Lotus Sutra of the Wondrous Dharma, Fascicle Five

爾時持地菩薩即從座起，前白佛言：「世尊！若有眾生聞是觀世音菩薩品自在之業、普門示現神通力者，當知是人功德不少。」

At that time the Bodhisattva Dharanimdhara rose from his seat, stepped forward and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! If there are beings who hear this chapter on the free actions of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and the spiritual power of his universal manifestations, you should know that this person's merit is not small."

佛說是普門品時，眾中八萬四千眾生，皆發無等等阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心。

When the Buddha spoke this Universal Gate chapter, eighty-four thousand beings in the assembly all aroused the mind of unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment.

爾時，藥王菩薩即從座起，偏袒右肩，合掌向佛，而白佛言：「世尊！若善男子、善女人，有能受持法華經者——若讀誦通利，若書寫經卷——得幾所福？」

At that time the Bodhisattva Bhaishajyaraja rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms toward the Buddha, and said: "World-Honored One! If a good man or good woman can receive and hold the Lotus Sutra, whether reading and reciting it fluently or copying out the sutra scrolls, how much blessing will they obtain?"

佛告藥王：「若有善男子、善女人，供養八百萬億那由他恆河沙等諸佛。於汝意云何？其所得福，寧為多不？」

The Buddha told Bhaishajyaraja: "If a good man or good woman makes offerings to eight million billion nayutas of Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, what do you think? Would the blessing they obtain be great?"

「甚多，世尊。」

"Very great, World-Honored One."

佛言：「若善男子、善女人，能於是經，乃至受持一四句偈，讀誦、解義、如說修行，功德甚多。」

The Buddha said: "If a good man or good woman can, with this sutra, even receive and hold a single four-line verse, read and recite it, understand its meaning and practice as it says, the merit is very great."

爾時藥王菩薩白佛言：「世尊！我今當與說法者陀羅尼呪，以守護之。」即說呪曰：

At that time the Bodhisattva Bhaishajyaraja said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! I will now give the dharani spell to those who teach the Dharma, to guard them." He then spoke the spell:

「安爾(一)曼爾(二)摩禰(三)摩摩禰(四)旨隷(五)遮梨第(六)賒咩(羊鳴音)(七)賒履(岡雉反)多瑋(八)羶(輸千反)帝(九)目帝(十)目多履(十一)娑履(十二)阿瑋娑履(十三)桑履(十四)娑履(十五)叉裔(十六)阿叉裔(十七)阿耆膩(十八)羶帝(十九)賒履(二十)陀羅尼(二十一)阿盧伽婆娑(蘇奈反)簸蔗毘叉膩(二十二)禰毘剃(二十三)阿便哆(都餓反)邏禰履剃(二十四)阿亶哆波隷輸地(途賣反)(二十五)漚究隷(二十六)牟究隷(二十七)阿羅隷(二十八)波羅隷(二十九)首迦差(初幾反)(三十)阿三磨三履(三十一)佛䭾毘吉利袠帝(三十二)達磨波利差(猜離反)帝(三十三)僧伽涅瞿沙禰(三十四)婆舍婆舍輸地(三十五)曼哆邏(三十六)曼哆邏叉夜多(三十七)郵樓哆(三十八)郵樓哆憍舍略(來加反)(三十九)惡叉邏(四十)惡叉冶多冶(四十一)阿婆盧(四十二)阿摩若(荏蔗反)那多夜(四十三)

This is the dharani spell spoken by the Bodhisattva Bhaishajyaraja, which has always been recited and held without translation. The notes in parentheses give pronunciation by fanqie spelling and are not translations.

「世尊！是陀羅尼神咒，六十二億恆河沙等諸佛所說，若有侵毀此法師者，則為侵毀是諸佛已。」

"World-Honored One! This dharani spell was spoken by Buddhas as numerous as the sands of sixty-two billion Ganges rivers; if anyone attacks or insults this Dharma teacher, he thereby attacks and insults these Buddhas."

時釋迦牟尼佛讚藥王菩薩言：「善哉，善哉！藥王！汝愍念擁護此法師故，說是陀羅尼，於諸眾生，多所饒益。」

Then the Buddha Shakyamuni praised the Bodhisattva Bhaishajyaraja, saying: "Excellent, excellent! Bhaishajyaraja, because you pity and protect this Dharma teacher, you have spoken this dharani, which brings much benefit to all beings."

爾時勇施菩薩白佛言：「世尊！我亦為擁護讀誦受持法華經者，說陀羅尼。若此法師得是陀羅尼，若夜叉、若羅剎、若富單那、若吉遮、若鳩槃茶、若餓鬼等，伺求其短，無能得便。」即於佛前而說呪曰：

At that time the Bodhisattva Pradanashura said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! I too will speak a dharani to protect those who read, recite, receive and hold the Lotus Sutra. If this Dharma teacher obtains this dharani, whether yakshas, rakshasas, putanas, krityas, kumbhandas or hungry ghosts, seeking his weakness, none will be able to find an opening." He then spoke the spell before the Buddha:

「痤(誓螺反)隷(一)摩訶痤隷(二)鬱枳(三)目枳(四)阿隷(五)阿羅婆第(六)涅隷第(七)涅隷多婆第(八)伊緻(豬履反)柅(女氏反)(九)韋緻柅(十)旨緻柅(十一)涅隷𡎰柅(十二)涅犁𡎰婆底(十三)

This is the dharani spell spoken by the Bodhisattva Pradanashura, which has always been recited and held without translation. The notes in parentheses give pronunciation by fanqie spelling and are not translations.

「世尊！是陀羅尼神呪，恆河沙等諸佛所說，亦皆隨喜，若有侵毀此法師者，則為侵毀是諸佛已。」

"World-Honored One! This dharani spell was spoken by Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, who all rejoice in it; if anyone attacks or insults this Dharma teacher, he thereby attacks and insults these Buddhas."

爾時毘沙門天王護世者白佛言：「世尊！我亦為愍念眾生、擁護此法師故，說是陀羅尼。」即說呪曰：

At that time the Heavenly King Vaishravana, protector of the world, said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! I too, out of pity for beings and to protect this Dharma teacher, will speak this dharani." He then spoke the spell:

「阿梨(一)那梨(二)㝹那梨(三)阿那盧(四)那履(五)拘那履(六)

This is the dharani spell spoken by the Heavenly King Vaishravana, which has always been recited and held without translation.

「世尊！以是神呪擁護法師，我亦自當擁護持是經者，令百由旬內無諸衰患。」

"World-Honored One! With this spiritual spell I protect the Dharma teacher, and I myself will also protect those who hold this sutra, so that within a hundred yojanas there will be no misfortune or trouble."

爾時持國天王在此會中，與千萬億那由他乾闥婆眾，恭敬圍繞，前詣佛所，合掌白佛言：「世尊！我亦以陀羅尼神呪，擁護持法華經者。」即說呪曰：

At that time the Heavenly King Dhritarashtra was in this assembly, reverently surrounded by thousands of billions of nayutas of gandharvas, and came before the Buddha, joined his palms, and said: "World-Honored One! I too, with a dharani spell, protect those who uphold the Lotus Sutra." He then spoke the spell:

「阿伽禰(一)伽禰(二)瞿利(三)乾陀利(四)旃陀利(五)摩蹬耆(六)常求利(七)浮樓莎柅(八)頞底(九)

This is the dharani spell spoken by the Heavenly King Dhritarashtra, which has always been recited and held without translation.

「世尊！是陀羅尼神呪，四十二億諸佛所說，若有侵毀此法師者，則為侵毀是諸佛已。」

"World-Honored One! This dharani spell was spoken by forty-two billion Buddhas; if anyone attacks or insults this Dharma teacher, he thereby attacks and insults these Buddhas."

爾時有羅剎女等，一名藍婆，二名毘藍婆，三名曲齒，四名華齒，五名黑齒，六名多髮，七名無厭足，八名持瓔珞，九名睪帝，十名奪一切眾生精氣，是十羅剎女，與鬼子母，並其子及眷屬，俱詣佛所，同聲白佛言：「世尊！我等亦欲擁護讀誦受持法華經者，除其衰患。若有伺求法師短者，令不得便。」即於佛前，而說呪曰：

At that time there were rakshasa women: the first named Lamba, the second Vilamba, the third Crooked Teeth, the fourth Flower Teeth, the fifth Black Teeth, the sixth Much Hair, the seventh Insatiable, the eighth Bearer of Necklaces, the ninth Kuntī, and the tenth Robber of the Vital Energy of All Beings. These ten rakshasa women, together with the mother of demon children, her children and her retinue, all came before the Buddha and said in one voice: "World-Honored One! We too wish to protect those who read, recite, receive and hold the Lotus Sutra and remove their misfortune. If anyone seeks the Dharma teacher's weakness, let him find no opening." They then spoke the spell before the Buddha:

「伊提履(一)伊提泯(二)伊提履(三)阿提履(四)伊提履(五)泥履(六)泥履(七)泥履(八)泥履(九)泥履(十)樓醯(十一)樓醯(十二)樓醯(十三)樓醯(十四)多醯(十五)多醯(十六)多醯(十七)兜醯(十八)㝹醯(十九)

This is the dharani spell spoken by the ten rakshasa women, which has always been recited and held without translation.

「寧上我頭上，莫惱於法師。若夜叉、若羅剎、若餓鬼、若富單那、若吉遮、若毘陀羅、若犍馱、若烏摩勒伽、若阿跋摩羅、若夜叉吉遮、若人吉遮，若熱病若一日、若二日、若三日、若四日乃至七日，若常熱病，若男形、若女形、若童男形、若童女形，乃至夢中，亦復莫惱。」即於佛前而說偈言：

"Better to climb on my head than to trouble the Dharma teacher. Whether yaksha, rakshasa, hungry ghost, putana, kritya, vetala, skanda, umaraka, apasmara, yaksha-kritya, human-kritya, or fever, whether one-day, two-day, three-day, four-day or up to seven-day fever, or constant fever, whether in male form, female form, boy form or girl form, even in dreams, do not trouble him." They then spoke verses before the Buddha:

「若不順我呪，惱亂說法者，

"Whoever does not follow my spell and troubles one who teaches the Dharma,

頭破作七分，如阿梨樹枝。

may his head split into seven parts like the branches of the ari tree.

如殺父母罪，亦如壓油殃，

His sin will be like killing one's parents and also like the guilt of oil pressers,

鬥秤欺誑人，調達破僧罪。

of those who cheat with measures and scales, and of Devadatta who split the sangha.

犯此法師者，當獲如是殃。」

Whoever offends this Dharma teacher will receive such misfortune."

諸羅剎女說此偈已，白佛言：「世尊！我等亦當身自擁護受持、讀誦、修行是經者，令得安隱，離諸衰患，消眾毒藥。」

When the rakshasa women had spoken these verses, they said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! We too will personally protect those who receive and hold, read, recite and practice this sutra, so that they may be safe, free from misfortune, and have all poisons neutralized."

佛告諸羅剎女：「善哉，善哉！汝等但能擁護受持法華名者，福不可量，何況擁護具足受持，供養經卷——華、香、瓔珞，末香、塗香、燒香，幡蓋、伎樂；燃種種燈：酥燈、油燈、諸香油燈、蘇摩那華油燈、瞻蔔華油燈、婆師迦華油燈、優缽羅華油燈，如是等百千種供養者。睪帝！汝等及眷屬應當擁護如是法師。」

The Buddha told the rakshasa women: "Excellent, excellent! If you are only able to protect those who hold the name of the Lotus, your blessing is immeasurable, how much more those who protect people who fully receive and hold it and make offerings to the sutra scrolls with flowers, incense, necklaces, powdered incense, paste incense, burnt incense, banners, canopies and music; who light lamps of many kinds, butter lamps, oil lamps, lamps of various fragrant oils, lamps of sumana flower oil, campaka flower oil, vārṣika flower oil and utpala flower oil, and make hundreds of thousands of such offerings! Kuntī! You and your retinue should protect such Dharma teachers."

說是陀羅尼品時，六萬八千人得無生法忍。

When this dharani chapter was spoken, sixty-eight thousand people attained the forbearance of the non-arising of dharmas.

爾時佛告諸大眾：「乃往古世，過無量無邊不可思議阿僧祇劫，有佛名雲雷音宿王華智多陀阿伽度、阿羅訶、三藐三佛陀，國名光明莊嚴，劫名憙見。彼佛法中有王，名妙莊嚴，其王夫人名曰淨德，有二子，一名淨藏，二名淨眼。是二子有大神力，福德智慧，久修菩薩所行之道，所謂檀波羅蜜、屍羅波羅蜜、羼提波羅蜜、毘梨耶波羅蜜、禪波羅蜜、般若波羅蜜、方便波羅蜜，慈悲喜捨，乃至三十七品助道法皆悉明瞭通達。又得菩薩淨三昧、日星宿三昧、淨光三昧、淨色三昧、淨照明三昧、長莊嚴三昧、大威德藏三昧，於此三昧亦悉通達。

At that time the Buddha told the whole assembly: "In ancient times, immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable asamkhyeya kalpas ago, there was a Buddha named Cloud-Thunder-Sound King Constellation Flower Wisdom, a Tathagata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One. His land was named Radiant Adornment and his kalpa was named Joyful Seeing. In that Buddha's Dharma there was a king named Wonderful Adornment, whose queen was named Pure Virtue, and who had two sons, one named Pure Storehouse and the other named Pure Eye. These two sons had great spiritual power, blessing, virtue and wisdom, and had long cultivated the path practiced by Bodhisattvas, namely the perfection of giving, the perfection of morality, the perfection of patience, the perfection of diligence, the perfection of meditation, the perfection of wisdom, the perfection of skillful means, loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity, and up to the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment, all of which they understood thoroughly. They also attained the Bodhisattva's pure samadhi, the sun-and-stars-constellation samadhi, the pure light samadhi, the pure color samadhi, the pure illumination samadhi, the long adornment samadhi and the great majestic virtue storehouse samadhi, and they also thoroughly mastered these samadhis.

「爾時彼佛欲引導妙莊嚴王，及愍念眾生故，說是法華經。時淨藏、淨眼二子到其母所，合十指爪掌白言：『願母往詣雲雷音宿王華智佛所，我等亦當侍從，親近、供養、禮拜。所以者何？此佛於一切天人眾中說法華經，宜應聽受。』母告子言：『汝父信受外道，深著婆羅門法，汝等應往白父，與共俱去。』淨藏、淨眼合十指爪掌白母：『我等是法王子，而生此邪見家。』母告子言：『汝等當憂念汝父，為現神變，若得見者，心必清淨，或聽我等，往至佛所。』於是二子念其父故，踴在虛空，高七多羅樹，現種種神變——於虛空中行住坐臥；身上出水、身下出火，身下出水、身上出火；或現大身滿虛空中，而復現小，小復現大；於空中滅，忽然在地；入地如水，履水如地。現如是等種種神變，令其父王心淨信解。時父見子神力如是，心大歡喜，得未曾有，合掌向子言：『汝等，師為是誰，誰之弟子？』二子白言：『大王！彼雲雷音宿王華智佛，今在七寶菩提樹下法座上坐，於一切世間天人眾中廣說法華經，是我等師，我是弟子。』父語子言：『我今亦欲見汝等師，可共俱往。』於是二子從空中下，到其母所，合掌白母：『父王今已信解，堪任發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心。我等為父已作佛事，願母見聽，於彼佛所出家修道。』

(The Buddha continued:) "At that time that Buddha, wishing to guide King Wonderful Adornment and out of compassion for beings, spoke this Lotus Sutra. Then the two sons Pure Storehouse and Pure Eyes went to their mother's place, joined the ten fingers and palms, and said: 'We hope Mother will go to the Buddha Cloud Thunder Sound Constellation King Flower Wisdom, and we too shall attend, draw near, make offerings, and pay homage. Why? This Buddha speaks the Lotus Sutra among all the assembly of gods and humans, and we ought to listen and receive it.' The mother told her sons: 'Your father believes in non-Buddhist ways and is deeply attached to the Brahmin teachings; you should go and tell your father and go together with him.' Pure Storehouse and Pure Eyes joined their ten fingers and palms and said to their mother: 'We are sons of the Dharma King, yet we were born into a household of wrong views.' The mother told her sons: 'You should be concerned for your father and manifest spiritual transformations for him; if he sees them, his mind will surely be purified, and perhaps he will allow us to go to the Buddha's place.' Then the two sons, thinking of their father, leapt into the sky to the height of seven tala trees and manifested various spiritual transformations: walking, standing, sitting, and lying in the sky; water coming from the upper body and fire from the lower body, water from the lower body and fire from the upper body; or manifesting a huge body filling the sky and then appearing small, then small appearing large again; vanishing in the sky and suddenly being on the ground; entering the earth as if it were water and walking on water as if it were earth. They manifested such various spiritual transformations, to purify the king their father's mind and bring him to faith and understanding. When the father saw his sons' spiritual power was like this, his heart was greatly delighted, having obtained something never before experienced, and he joined his palms and said to his sons: 'Who is your teacher, and whose disciples are you?' The two sons said: 'Great King! That Buddha Cloud Thunder Sound Constellation King Flower Wisdom is now seated on the Dharma seat beneath the seven-jeweled bodhi tree, widely speaking the Lotus Sutra among all the gods and humans of the world; he is our teacher and we are his disciples.' The father said to his sons: 'Now I too wish to see your teacher; we may go together.' Then the two sons descended from the sky, went to their mother's place, joined their palms and said to their mother: 'Our royal father has now come to faith and understanding and is able to arouse the mind of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. We have already done the Buddha's work for our father; we hope Mother will permit us to leave home and cultivate the Way at that Buddha's place.'

「爾時二子欲重宣其意，以偈白母：

(The Buddha continued:) "Then the two sons, wishing to restate their meaning, spoke to their mother in verse:

「『願母放我等，出家作沙門，

"'We hope Mother will let us go, to leave home and become shramanas,

諸佛甚難值，我等隨佛學。

Buddhas are very hard to meet, and we wish to follow the Buddha in learning.

如優曇缽羅，值佛復難是，

Like the udumbara flower, meeting a Buddha is again hard,

脫諸難亦難，願聽我出家。』

and escaping all difficulties is also hard; we hope you will let us leave home.'

「母即告言：『聽汝出家。所以者何？佛難值故。』

(The Buddha continued:) "The mother at once said: 'I permit you to leave home. Why? Because it is hard to meet a Buddha.'

「於是二子白父母言：『善哉，父母！願時往詣雲雷音宿王華智佛所，親近供養。所以者何？佛難得值，如優曇缽羅華，又如一眼之龜，值浮木孔。而我等宿福深厚，生值佛法，是故父母當聽我等，令得出家。所以者何？諸佛難值，時亦難遇。』

(The Buddha continued:) "Then the two sons said to their parents: 'Excellent, father and mother! We hope you will go at once to the Buddha Cloud Thunder Sound Constellation King Flower Wisdom, to draw near and make offerings. Why? A Buddha is hard to meet, like the udumbara flower, and also like a one-eyed turtle meeting the hole in a floating log. And our blessings from past lives are deep, and we are born meeting the Buddha Dharma; therefore our parents should permit us to leave home. Why? Buddhas are hard to meet, and the time is also hard to encounter.'

「彼時妙莊嚴王後宮八萬四千人，皆悉堪任受持是法華經。淨眼菩薩，於法華三昧，久已通達；淨藏菩薩，已於無量百千萬億劫通達離諸惡趣三昧，欲令一切眾生離諸惡趣故。其王夫人，得諸佛集三昧，能知諸佛秘密之藏。

(The Buddha continued:) "At that time the eighty-four thousand people of King Wonderful Adornment's rear palace were all able to receive and hold this Lotus Sutra. The Bodhisattva Pure Eyes had long since penetrated the Lotus Samadhi; the Bodhisattva Pure Storehouse had already penetrated, over countless hundreds of thousands of myriads of eons, the samadhi of separation from all evil destinies, wishing to make all beings separate from evil destinies. The king's consort attained the samadhi of the gathering of all Buddhas, and could know the secret storehouse of all Buddhas.

「二子如是以方便力善化其父，令心信解，好樂佛法。於是妙莊嚴王與群臣眷屬俱，淨德夫人與後宮婇女眷屬俱，其王二子與四萬二千人俱，一時共詣佛所。到已，頭面禮足，繞佛三匝，卻住一面。

(The Buddha continued:) "In this way the two sons, with the power of skillful means, well transformed their father, so that his mind came to faith and understanding and delighted in the Buddha Dharma. Then King Wonderful Adornment together with his ministers and retinue, Lady Pure Virtue together with the women of the rear palace and their retinue, and the king's two sons together with forty-two thousand people, all went at one time to the Buddha's place. Having arrived, they bowed with head and face at his feet, circled the Buddha three times, and withdrew to one side.

「爾時彼佛為王說法，示教利喜。王大歡悅。爾時妙莊嚴王及其夫人，解頸真珠瓔珞，價直百千，以散佛上，於虛空中化成四柱寶臺，臺中有大寶床，敷百千萬天衣，其上有佛結加趺坐，放大光明。爾時妙莊嚴王作是念：『佛身希有，端嚴殊特，成就第一微妙之色。』時雲雷音宿王華智佛告四眾言：『汝等見是妙莊嚴王，於我前合掌立不？此王於我法中作比丘，精勤修習，助佛道法，當得作佛，號娑羅樹王，國名大光，劫名大高王。其娑羅樹王佛，有無量菩薩眾及無量聲聞，其國平正，功德如是。』其王即時以國付弟，與夫人、二子並諸眷屬，於佛法中出家修道。

(The Buddha continued:) "Then that Buddha taught the king the Dharma, instructing, benefiting, and delighting him. The king was greatly pleased. Then King Wonderful Adornment and his consort took off the pearl necklaces from their necks, worth hundreds of thousands, and scattered them over the Buddha, and in the sky they were transformed into a four-pillared jeweled terrace, in which was a great jeweled couch spread with hundreds of thousands of myriads of heavenly garments, and on it a Buddha sat in the lotus position, emitting great light. Then King Wonderful Adornment had this thought: 'The Buddha's body is rare, dignified and extraordinary, accomplished in the foremost subtle form.' Then the Buddha Cloud Thunder Sound Constellation King Flower Wisdom told the four assemblies: 'Do you see this King Wonderful Adornment standing before me with palms joined? This king within my Dharma will become a bhikshu, diligently cultivate and practice, assist the Buddha's way and dharmas, and will become a Buddha named Sala Tree King; his land will be called Great Light, and the eon named Great High King. That Sala Tree King Buddha will have countless Bodhisattva assemblies and countless Hearers, his land will be level and upright, and his merit will be like this.' The king immediately handed the state to his younger brother and, with his consort, two sons, and all his retinue, left home to cultivate the Way within the Buddha Dharma.

「王出家已，於八萬四千歲，常勤精進修行妙法華經。過是已後，得一切淨功德莊嚴三昧，即昇虛空，高七多羅樹，而白佛言：『世尊！此我二子，已作佛事，以神通變化轉我邪心，令得安住於佛法中，得見世尊。此二子者，是我善知識，為欲發起宿世善根，饒益我故，來生我家。』

(The Buddha continued:) "After the king left home, for eighty-four thousand years, he constantly and diligently practiced the Wonderful Lotus Sutra. After this, he attained the samadhi of adornment with all pure merits, and at once rose into the sky to the height of seven tala trees and said to the Buddha: 'World-Honored One! These two sons of mine have already done the Buddha's work, using spiritual power and transformations to turn my wrong mind, so that I was able to abide in the Buddha Dharma and see the World-Honored One. These two sons are my good spiritual friends, who, wishing to awaken my good roots from past lives and benefit me, were born into my household.'

「爾時，雲雷音宿王華智佛告妙莊嚴王言：『如是，如是！如汝所言。若善男子、善女人，種善根故，世世得善知識，其善知識，能作佛事，示教利喜，令入阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。大王！當知善知識者是大因緣，所謂化導令得見佛，發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心。大王！汝見此二子不？此二子，已曾供養六十五百千萬億那由他恆河沙諸佛，親近恭敬，於諸佛所受持法華經，愍念邪見眾生，令住正見。』妙莊嚴王即從虛空中下，而白佛言：『世尊！如來甚希有，以功德智慧故，頂上肉髻光明顯照，其眼長廣而紺青色，眉間毫相白如珂月，齒白齊密常有光明，唇色赤好如頻婆菓。』

(The Buddha continued:) "Then the Buddha Cloud Thunder Sound Constellation King Flower Wisdom told King Wonderful Adornment: 'So it is, so it is! As you say. If good men and good women plant good roots, then life after life they obtain good spiritual friends, and those good spiritual friends can do the Buddha's work, instructing, benefiting, and delighting them, so that they enter anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Great King! Know that a good spiritual friend is a great cause and condition, namely one who transforms and guides you to see the Buddha and arouse the mind of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Great King! Do you see these two sons? These two sons have already made offerings to sixty-five hundred thousands of myriads of nayutas of Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, drawn near and respected them, received and held the Lotus Sutra in the places of all Buddhas, and, taking pity on beings of wrong views, enabled them to abide in right view.' King Wonderful Adornment then descended from the sky and said to the Buddha: 'World-Honored One! The Tathagata is very rare; through merit and wisdom, the light of the ushnisha on your crown shines brightly, your eyes are long and broad and dark blue, the white tuft between your brows is white like a conch or the moon, your teeth are white, even, and close, always with light, and your lips are red and fine like the bimba fruit.'

「爾時妙莊嚴王，讚歎佛如是等無量百千萬億功德已，於如來前，一心合掌，復白佛言：『世尊！未曾有也。如來之法，具足成就不可思議微妙功德，教誡所行，安隱快善。我從今日，不復自隨心行，不生邪見、憍慢、瞋恚諸惡之心。』說是語已，禮佛而出。」

(The Buddha continued:) "Then King Wonderful Adornment, having praised the Buddha for such countless hundreds of thousands of myriads of merits, before the Tathagata, with one mind and joined palms, said again to the Buddha: 'World-Honored One! This is unprecedented. The Tathagata's Dharma is complete with inconceivable subtle merits, and the conduct he teaches is peaceful, joyful, and good. From today on, I shall no longer follow my own mind, and shall not give rise to the evil minds of wrong views, arrogance, and anger.' Having said this, he bowed to the Buddha and went out."

佛告大眾：「於意云何？妙莊嚴王，豈異人乎？今華德菩薩是。其淨德夫人，今佛前光照莊嚴相菩薩是。哀愍妙莊嚴王及諸眷屬故，於彼中生。其二子者，今藥王菩薩、藥上菩薩是。是藥王、藥上菩薩，成就如此諸大功德，已於無量百千萬億諸佛所殖眾德本，成就不可思議諸善功德。若有人識是二菩薩名字者，一切世間諸天人民亦應禮拜。」

The Buddha told the assembly: "What do you think? Could King Wonderful Adornment have been someone else? He is the present Bodhisattva Flower Virtue. His consort Lady Pure Virtue is the present Bodhisattva Radiant Illumination Adornment Appearance before the Buddha. Out of compassion for King Wonderful Adornment and his retinue, she was born among them. The two sons are the present Bodhisattvas Bhaishajyaraja and Bhaishajyasamudgata. These Bodhisattvas Bhaishajyaraja and Bhaishajyasamudgata have accomplished such great merits, and have already planted roots of many virtues in the places of countless hundreds of thousands of myriads of Buddhas, and accomplished inconceivable good merits. If there are people who know the names of these two Bodhisattvas, all the gods and people of the world should pay homage to them."

佛說是妙莊嚴王本事品時，八萬四千人遠塵離垢，於諸法中得法眼淨。

When the Buddha spoke this chapter on the Former Affairs of King Wonderful Adornment, eighty-four thousand people were freed from dust and defilement, and in all dharmas attained the purity of the Dharma eye.

爾時普賢菩薩，以自在神通力，威德名聞，與大菩薩無量無邊不可稱數，從東方來。所經諸國，普皆震動，雨寶蓮華，作無量百千萬億種種伎樂。又與無數諸天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人等，大眾圍繞，各現威德神通之力，到娑婆世界耆闍崛山中，頭面禮釋迦牟尼佛，右繞七匝，白佛言：「世尊，我於寶威德上王佛國，遙聞此娑婆世界說法華經，與無量無邊百千萬億諸菩薩眾共來聽受，唯願世尊當為說之。若善男子、善女人，於如來滅後，云何能得是法華經？」

At that time the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, with the power of free spiritual penetrations, with majestic virtue and renown, together with great Bodhisattvas countless, boundless, and beyond number, came from the east. The lands he passed through all shook, rained jeweled lotus flowers, and made countless hundreds of thousands of myriads of kinds of music. He was surrounded by an immeasurable assembly of devas, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans, each manifesting the power of majestic virtue and spiritual penetration, and arrived at Mount Gridhrakuta in the Saha world, bowed with head and face to Shakyamuni Buddha, circled him seven times to the right, and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, in the land of the Buddha Treasure Majestic Virtue Supreme King, I heard from afar that the Lotus Sutra is being taught in this Saha world, and I have come with countless, boundless hundreds of thousands of myriads of Bodhisattvas to listen and receive it; I only hope the World-Honored One will teach it to us. If good men and good women, after the Tathagata's extinction, how can they obtain this Lotus Sutra?"

佛告普賢菩薩：「若善男子、善女人，成就四法，於如來滅後，當得是法華經：一者、為諸佛護念，二者、殖眾德本，三者、入正定聚，四者、發救一切眾生之心。善男子、善女人，如是成就四法，於如來滅後，必得是經。」

The Buddha told the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra: "If good men and good women accomplish four dharmas, then after the Tathagata's extinction they will obtain this Lotus Sutra: first, being protected and kept in mind by all Buddhas; second, planting roots of many virtues; third, entering the group of the rightly settled; fourth, arousing the mind to save all beings. If good men and good women accomplish these four dharmas, then after the Tathagata's extinction they will surely obtain this sutra."

爾時普賢菩薩白佛言：「世尊！於後五百歲、濁惡世中，其有受持是經典者，我當守護，除其衰患，令得安隱，使無伺求得其便者，若魔、若魔子、若魔女、若魔民、若為魔所著者，若夜叉、若羅剎、若鳩槃茶、若毘舍闍、若吉遮、若富單那、若韋陀羅等，諸惱人者，皆不得便。是人若行、若立讀誦此經，我爾時乘六牙白象王，與大菩薩眾俱詣其所，而自現身，供養守護，安慰其心，亦為供養法華經故。是人若坐思惟此經，爾時我復乘白象王現其人前，其人若於法華經有所忘失一句一偈，我當教之，與共讀誦，還令通利。爾時受持讀誦法華經者，得見我身，甚大歡喜，轉復精進，以見我故，即得三昧及陀羅尼，名為旋陀羅尼、百千萬億旋陀羅尼、法音方便陀羅尼，得如是等陀羅尼。

Then the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! In the latter five hundred years, in the turbid and evil age, for those who receive and hold this sutra, I shall guard and protect them, remove their decline and distress, and bring them peace, so that none who seek an opening, whether demons, demon sons, demon daughters, demon subjects, those possessed by demons, yakshas, rakshasas, kumbhandas, pishachas, krityas, putanas, vetalas, or any who trouble people, can get an opening. If this person is walking or standing and reads and recites this sutra, at that time I shall ride the six-tusked white elephant king, together with a great assembly of Bodhisattvas, go to that place, manifest my body, make offerings, protect them, and comfort their mind, also making offerings for the sake of the Lotus Sutra. If this person sits and contemplates this sutra, then I shall again ride the white elephant king and appear before that person, and if he forgets even one phrase or one verse of the Lotus Sutra, I shall teach it to him, recite it together with him, and make it clear again. At that time the one who receives, holds, reads, and recites the Lotus Sutra will see my body and be greatly delighted, and will become more diligent; because he has seen me, he will at once attain samadhis and dharanis, called the Revolving Dharani, the Hundred-Thousand-Myriad-Billion Revolving Dharani, and the Dharma-Sound Skillful Means Dharani; he will obtain such dharanis as these.

「世尊！若後世後五百歲、濁惡世中，比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷，求索者、受持者、讀誦者、書寫者，欲修習是法華經，於三七日中，應一心精進。滿三七日已，我當乘六牙白象，與無量菩薩而自圍繞，以一切眾生所憙見身，現其人前，而為說法，示教利喜，亦復與其陀羅尼呪，得是陀羅尼故，無有非人能破壞者，亦不為女人之所惑亂，我身亦自常護是人。唯願世尊聽我說此陀羅尼呪。」即於佛前而說呪曰：

(Samantabhadra continued:) "World-Honored One! In later ages, in the latter five hundred years, in the turbid and evil age, if bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, and upasikas who seek, receive, hold, read, recite, and copy, wish to practice this Lotus Sutra, for three weeks they should be single-minded and diligent. When the three weeks are complete, I shall ride the six-tusked white elephant, surrounded by countless Bodhisattvas, and in the body that all beings delight to see, appear before that person and teach the Dharma, instructing, benefiting, and delighting him, and I shall also give him a dharani mantra; because he has this dharani, no non-human can destroy him, he will not be bewildered by women, and I myself shall always protect this person. I only hope the World-Honored One will permit me to speak this dharani mantra." Then before the Buddha he spoke the mantra, saying:

「阿檀地(途賣反)(一)檀陀婆地(二)檀陀婆帝(三)檀陀鳩舍隷(四)檀陀修陀隷(五)修陀隷(六)修陀羅婆底(七)佛馱波羶禰(八)薩婆陀羅尼阿婆多尼(九)薩婆婆沙阿婆多尼(十)修阿婆多尼(十一)僧伽婆履叉尼(十二)僧伽涅伽陀尼(十三)阿僧祇(十四)僧伽波伽地(十五)帝隷阿惰僧伽兜略(盧遮反)阿羅帝婆羅帝(十六)薩婆僧伽三摩地伽蘭地(十七)薩婆達磨修波利剎帝(十八)薩婆薩埵樓馱憍舍略阿㝹伽地(十九)辛阿毘吉利地帝(二十)

This is the dharani mantra spoken by the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, which has always been recited and held without translation. The characters in parentheses are fanqie pronunciation glosses, not translations.

「世尊！若有菩薩得聞是陀羅尼者，當知普賢神通之力，若法華經行閻浮提，有受持者，應作此念：『皆是普賢威神之力。』若有受持、讀誦，正憶念，解其義趣，如說修行，當知是人行普賢行，於無量無邊諸佛所深種善根，為諸如來手摩其頭。若但書寫，是人命終，當生忉利天上，是時八萬四千天女作眾伎樂而來迎之，其人即著七寶冠，於婇女中娛樂快樂；何況受持、讀誦，正憶念，解其義趣，如說修行。若有人受持、讀誦，解其義趣，是人命終，為千佛授手，令不恐怖，不墮惡趣，即往兜率天上彌勒菩薩所。彌勒菩薩，有三十二相大菩薩眾所共圍繞，有百千萬億天女眷屬，而於中生，有如是等功德利益。是故智者，應當一心自書、若使人書，受持、讀誦，正憶念，如說修行。

(Samantabhadra continued:) "World-Honored One! If a Bodhisattva hears this dharani, he should know the power of Samantabhadra's spiritual penetration; when the Lotus Sutra circulates in Jambudvipa, those who receive and hold it should think: 'It is all the awesome spiritual power of Samantabhadra.' If there are those who receive, hold, read, and recite it, correctly remember it, understand its meaning, and practice as taught, know that this person is practicing the conduct of Samantabhadra, has deeply planted good roots in the places of countless, boundless Buddhas, and has his head stroked by the hands of Tathagatas. If one merely copies it, when this person's life ends, he will be born in the Trayastrimsha heaven, and at that time eighty-four thousand heavenly women playing various music will come to welcome him, and that person will put on a seven-jeweled crown and enjoy pleasure among the women; how much more so one who receives, holds, reads, recites, correctly remembers, understands its meaning, and practices as taught. If a person receives, holds, reads, and recites it and understands its meaning, when this person's life ends, a thousand Buddhas will extend their hands to him so that he is not frightened, does not fall into evil destinies, and goes straight to the Tushita heaven to the Bodhisattva Maitreya. The Bodhisattva Maitreya, with the thirty-two marks, is surrounded by a great assembly of Bodhisattvas, and has a retinue of hundreds of thousands of myriads of heavenly women, and he will be born among them; there are such merits and benefits as these. Therefore the wise should single-mindedly copy it themselves or have others copy it, receive, hold, read, recite, correctly remember, and practice as taught.

「世尊！我今以神通力故，守護是經，於如來滅後閻浮提內，廣令流佈，使不斷絕。」

(Samantabhadra continued:) "World-Honored One! Now, by the power of spiritual penetration, I shall guard this sutra, and after the Tathagata's extinction, in Jambudvipa, I shall have it widely spread so that it is not cut off."

爾時釋迦牟尼佛讚言：「善哉，善哉！普賢！汝能護助是經，令多所眾生安樂利益。汝已成就不可思議功德，深大慈悲，從久遠來，發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提意，而能作是神通之願，守護是經。我當以神通力，守護能受持普賢菩薩名者。

Then Shakyamuni Buddha praised him, saying: "Excellent, excellent! Samantabhadra! You are able to protect and assist this sutra, giving peace and benefit to many beings. You have accomplished inconceivable merit, deep great compassion, and from long ago have aroused the intention of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, and are able to make this vow of spiritual penetration and guard this sutra. I shall use the power of spiritual penetration to guard those who are able to receive and hold the name of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra.

「普賢！若有受持、讀誦、正憶念、修習、書寫是法華經者，當知是人則見釋迦牟尼佛，如從佛口聞此經典；當知是人供養釋迦牟尼佛；當知是人，佛讚善哉；當知是人為釋迦牟尼佛手摩其頭；當知是人為釋迦牟尼佛衣之所覆。如是之人不復貪著世樂，不好外道經書、手筆，亦復不喜親近其人及諸惡者——若屠兒、若畜豬羊雞狗、若獵師、若衒賣女色；是人心意質直，有正憶念，有福德力；是人不為三毒所惱，亦復不為嫉妬、我慢、邪慢、增上慢所惱；是人少欲知足，能修普賢之行。

(The Buddha continued:) "Samantabhadra! If there are those who receive, hold, read, recite, correctly remember, practice, and copy this Lotus Sutra, know that this person has seen Shakyamuni Buddha, as if hearing this sutra from the Buddha's mouth; know that this person is making offerings to Shakyamuni Buddha; know that this person is praised by the Buddha saying 'Excellent'; know that this person has his head stroked by Shakyamuni Buddha's hand; know that this person is covered by Shakyamuni Buddha's robe. Such a person no longer clings to worldly pleasures, does not like the scriptures and writings of non-Buddhist ways, and also does not like to be close to such people or to evil persons, whether butchers, or those who raise pigs, sheep, chickens, or dogs, or hunters, or those who peddle female beauty; this person's mind is straightforward, has right remembrance, and has the power of merit; this person is not troubled by the three poisons, and is also not troubled by jealousy, self-conceit, wrong conceit, or overweening conceit; this person has few desires, knows contentment, and can practice the conduct of Samantabhadra.

「普賢！若如來滅後後五百歲，若有人見受持、讀誦法華經者，應作是念：『此人不久當詣道場，破諸魔眾，得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，轉法輪、擊法鼓、吹法螺、雨法雨，當坐天人大眾中師子法座上。』

(The Buddha continued:) "Samantabhadra! If after the Tathagata's extinction, in the latter five hundred years, someone sees a person who receives, holds, reads, and recites the Lotus Sutra, he should think: 'This person will soon go to the site of awakening, break the assembly of demons, attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, turn the Dharma wheel, beat the Dharma drum, blow the Dharma conch, and rain the Dharma rain, and will sit on the lion Dharma seat among the great assembly of gods and humans.'