右繞佛塔功德經

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was dwelling in the Garden of Jeta and Anāthapiṇḍada (Jeṭavaṇe’nāthapiṇḍadasyārāma) in the country of Śrāvastī (Śrāvastya), together with a Great Assembly of Bhikṣus (Mahatā-bhikṣu-saṃgha: the Community of Great Bhikṣus), with an immeasurable Assembly (Saṃgha) who had come to attend, surrounding him before and behind.

At that time the Elder Śāriputra rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt with his right knee to the ground, joined his palms toward the Buddha, and made his request in verse, saying:

“World-Honored One of Great Majestic Virtue!

We pray that, for our sake, you will explain

The circumambulation to the right (Hữu Nhiễu: circling around toward the right side) about the Buddha’s stūpa,

And the Fruit-Reward (Vipāka) that shall be attained.”

Then the World-Honored One replied in verse, saying:

“The circumambulation to the right (Hữu Nhiễu: circling around toward the right side) about the Buddha’s stūpa,

And the Fruit-Reward (Vipāka) that shall be attained—

Now I shall explain a small portion;

Listen all of you most attentively.

_ All the Devas (Deva) and Nāgas (Nāga),

The hosts of Yakṣas (Yakṣa), Pretas (Preta), and Devas (Devatā),

Will all draw near and make offerings:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ In each place where one is born,

One is far removed from the eight calamities,

And is ever born where there is no calamity:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ In all the places where one is born,

Mindfulness and Wisdom are never lost,

And one is fully endowed with marks of Wondrous Form:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Coming and going among Devas and humans,

One’s merit and life span are both long-lasting,

And one ever attains Great Renown:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ In Jambudvīpa (Jampu-dvīpa)

One is ever born as the Most Honored and Supreme,

In a pure lineage:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ One’s bearing and countenance are ever upright and proper,

Wealthy and noble with abundant treasures,

Granted a great domain:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Riches and treasures are ever heaped full,

There is no miserly mind,

And one is valiant and vast in generous giving (bestowing upon others):

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ One’s form and features are pure and subtly wondrous,

Those who behold them all delight to gaze upon them,

And one’s dwelling place is ever peaceful and joyful:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ One may become a King of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven (Trāyastriṃśa-rāja: king of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven),

With wife and children all complete,

And the power of majestic might at one’s ease:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ One may become a Brāhmaṇa (Brāhmaṇa),

Upholding the Precepts, skillfully penetrating

Incantations and the Veda Scriptures:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ One may become a Great Elder,

Eminent and noble with abundant possessions,

Whose storehouses are ever overflowing:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ One may become a King of the True Dharma (Saddharma-rāja),

A Sovereign King (I’svara-rāja), to whom Jambudvīpa (Jamphu-dvīpa)

And the Sovereign Realm (the land of the Capital) all submit and are transformed (yield and obey):

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ One may become a Wheel-Turning King (Cakra-varti-rāja),

Of great power, fully possessing the seven treasures,

Governing the people with the Ten Virtues:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ From here one is born up among the Devas,

Ever possessing great majestic virtue,

With Pure Faith (faith that is pure and clean) in the Buddha-Dharma:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Pure Faith is swiftly accomplished and complete,

And toward the Dharma there is no delusion;

One sees that all formations (Saṃskāra) are empty (Śūnya: void and empty):

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Casting off life from among the Devas above,

One is born down into the human realm;

Entering the womb, one is not deluded or confused:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ While within the mother’s womb,

One is not stained by filth or impurity,

But is like a clear Maṇi jewel:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ While in the womb and at the time of birth,

One causes the mother to be ever peaceful and joyful,

And while suckling milk it is likewise so:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Father and mother and kinsfolk,

All together nurture and rear one,

And the Wet-Nurse (the birth mother, or the one who gives suck) is ever not parted from one:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ One’s relatives all cherish and remember one,

Surpassing even father and mother,

And one’s money and goods increase of themselves:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Yakṣas and the various evil Pretas

Cannot cause one to be frightened,

And what one needs is naturally obtained:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Passing through a hundred thousand kalpas,

That body is transformed to purity,

Achieving the full marks of Wondrous Form:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ One’s eyes are clear (pure eyes), long and broad,

Resembling a blue lotus flower,

Together with the attainment of the Pure Heavenly Eye (the pure celestial eye):

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Wondrous Form is ever perfect and full,

The Marks adorn one of themselves,

And one achieves great power and strength:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ One may be born in the Palace of Śakra (Indra-pura),

Of great majestic power, at ease,

Honored and noble within the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ One may be born in the Suyāma (Suyama),

The Tuṣita Heaven Palace (Tuṣita),

The Nirmāṇarati Devas (Nirmāṇarati-deva) and the Paranirmita-vaśavartin (Para-nirmita-vaśa-vartin):

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ One may further be born as a Brahmā Deva (Brahma-deva),

Most sovereign in the Brahmā World (Brahma-loka: the World of Brahmā),

Where the Devas ever make offerings:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ For koṭis (Koṭi) of nayutas (Nayuta) of kalpas (Kalpa),

One is ever, by the wise,

Revered and made offerings to:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ That body, together with one’s garments,

For koṭis of kalpas is ever without filth,

Fully endowed with the white and pure Dharma:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Endowed with the power of great vigor,

One diligently cultivates every kind of Practice (Caryā),

Having never any weariness or sloth:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Valiant and ever vigorous,

Firm and solid, unable to be destroyed,

What one undertakes is swiftly accomplished:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ One’s voice is subtly wondrous and profound,

And those who hear it are all gladdened;

One is ever at peace and joyful and without sickness:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ As I have set forth,

Being weary of and casting off the suffering of the three Existences (the three realms: Desire, Form, and Formless),

One achieves the Wisdom that transcends the world:

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Ever abiding in the four Foundations of Mindfulness (Catvāri smṛty-upasthānāni),

Together with the four Right Exertions (Catvāri prahāṇāni),

And the four Bases of Supernatural Power (Catvāra-ṛddhipādāḥ):

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Penetrating the four Noble Truths (Catvary-ārya-satyāni: the four Noble Truths),

The Faculties (Pañcendriyāṇi: the Five Faculties), the Powers (Pañca balāni: the Five Powers), the seven Factors of Awakening (Saptabodhyaṅgāni),

The Right Path (Samyak-mārga) and the Noble Fruit (Ārya-phala):

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Extinguishing all Afflictions (Kleśa),

Fully endowed with great majestic virtue,

Free of Outflows (Anāsravaḥ), with the six Spiritual Penetrations (Ṣaḍ-abhijñāḥ):

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Forever departing from Greed (Rāga), Anger (Dveṣa), and Delusion (Moha),

And from all hindrances,

One realizes the Awakening of the Solitary Buddha (Pratyeka-buddhi):

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ Attaining a beautiful purple-gold color,

With excellent marks adorning the body,

One appears as a Teacher of Devas and Humans (Śāstā deva-manuṣyāṇāṃ: Teacher of devas and humans):

This is due to circumambulating the stūpa to the right (circling around the stūpa toward the right side).

_ All of these come about through using the karma of body (bodily karma)

And the karma of speech to praise and extol,

And the circumambulation to the right (circling around toward the right side) about the Buddha’s stūpa.

The various Merits that have been attained,

Now, in accordance with what I have heard,

I have explained in brief—how could they ever be exhausted?”

At that time, when the World-Honored One had finished speaking this verse, the assembly of Śāriputra and all the Congregation were exceedingly joyful, and they faithfully received it and reverently put it into practice.

THE SŪTRA OF THE MERIT OF CIRCUMAMBULATING THE BUDDHA’S STŪPA TO THE RIGHT

The End