Sutra of the Original Vows and Merits of the Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata

大唐、三藏法師玄奘奉詔譯

Translated by the Tripitaka Master Xuanzang of the Great Tang, by imperial command. ("Tripitaka" refers to a master versed in the three collections of scripture, discipline and treatises.)

如是我聞：

Thus I have heard from the Buddha:

一時，薄伽梵遊化諸國，至廣嚴城，住樂音樹下。與大苾芻眾八千人俱，菩薩摩訶薩三萬六千，及國王、大臣、婆羅門、居士、天、龍、藥叉、人、非人等，無量大眾，恭敬圍繞，而為說法。

Once, the Bhagavan (another title of the World-Honored One, meaning "one complete with all virtues") was traveling and teaching among various countries, and came to the city of Vaisali, where he stayed beneath the Tree of Musical Sound. With him were eight thousand great bhikshus (fully ordained monks), thirty-six thousand great Bodhisattvas, and kings, ministers, Brahmins and lay followers, as well as devas, nagas, yakshas (a class of guardian spirits), humans and non-humans, an immeasurable assembly, who respectfully surrounded him, and the Buddha taught the Dharma for them.

爾時，曼殊室利法王子，承佛威神，從座而起，偏袒一肩，右膝著地，向薄伽梵，曲躬合掌，白言：「世尊！惟願演說如是相類諸佛名號，及本大願殊勝功德，令諸聞者業障銷除，為欲利樂像法轉時諸有情故。」

At that time, the Dharma Prince Manjushri (that is, Manjushri Bodhisattva), sustained by the Buddha's majestic spiritual power, rose from his seat, draped his robe over one shoulder, knelt on his right knee, bowed and joined his palms toward the Bhagavan, and said: "World-Honored One! May you proclaim the names of this kind of buddhas and the supreme merits of the great vows they made in former times, so that those who hear them may have their karmic obstacles removed; this is for the benefit and peace of beings in the age of the Semblance Dharma." (The Semblance Dharma is the second stage of the Buddha's teaching, in which there are teachings and practice but few who attain realization.)

爾時，世尊讚曼殊室利童子言：「善哉！善哉！曼殊室利！汝以大悲，勸請我說諸佛名號、本願功德，為拔業障所纏有情，利益安樂像法轉時諸有情故。汝今諦聽，極善思惟，當為汝說。」曼殊室利言：「唯然！願說，我等樂聞。」

At that time, the World-Honored One praised the youth Manjushri, saying: "Excellent! Excellent! Manjushri! With a heart of great compassion you urge me to proclaim the names and original vows and merits of the buddhas, in order to rescue beings bound by karmic obstacles and to benefit and bring peace to beings in the age of the Semblance Dharma. Now listen carefully and ponder it well, and I will tell you." Manjushri said: "Yes! Please speak; we gladly wish to hear."

佛告曼殊室利：「東方去此過十殑伽沙等佛土，有世界名淨琉璃，佛號藥師琉璃光如來、應、正等覺、明行圓滿、善逝、世間解、無上丈夫、調御士、天人師、佛、薄伽梵。曼殊室利！彼佛世尊藥師琉璃光如來，本行菩薩道時，發十二大願，令諸有情，所求皆得。

The Buddha told Manjushri: "To the east of here, past as many buddha lands as there are sands in ten Ganges rivers, there is a world named Pure Lapis Lazuli. The Buddha there is called Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, Bhagavan (these are the ten common titles of a buddha). Manjushri! When that Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata was first practicing the Bodhisattva path, he made twelve great vows, so that whatever beings seek might be fulfilled.

「第一大願：願我來世得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提時，自身光明，熾然照曜無量無數無邊世界，以三十二大丈夫相、八十隨好，莊嚴其身；令一切有情，如我無異。

"The first great vow: May I, in a future life, when I attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (meaning "unsurpassed, perfect and complete enlightenment," the perfect awakening attained by a buddha), have a body whose light blazes brightly and illuminates immeasurable, countless, boundless worlds; may I adorn myself with the thirty-two marks of a great person and the eighty minor characteristics, and may I cause all beings to be just as I am.

「第二大願：願我來世得菩提時，身如琉璃，內外明徹，淨無瑕穢，光明廣大，功德巍巍，身善安住，焰網莊嚴，過於日月；幽冥眾生，悉蒙開曉，隨意所趣，作諸事業。

"The second great vow: May I, in a future life, when I attain bodhi, have a body as inwardly and outwardly transparent and clear as lapis lazuli, pure and free of flaw or stain; with vast light and lofty merit, a serene body adorned with a net of flame-like radiance, surpassing the sun and moon. May beings sunk in darkness all be enlightened and awakened, and go wherever their hearts please to accomplish all kinds of undertakings.

「第三大願：願我來世得菩提時，以無量無邊智慧方便，令諸有情，皆得無盡所受用物，莫令眾生有所乏少。

"The third great vow: May I, in a future life, when I attain bodhi, through immeasurable and boundless wisdom and skillful means, bring it about that all beings receive inexhaustible provisions for living, so that no being is in want of anything.

「第四大願：願我來世得菩提時，若諸有情行邪道者，悉令安住菩提道中；若行聲聞獨覺乘者，皆以大乘而安立之。

"The fourth great vow: May I, in a future life, when I attain bodhi, establish in the right path of bodhi all beings who have taken wrong paths; and if any practice the Hearer Vehicle or the Solitary Realizer Vehicle (the two lesser vehicles), may I establish them all in the Great Vehicle teaching.

「第五大願：願我來世得菩提時，若有無量無邊有情，於我法中修行梵行，一切皆令得不缺戒，具三聚戒。設有毀犯，聞我名已，還得清淨，不墮惡趣。

"The fifth great vow: May I, in a future life, when I attain bodhi, bring it about that all immeasurable and boundless beings who practice pure conduct in my teaching keep the precepts they have received without any breach, complete in the three groups of pure precepts: restraining from evil, practicing good, and benefiting sentient beings. Should any break them, as soon as they hear my name they will regain purity and will not fall into the evil realms.

「第六大願：願我來世得菩提時，若諸有情，其身下劣，諸根不具，醜陋、頑愚、盲、聾、瘖、瘂、攣、躄、背僂、白癩、癲狂、種種病苦；聞我名已，一切皆得端正黠慧。諸根完具，無諸疾苦。

"The sixth great vow: May I, in a future life, when I attain bodhi, bring it about that if any beings have inferior bodies, with faculties incomplete, ugly in appearance, dull-witted, blind, deaf, mute, with contracted limbs, lame, hunchbacked, afflicted with white leprosy or madness, or with any of various illnesses and pains, as soon as they hear my name they will all become upright and intelligent, with all their faculties intact and complete, and free of all manner of disease and suffering.

「第七大願：願我來世得菩提時，若諸有情，眾病逼切，無救無歸，無醫無藥，無親無家，貧窮多苦，我之名號，一經其耳，病悉得除，身心安樂，家屬資具，悉皆豐足，乃至證得無上菩提。

"The seventh great vow: May I, in a future life, when I attain bodhi, bring it about that if any beings are oppressed by many illnesses, with no one to help them and nowhere to turn, with no doctor and no medicine, no relatives and no home, poor and full of suffering, as soon as my name passes through their ears, all their illnesses will be removed, their bodies and minds will be at peace and happy, their households and their wealth and goods will be abundant, and in the end they will attain unsurpassed bodhi.

「第八大願：願我來世得菩提時，若有女人，為女百惡之所逼惱，極生厭離，願捨女身；聞我名已，一切皆得轉女成男，具丈夫相，乃至證得無上菩提。

"The eighth great vow: May I, in a future life, when I attain bodhi, bring it about that if any women are oppressed and tormented by the many hardships of being female, and are deeply weary of it and wish to give up the female body, as soon as they hear my name they will all be able to change from female to male, complete with the features of a man, and in the end attain unsurpassed bodhi.

「第九大願：願我來世得菩提時，令諸有情，出魔羂網，解脫一切外道纏縛；若墮種種惡見稠林，皆當引攝置於正見，漸令修習諸菩薩行，速證無上正等菩提。

"The ninth great vow: May I, in a future life, when I attain bodhi, free beings from the net of Mara and untie the bonds of all non-Buddhist paths; and if any have fallen into the dense thicket of various wrong views, may I lead them all to right view and establish them in it, and gradually have them practice the Bodhisattva conduct and swiftly attain unsurpassed perfect enlightenment.

「第十大願：願我來世得菩提時，若諸有情，王法所錄，縲縛鞭撻，繫閉牢獄，或當刑戮，及餘無量災難凌辱，悲愁煎迫，身心受苦；若聞我名，以我福德威神力故，皆得解脫一切憂苦。

"The tenth great vow: May I, in a future life, when I attain bodhi, bring it about that if any beings are prosecuted by the authorities, bound and flogged, imprisoned in jail, or about to be put to death, or suffer immeasurable other calamities and humiliations, tormented by sorrow and with body and mind in pain, as soon as they hear my name, by the power of my merit and majestic spiritual strength, they will all be freed from every sorrow and suffering.

「第十一大願：願我來世得菩提時，若諸有情，飢渴所惱，為求食故造諸惡業；得聞我名，專念受持，我當先以上妙飲食，飽足其身；後以法味，畢竟安樂而建立之。

"The eleventh great vow: May I, in a future life, when I attain bodhi, bring it about that if any beings are afflicted by hunger and thirst and commit various evil deeds in seeking food, as soon as they hear my name and single-mindedly keep it in mind and uphold it, I will first fill them with the finest and most wonderful food and drink, and afterward, through the flavor of the Dharma, bring them to ultimate peace and happiness.

「第十二大願：願我來世得菩提時，若諸有情，貧無衣服，蚊虻寒熱，晝夜逼惱；若聞我名，專念受持，如其所好，即得種種上妙衣服，亦得一切寶莊嚴具，華鬘塗香，鼓樂眾伎，隨心所翫，皆令滿足。

"The twelfth great vow: May I, in a future life, when I attain bodhi, bring it about that if any beings are so poor that they have no clothing, and are bitten by mosquitoes and flies and assailed by cold and heat, tormented day and night, as soon as they hear my name and single-mindedly keep it in mind and uphold it, they will obtain, according to their own liking, all kinds of fine and wonderful clothing, and also all manner of precious ornaments, flower garlands, scented unguents, drums, music and singers, with everything they like fully satisfied.

「曼殊室利！是為彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來、應、正等覺，行菩薩道時，所發十二微妙上願。

"Manjushri! These are the twelve subtle and wonderful great vows made by that World-Honored One, Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened, when he practiced the Bodhisattva path.

「復次，曼殊室利！彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來，行菩薩道時所發大願，及彼佛土功德莊嚴，我若一劫，若一劫餘，說不能盡。然彼佛土，一向清淨，無有女人，亦無惡趣，及苦音聲。琉璃為地，金繩界道，城、闕、宮、閣、軒、窓、羅網，皆七寶成。亦如西方極樂世界，功德莊嚴，等無差別。於其國中，有二菩薩摩訶薩：一名日光遍照，二名月光遍照，是彼無量無數菩薩眾之上首，悉能持彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來正法寶藏。是故，曼殊室利！諸有信心善男子、善女人等，應當願生彼佛世界。」

"Furthermore, Manjushri! The great vows that World-Honored One Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata made while practicing the Bodhisattva path, and the adorned merits of his buddha land, I could not finish describing even if I spoke for a kalpa or more than a kalpa. But that buddha land is always pure, with no women, and no sounds of evil realms or suffering. The ground is made of lapis lazuli, with roads marked off by golden cords, and its city walls, gate towers, palaces, pavilions, corridors, windows and nets are all made of the seven jewels, just like the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, with no difference at all in the adornment of its merits. In that land there are two great Bodhisattvas: one named Sunlight Universally Shining, the other named Moonlight Universally Shining. They are the leaders of the immeasurable, countless host of Bodhisattvas there, and are able to uphold the treasury of the true Dharma of that World-Honored One, Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata. Therefore, Manjushri! All good men and good women of faith should vow to be reborn in that buddha's world."

爾時，世尊復告曼殊室利童子言：「曼殊室利！有諸眾生，不識善惡，唯懷貪悋，不知佈施及施果報，愚痴無智，闕於信根，多聚財寶，勤加守護；見乞者來，其心不喜，設不獲已而行施時，如割身肉，深生痛惜。復有無量慳貪有情，積集資財，於其自身尚不受用，何況能與父母、妻子、奴婢、作使，及來乞者？彼諸有情，從此命終，生餓鬼界，或傍生趣。由昔人間，曾得暫聞藥師琉璃光如來名故，今在惡趣，暫得憶念彼如來名，即於念時，從彼處沒，還生人中，得宿命念，畏惡趣苦，不樂欲樂，好行惠施，讚歎施者，一切所有悉無貪惜，漸次尚能以頭目手足，血肉身分，施來求者，況餘財物。

At that time, the World-Honored One again said to the youth Manjushri: "Manjushri! There are some beings who do not distinguish good from evil, and hold only greed and stinginess; they do not understand giving or the fruits of giving; foolish and without wisdom, lacking the root of faith, they only gather much wealth and guard it diligently. When they see a beggar come, they are displeased in their hearts, and when they are forced to give, it is as though they were cutting flesh from their own bodies, and they feel deep pain and cannot bear to part with it. There are also immeasurable greedy beings who amass wealth and cannot bring themselves to use it even for themselves, let alone give it to their parents, wives and children, servants and attendants, or beggars who come to them. When these beings die in this world, they are reborn in the realm of hungry ghosts or among animals. Because in the human world they once briefly heard the name of Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, now, though in an evil realm, they can for a moment recall the name of that Tathagata; at the very moment of recalling it, they die there and are reborn in the human world, and gain the ability to remember past lives. Fearing the sufferings of the evil realms, they no longer cling to the pleasures of desire; they delight in giving and praise those who give, and are without any stinginess toward everything they own; gradually they can even give their head, eyes, hands, feet, blood, flesh and parts of their body to those who ask, to say nothing of external wealth.

「復次，曼殊室利，若諸有情，雖於如來受諸學處，而破屍羅；有雖不破屍羅，而破軌則；有於屍羅、軌則，雖得不壞，然毀正見；有雖不毀正見，而棄多聞，於佛所說契經深義不能解了；有雖多聞而增上慢，由增上慢覆蔽心故，自是非他，嫌謗正法，為魔伴黨。如是愚人，自行邪見，復令無量俱胝有情，墮大險坑。此諸有情，應於地獄、傍生、鬼趣，流轉無窮。若得聞此藥師琉璃光如來名號，便捨惡行，修諸善法，不墮惡趣，設有不能捨諸惡行，修行善法，墮惡趣者，以彼如來本願威力，令其現前暫聞名號，從彼命終還生人趣，得正見精進，善調意樂，便能捨家趣於非家，如來法中，受持學處，無有毀犯；正見多聞，解甚深義，離增上慢，不謗正法，不為魔伴，漸次修行諸菩薩行，速得圓滿。

"Furthermore, Manjushri! There are some beings who, though they have received various precepts from the Tathagata, have broken shila (that is, moral discipline); some, though they have not broken the precepts, have violated the rules of conduct; some, though they have broken neither precepts nor rules, have ruined right view; some, though they have not ruined right view, have abandoned much learning and cannot understand or penetrate the deep meaning of the sutras taught by the Buddha; some, though learned, give rise to overweening pride (the arrogance of claiming attainment one has not reached, thinking oneself already accomplished), and because this pride clouds their minds, they consider themselves right and condemn others, loathe and slander the true Dharma, and become companions of Mara. Such foolish people take wrong views themselves and also cause immeasurable hundreds of millions of beings to fall into a great pit of peril. These beings would be bound to wander ceaselessly among the hells, animals and hungry ghosts; but if they hear the name of this Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, they will give up evil conduct, practice good deeds, and not fall into the evil realms. Suppose some people truly cannot give up evil conduct and practice good, and have already fallen into the evil realms; by the power of that Tathagata's original vow, they can be made to hear his name for a moment, and after dying there, be reborn in the human world, where they gain right view and diligence, are skilled at taming their own minds, and so are able to leave home and become renunciants; in the Tathagata's teaching they uphold the precepts and no longer break them; they become complete in right view and learning, understand the profound meaning, are free of overweening pride, do not slander the true Dharma, do not become companions of Mara, gradually practice the various Bodhisattva practices, and swiftly attain perfection.

「復次，曼殊室利！若諸有情，慳貪嫉妬，自讚毀他，當墮三惡趣中，無量千歲受諸劇苦；受劇苦已，從彼命終，來生人間，作牛、馬、駝、驢，恆被鞭撻，飢渴逼惱；又常負重，隨路而行。或得為人，生居下賤，作人奴婢，受他驅役，恆不自在。若昔人中，曾聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號，由此善因，今復憶念，至心歸依。以佛神力，眾苦解脫，諸根聰利，智慧多聞，恆求勝法，常遇善友，永斷魔羂，破無明㲉，竭煩惱河，解脫一切生、老、病、死，憂悲、苦惱。

"Furthermore, Manjushri! If any beings are stingy and greedy, jealous of others, praising themselves and disparaging others, they will fall into the three evil realms and for immeasurable thousands of years undergo severe sufferings of every kind; when they have undergone the severe sufferings, and die there, they come to the human world as oxen, horses, camels and donkeys, constantly beaten, tormented by hunger and thirst, and always carrying heavy loads along the road. Some, even if they are able to be human, are born into lowly families, serve as servants and maids, driven and used by others, never at ease. If in the human world they once heard the name of the World-Honored One Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, then by that good cause, if they now recall it again and sincerely take refuge, by the Buddha's spiritual power they are freed from many sufferings, their faculties become keen and sharp, they are wise and learned, constantly seek the supreme Dharma, constantly meet good friends, forever cut the net of Mara, break open the shell of ignorance, dry up the river of afflictions, and are freed from all birth, old age, sickness and death, and from sorrow, grief and distress.

「復次，曼殊室利！若諸有情，好憙乖離，更相鬪訟，惱亂自他，以身語意，造作增長種種惡業，展轉常為不饒益事，互相謀害。告召山林樹塚等神；殺諸眾生，取其血肉，祭祀藥叉羅剎娑等；書怨人名，作其形像，以惡呪術而呪詛之；厭媚蠱道，呪起屍鬼，令斷彼命，及壞其身。是諸有情，若得聞此藥師琉璃光如來名號，彼諸惡事，悉不能害。一切展轉皆起慈心，利益安樂，無損惱意及嫌恨心；各各歡悅，於自所受生於喜足，不相侵凌，互為饒益。

"Furthermore, Manjushri! If any beings delight in sowing discord, quarrel and go to law against one another, trouble themselves and trouble others, and with body, speech and mind create and increase all kinds of evil karma, ceaselessly doing in turn things that are of no benefit to one another and plotting to harm each other; they pray to and summon the spirits of mountains, forests, trees and graves; they kill beings and take their blood and flesh to sacrifice to yakshas and rakshasas; they write the name of an enemy, make an image of him, and curse it with evil spells; they practice sorcery and poisonous witchcraft, and chant spells to raise corpse-demons in order to cut off the other's life and destroy the other's body. If these beings can hear the name of this Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, then those evil things will all be unable to harm them. All people will in turn give rise to kindness, benefit and bring peace to one another, with no intention of harming or vexing, and no thoughts of hatred; each will be glad and content with what he has, no longer encroaching on one another but instead helping one another.

「復次，曼殊室利！若有四眾：苾芻、苾芻尼、鄔波索迦、鄔波斯迦，及餘淨信善男子、善女人等，有能受持八分齋戒，或經一年，或復三月，受持學處，以此善根，願生西方極樂世界無量壽佛所，聽聞正法，而未定者。若聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號，臨命終時，有八菩薩，乘神通來，示其道路，即於彼界種種雜色眾寶華中，自然化生。或有因此生於天上，雖生天中，而本善根亦未窮盡，不復更生諸餘惡趣。天上壽盡，還生人間，或為輪王，統攝四洲，威德自在，安立無量百千有情於十善道；或生剎帝利、婆羅門、居士大家，多饒財寶，倉庫盈溢，形相端嚴，眷屬具足，聰明智慧，勇健威猛，如大力士。若是女人，得聞世尊藥師如來名號，至心受持，於後不復更受女身。」

"Furthermore, Manjushri! If any of the fourfold assembly of disciples, that is bhikshus (monks), bhikshunis (nuns), upasakas (lay men) and upasikas (lay women), and other good men and good women of pure faith, are able to keep the eight precepts of a day of fasting, whether for a year or for three months, and uphold the precepts; and with this root of goodness they vow to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, in the presence of Amitayus Buddha, to hear the true Dharma, but have not yet been sure whether they can be reborn there. If at that time they hear the name of the World-Honored One Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, then at the time of death eight Bodhisattvas will come on their spiritual powers and show them the road to rebirth, and they will be spontaneously born by transformation among the many-colored precious flowers of that world. Some are thereby reborn in the heavens; though born among the gods, their original roots of goodness are not exhausted, and they will not again fall into the other evil realms. When their life in the heavens ends, they are reborn in the human world, and may become wheel-turning kings, ruling the four great continents, majestic and free, establishing immeasurable hundreds of thousands of beings in the path of the ten good deeds; or they may be born into great families of kshatriyas, Brahmins or lay householders, rich in treasure with storehouses overflowing, with upright and dignified appearance, a full complement of family, intelligent and wise, brave and mighty like a strongman. If a woman hears the name of the World-Honored One Medicine Master Tathagata and sincerely upholds it, she will thereafter not take a female body again."

爾時，曼殊室利童子白佛言：「世尊！我當誓於像法轉時，以種種方便，令諸淨信善男子、善女人等，得聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號，乃至睡中亦以佛名覺悟其耳。世尊！若於此經受持讀誦，或復為他演說開示；若自書，若教人書；恭敬尊重，以種種花香、塗香、末香、燒香、花鬘、瓔珞、幡蓋、伎樂，而為供養；以五色綵，作囊盛之；掃灑淨處，敷設高座，而用安處。爾時，四大天王與其眷屬，及餘無量百千天眾，皆詣其所，供養守護。世尊！若此經寶流行之處，有能受持，以彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來本願功德，及聞名號，當知是處無復橫死；亦復不為諸惡鬼神，奪其精氣；設已奪者，還得如故，身心安樂。」

At that time, the youth Manjushri said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! I vow that in the age of the Semblance Dharma, I will use all kinds of skillful means to let good men and good women of pure faith hear the name of the World-Honored One Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, and even in their sleep awaken their ears with the Buddha's name. World-Honored One! If anyone upholds and recites this sutra, or explains and reveals it to others; or copies it himself, or has others copy it; respects and honors it, making offerings with all kinds of flowers, incense, unguents, powdered incense, burning incense, flower garlands, necklaces, banners and canopies, and music; places it in a sutra bag made of five-colored silk; sweeps and sprinkles a place, sets up a high seat, and places the sutra upon it. At that time, the Four Great Heavenly Kings together with their retinues, and immeasurable hundreds of thousands of other heavenly beings, will all come to that place to make offerings and protect it. World-Honored One! Wherever this precious sutra circulates, if there are those who can uphold it, then by the merits of the original vows of that World-Honored One Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata and the power of hearing his name, know that in that place there will be no more untimely death; nor will they be robbed of their vital essence by evil ghosts and spirits; and even those already robbed will be restored to their former state, with body and mind at peace and happy."

佛告曼殊室利：「如是！如是！如汝所說。曼殊室利！若有淨信善男子、善女人等，欲供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來者，應先造立彼佛形像，敷清淨座而安處之；散種種花，燒種種香，以種種幢幡莊嚴其處；七日七夜，受持八分齋戒，食清淨食，澡浴香潔，著新淨衣，應生無垢濁心，無怒害心，於一切有情，起利益安樂，慈、悲、喜、捨，平等之心，鼓樂歌讚，右繞佛像。復應念彼如來本願功德，讀誦此經，思惟其義，演說開示。隨所樂願，一切皆遂：求長壽得長壽，求富饒得富饒，求官位得官位，求男女得男女。若復有人，忽得惡夢，見諸惡相，或怪鳥來集，或於住處，百怪出現；此人若以眾妙資具，恭敬供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來者，惡夢惡相，諸不吉祥，皆悉隱沒，不能為患。或有水、火、刀、毒、懸嶮、惡象、師子、虎、狼、熊、羆、毒蛇、惡蠍、蜈蚣、蚰蜒、蚊虻等怖；若能至心憶念彼佛，恭敬供養，一切怖畏皆得解脫。若他國侵擾，盜賊反亂；憶念恭敬彼如來者，亦皆解脫。

The Buddha told Manjushri: "So it is! So it is! It is just as you have said. Manjushri! If good men and good women of pure faith wish to make offerings to that World-Honored One Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, they should first make an image of that buddha, set up a clean seat and place the image on it; scatter all kinds of flowers, burn all kinds of incense, and adorn the place with all kinds of banners and streamers; for seven days and seven nights keep the eight precepts of a day of fasting, eat pure food, bathe and be clean, and put on new, clean clothes; they should give rise to a mind without stain or turbidity, a mind without anger or harm, and a mind of benefit, peace, and the equanimity of loving-kindness, compassion, joy and impartiality toward all beings; play music, sing praises, and circumambulate the image to the right. They should also recall the original vows and merits of that Tathagata, recite this sutra, ponder its meaning, and explain and reveal it to others. In this way, whatever they delight in and wish for will all be fulfilled as they please: seeking long life, they obtain long life; seeking wealth, they obtain wealth; seeking office, they obtain office; seeking children, they obtain children. If someone suddenly has bad dreams, seeing various evil signs, or strange birds come and gather, or a hundred kinds of strange things appear in his home; if this person respectfully makes offerings of all kinds of fine and wonderful things to the World-Honored One Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata, then the bad dreams, evil signs and all ill omens will vanish and cannot become a calamity. Or if he meets with water, fire, weapons, poison, or precipices and dangerous places, or fearful things such as wild elephants, lions, tigers, wolves, bears, brown bears, poisonous snakes, evil scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, mosquitoes and gadflies; if he can sincerely recall that buddha and respectfully make offerings, he will be freed from all fears. If there is invasion from another country or thieves rising in disorder, those who recall and revere that Tathagata will likewise be freed.

「復次，曼殊室利！若有淨信善男子、善女人等，乃至盡形不事餘天，惟當一心歸佛、法、僧，受持禁戒，若五戒、十戒、菩薩四百戒、苾芻二百五十戒、苾芻尼五百戒，於所受中或有毀犯，怖墮惡趣，若能專念彼佛名號，恭敬供養者，必定不受三惡趣生。或有女人，臨當產時，受於極苦；若能至心稱名禮讚，恭敬供養彼如來者，眾苦皆除。所生之子，身分具足，形色端正，見者歡喜，利根聰明，安隱少病，無有非人，奪其精氣。」

"Furthermore, Manjushri! If good men and good women of pure faith, to the end of their lives, do not serve other gods, but with one mind take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and uphold the precepts, whether the five precepts, the ten precepts, the four hundred Bodhisattva precepts, the two hundred and fifty precepts of a bhikshu, or the five hundred precepts of a bhikshuni, and if among the precepts they have received there are any breaches and they fear falling into the evil realms, then as long as they can single-mindedly recall the name of that buddha and make respectful offerings, they will surely not be reborn in the three evil realms. If a woman at the time of childbirth suffers extreme pain, as long as she can sincerely recite the Buddha's name, bow and praise, and respectfully make offerings to that Tathagata, all her sufferings will be removed. The child born will have complete limbs, an upright appearance, be a joy to all who see him, with sharp faculties, be at ease and rarely sick, and no non-human beings will come to rob him of his vital essence."

爾時，世尊告阿難言：「如我稱揚彼佛世尊藥師琉璃光如來所有功德，此是諸佛甚深行處，難可解了，汝為信不？」阿難白言：「大德世尊！我於如來所說契經，不生疑惑；所以者何？一切如來身語意業，無不清淨。世尊！此日月輪，可令墮落；妙高山王，可使傾動，諸佛所言，無有異也。世尊！有諸眾生，信根不具，聞說諸佛甚深行處，作是思惟：云何但念藥師琉璃光如來一佛名號，便獲爾所功德勝利？由此不信，反生誹謗；彼於長夜，失大利樂，墮諸惡趣，流轉無窮。」佛告阿難：「是諸有情，若聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號，至心受持，不生疑惑，墮惡趣者，無有是處。阿難！此是諸佛甚深所行，難可信解；汝今能受，當知皆是如來威力。阿難！一切聲聞、獨覺，及未登地諸菩薩等，皆悉不能如實信解；惟除一生所繫菩薩。阿難！人身難得，於三寶中，信敬尊重，亦難可得；得聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號，復難於是。阿難！彼藥師琉璃光如來，無量菩薩行；無量善巧方便；無量廣大願；我若一劫，若一劫餘而廣說者，劫可速盡，彼佛行願，善巧方便，無有盡也。」

At that time the World-Honored One said to Ananda: "As I have thus praised the manifold merits and virtues of the World-Honored Bhaisajyaguru-vaidurya-prabha Tathagata, this is the profound realm of all Buddhas, hard to understand and penetrate. Do you believe it?" Ananda replied: "Greatly virtuous World-Honored One! I have no doubt about the sutras spoken by the Tathagata. Why? Because the three karmas of body, speech and mind of all Tathagatas are never impure. World-Honored One! The orbs of the sun and moon might be made to fall, and Mount Sumeru, king of mountains (Wonderfully High), might be made to topple, yet the words of the Buddhas never err. World-Honored One! There are sentient beings whose roots of faith are incomplete; hearing of the profound realm of the Buddhas, they think: how can it be that merely reciting the name of this one Buddha, Bhaisajyaguru-vaidurya-prabha Tathagata, brings so many merits and benefits? Because they do not believe, they instead give rise to slander; through the long night they lose great benefit and great peace, fall into the evil paths, and wander in transmigration without rest." The Buddha told Ananda: "If such beings hear the name of the World-Honored Bhaisajyaguru-vaidurya-prabha Tathagata, sincerely receive and uphold it, and have no doubt, yet still fall into the evil paths, there is no such possibility. Ananda! This is the profound practice of all Buddhas, hard to believe and understand; that you are now able to believe and accept it, you should know, is all through the sustaining power of the Tathagata. Ananda! All shravakas and pratyekabuddhas, and bodhisattvas who have not yet ascended to the stages, cannot truly believe and understand it, except for the bodhisattvas bound to one more birth (those who need only one more rebirth before becoming Buddhas). Ananda! A human body is hard to obtain, and to have faith and reverence for the Three Jewels is also hard to obtain; to hear the name of the World-Honored Bhaisajyaguru-vaidurya-prabha Tathagata is harder still. Ananda! That Bhaisajyaguru Tathagata has immeasurable bodhisattva practices, immeasurable skillful means and immeasurable vast vows; if I were to speak of them at length for one kalpa or more than a kalpa, the kalpas could soon be exhausted, yet the practices, vows and skillful means of that Buddha could not be fully told."

爾時，眾中有一菩薩摩訶薩，名曰救脫，即從座起，偏袒右肩，右膝著地，曲躬合掌而白佛言：「大德世尊！像法轉時，有諸眾生，為種種患之所困厄，長病羸瘦，不能飲食，喉唇乾燥，見諸方暗，死相現前；父母、親屬、朋友、知識，啼泣圍繞。然彼自身，臥在本處，見琰魔使，引其神識，至於琰魔法王之前；然諸有情，有俱生神，隨其所作，若罪若福，皆具書之，盡持授與琰魔法王。爾時，彼王推問其人，算計所作，隨其罪福而處斷之。時，彼病人親屬、知識，若能為彼歸依世尊藥師琉璃光如來，請諸眾僧，轉讀此經，然七層之燈，懸五色續命神幡，或有是處，彼識得還。如在夢中，明瞭自見；或經七日，或二十一日，或三十五日，或四十九日，彼識還時，如從夢覺，皆自憶知善不善業所得果報。由自證見業果報故，乃至命難，亦不造作諸惡之業。是故，淨信善男子、善女人等，皆應受持藥師琉璃光如來名號，隨力所能，恭敬供養。」

At that time, in the assembly there was a great bodhisattva named Rescuer (Jiutuo). He rose from his seat, draped his robe over one shoulder to bare the right, knelt on his right knee, bowed with palms joined and said to the Buddha: "Greatly virtuous World-Honored One! In the age of the semblance Dharma, there will be sentient beings afflicted by all kinds of illnesses; sick for a long time and emaciated, unable to eat or drink, with dry throat and lips, seeing the four directions all dark, the signs of death appear before them; parents, relatives, friends and acquaintances gather around them weeping. And he himself, lying where he is, sees the messengers of King Yama (the king of the underworld) lead his consciousness before the Dharma King Yama. Every sentient being has an innate spirit (a spirit born together with a person that follows him and records his good and evil), which records everything he has done, whether sinful or meritorious, and hands it all to the Dharma King Yama. Then King Yama questions this person, tallies up his deeds, and judges him according to his sins and merits. At this time, if the sick person's relatives or acquaintances can take refuge on his behalf in the World-Honored Bhaisajyaguru-vaidurya-prabha Tathagata, invite the assembly of monks to recite this sutra, light lamps of seven tiers and hang the five-colored life-prolonging divine banners, perhaps his consciousness will return, and he will see it all clearly for himself as in a dream. Or after seven days, twenty-one days, thirty-five days or forty-nine days, when his consciousness returns it is like waking from a dream, and he can recall and know for himself the results of his good and unwholesome karma. Because he has personally witnessed the fruits of karma, from then on, even when his life is in danger, he will not commit evil deeds. Therefore good men and good women of pure faith should all receive and uphold the name of Bhaisajyaguru-vaidurya-prabha Tathagata and, according to their ability, make reverent offerings."

爾時，阿難問救脫菩薩曰：「善男子！應云何恭敬供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來續命幡燈，復云何造？」救脫菩薩言：「大德！若有病人，欲脫病苦，當為其人，七日七夜，受持八分齋戒，應以飲食及餘資具，隨力所辦，供養苾芻僧；晝夜六時，禮拜供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來；讀誦此經四十九遍；然四十九燈；造彼如來形像七軀，一一像前各置七燈，一一燈量大如車輪，乃至四十九日，光明不絕；造五色綵幡，長四十九搩手，應放雜類眾生至四十九；可得過度危厄之難，不為諸橫惡鬼所持。

At that time Ananda asked the Bodhisattva Rescuer: "Good man! How should one reverently make offerings of the life-prolonging banners and lamps of the World-Honored Bhaisajyaguru-vaidurya-prabha Tathagata? And how should they be made?" The Bodhisattva Rescuer said: "Greatly virtuous one! If there is a sick person who wishes to be free from the suffering of illness, for his sake one should keep the eight precepts for seven days and seven nights; offer food and drink and other things to the community of bhiksus as far as one's strength allows; six times in the day and night worship and make offerings to the World-Honored Bhaisajyaguru-vaidurya-prabha Tathagata; recite this sutra forty-nine times; light forty-nine lamps; make seven images of that Tathagata, setting seven lamps before each image, each lamp as large as a cartwheel, so that for forty-nine days the light does not go out; make five-colored banners forty-nine spans long (one span being about the length from the stretched thumb to the middle finger); and also release forty-nine kinds of living creatures. In this way one can pass through the danger of calamity and not be entangled by all manner of untimely disasters and evil ghosts.

「復次，阿難！若剎帝利灌頂王等，災難起時，所謂人眾疾疫難，他國侵逼難，自界叛逆難，星宿變怪難，日月薄蝕難，非時風雨難，過時不雨難。彼剎帝利灌頂王等，爾時應於一切有情起慈悲心，赦諸繫閉；依前所說供養之法，供養彼世尊藥師琉璃光如來。由此善根，及彼如來本願力故，令其國界即得安隱：風雨順時，穀稼成熟；一切有情無病歡樂；於其國中，無有暴虐藥叉等神惱有情者；一切惡相，皆即隱沒；而剎帝利灌頂王等，壽命色力，無病自在，皆得增益。阿難！若帝后、妃主、儲君、王子、大臣、輔相、中宮婇女、百官、黎庶，為病所苦，及餘厄難；亦應造立五色神幡，然燈續明，放諸生命，散雜色華，燒眾名香，病得除愈，眾難解脫。」

"Furthermore, Ananda! When calamities arise for a kshatriya consecrated king and the like (these being the calamity of epidemic among the people, the calamity of invasion by another country, the calamity of rebellion within his own country, the calamity of abnormal movements of the stars, the calamity of solar and lunar eclipses, the calamity of unseasonable winds and rains, and the calamity of rain failing beyond its season), at that time such consecrated kings should give rise to compassion for all sentient beings, pardon those who are imprisoned, and, following the method of offering described above, make offerings to the World-Honored Bhaisajyaguru-vaidurya-prabha Tathagata. By virtue of this good root and the power of that Tathagata's original vows, his country will at once be made peaceful: the winds and rains will be timely, the crops will ripen; all sentient beings will be free of illness and joyful; there will be no fierce yaksas and other spirits in the country to harm beings; all evil omens will vanish at once; and the lifespan, complexion, strength and freedom from illness of those consecrated kings will likewise increase. Ananda! If an empress, consorts, the crown prince, princes, ministers, chief counselors, palace women, officials or commoners are suffering from illness or meet with other calamities, they too should set up five-colored divine banners, light lamps to prolong their light, release living beings, scatter flowers of various colors and burn various famous incenses; then illness will be cured and the various troubles will be released."

爾時，阿難問救脫菩薩言：「善男子！云何已盡之命而可增益？」救脫菩薩言：「大德！汝豈不聞如來說有九橫死耶？是故勸造續命幡燈，修諸福德；以修福故，盡其壽命，不經苦患。」阿難問言：「九橫云何？」救脫菩薩言：「若諸有情，得病雖輕，然無醫藥及看病者，設復遇醫，授以非藥，實不應死而便橫死。又信世間邪魔、外道、妖𦾨之師，妄說禍福，便生恐動，心不自正，卜問覓禍，殺種種眾生，解奏神明，呼諸魍魎，請乞福祐，欲冀延年，終不能得；愚痴迷惑，信邪倒見，遂令橫死，入於地獄，無有出期，是名初橫。二者，橫被王法之所誅戮。三者，畋獵嬉戲，耽婬嗜酒，放逸無度，橫為非人奪其精氣。四者，橫為火焚。五者，橫為水溺。六者，橫為種種惡獸所噉。七者，橫墮山崖。八者，橫為毒藥、厭禱、呪詛、起屍鬼等之所中害。九者，飢渴所困，不得飲食而便橫死。是為如來略說橫死，有此九種。其餘復有無量諸橫，難可具說。

At that time Ananda asked the Bodhisattva Rescuer: "Good man! How can a lifespan that has already come to its end still be increased?" The Bodhisattva Rescuer said: "Greatly virtuous one! Have you not heard the Tathagata speak of the nine kinds of untimely death? It is precisely for this reason that people are urged to make life-prolonging banners and lamps and to cultivate all kinds of merit; through cultivating merit, they can live out their allotted lifespan and not suffer distress." Ananda asked: "What are the nine kinds of untimely death?" The Bodhisattva Rescuer said: "The first is that some sentient beings, though their illness is mild, have no medicine or caregiver, or even when they meet a physician are given the wrong medicine, and so die untimely when they should not have died. Or there are those who believe in worldly demons, heterodox teachers and deceivers of the people, who recklessly speak of misfortune and fortune, so that his heart is frightened and shaken and his mind cannot set itself right; he goes to ask divination and seek release, investigates the causes of misfortune, kills all kinds of living beings, performs rites of absolution and reports to the spirits, summons all kinds of goblins and sprites, and begs for blessing, wishing to prolong his years, but in the end cannot obtain it; foolish and deluded, he believes in perverse and inverted views, and so dies untimely and falls into hell, with no day of emergence. This is called the first untimely death. The second is to be executed untimely under the law of the state. The third is to hunt and amuse oneself, indulge in lust and love of wine, and be without restraint, and so be robbed untimely of one's vital essence by non-human beings. The fourth is to be burned by fire untimely. The fifth is to be drowned in water untimely. The sixth is to be devoured by various fierce beasts untimely. The seventh is to fall untimely from a mountain cliff. The eighth is to be harmed by poison, evil prayers, curses, corpse-raising ghosts and the like. The ninth is to be tormented by hunger and thirst, and to die untimely for want of food and drink. These are the untimely deaths that the Tathagata has briefly spoken of; there are these nine kinds. There are also immeasurable other kinds of untimely death, which are hard to tell one by one.

「復次，阿難！彼琰魔王主領世間名籍之記。若諸有情，不孝五逆，破辱三寶，壞君臣法，毀於信戒，琰魔法王，隨罪輕重，考而罰之。是故我今勸諸有情，然燈造幡，放生修福，令度苦厄，不遭眾難。」

"Furthermore, Ananda! That King Yama is in charge of the record of names in the world. If there are sentient beings who are unfilial, commit the five grave offenses, destroy and insult the Three Jewels, ruin the law of ruler and minister, or discard their sworn vows and precepts, the Dharma King Yama examines and punishes them according to the weight of their sins. Therefore I now urge sentient beings to light lamps, make banners, release living beings and cultivate merit, so that they may pass through suffering and calamity and not meet with troubles."

爾時，眾中有十二藥叉大將，俱在會坐，所謂：

At that time, in the assembly there were twelve great yaksa generals, all present in their seats. They were:

宮毘羅大將，伐折羅大將，

the General Kumbhira (Sanskrit Kumbhira), the General Vajra (meaning thunderbolt),

迷企羅大將，安底羅大將，

the General Mihira (Mihira), the General Andira (Andira),

頞儞羅大將，珊底羅大將，

the General Anila (Anila, meaning wind), the General Sandila (Sandila),

因達羅大將，波夷羅大將，

the General Indra (Indra, the name of the lord of the devas), the General Pajra (Pajra),

摩虎羅大將，真達羅大將，

the General Mahoraga (Mahoraga, the great serpent spirit), the General Kinnara (Kinnara),

招杜羅大將，毘羯羅大將。

the General Catura (Catura), and the General Vikarala (Vikarala).

此十二藥叉大將，一一各有七千藥叉以為眷屬，同時舉聲白佛言：「世尊！我等今者，蒙佛威力，得聞世尊藥師琉璃光如來名號，不復更有惡趣之怖。我等相率，皆同一心，乃至盡形歸佛法僧，誓當荷負一切有情，為作義利饒益安樂。隨於何等村城、國邑、空閑林中，若有流佈此經，或復受持藥師琉璃光如來名號，恭敬供養者，我等眷屬衛護是人，皆使解脫一切苦難；諸有願求，悉令滿足。或有疾厄求度脫者，亦應讀誦此經，以五色縷，結我名字，得如願已，然後解結。」

Each of these twelve great yaksa generals had seven thousand yaksas as his retinue, and together they said to the Buddha in one voice: "World-Honored One! Now, through the Buddha's power, we have been able to hear the name of the World-Honored Bhaisajyaguru-vaidurya-prabha Tathagata, and we no longer have the fear of falling into the evil paths. We pledge to one another, with one mind, to take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha for the rest of our lives, and vow to take upon ourselves the care of all sentient beings and do for them what is meaningful, beneficial, enriching and peaceful. In any village, city, kingdom or empty forest, wherever there is someone who spreads this sutra, or who receives and upholds the name of Bhaisajyaguru-vaidurya-prabha Tathagata and reverently makes offerings, we and our retinues will protect that person, free them from all suffering and calamity, and fulfill their various wishes. If anyone is ill or in calamity and seeks deliverance, he should also recite this sutra and tie knots of five-colored thread bearing our names, and once his wish is fulfilled, untie the knots."

爾時，世尊讚諸藥叉大將言：「善哉！善哉！大藥叉將！汝等念報世尊藥師琉璃光如來恩德者，常應如是利益安樂一切有情。」

At that time the World-Honored One praised the yaksa generals, saying: "Good! Good! Great yaksa generals! If you wish to repay the kindness of the World-Honored Bhaisajyaguru-vaidurya-prabha Tathagata, you should always benefit and give peace to all sentient beings in this way."

爾時，阿難白佛言：「世尊！當何名此法門？我等云何奉持？」佛告阿難：「此法門名說藥師琉璃光如來本願功德；亦名說十二神將饒益有情結願神呪；亦名拔除一切業障；應如是持。」時薄伽梵說是語已，諸菩薩摩訶薩，及大聲聞，國王、大臣、婆羅門、居士，天、龍、藥叉、揵達縛、阿素洛、揭路荼、緊捺洛、莫呼洛伽，人、非人等，一切大眾，聞佛所說，皆大歡喜，信受奉行。

At that time Ananda said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! What should this Dharma teaching be called? And how should we practice and uphold it?" The Buddha told Ananda: "This Dharma teaching is named Discourse on the Original Vows and Merits of Bhaisajyaguru-vaidurya-prabha Tathagata; it is also called Discourse on the Vow-Fulfilling Divine Spell of the Twelve Divine Generals Who Benefit Sentient Beings; it is also called Removing All Karmic Obstacles; it should be upheld in this way." When the Bhagavat had finished speaking, the great bodhisattvas and great shravakas, the kings, ministers, brahmins and lay people, the devas, nagas, yaksas, gandharvas (celestial musicians), asuras, garudas (golden-winged birds), kinnaras, mahoragas (great serpent spirits), and all the great assembly of humans and non-humans, hearing what the Buddha had said, were all greatly delighted, and believed, accepted and practiced it.