Lotus Sutra of the Wondrous Dharma, Fascicle 3

擔負乾草，入中不燒，亦未為難。

one carried dry grass on one's back and went into it without being burned, that too is not hard.

我滅度後，若持此經、為一人說，

But after my extinction, to uphold this sutra and expound it to a single person,

是則為難。若持八萬，四千法藏，

that is hard. If one upheld the eighty-four thousand Dharma treasuries,

十二部經，為人演說，令諸聽者，

the twelve divisions of sutras, and expounded them to others, so that those who listen

得六神通，雖能如是，亦未為難。

gain the six divine powers, though one can do this, it is not hard.

於我滅後，聽受此經，問其義趣，

But after my extinction, to listen to and receive this sutra and ask about its meaning,

是則為難。若人說法，令千萬億，

that is hard. If someone teaches the Dharma so that thousands of ten thousands of billions,

無量無數，恆沙眾生，得阿羅漢，

immeasurable and countless beings as many as the Ganges sands, become arhats

具六神通，雖有是益，亦未為難。

with the six divine powers, though there is such benefit, it is not hard.

於我滅後，若能奉持，如斯經典，

But after my extinction, if one can reverently uphold such a sutra,

是則為難。我為佛道，於無量土，

that is hard. For the Buddha Way, in immeasurable lands,

從始至今，廣說諸經，而於其中，

from the beginning until now, I have widely taught the sutras, and among them

此經第一。若有能持，則持佛身。

this sutra is foremost. One who can uphold it upholds the Buddha's body.

諸善男子！於我滅後，誰能受持、

Good sons! After my extinction, who can receive, uphold,

讀誦此經，今於佛前、自說誓言。

read and recite this sutra? Now before the Buddha declare your vow yourselves.

此經難持，若暫持者，我則歡喜，

This sutra is hard to uphold; one who upholds it even briefly pleases me,

諸佛亦然。如是之人，諸佛所歎。

and the Buddhas too. Such a person is praised by the Buddhas.

是則勇猛，是則精進，是名持戒，

This is courage, this is zeal, this is called keeping the precepts,

行頭陀者，則為疾得，無上佛道。

and practicing dhuta austerities; thereby one quickly attains the unsurpassed Buddha Way.

能於來世，讀持此經，是真佛子，

One who in a future age can read and uphold this sutra is a true child of the Buddha,

住淳善地。佛滅度後，能解其義，

dwelling in the land of purity and goodness. After the Buddha's extinction, one who can understand its meaning

是諸天人，世間之眼。於恐畏世，

is the eye of devas, humans and the world. In a fearful age,

能須臾說，一切天人，皆應供養。』」

one who can expound it for a moment should be offered to by all devas and humans.'"

爾時佛告諸菩薩及天人四眾：「吾於過去無量劫中，求法華經，無有懈惓。於多劫中常作國王，發願求於無上菩提，心不退轉。為欲滿足六波羅蜜，勤行佈施，心無悋惜，象、馬、七珍、國、城、妻、子，奴婢、僕從，頭、目、髓、腦，身、肉、手、足，不惜軀命。時世人民壽命無量，為於法故，捐捨國位，委政太子，擊鼓宣令四方求法：『誰能為我說大乘者，吾當終身供給走使。』時有仙人來白王言：『我有大乘，名妙法華經。若不違我，當為宣說。』王聞仙言，歡喜踴躍，即隨仙人，供給所須——採菓、汲水、拾薪、設食，乃至以身而為床座——身心無惓，於時奉事。經於千歲，為於法故，精勤給侍，令無所乏。」

At that time the Buddha said to the Bodhisattvas and the four assemblies of devas and humans: "In the past, in immeasurable kalpas, I sought the Lotus Sutra without weariness. For many kalpas I was constantly a king, and vowed to seek unsurpassed bodhi, my mind never retreating. To fulfill the six paramitas, I diligently practiced giving, with a mind free of stinginess, giving elephants, horses, the seven treasures, country, cities, wife, children, servants and attendants, head, eyes, marrow, brain, body, flesh, hands and feet, not sparing my body or life. At that time the people's life span was immeasurable, and for the sake of the Dharma I gave up my kingdom and throne, entrusted government to the crown prince, beat the drum and proclaimed in the four directions seeking the Dharma: 'Whoever can expound the Mahayana for me, I will serve him as a runner and servant for the rest of my life.' At that time a sage came and said to the king: 'I have a Mahayana teaching called the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Sutra. If you do not go against me, I will expound it for you.' The king, hearing the sage's words, leapt with joy, and at once followed the sage, supplying whatever he needed, gathering fruit, drawing water, collecting firewood, preparing food, and even making his own body a bed and seat, with body and mind untiring, serving him at that time. For a thousand years, for the sake of the Dharma, he served diligently and made sure nothing was lacking."

爾時世尊欲重宣此義，而說偈言：

At that time the World-Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke in verse:

「我念過去劫，為求大法故，

"I recall that in a past kalpa, in order to seek the great Dharma,

雖作世國王，不貪五欲樂。

though I was king of a land, I did not covet the pleasures of the five desires.

搥鍾告四方，誰有大法者，

I struck the bell and announced in the four directions: whoever has the great Dharma,

若為我解說，身當為奴僕。

if he explains it to me, I will be his servant.

時有阿私仙，來白於大王：

At that time the sage Asita came and said to the great king:

『我有微妙法，世間所希有。

'I have a subtle and wonderful Dharma, rare in the world.

若能修行者，吾當為汝說。』

If you can practice it, I will teach it to you.'

時王聞仙言，心生大喜悅，

The king, hearing the sage's words, was filled with great joy,

即便隨仙人，供給於所須，

and at once followed the sage, supplying what he needed,

採薪及菓蓏，隨時恭敬與，

gathering firewood and fruit, giving them respectfully at the proper times,

情存妙法故，身心無懈惓。

his heart set on the wonderful Dharma, his body and mind never weary.

普為諸眾生，勤求於大法，

For all beings I diligently sought the great Dharma,

亦不為己身，及以五欲樂。

not for my own body, nor for the pleasures of the five desires.

故為大國王，勤求獲此法，

So as a great king I diligently sought and obtained this Dharma,

遂致得成佛，今故為汝說。」

and so came to attain Buddhahood, and so I now teach it to you."

佛告諸比丘：「爾時王者，則我身是；時仙人者，今提婆達多是。由提婆達多善知識故，令我具足六波羅蜜，慈悲喜捨，三十二相，八十種好，紫磨金色，十力、四無所畏、四攝法、十八不共神通道力，成等正覺，廣度眾生，皆因提婆達多善知識故。」

The Buddha said to the bhikshus: "The king at that time was my own self; the sage at that time is now Devadatta. Because of Devadatta as my good friend, I was able to fulfill the six paramitas, kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity, the thirty-two marks, the eighty minor characteristics, the purple-gold color, the ten powers, the four kinds of fearlessness, the four means of attraction, the eighteen unshared qualities, the divine powers and power of the Way, to attain perfect enlightenment, and to widely save living beings, all because of Devadatta as my good friend."

告諸四眾：「提婆達多卻後過無量劫，當得成佛，號曰天王如來、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。世界名天道。時天王佛住世二十中劫，廣為眾生說於妙法，恆河沙眾生得阿羅漢果，無量眾生發緣覺心，恆河沙眾生發無上道心，得無生忍，至不退轉。時天王佛般涅槃後，正法住世二十中劫。全身舍利起七寶塔，高六十由旬，縱廣四十由旬，諸天人民，悉以雜華、末香、燒香、塗香，衣服、瓔珞、幢幡、寶蓋，伎樂、歌頌，禮拜供養七寶妙塔。無量眾生得阿羅漢果，無量眾生悟辟支佛，不可思議眾生發菩提心，至不退轉。」

He said to the four assemblies: "After immeasurable kalpas Devadatta will become a Buddha, named Tathagata Devaraja, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Universally Enlightened, Perfect in Wisdom and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One. His world will be named Devasopana (Heaven's Way). At that time Buddha Devaraja will remain in the world for twenty intermediate kalpas, widely teaching the Wonderful Dharma to beings; beings as many as the Ganges sands will attain the fruit of arhat, immeasurable beings will give rise to the mind of pratyekabuddhas, and beings as many as the Ganges sands will give rise to the mind of the unsurpassed Way, attain the forbearance of non-arising, and reach non-retrogression. After Buddha Devaraja enters parinirvana, the True Dharma will remain in the world for twenty intermediate kalpas. A stupa of the seven treasures will be built for his whole-body relics, sixty yojanas high and forty yojanas in length and breadth, and all the devas and humans will bow to and make offerings to the wonderful stupa of the seven treasures with mixed flowers, powdered incense, burning incense, paste incense, clothing, garlands, banners, jeweled canopies, music and songs. Immeasurable beings will attain the fruit of arhat, immeasurable beings will awaken to pratyekabuddhahood, and inconceivable numbers of beings will give rise to the mind of bodhi and reach non-retrogression."

佛告諸比丘：「未來世中，若有善男子、善女人，聞妙法華經提婆達多品，淨心信敬不生疑惑者，不墮地獄、餓鬼、畜生，生十方佛前，所生之處，常聞此經。若生人天中，受勝妙樂，若在佛前，蓮華化生。」

The Buddha said to the bhikshus: "In future ages, if there are good men or good women who hear the Devadatta chapter of the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Sutra and with pure minds believe and respect it without doubt, they will not fall into hells, hungry ghost realms or animal realms, but be born before the Buddhas of the ten directions, and wherever they are born they will always hear this sutra. If they are born among humans or devas, they will enjoy excellent and wonderful happiness, and if they are before the Buddha, they will be born by transformation from a lotus flower."

於時下方多寶世尊所從菩薩，名曰智積，白多寶佛：「當還本土。」釋迦牟尼佛告智積曰：「善男子！且待須臾。此有菩薩，名文殊師利，可與相見，論說妙法，可還本土。」

At that time a Bodhisattva named Prajnakuta, an attendant of Prabhutaratna, World-Honored One, from the lower region, said to Prabhutaratna Buddha: "We should return to our own land." Shakyamuni Buddha said to Prajnakuta: "Good son! Wait a moment. Here is a Bodhisattva named Manjushri; you may meet him, discuss the Wonderful Dharma, and then return to your own land."

爾時文殊師利坐千葉蓮華，大如車輪——俱來菩薩亦坐寶蓮華——從於大海娑竭羅龍宮自然踴出，住虛空中，詣靈鷲山，從蓮華下，至於佛所，頭面敬禮二世尊足。脩敬已畢，往智積所，共相慰問，卻坐一面。

At that time Manjushri, seated on a thousand-petaled lotus as large as a cartwheel, with the accompanying Bodhisattvas also seated on jeweled lotuses, sprang up naturally from the palace of the dragon king Sagara in the great sea, stood in the empty sky, went to Mount Gridhrakuta, descended from the lotus, came to where the Buddha was, and bowed with head and face at the feet of the two World-Honored Ones. Having paid his respects, he went to where Prajnakuta was, and they exchanged greetings and sat to one side.

智積菩薩問文殊師利：「仁往龍宮，所化眾生，其數幾何？」

Prajnakuta Bodhisattva asked Manjushri: "You went to the dragon palace; how many beings did you convert?"

文殊師利言：「其數無量，不可稱計，非口所宣，非心所測，且待須臾，自當有證。」所言未竟，無數菩薩坐寶蓮華，從海踴出，詣靈鷲山，住在虛空。此諸菩薩，皆是文殊師利之所化度，具菩薩行，皆共論說六波羅蜜。本聲聞人，在虛空中說聲聞行，今皆修行大乘空義。文殊師利謂智積曰：「於海教化，其事如是。」

Manjushri said: "Their number is immeasurable, cannot be counted, cannot be spoken by the mouth or measured by the mind; wait a moment, and there will be proof of itself." Before he had finished speaking, countless Bodhisattvas seated on jeweled lotuses sprang up from the sea, went to Mount Gridhrakuta, and stood in the empty sky. These Bodhisattvas had all been converted and saved by Manjushri, and were complete in Bodhisattva practice, all discussing the six paramitas together. Those who had been shravakas, in the empty sky, were teaching shravaka practice, and now all practiced the Mahayana doctrine of emptiness. Manjushri said to Prajnakuta: "The teaching I did in the sea was like this."

爾時智積菩薩以偈讚曰：

At that time Prajnakuta Bodhisattva praised him in verse:

「大智德勇健，化度無量眾，

"Great wisdom, virtue, and valor, you convert immeasurable beings;

今此諸大會，及我皆已見。

now this great assembly and I have all seen it.

演暢實相義，開闡一乘法，

You expound the meaning of true reality and reveal the One Vehicle Dharma,

廣導諸眾生，令速成菩提。」

widely guide all beings and cause them quickly to attain bodhi."

文殊師利言：「我於海中，唯常宣說妙法華經。」

Manjushri said: "In the sea I only constantly proclaimed the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Sutra."

智積問文殊師利言：「此經甚深微妙，諸經中寶，世所希有。頗有眾生，勤加精進，修行此經，速得佛不？」

Prajnakuta asked Manjushri: "This sutra is very profound and subtle, a treasure among sutras, rare in the world. Are there beings who diligently strive and practice this sutra and quickly attain Buddhahood?"

文殊師利言：「有娑竭羅龍王女，年始八歲，智慧利根，善知眾生諸根行業，得陀羅尼，諸佛所說甚深秘藏，悉能受持。深入禪定，了達諸法，於剎那頃發菩提心，得不退轉，辯才無礙。慈念眾生、猶如赤子，功德具足，心念口演，微妙廣大，慈悲仁讓，志意和雅，能至菩提。」

Manjushri said: "There is the daughter of the dragon king Sagara, only eight years old, with wisdom and sharp faculties, well knowing the roots and deeds of all beings, who has attained dharanis and can receive and uphold all the profound secret treasures taught by the Buddhas. She has deeply entered meditation, penetrated all dharmas, aroused the mind of bodhi in an instant, attained non-retrogression, and has unobstructed eloquence. She thinks lovingly of beings as if they were infants, her merits are complete, her thoughts and words are subtle and vast, and she is kind, compassionate, benevolent, yielding, gentle and elegant in will, and able to reach bodhi."

智積菩薩言：「我見釋迦如來，於無量劫難行苦行，積功累德，求菩提道，未曾止息。觀三千大千世界，乃至無有如芥子許非是菩薩捨身命處，為眾生故，然後乃得成菩提道。不信此女於須臾頃、便成正覺。」

Prajnakuta Bodhisattva said: "I have seen Shakyamuni Tathagata, in immeasurable kalpas, perform difficult practices and austerities, accumulating merit and virtue, seeking the Way of bodhi without ever resting. Looking over the three-thousand great thousand world, there is not even a place the size of a mustard seed that is not a place where he gave up body and life as a Bodhisattva, for the sake of beings, and only then attained the Way of bodhi. I do not believe that this girl could attain perfect enlightenment in a moment."

言論未訖，時龍王女忽現於前，頭面禮敬，卻住一面，以偈讚曰：

Before the discussion was finished, the dragon king's daughter suddenly appeared before them, bowed with head and face, stood to one side, and praised in verse:

「深達罪福相，遍照於十方，

"Deeply penetrating the aspects of sin and blessing, illuminating the ten directions everywhere,

微妙淨法身，具相三十二，

the subtle, wonderful and pure Dharma body, complete with the thirty-two marks,