Lotus Sutra of the Wondrous Dharma, Fascicle 3

以八十種好，用莊嚴法身。

and eighty minor characteristics, adorning the Dharma body.

天人所戴仰，龍神鹹恭敬，

Revered by devas and humans, respected by dragons and spirits,

一切眾生類，無不宗奉者。

there is no kind of being that does not honor him.

又聞成菩提，唯佛當證知，

And I have heard that the attaining of bodhi is only for the Buddha to witness and know;

我闡大乘教，度脫苦眾生。」

I will reveal the Mahayana teaching to save suffering beings."

時舍利弗語龍女言：「汝謂不久得無上道，是事難信。所以者何？女身垢穢，非是法器，云何能得無上菩提。佛道懸曠，經無量劫勤苦積行，具修諸度，然後乃成。又女人身猶有五障：一者、不得作梵天王，二者、帝釋，三者、魔王，四者、轉輪聖王，五者、佛身。云何女身速得成佛？」

At that time Shariputra said to the dragon girl: "You say that you will soon attain the unsurpassed Way; this is hard to believe. Why? A woman's body is defiled and is not a vessel of the Dharma; how could she attain unsurpassed bodhi? The Buddha Way is distant and vast; only after immeasurable kalpas of toil, accumulating practice and fully cultivating all the perfections, can it be attained. Moreover a woman's body still has five obstacles: first, she cannot become a Brahma king; second, Shakra; third, Mara king; fourth, a wheel-turning sage king; fifth, a Buddha's body. How could a woman's body quickly attain Buddhahood?"

爾時龍女有一寶珠，價直三千大千世界，持以上佛。佛即受之。龍女謂智積菩薩、尊者舍利弗言：「我獻寶珠，世尊納受，是事疾不？」

At that time the dragon girl had a precious pearl worth the three-thousand great thousand world, and she offered it to the Buddha. The Buddha at once accepted it. The dragon girl said to Prajnakuta Bodhisattva and the Venerable Shariputra: "I offered the precious pearl and the World-Honored One accepted it; was that quick?"

答言：「甚疾。」

They answered: "Very quick."

女言：「以汝神力，觀我成佛，復速於此。」

The girl said: "With your divine power, watch me attain Buddhahood; it will be even quicker than that."

當時眾會，皆見龍女忽然之間變成男子，具菩薩行，即往南方無垢世界，坐寶蓮華，成等正覺，三十二相、八十種好，普為十方一切眾生演說妙法。

At that time the whole assembly saw the dragon girl suddenly change into a man, complete in Bodhisattva practice, and at once go to the Spotless World in the south, sit on a jeweled lotus, attain perfect enlightenment, with the thirty-two marks and eighty minor characteristics, and everywhere teach the Wonderful Dharma for all beings of the ten directions.

爾時娑婆世界，菩薩、聲聞、天龍八部、人與非人，皆遙見彼龍女成佛，普為時會人天說法，心大歡喜，悉遙敬禮。無量眾生，聞法解悟，得不退轉；無量眾生，得受道記。無垢世界，六反震動；娑婆世界，三千眾生住不退地，三千眾生發菩提心而得受記。智積菩薩及舍利弗，一切眾會，默然信受。

At that time in the Saha world, the Bodhisattvas, shravakas, the eight classes of devas and dragons, humans and non-humans all saw from afar that dragon girl attain Buddhahood and teach the Dharma universally to the devas and humans of that time, and their hearts were greatly joyful, and all bowed from afar in reverence. Immeasurable beings, hearing the Dharma, understood and awakened and attained non-retrogression; immeasurable beings received predictions of the Way. The Spotless World shook in six ways; in the Saha world three thousand beings abided in the stage of non-retrogression, and three thousand beings aroused the mind of bodhi and received predictions. Prajnakuta Bodhisattva and Shariputra and the whole assembly silently believed and accepted.

爾時藥王菩薩摩訶薩及大樂說菩薩摩訶薩，與二萬菩薩眷屬俱，皆於佛前作是誓言：「唯願世尊不以為慮。我等於佛滅後，當奉持、讀誦、說此經典。後惡世眾生，善根轉少，多增上慢，貪利供養，增不善根，遠離解脫。雖難可教化，我等當起大忍力，讀誦此經，持說、書寫、種種供養，不惜身命。」

At that time Bhaishajyaraja Bodhisattva-Mahasattva and Great Delight in Preaching Bodhisattva-Mahasattva, together with twenty thousand Bodhisattvas in their retinue, made this vow before the Buddha: "We only wish the World-Honored One would not worry. After the Buddha's extinction, we will uphold, read, recite and expound this sutra. Beings in the later evil age will have fewer good roots, much overweening pride, and be greedy for gain and offerings, increasing their unwholesome roots and drawing away from liberation. Though they are hard to teach, we will arouse great power of patience and read, recite, uphold, expound and copy this sutra and make all kinds of offerings, not sparing our bodies or lives."

爾時眾中五百阿羅漢得受記者、白佛言：「世尊！我等亦自誓願，於異國土、廣說此經。」

At that time in the assembly five hundred arhats who had received predictions said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! We also vow ourselves to widely expound this sutra in other lands."

復有學、無學八千人、得受記者，從座而起，合掌向佛作是誓言：「世尊！我等亦當於他國土廣說此經。所以者何？是娑婆國中，人多弊惡，懷增上慢，功德淺薄、瞋濁諂曲，心不實故。」

Again eight thousand learners and non-learners who had received predictions rose from their seats, joined palms to the Buddha and made this vow: "World-Honored One! We will also widely expound this sutra in other lands. Why? In this Saha land, people are mostly corrupt and evil, hold overweening pride, have shallow merit, and are angry, turbid, flattering and crooked, their minds not being true."

爾時佛姨母摩訶波闍波提比丘尼，與學、無學比丘尼六千人俱，從座而起，一心合掌，瞻仰尊顏，目不暫捨。於時世尊告憍曇彌：「何故憂色而視如來，汝心將無謂我不說汝名，授阿耨多羅三藐三菩提記耶？憍曇彌！我先總說一切聲聞皆已授記，今汝欲知記者，將來之世，當於六萬八千億諸佛法中為大法師，及六千學、無學比丘尼俱為法師。汝如是漸漸具菩薩道，當得作佛，號一切眾生喜見如來、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。憍曇彌！是一切眾生喜見佛及六千菩薩，轉次授記得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。」

At that time the Buddha's maternal aunt, the bhikshuni Mahaprajapati, together with six thousand learner and non-learner bhikshunis, rose from her seat, joined palms with one mind, and looked up at the Buddha's face without turning her eyes away. Then the World-Honored One said to Gautami: "Why do you look at the Tathagata with a worried face? Do you think perhaps I have not mentioned your name and given you a prediction of unsurpassed, perfect and universal enlightenment? Gautami! I earlier said in general that all shravakas have already been given predictions; now if you wish to know your prediction, in the future you will be a great Dharma teacher in the Dharma of sixty-eight thousand billion Buddhas, together with six thousand learner and non-learner bhikshunis as Dharma teachers. In this way gradually you will complete the Bodhisattva Way and become a Buddha named Tathagata Sarvasattvapriyadarshana, 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. Gautami! This Buddha Sarvasattvapriyadarshana and the six thousand Bodhisattvas will in turn receive predictions of unsurpassed, perfect and universal enlightenment."

爾時羅睺羅母耶輸陀羅比丘尼作是念：「世尊於授記中，獨不說我名。」

At that time Rahula's mother, the bhikshuni Yashodhara, thought: "Among the predictions, the World-Honored One alone has not mentioned my name."

佛告耶輸陀羅：「汝於來世百千萬億諸佛法中修菩薩行，為大法師，漸具佛道。於善國中當得作佛，號具足千萬光相如來、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。佛壽無量阿僧祇劫。」

The Buddha said to Yashodhara: "In a future age, in the Dharma of hundreds of thousands of ten thousands of billions of Buddhas you will practice the Bodhisattva conduct, be a great Dharma teacher, and gradually complete the Buddha Way. In a good land you will become a Buddha named Tathagata Rashmishatasahasraparipurnadhvaja, 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. The Buddha's life span will be immeasurable asamkhyeya kalpas."

爾時摩訶波闍波提比丘尼及耶輸陀羅比丘尼，並其眷屬，皆大歡喜，得未曾有，即於佛前而說偈言：

At that time the bhiksuni Mahaprajapati and the bhiksuni Yasodhara, together with their retinues, were all filled with great joy, having gained something never before known, and in front of the Buddha they spoke in verse:

「世尊導師，安隱天人，我等聞記，

"World-Honored One, guide and teacher, who bring peace to gods and humans, we have heard the prediction,

心安具足。」

and our hearts are at peace and complete."

諸比丘尼說是偈已，白佛言：「世尊！我等亦能於他方國土廣宣此經。」

When the bhiksunis had spoken this verse, they said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! We too can widely proclaim this sutra in lands of other regions."

爾時世尊視八十萬億那由他諸菩薩摩訶薩。是諸菩薩——皆是阿惟越致，轉不退法輪，得諸陀羅尼——即從座起，至於佛前，一心合掌，而作是念：「若世尊告勅我等持說此經者，當如佛教，廣宣斯法。」復作是念：「佛今默然，不見告勅，我當云何？」時諸菩薩敬順佛意，並欲自滿本願，便於佛前，作師子吼而發誓言：「世尊！我等於如來滅後，周旋往返十方世界，能令眾生書寫此經，受持、讀誦，解說其義，如法修行，正憶念，皆是佛之威力。唯願世尊，在於他方遙見守護。」

Then the World-Honored One looked upon the eighty myriad kotis of nayutas of Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas. These Bodhisattvas were all avaivartika (never turning back), turned the Dharma wheel of non-retrogression, and had attained the dharanis. They rose from their seats, went before the Buddha, joined their palms single-mindedly, and had this thought: "If the World-Honored One commands us to uphold and teach this sutra, we shall proclaim this Dharma widely, as the Buddha instructs." They had this further thought: "The Buddha is now silent and has given no command; what should we do?" Then these Bodhisattvas, respectfully following the Buddha's intent and wishing to fulfill their own original vows, made a lion's roar before the Buddha and vowed: "World-Honored One! After the Tathagata's extinction, we shall travel back and forth through the worlds of the ten directions, and enable beings to copy this sutra, receive and uphold it, read and recite it, explain its meaning, practice according to the Dharma, and remember it rightly; all this is by the Buddha's majestic power. We only pray that the World-Honored One, from other regions, will watch over and protect us from afar."

即時諸菩薩俱同發聲、而說偈言：

At once all the Bodhisattvas raised their voices together and spoke in verse:

「唯願不為慮，於佛滅度後，

"We only pray that you will not be anxious; after the Buddha's extinction,

恐怖惡世中，我等當廣說。

in the fearful evil age, we shall proclaim it widely.

有諸無智人，惡口罵詈等，

There will be ignorant people who curse and revile us with evil mouths,

及加刀杖者，我等皆當忍。

and some who beat us with swords and staves; all this we shall endure.

惡世中比丘，邪智心諂曲，

The bhiksus in the evil age, with crooked wisdom and deceitful hearts,

未得謂為得，我慢心充滿。

will claim attainment they have not attained, their hearts full of arrogance.

或有阿練若，納衣在空閑，

Some will dwell in aranya (quiet places), wearing patched robes in solitude,

自謂行真道，輕賤人間者。

calling themselves practitioners of the true Way, and despising those among men.

貪著利養故，與白衣說法，

Greedy for offerings, they will preach to the laity,

為世所恭敬，如六通羅漢。

and be revered by the world as if they were arhats with the six supernormal powers.

是人懷惡心，常念世俗事，

These people will hold evil in their hearts and constantly think of worldly matters,

假名阿練若，好出我等過，

using the name of aranya, and love to bring out our faults,

而作如是言：『此諸比丘等，

and they will say such words: 'These bhiksus,

為貪利養故，說外道論議；

out of greed for offerings, preach the discussions of outsiders;

自作此經典，誑惑世間人，

they themselves have composed this scripture to deceive the people of the world,

為求名聞故，分別於是經。』

and for the sake of fame they expound this sutra.'

常在大眾中，欲毀我等故，

Always in the midst of the great assembly, wishing to destroy us,

向國王大臣，婆羅門居士，

they will speak to kings, ministers, brahmins and householders,

及餘比丘眾，誹謗說我惡，

and to the other bhiksus, slandering and describing our evils,

謂是邪見人，說外道論議。

saying we hold wrong views and preach the discussions of outsiders.

我等敬佛故，悉忍是諸惡。

Out of reverence for the Buddha, we shall endure all these evils.

為斯所輕言，汝等皆是佛，

Though they say with contempt: 'You are all Buddhas,'

如此輕慢言，皆當忍受之。

all such contemptuous words we shall bear.

濁劫惡世中，多有諸恐怖，

In the turbid kalpa and evil age there will be many fears;

惡鬼入其身，罵詈毀辱我。

evil spirits will enter their bodies, to curse, revile and insult us.

我等敬信佛，當著忍辱鎧，

We, revering and trusting the Buddha, shall put on the armor of patience;

為說是經故，忍此諸難事。

for the sake of preaching this sutra, we shall endure all these hardships.

我不愛身命，但惜無上道，

We do not cherish body or life, but only prize the unsurpassed Way;

我等於來世，護持佛所囑，

in the lives to come we shall uphold and guard what the Buddha has entrusted.

世尊自當知。濁世惡比丘，

The World-Honored One himself must know it. Bhiksus of the turbid age,

不知佛方便，隨宜所說法，

not knowing the Buddha's expedient means, nor the Dharma preached according to what is fitting,

惡口而顰蹙，數數見擯出，

will speak with evil mouths and frown, and repeatedly we shall be driven out,

遠離於塔寺。如是等眾惡，

far from the stupas and temples. Such various evils,

念佛告勅故，皆當忍是事。

remembering the Buddha's command, we shall all endure.

諸聚落城邑，其有求法者，

In all villages and cities, wherever there are those seeking the Dharma,

我皆到其所，說佛所囑法。

we shall go to them all and preach the Dharma the Buddha has entrusted.