Lotus Sutra of the Wondrous Dharma, Fascicle Five
無盡意菩薩白佛言：「世尊！觀世音菩薩云何遊此娑婆世界？云何而為眾生說法？方便之力，其事云何？」
The Bodhisattva Akshayamati said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! How does the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara roam in this Saha world? How does he teach the Dharma for beings? What is the power of his skillful means like?"
佛告無盡意菩薩：「善男子！若有國土眾生應以佛身得度者，觀世音菩薩即現佛身而為說法；應以辟支佛身得度者，即現辟支佛身而為說法；應以聲聞身得度者，即現聲聞身而為說法；應以梵王身得度者，即現梵王身而為說法；應以帝釋身得度者，即現帝釋身而為說法；應以自在天身得度者，即現自在天身而為說法；應以大自在天身得度者，即現大自在天身而為說法；應以天大將軍身得度者，即現天大將軍身而為說法；應以毘沙門身得度者，即現毘沙門身而為說法；應以小王身得度者，即現小王身而為說法；應以長者身得度者，即現長者身而為說法；應以居士身得度者，即現居士身而為說法；應以宰官身得度者，即現宰官身而為說法；應以婆羅門身得度者，即現婆羅門身而為說法；應以比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷身得度者，即現比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷身而為說法；應以長者、居士、宰官、婆羅門婦女身得度者，即現婦女身而為說法；應以童男、童女身得度者，即現童男、童女身而為說法；應以天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人等身得度者，即皆現之而為說法；應以執金剛身得度者，即現執金剛身而為說法。
The Buddha told the Bodhisattva Akshayamati: "Good man! If in some land there are beings who should be liberated by a Buddha's body, Avalokiteshvara at once appears in a Buddha's body and teaches the Dharma to them; for those who should be liberated by the body of a Pratyekabuddha, he appears in the body of a Pratyekabuddha and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of a Shravaka, he appears in the body of a Shravaka and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of Brahma, he appears in the body of Brahma and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of Indra, he appears in the body of Indra and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of the Heaven of Self-Mastery, he appears in that body and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of the Great Heaven of Self-Mastery, he appears in that body and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of a great heavenly general, he appears in the body of a great heavenly general and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of Vaishravana, he appears in the body of Vaishravana and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of a petty king, he appears in the body of a petty king and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of an elder, he appears in the body of an elder and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of a householder, he appears in the body of a householder and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of a government official, he appears in the body of a government official and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of a Brahmin, he appears in the body of a Brahmin and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of a bhikshu, bhikshuni, upasaka or upasika, he appears in the body of a bhikshu, bhikshuni, upasaka or upasika and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of the wife of an elder, householder, official or Brahmin, he appears in the body of a woman and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of a boy or girl, he appears in the body of a boy or girl and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of a god, dragon, yaksha, gandharva, asura, garuda, kinnara, mahoraga, human or non-human, he appears in all these and teaches the Dharma; for those who should be liberated by the body of a Vajra-holder, he appears in the body of a Vajra-holder and teaches the Dharma.
「無盡意！是觀世音菩薩成就如是功德，以種種形，遊諸國土，度脫眾生。是故汝等應當一心供養觀世音菩薩。是觀世音菩薩摩訶薩於怖畏急難之中能施無畏，是故此娑婆世界皆號之為施無畏者。」
(The Buddha continued:) "Akshayamati! This Avalokiteshvara has accomplished such merit and in various forms roams the lands to liberate beings. Therefore you should single-mindedly make offerings to Avalokiteshvara. This Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteshvara can grant fearlessness amid terror and urgent distress, so in this Saha world he is called the Giver of Fearlessness."
無盡意菩薩白佛言：「世尊！我今當供養觀世音菩薩。」即解頸眾寶珠、瓔珞，價直百千兩金，而以與之，作是言：「仁者！受此法施珍寶瓔珞。」時觀世音菩薩不肯受之。無盡意復白觀世音菩薩言：「仁者！愍我等故，受此瓔珞。」
The Bodhisattva Akshayamati said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! I now wish to make an offering to Avalokiteshvara." He then took off a necklace of many precious jewels, worth a hundred thousand taels of gold, and gave it to him, saying, "Benevolent one! Accept this Dharma gift of a precious necklace." At that time Avalokiteshvara was unwilling to accept it. Akshayamati again said to Avalokiteshvara: "Benevolent one! Out of pity for us, accept this necklace."
爾時佛告觀世音菩薩：「當愍此無盡意菩薩及四眾，天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人等故，受是瓔珞。」
Then the Buddha told Avalokiteshvara: "Out of pity for this Bodhisattva Akshayamati and the four assemblies, and for the gods, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans, accept this necklace."
即時觀世音菩薩愍諸四眾，及於天、龍、人非人等，受其瓔珞，分作二分，一分奉釋迦牟尼佛，一分奉多寶佛塔。
Then Avalokiteshvara, pitying the four assemblies and the gods, dragons, humans and non-humans, accepted the necklace, divided it into two parts, and offered one part to the Buddha Shakyamuni and the other to the stupa of the Buddha Prabhutaratna.
「無盡意！觀世音菩薩有如是自在神力，遊於娑婆世界。」
(The Buddha continued:) "Akshayamati! The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara has such free and sovereign spiritual power and roams the Saha world."
爾時無盡意菩薩以偈問曰：
At that time the Bodhisattva Akshayamati asked in verse:
「世尊妙相具，我今重問彼，
"World-Honored One, complete in wondrous marks, I now ask you again,
佛子何因緣，名為觀世音？
for what reason is this child of the Buddha named Avalokiteshvara?"
具足妙相尊，偈答無盡意：
The Honored One, complete in wondrous marks, answered Akshayamati in verse:
『汝聽觀音行，善應諸方所，
"Listen to the deeds of Avalokiteshvara, who responds well in all places,
弘誓深如海，歷劫不思議，
whose great vows are deep as the sea, beyond conception through the kalpas,
侍多千億佛，發大清淨願。
who served many billions of Buddhas and made great pure vows.
我為汝略說，聞名及見身，
I will tell you briefly: hearing his name and seeing his body,
心念不空過，能滅諸有苦。
keeping him in mind is not in vain, and can extinguish the sufferings of existence.
假使興害意，推落大火坑，
If someone with harmful intent pushes you into a great pit of fire,
念彼觀音力，火坑變成池。
think of the power of Avalokiteshvara and the fire pit becomes a pond.
或漂流巨海，龍魚諸鬼難，
If drifting in the great sea, in danger from dragons, fish and demons,
念彼觀音力，波浪不能沒。
think of the power of Avalokiteshvara and the waves cannot drown you.
或在須彌峰，為人所推墮，
If on the peak of Mount Sumeru, pushed down by someone,
念彼觀音力，如日虛空住。
think of the power of Avalokiteshvara and you will stand in the air like the sun.
或被惡人逐，墮落金剛山，
If pursued by evil people and falling from the Diamond Mountain,
念彼觀音力，不能損一毛。
think of the power of Avalokiteshvara and not a hair will be harmed.
或值怨賊繞，各執刀加害，
If surrounded by hostile bandits, each wielding a blade to harm you,
念彼觀音力，鹹即起慈心。
think of the power of Avalokiteshvara and they will all at once feel compassion.
或遭王難苦，臨刑欲壽終，
If you suffer the king's punishment and are about to be executed,
念彼觀音力，刀尋段段壞。
think of the power of Avalokiteshvara and the blades will break into pieces.
或囚禁枷鎖，手足被杻械，
If imprisoned in cangue and chains with hands and feet in fetters,
念彼觀音力，釋然得解脫。
think of the power of Avalokiteshvara and you will be released and freed.
呪詛諸毒藥，所欲害身者，
If curses, spells and poisons are used to harm your body,
念彼觀音力，還著於本人。
think of the power of Avalokiteshvara and they will return upon their maker.
或遇惡羅剎、毒龍諸鬼等，
If you meet evil rakshasas, poisonous dragons and other demons,
念彼觀音力，時悉不敢害。
think of the power of Avalokiteshvara and none will dare to harm you.
若惡獸圍遶，利牙爪可怖，
If fierce beasts surround you with sharp fangs and claws to be feared,
念彼觀音力，疾走無邊方。
think of the power of Avalokiteshvara and they will flee in all directions.
蚖蛇及蝮蠍，氣毒煙火燃，
Snakes, vipers and scorpions, with poison breath burning like fire,
念彼觀音力，尋聲自迴去。
think of the power of Avalokiteshvara and at your voice they turn away.
雲雷鼓掣電，降雹澍大雨，
Clouds and thunder, drums and lightning, hail and pouring rain,
念彼觀音力，應時得消散。
think of the power of Avalokiteshvara and they dissipate at once.
眾生被困厄，無量苦逼身，
Beings pressed by hardship, with immeasurable suffering weighing on them,
觀音妙智力，能救世間苦。
Avalokiteshvara's wondrous wisdom power can save the world from suffering.
具足神通力，廣修智方便，
Complete in spiritual powers, widely cultivating the skillful means of wisdom,
十方諸國土，無剎不現身。
in the lands of the ten directions, there is no realm where he does not appear.
種種諸惡趣，地獄鬼畜生，
The various evil destinies, hell, hungry ghosts and animals,
生老病死苦，以漸悉令滅。
the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death, he gradually causes all to vanish.
真觀清淨觀，廣大智慧觀，
True contemplation, pure contemplation, vast wisdom contemplation,
悲觀及慈觀，常願常瞻仰。
compassionate contemplation and loving contemplation, always to be wished for and gazed upon.
無垢清淨光，慧日破諸闇，
Stainless pure light, the sun of wisdom that breaks all darkness,
能伏災風火，普明照世間。
able to subdue disasters of wind and fire, illuminating the world everywhere.
悲體戒雷震，慈意妙大云，
His compassionate body is a thunder of precepts, his loving mind a wondrous great cloud,
澍甘露法雨，滅除煩惱焰。
pouring down the sweet-dew rain of Dharma and extinguishing the flames of affliction.
諍訟經官處，怖畏軍陣中，
In lawsuits, before the officials, or in terror amid the battle lines,
念彼觀音力，眾怨悉退散。
think of the power of Avalokiteshvara and all enemies will retreat and disperse.
妙音觀世音，梵音海潮音，
Wondrous sound, Avalokiteshvara sound, Brahma sound, sea-tide sound,
勝彼世間音，是故須常念，
surpassing the sounds of the world, so one must always keep him in mind,
念念勿生疑。觀世音淨聖，
keeping him in mind thought after thought without doubt. Avalokiteshvara, pure and holy,
於苦惱死厄，能為作依怙，
in suffering, distress, death and calamity can be a refuge and support.
具一切功德，慈眼視眾生，
Complete in all merit, looking upon beings with compassionate eyes,
福聚海無量，是故應頂禮。』」
a sea of accumulated blessing beyond measure, therefore one should bow with the head to the ground."