未願成佛。」

Then the World-Honored One said to Bodhisattva King of Samadhi Self-Mastery: "Listen carefully! Listen carefully! Think it over well, and I will explain it for you. In the distant past, countless asamkhyeya (innumerable) nayuta of unspeakable kalpas ago, there was a Buddha named the Tathagata of Accomplished Omniscience, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One; that Buddha's life span was sixty thousand kalpas. Before he left home, he was the king of a small country, and was a friend of a king of a neighboring country; together they practiced the ten good deeds and benefited beings. Within the neighboring country, the people mostly committed many evils. The two kings consulted and devised many skillful means. One king vowed: 'May I soon attain the Buddha's Way, and I will deliver these people, leaving not one behind.' The other king vowed: 'If I do not first deliver those suffering for their sins and bring them to happiness and to bodhi, I will never be willing to become a Buddha.'"

佛告定自在王菩薩：「一王發願早成佛者，即一切智成就如來是。一王發願永度罪苦眾生，未願成佛者，即地藏菩薩是。復於過去無量阿僧祇劫，有佛出世，名清淨蓮華目如來，其佛壽命四十劫。像法之中，有一羅漢，福度眾生。因次教化，遇一女人，字曰光目，設食供養。羅漢問之：『欲願何等？』光目答言：『我以母亡之日，資福救拔，未知我母生處何趣？』羅漢愍之，為入定觀，見光目女母墮在惡趣，受極大苦。羅漢問光目言：『汝母在生，作何行業？今在惡趣，受極大苦。』光目答言：『我母所習，唯好食噉魚鼈之屬。所食魚鼈多食其子，或炒或煮，恣情食噉。計其命數，千萬復倍。尊者慈愍，如何哀救？』羅漢愍之，為作方便，勸光目言：『汝可志誠念清淨蓮華目如來，兼塑畫形像，存亡獲報。』」

The Buddha said to Bodhisattva King of Samadhi Self-Mastery: "The king who vowed to become a Buddha soon was the Tathagata of Accomplished Omniscience. The king who vowed to deliver beings suffering for their sins forever, and was unwilling to become a Buddha, is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Again, in the past, countless asamkhyeya kalpas ago, a Buddha appeared in the world named the Tathagata Pure Lotus Eyes, whose life span was forty kalpas. During his period of the semblance Dharma, there was an arhat who delivered beings through the merit of blessings. As he went about teaching in turn, he met a woman named Bright Eyes, who prepared a meal as an offering. The arhat asked her: 'What do you wish to seek?' Bright Eyes replied: 'On the day my mother died I made offerings of merit to rescue her, but I do not know in which path my mother has been reborn.' The arhat took pity on her and entered meditation to observe for her, and saw that the mother of Bright Eyes had fallen into an evil path and was suffering greatly. The arhat asked Bright Eyes: 'What did your mother do in her life? She is now suffering greatly in an evil path.' Bright Eyes replied: 'My mother's habit was only to love eating fish and turtles and the like. Of the fish and turtles she ate, she mostly ate their roe, frying or boiling it and eating it freely. Counting the lives taken, they would be thousands of myriads, and then doubled. Venerable one, in your compassion, how can you help her?' The arhat took pity on her and devised a skillful means for her, advising Bright Eyes: 'You should sincerely call to mind the Tathagata Pure Lotus Eyes, and also make an image of him, sculpted or painted; then both the living and the dead will receive benefit.'"

「光目聞已，即捨所愛，尋畫佛像，而供養之。復恭敬心，悲泣瞻禮。忽於夜後，夢見佛身，金色晃耀，如須彌山，放大光明，而告光目：『汝母不久，當生汝家，才覺飢寒，即當言說。』」

(The Buddha continued:) "When Bright Eyes had heard this, she gave up what she loved and at once painted an image of the Buddha and made offerings to it, gazing and bowing with a respectful heart and weeping with sorrow. Suddenly, late that night, she dreamed of the Buddha's body, golden and radiant like Mount Sumeru, emitting great light, and he said to Bright Eyes: 'Your mother will soon be born in your household; as soon as she feels hunger and cold, she will speak.'"

「其後家內，婢生一子，未滿三日，而乃言說，稽首悲泣，告於光目：『生死業緣，果報自受。吾是汝母，久處闇冥，自別汝來，累墮大地獄。蒙汝福力，方得受生。為下賤人，又復短命，壽年十三，更落惡道。汝有何計，令吾脫免？』光目聞說，知母無疑，哽咽悲啼，而白婢子：『既是我母，合知本罪，作何行業，墮於惡道？』婢子答言：『以殺害毀罵二業受報。若非蒙福，救拔吾難，以是業故，未合解脫。』光目問言：『地獄罪報，其事云何？』婢子答言：『罪苦之事，不忍稱說，百千歲中，卒白難竟。』」

(The Buddha continued:) "Afterward, a maidservant in the household gave birth to a son, who could speak before he was three days old. He bowed his head and wept, and said to Bright Eyes: 'The causes and conditions of birth and death are karma, and one receives the results oneself. I am your mother. I have long dwelt in darkness, and since parting from you I have repeatedly fallen into the great hells. Thanks to the power of your merit, I have been able to be reborn. But I am born into a lowly station and a short life, with a life span of thirteen years, after which I will fall into an evil path again. What plan do you have to free me?' When Bright Eyes heard this, she knew without doubt that it was her mother, and sobbed and wept. She said to the servant's child: 'Since you are my mother, you should know your original offense: what deeds did you do that caused you to fall into an evil path?' The child replied: 'I received retribution for the two karmas of killing and of slander and abuse. If it were not for the merit that rescued me from my suffering, because of that karma I would still not be released.' Bright Eyes asked: 'What are the retributions of hell like?' The child replied: 'The suffering of sinners is unbearable to describe; even in hundreds of thousands of years, it could not be fully told in haste.'"

「光目聞已，啼淚號泣，而白空界：『願我之母，永脫地獄。畢十三歲，更無重罪，及歷惡道。十方諸佛，慈哀愍我，聽我為母所發廣大誓願：若得我母永離三塗，及斯下賤，乃至女人之身，永劫不受者，願我自今日後，對清淨蓮華目如來像前，卻後百千萬億劫中，應有世界，所有地獄，及三惡道諸罪苦眾生，誓願救拔，令離地獄惡趣、畜生、餓鬼等。如是罪報等人，盡成佛竟，我然後方成正覺。』」

(The Buddha continued:) "When Bright Eyes had heard this, she wept and cried out, and said to the realm of space: 'May my mother be forever freed from hell. When she has passed the age of thirteen, may she have no more grave sins and not pass through evil paths again. Buddhas of the ten directions, take compassion and pity on me, and hear the great vow I make for my mother: if my mother can forever leave the three evil paths (hell, hungry ghosts and animals), and this lowly station, and even a woman's body, never to receive them for all time, then from this day on, before the image of the Tathagata Pure Lotus Eyes, throughout hundreds of thousands of myriads of billions of kalpas to come, in all worlds that exist, I vow to rescue all beings suffering for their sins in the hells and the three evil paths, and to free them from hells, evil destinies, animals, hungry ghosts and the like. Only when all those under such retribution have become Buddhas will I then attain right enlightenment.'"

「發誓願已，具聞清淨蓮華目如來而告之曰：『光目！汝大慈愍，善能為母發如是大願。吾觀汝母，十三歲畢，捨此報已，生為梵志，壽年百歲。過是報後，當生無憂國土，壽命不可計劫。後成佛果，廣度人天，數如恆河沙。』」

(The Buddha continued:) "When she had made this vow, she clearly heard the Tathagata Pure Lotus Eyes say to her: 'Bright Eyes! You are greatly compassionate, and have done well to make such a great vow for your mother. I see that when your mother has completed thirteen years and given up this retribution, she will be born as a Brahmin, with a life span of a hundred years. After that retribution is past, she will be born in the Land Without Sorrow, with a life span of incalculable kalpas. Later she will attain the fruit of Buddhahood and deliver gods and humans as numerous as the sands of the Ganges.'"

佛告定自在王：「爾時羅漢福度光目者，即無盡意菩薩是。光目母者，即解脫菩薩是。光目女者，即地藏菩薩是。過去久遠劫中，如是慈愍發恆河沙願，廣度眾生。」

The Buddha said to King of Samadhi Self-Mastery: "The arhat who then delivered Bright Eyes through merit is Inexhaustible Intent Bodhisattva. Bright Eyes' mother is Liberation Bodhisattva. The woman Bright Eyes is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. In the distant past of long kalpas, he was this compassionate, made vows as many as the sands of the Ganges, and delivered beings widely."

「未來世中，若有男子女人，不行善者，行惡者，乃至不信因果者，邪淫妄語者，兩舌惡口者，毀謗大乘者，如是諸業眾生，必墮惡趣。若遇善知識，勸令一彈指間歸依地藏菩薩，是諸眾生，即得解脫三惡道報。若能志心歸敬，及瞻禮讚歎，香華衣服，種種珍寶，或復飲食，如是奉事者，未來百千萬億劫中，常在諸天受勝妙樂。若天福盡，下生人間，猶百千劫，常為帝王，能憶宿命因果本末。定自在王，如是地藏菩薩，有如此不可思議大威神力，廣利眾生，汝等諸菩薩，當記是經，廣宣流佈。」

(The Buddha continued:) "In future ages, if there are men or women who do not do good, who do evil, or who do not even believe in cause and effect, who commit sexual misconduct or false speech, speak with a double tongue or harsh words, or slander the Great Vehicle, beings with such karmas will certainly fall into evil destinies. If they meet a good spiritual friend who urges them to take refuge in Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva for the time of a finger snap, these beings will at once be freed from the retribution of the three evil paths. If they can take refuge and revere with sincere mind, and gaze, bow and praise, and offer incense, flowers, clothing, and all kinds of treasures or food and drink, those who serve him in this way will, throughout hundreds of thousands of myriads of billions of kalpas to come, always enjoy supreme and wondrous happiness in the heavens. When their heavenly blessings are exhausted and they are born among humans, they will still be kings for hundreds of thousands of kalpas, and will be able to remember the cause and effect of their past lives from start to finish. King of Samadhi Self-Mastery, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has such inconceivable great awesome spiritual power and benefits beings widely; you Bodhisattvas should remember and uphold this sutra and spread it widely."

定自在王白佛言：「世尊！願不有慮。我等千萬億菩薩摩訶薩，必能承佛威神，廣演是經於閻浮提，利益眾生。」

King of Samadhi Self-Mastery said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! Please have no worry. We, thousands of myriads of billions of Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas, will surely, relying on the Buddha's awesome spirit, widely expound this sutra in Jambudvipa and benefit beings."

定自在王菩薩白世尊已，合掌恭敬，作禮而退。

When King of Samadhi Self-Mastery Bodhisattva had finished speaking to the World-Honored One, he joined his palms in reverence, bowed, and withdrew.

爾時，四方天王，俱從座起，合掌恭敬，白佛言：「世尊！地藏菩薩於久遠劫來，發如是大願，云何至今，猶度未絕，更發廣大誓言？唯願世尊，為我等說。」

Then the Four Heavenly Kings all rose from their seats, joined their palms in reverence, and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has made such great vows since long past kalpas; why has he still not finished delivering beings, and again makes vast oaths? We beg the World-Honored One to explain it to us."

佛告四天王：「善哉！善哉！吾今為汝，及未來現在天人眾等，廣利益故，說地藏菩薩於娑婆世界，閻浮提內，生死道中，慈哀救拔，度脫一切罪苦眾生方便之事。」

The Buddha said to the Four Heavenly Kings: "Excellent! Excellent! For your sake, and for the sake of the gods and humans of the present and future, in order to bring wide benefit, I will now explain the skillful means by which Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, in the Saha world within Jambudvipa, on the paths of birth and death, rescues with compassion and delivers all beings suffering for their sins."

四天王言：「唯然，世尊！願欲聞。」

The Four Heavenly Kings said: "Yes, World-Honored One! We wish to listen."

佛告四天王：「地藏菩薩久遠劫來，迄至於今，度脫眾生，猶未畢願。慈愍此世罪苦眾生，復觀未來無量劫中，因蔓不斷，以是之故，又發重願。如是菩薩，於娑婆世界，閻浮提中，百千萬億方便，而為教化。」

The Buddha said to the Four Heavenly Kings: "From long past kalpas until now, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has been delivering beings, and has not yet completed his vow. Pitying the beings suffering for their sins in this world, and also seeing that in countless kalpas to come, causes and conditions will spread without end, for this reason he again makes a solemn vow. Such a Bodhisattva, in Jambudvipa of the Saha world, teaches and transforms with hundreds of thousands of myriads of billions of skillful means."

「四天王！地藏菩薩若遇殺生者，說宿殃短命報。若遇竊盜者，說貧窮苦楚報。若遇邪淫者，說雀鴿鴛鴦報。若遇惡口者，說眷屬鬪諍報。若遇毀謗者，說無舌瘡口報。若遇瞋恚者，說醜陋癃殘報。若遇慳悋者，說所求違願報。若遇飲食無度者，說飢渴咽病報。若遇畋獵恣情者，說驚狂喪命報。若遇悖逆父母者，說天地災殺報。若遇燒山林木者，說狂迷取死報。若遇前後父母惡毒者，說返生鞭撻現受報。若遇網捕生雛者，說骨肉分離報。若遇毀謗三寶者，說盲聾瘖瘂報。若遇輕法慢教者，說永處惡道報。若遇破用常住者，說億劫輪迴地獄報。若遇汙梵誣僧者，說永在畜生報。若遇湯火斬傷生者，說輪迴遞償報。若遇破戒犯齋者，說禽獸飢餓報。若遇非理毀用者，說所求闕絕報。若遇吾我貢高者，說卑使下賤報。若遇兩舌鬪亂者，說無舌百舌報。若遇邪見者，說邊地受生報。」

(The Buddha continued:) "Four Heavenly Kings! When Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva meets those who kill living beings, he tells them of the retribution of a short life from past misfortune. When he meets thieves, he tells them of the retribution of poverty and suffering. When he meets those who commit sexual misconduct, he tells them of the retribution of being reborn as sparrows, pigeons and mandarin ducks. When he meets those who use harsh words, he tells them of the retribution of quarrels among family members. When he meets slanderers, he tells them of the retribution of being tongueless or having sores in the mouth. When he meets those who are angry, he tells them of the retribution of ugliness and disability. When he meets the stingy, he tells them of the retribution of seeking what goes against their wishes. When he meets those who eat and drink without moderation, he tells them of the retribution of hunger, thirst and throat ailments. When he meets those who hunt as they please, he tells them of the retribution of terror, madness and losing their lives. When he meets those who rebel against their parents, he tells them of the retribution of being killed by calamities of heaven and earth. When he meets those who burn mountain forests, he tells them of the retribution of going mad and dying. When he meets those who are cruel to parents, whether former or later ones, he tells them of the retribution of being reborn and beaten and receiving the retribution in this life. When he meets those who net young fledglings, he tells them of the retribution of separation from flesh and blood. When he meets those who slander the Three Jewels, he tells them of the retribution of being blind, deaf and mute. When he meets those who belittle the Dharma and despise the teaching, he tells them of the retribution of dwelling forever in evil paths. When he meets those who misuse the permanent property, he tells them of the retribution of turning through hells for billions of kalpas. When he meets those who defile pure conduct or slander monks, he tells them of the retribution of being forever among animals. When he meets those who harm lives with boiling water, fire or slashing, he tells them of the retribution of being reborn in turn to repay one another. When he meets those who break precepts and violate the fast, he tells them of the retribution of being birds and beasts and going hungry. When he meets those who waste and destroy without reason, he tells them of the retribution of having what they seek cut off. When he meets the proud and arrogant, he tells them of the retribution of being servants, lowly and base. When he meets those who sow discord with a double tongue, he tells them of the retribution of having no tongue or a hundred tongues. When he meets those of wrong views, he tells them of the retribution of being born in border regions."

「如是等閻浮提眾生，身口意業，惡習結果，百千報應，今粗略說。如是等閻浮提眾生，業感差別，地藏菩薩百千方便，而教化之。是諸眾生，先受如是等報，後墮地獄，動經劫數，無有出期。是故汝等，護人護國，無令是諸眾業，迷惑眾生。」

(The Buddha continued:) "Such are the results of evil habits in the deeds of body, speech and mind of the beings of Jambudvipa, with hundreds of thousands of retributions; I now give only a rough account. Such are the differences in the karmic responses of the beings of Jambudvipa, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva teaches and transforms them with hundreds of thousands of skillful means. These beings first receive such retributions and then fall into hells, passing through kalpas with no time of release. So you should protect people and protect countries, and not let these many karmas bewilder beings."

四天王聞已，涕淚悲歎，合掌而退。

When the Four Heavenly Kings had heard this, they wept with sorrow and sighed, joined their palms, and withdrew.

*讚

Verse of praise.

如來慈愍，轉大法輪，婆羅門女救慈親，覺華度迷津，摩耶夫人，請問地藏因。

The Tathagata, in compassion, turns the great wheel of the Dharma; the Brahmin woman rescued her kind mother, and the flower of awakening carried her across the ford of confusion; Lady Maya asked about the causes and conditions of Ksitigarbha.

南無常住十方佛（三稱）

I take refuge in the Buddhas of the ten directions who abide forever. (Recite three times)

爾時，普賢菩薩摩訶薩白地藏菩薩言：「仁者！願為天龍四眾，及未來現在一切眾生，說娑婆世界及閻浮提罪苦眾生，所受報處、地獄名號及惡報等事，使未來世末法眾生，知是果報。」

Then Samantabhadra Bodhisattva-Mahasattva said to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: "Virtuous one! Please explain, for the fourfold assembly of gods and dragons and for all beings of the present and future, the places where beings suffering for their sins in the Saha world and Jambudvipa receive their retribution, the names of the hells, and their evil retributions, so that beings of the Dharma's last age in future times may know these consequences."

地藏答言：「仁者！我今承佛威神，及大士之力，略說地獄名號，及罪報惡報之事。仁者，閻浮提東方有山，號曰鐵圍，其山黑，無日月光。有大地獄，號極無間。又有地獄，名大阿鼻。復有地獄，名曰四角。復有地獄，名曰飛刀。復有地獄，名曰火箭。復有地獄，名曰夾山。復有地獄，名曰通槍。復有地獄，名曰鐵車。復有地獄，名曰鐵床。復有地獄，名曰鐵牛。復有地獄，名曰鐵衣。復有地獄，名曰千刃。復有地獄，名曰鐵驢。復有地獄，名曰烊銅。復有地獄，名曰抱柱。復有地獄，名曰流火。復有地獄，名曰耕舌。復有地獄，名為剉首。復有地獄，名曰燒腳。復有地獄，名曰啗眼。復有地獄，名曰鐵丸。復有地獄，名曰諍論。復有地獄，名曰鐵鈇。復有地獄，名曰多瞋。」

Ksitigarbha replied: "Virtuous one! Relying now on the Buddha's awesome spirit and the power of the great ones, I will briefly explain the names of the hells and the matters of sin and evil retribution. Virtuous one, to the east of Jambudvipa there is a mountain called Iron Encircling, black, without the light of sun or moon. There is a great hell called Ultimate Avici. There is another hell called Great Avici. There is another called Four Corners. There is another called Flying Knives. There is another called Fire Arrows. There is another called Pincer Mountain. There is another called Through-Spear. There is another called Iron Cart. There is another called Iron Bed. There is another called Iron Ox. There is another called Iron Clothing. There is another called Thousand Blades. There is another called Iron Donkey. There is another called Molten Copper. There is another called Embracing the Pillar. There is another called Flowing Fire. There is another called Plowing Tongues. There is another called Chopping Heads. There is another called Burning Feet. There is another called Devouring Eyes. There is another called Iron Pellets. There is another called Quarreling. There is another called Iron Axe. There is another called Much Anger."

地藏白言：「仁者！鐵圍之內，有如是等地獄，其數無限。更有叫喚地獄、拔舌地獄、糞尿地獄、銅鎖地獄、火象地獄、火狗地獄、火馬地獄、火牛地獄、火山地獄、火石地獄、火床地獄、火梁地獄、火鷹地獄、鋸牙地獄、剝皮地獄、飲血地獄、燒手地獄、燒腳地獄、倒刺地獄、火屋地獄、鐵屋地獄、火狼地獄。如是等地獄，其中各各復有諸小地獄，或一或二，或三或四，乃至百千。其中名號，各各不同。」

Ksitigarbha said: "Virtuous one! Within the Iron Encircling Mountains there are hells like these, without limit in number. There are also the Wailing hell, the Tongue-Pulling hell, the Dung and Urine hell, the Copper Chain hell, the Fire Elephant hell, the Fire Dog hell, the Fire Horse hell, the Fire Ox hell, the Fire Mountain hell, the Fire Stone hell, the Fire Bed hell, the Fire Beam hell, the Fire Hawk hell, the Saw-Tooth hell, the Skin-Peeling hell, the Blood-Drinking hell, the Hand-Burning hell, the Foot-Burning hell, the Inverted Thorns hell, the Fire House hell, the Iron House hell, and the Fire Wolf hell. Within each of these hells there are further minor hells, one or two, three or four, up to hundreds and thousands, each with its own name."

地藏菩薩告普賢菩薩言：「仁者！此者皆是南閻浮提行惡眾生，業感如是。業力甚大，能敵須彌，能深巨海，能障聖道。是故眾生莫輕小惡，以為無罪，死後有報，纖毫受之。父子至親，岐路各別，縱然相逢，無肯代受。我今承佛威力，略說地獄罪報之事。唯願仁者，暫聽是言。」

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva said to Samantabhadra Bodhisattva: "Virtuous one! These are all the karmic responses of beings in southern Jambudvipa who do evil. The power of karma is very great: it can match Mount Sumeru, be deeper than the great ocean, and obstruct the holy path. So beings should not make light of small evils, thinking there is no sin in them; after death there is retribution, and even the finest hair's breadth is received. Even father and son, the closest kin, take different roads at a fork, and even if they meet again they will not take on the suffering for each other. Relying now on the Buddha's power, I give a rough account of the retribution of sin in the hells. I only wish, virtuous one, that you will listen for a moment to these words."

普賢答言：「吾已久知三惡道報，望仁者說，令後世末法一切惡行眾生，聞仁者說，使令歸佛。」

Samantabhadra replied: "I have long known the retributions of the three evil paths, and I hope the virtuous one will speak, so that all beings who do evil in the last age of the Dharma in later times, on hearing what the virtuous one says, may take refuge in the Buddha."

地藏白言：「仁者！地獄罪報，其事如是：或有地獄，取罪人舌，使牛耕之。或有地獄，取罪人心，夜叉食之。或有地獄，鑊湯盛沸，煮罪人身。或有地獄，赤燒銅柱，使罪人抱。或有地獄，使諸火燒，趁及罪人。或有地獄，一向寒氷。或有地獄，無限糞尿。或有地獄，純飛鈒鑗。或有地獄，多攢火槍。或有地獄，唯撞胸背。或有地獄，但燒手足。或有地獄，盤絞鐵蛇。或有地獄，驅逐鐵狗。或有地獄，盡駕鐵騾。仁者，如是等報，各各獄中，有百千種業道之器，無非是銅，是鐵，是石，是火。此四種物，眾業行感。若廣說地獄罪報等事，一一獄中，更有百千種苦楚，何況多獄。我今承佛威神，及仁者問，略說如是。若廣解說，窮劫不盡。」

Ksitigarbha said: "Virtuous one! The retributions of sin in the hells are like this: in some hells, the sinner's tongue is taken and plowed by oxen. In some hells, the sinner's heart is taken and eaten by yakshas. In some hells, cauldrons hold boiling water to boil the sinner's body. In some hells, red-hot copper pillars are heated and the sinners are made to embrace them. In some hells, fires burn and chase after the sinners. In some hells, there is only freezing ice. In some hells, there is endless dung and urine. In some hells, there are only flying sharp blades. In some hells, there are many bundled fire spears. In some hells, there is only striking of chest and back. In some hells, only hands and feet are burned. In some hells, iron snakes coil and wind. In some hells, iron dogs chase the sinners. In some hells, there are only iron mules in harness. Virtuous one, with retributions like these, each hell has hundreds and thousands of kinds of instruments of karmic paths, all of copper, iron, stone or fire. These four things are produced by the many deeds of karma. If I were to explain at length the retributions of sin in the hells, each hell has hundreds and thousands of further kinds of suffering, to say nothing of the many hells. Relying now on the Buddha's awesome spirit and on what the virtuous one has asked, I have given only this brief account. If explained at length, it could not be finished in an entire kalpa."