Lotus Sutra of the Wondrous Dharma, Volume Two
世尊甚希有，久遠乃一現，
The World-Honored One is extremely rare, appearing only once in a long, long time,
一百八十劫，空過無有佛。
for one hundred and eighty kalpas they passed in vain with no buddha.
三惡道充滿，諸天眾減少，
The three evil paths were full and the host of devas diminished;
今佛出於世，為眾生作眼。
now the Buddha has appeared in the world, to be the eyes for living beings.
世間所歸趣，救護於一切，
The one to whom the world turns, who saves and protects all,
為眾生之父，哀愍饒益者。
the father of living beings, who pities and benefits them,
我等宿福慶，今得值世尊。』
by the blessings we stored in former lives, we are now able to meet the World-Honored One.'
「爾時諸梵天王偈讚佛已，各作是言：『唯願世尊哀愍一切，轉於法輪，度脫眾生。』時諸梵天王一心同聲而說偈言：
(The Buddha continued:) "At that time the Brahma heavenly kings, having praised the Buddha in verse, each said: 'We only pray that the World-Honored One will have compassion for all, turn the Dharma wheel, and liberate living beings.' Then the Brahma heavenly kings, with one mind and one voice, spoke in verse:
「『大聖轉法輪，顯示諸法相，
"'Great Sage, turn the Dharma wheel, reveal the characteristics of all dharmas,
度苦惱眾生，令得大歡喜。
liberate suffering and distressed living beings and cause them great joy.
眾生聞此法，得道若生天，
When living beings hear this Dharma, they attain the Way or are born in the heavens,
諸惡道減少，忍善者增益。』
the evil paths decrease, and those who are patient and good increase.'
「爾時大通智勝如來默然許之。
(The Buddha continued:) "At that time the Tathagata Mahabhijna-jnanabhibhu silently assented.
「又，諸比丘！南方五百萬億國土諸大梵王，各自見宮殿光明照曜，昔所未有，歡喜踴躍，生希有心，即各相詣，共議此事：『以何因緣，我等宮殿有此光曜？』時彼眾中有一大梵天王，名曰妙法，為諸梵眾而說偈言：
(The Buddha continued:) "Moreover, bhikshus! The great Brahma kings of the five hundred myriad kotis of lands in the south each saw the light of their palaces shining brilliantly, as never before, and leaped with joy and gave rise to a mind of wonder, and at once went to one another and discussed this matter together: 'By what cause and condition do our palaces have this brilliant light?' Among that assembly was a great Brahma heavenly king named Wondrous Dharma, who spoke in verse to the Brahma host:
「『我等諸宮殿，光明甚威曜，
"'The light of all our palaces is most majestic and brilliant,
此非無因緣，是相宜求之。
this is not without cause and condition; it is fitting to seek it out.
過於百千劫，未曾見是相，
For over a hundred thousand kalpas we have never seen this sign;
為大德天生？為佛出世間？』
has a deva of great virtue been born? Has a buddha appeared in the world?'
「爾時五百萬億諸梵天王與宮殿俱，各以衣裓盛諸天華，共詣北方推尋是相。見大通智勝如來處於道場菩提樹下，坐師子座，諸天、龍王、乾闥婆、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人等恭敬圍繞，及見十六王子請佛轉法輪。時諸梵天王頭面禮佛，繞百千匝，即以天華而散佛上——所散之華如須彌山，並以供養佛菩提樹。華供養已，各以宮殿奉上彼佛，而作是言：『唯見哀愍，饒益我等。所獻宮殿，願垂納受。』爾時諸梵天王，即於佛前，一心同聲以偈頌曰：
(The Buddha continued:) "At that time the Brahma heavenly kings of the five hundred myriad kotis, together with their palaces, each filled the folds of their garments with heavenly flowers and went together to the north to seek out this sign. They saw the Tathagata Mahabhijna-jnanabhibhu at the site of the Way beneath the Bodhi tree, seated on the lion seat, reverently surrounded by devas, dragon kings, gandharvas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans, and saw the sixteen princes asking the Buddha to turn the Dharma wheel. At that time the Brahma heavenly kings bowed with heads and faces to the Buddha, circled him a hundred thousand times, and scattered heavenly flowers over the Buddha; the flowers they scattered were like Mount Sumeru, and they also offered them to the Buddha's Bodhi tree. After offering flowers, each presented his palace to that Buddha, saying: 'We beg you to have compassion for us and benefit us. May you deign to accept the palaces we offer.' Then the Brahma heavenly kings, before the Buddha, with one mind and one voice, spoke in verse:
「『世尊甚難見，破諸煩惱者，
"'The World-Honored One is very hard to see, he who destroys all afflictions,
過百三十劫，今乃得一見。
after one hundred and thirty kalpas, only now do we get to see him once.
諸飢渴眾生，以法雨充滿，
Hungry and thirsty living beings are filled with the rain of the Dharma,
昔所未曾見，無量智慧者，
one never seen before, possessor of immeasurable wisdom,
如優曇缽花，今日乃值遇。
like the udumbara flower, only today have we met him.
我等諸宮殿，蒙光故嚴飾，
Our palaces, being touched by the light, are adorned;
世尊大慈悲，唯願垂納受。』
World-Honored One of great compassion, we only pray that you will deign to accept them.'
「爾時諸梵天王偈讚佛已，各作是言：『唯願世尊轉於法輪，令一切世間諸天、魔、梵、沙門、婆羅門，皆獲安隱而得度脫。』時諸梵天王一心同聲以偈頌曰：
(The Buddha continued:) "At that time the Brahma heavenly kings, having praised the Buddha in verse, each said: 'We only pray that the World-Honored One will turn the Dharma wheel, so that all the devas, maras, Brahmas, shramanas and brahmins of the whole world may all gain peace and be liberated.' Then the Brahma heavenly kings, with one mind and one voice, spoke in verse:
「『唯願天人尊，轉無上法輪，
"'We only pray that the honored one of devas and humans will turn the supreme Dharma wheel,
擊於大法鼓，而吹大法螺，
beat the great Dharma drum, and blow the great Dharma conch,
普雨大法雨，度無量眾生。
rain down everywhere the great rain of the Dharma, and liberate immeasurable living beings.
我等鹹歸請，當演深遠音。』
We all take refuge and beg that you will expound the profound and far-reaching voice.'
「爾時大通智勝如來默然許之。西南方乃至下方，亦復如是。
(The Buddha continued:) "At that time the Tathagata Mahabhijna-jnanabhibhu silently assented. In the southwest and on down to the lower direction it was the same.
「爾時上方五百萬億國土諸大梵王，皆悉自覩所止宮殿光明威曜，昔所未有，歡喜踴躍，生希有心，即各相詣，共議此事：『以何因緣，我等宮殿，有斯光明？』時彼眾中有一大梵天王，名曰屍棄，為諸梵眾而說偈言：
(The Buddha continued:) "At that time the great Brahma kings of the five hundred myriad kotis of lands in the upper direction each saw the light of the palaces where they dwelt shining majestically, as never before, and leaped with joy and gave rise to a mind of wonder, and at once went to one another and discussed this matter together: 'By what cause and condition do our palaces have this light?' Among that assembly was a great Brahma heavenly king named Sikhin, who spoke in verse to the Brahma host:
「『今以何因緣，我等諸宮殿，
"'Now by what cause and condition do all our palaces
威德光明曜，嚴飾未曾有。
shine with majestic light and a splendor that has never been?
如是之妙相，昔所未聞見，
Such a wondrous sign has never been heard or seen before;
為大德天生？為佛出世間？』
has a deva of great virtue been born? Has a buddha appeared in the world?'
「爾時五百萬億諸梵天王與宮殿俱，各以衣裓盛諸天華，共詣下方推尋是相。見大通智勝如來處於道場菩提樹下，坐師子座，諸天、龍王、乾闥婆、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人等恭敬圍繞，及見十六王子請佛轉法輪。時諸梵天王頭面禮佛，繞百千匝，即以天華而散佛上——所散之花如須彌山，並以供養佛菩提樹。花供養已，各以宮殿奉上彼佛，而作是言：『唯見哀愍，饒益我等。所獻宮殿，願垂納受。』時諸梵天王，即於佛前，一心同聲以偈頌曰：
(The Buddha continued:) "At that time the Brahma heavenly kings of the five hundred myriad kotis, together with their palaces, each filled the folds of their garments with heavenly flowers and went together to the lower direction to seek out this sign. They saw the Tathagata Mahabhijna-jnanabhibhu at the site of the Way beneath the Bodhi tree, seated on the lion seat, reverently surrounded by devas, dragon kings, gandharvas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans, and saw the sixteen princes asking the Buddha to turn the Dharma wheel. At that time the Brahma heavenly kings bowed with heads and faces to the Buddha, circled him a hundred thousand times, and scattered heavenly flowers over the Buddha; the flowers they scattered were like Mount Sumeru, and they also offered them to the Buddha's Bodhi tree. After offering flowers, each presented his palace to that Buddha, saying: 'We beg you to have compassion for us and benefit us. May you deign to accept the palaces we offer.' Then the Brahma heavenly kings, before the Buddha, with one mind and one voice, spoke in verse:
「『善哉見諸佛，救世之聖尊，
"'How excellent to see the buddhas, holy honored ones who save the world,
能於三界獄，勉出諸眾生。
able to free living beings from the prison of the three realms.
普智天人尊，哀愍群萌類，
Honored one of devas and humans of universal wisdom, pitying the multitude of beings,
能開甘露門，廣度於一切。
you can open the gate of sweet dew and liberate all broadly.
於昔無量劫，空過無有佛，
In the past, immeasurable kalpas passed in vain with no buddha;
世尊未出時，十方常闇冥，
before the World-Honored One appeared, the ten directions were always dark,
三惡道增長，阿修羅亦盛，
the three evil paths increased, the asuras too flourished,
諸天眾轉減，死多墮惡道。
the host of devas dwindled, and many who died fell into evil paths.
不從佛聞法，常行不善事，
Not hearing the Dharma from a buddha, they constantly did unwholesome things,
色力及智慧，斯等皆減少。
and their physical strength, appearance and wisdom were all diminished.
罪業因緣故，失樂及樂想，
Because of the causes and conditions of sinful karma, they lost happiness and the thought of happiness,
住於邪見法，不識善儀則，
dwelling in the dharma of wrong views, not knowing good conduct and rules,
不蒙佛所化，常墮於惡道。
not touched by the Buddha's transforming, they constantly fell into evil paths.
佛為世間眼，久遠時乃出，
The Buddha is the eye of the world, appearing only after a very long time,
哀愍諸眾生，故現於世間。
out of compassion for living beings, and so he appears in the world.
超出成正覺，我等甚欣慶，
Surpassing all and attaining perfect enlightenment, we rejoice greatly,
及餘一切眾，喜歎未曾有。
as do all the rest of the multitude, sighing with joy at what has never been.
我等諸宮殿，蒙光故嚴飾，
Our palaces, being touched by the light, are adorned;
今以奉世尊，唯垂哀納受。
now we offer them to the World-Honored One; we only pray that you will compassionately accept them.
願以此功德，普及於一切，
May this merit extend to all universally,
我等與眾生，皆共成佛道。』
and may we together with living beings all attain the Buddha Way.'
「爾時五百萬億諸梵天王偈讚佛已，各白佛言：『唯願世尊轉於法輪，多所安隱，多所度脫。』時諸梵天王而說偈言：
(The Buddha continued:) "At that time the Brahma heavenly kings of the five hundred myriad kotis, having praised the Buddha in verse, each said to the Buddha: 'We only pray that the World-Honored One will turn the Dharma wheel, bringing much peace and security and liberating many.' Then the Brahma heavenly kings spoke in verse: