金光明最勝王經

Chapter 12: The Heavenly Kings Protect the Nation

At that time, when the Blessed One heard the Four Heavenly Kings respectfully offering homage to the Sutra of Golden Light and protecting those who uphold that sutra, he praised them, saying: “Excellent, Four Heavenly Kings! Before innumerable Tathagatas of the past, you respectfully made offerings, honored and praised them, planted roots of goodness, practiced in accordance with the true Dharma, spoke in accordance with the true Dharma, and served the world through the true Dharma.

For sentient beings, you have long sought ways to benefit them, aroused the mind of great compassion, and vowed to bring them peace and happiness. For precisely this reason, you now enjoy such supremely excellent rewards. If any king respectfully makes offerings to the Sutra of Golden Light, you must diligently protect him and his people so that they may dwell in peace.

When you Four Heavenly Kings and your innumerable attendant yakshas protect this sutra, you thereby protect the true Dharma of all Tathagatas of the past, present, and future. Therefore, when you, together with the devas and yakshas, wage battle against the asuras, you are always victorious. Because you protect this sutra, through its spiritual power you are able to eliminate every kind of suffering and affliction, hostile enemy, famine, and epidemic.

Therefore, if you see anyone among the four assemblies upholding this king of sutras, you should also diligently join together in protecting them, removing harm and bringing them peace and happiness.”

At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings rose from their seats, bared their right shoulders, knelt with their right knees touching the ground, respectfully joined their palms, and said: “Blessed One, in the future, wherever and whenever this king of sutras, the Sutra of Golden Light, circulates throughout countries, cities, villages, mountains, forests, plains, and wildernesses, the king of that place and time should listen to it wholeheartedly, praise it, and make offerings to it.

He should also provide for those among the four assemblies who uphold this sutra and, with a profound heart, protect them so that they may be free from decline and distress. For this reason, we shall protect that king and his people so that all may dwell in peace, remain far from sorrow, enjoy increased longevity, and possess perfect majestic virtue. Blessed One, if that king sees those among the four assemblies who uphold this sutra and respectfully protects them as he would his own father and mother, supplying everything they require, then we Four Heavenly Kings shall constantly protect him and cause everyone to honor him.

Together with innumerable yaksha spirits, wherever this king of sutras may be, we shall conceal ourselves and protect it, allowing no obstruction to arise. We shall also protect those who hear it and the king who listens to this sutra, removing harm and bringing them peace; we shall likewise cause hostile enemies from other lands to retreat and disperse. Therefore, if, while a king is listening to this sutra, a hostile neighboring land mobilizes its armies to invade and wreak destruction, then, Blessed One, through the spiritual power of this sutra, we and our innumerable attendant yakshas shall all conceal ourselves and render assistance, causing that hostile neighboring land to surrender of its own accord.

They shall not dare approach the borders of that kingdom, much less employ weapons to slaughter its people.” ⁽⁵⁵⁾

The Blessed One said to the Four Heavenly Kings: “Excellent! You are able to protect this sutra in such a manner. Throughout innumerable past kalpas, the Tathagata cultivated every kind of difficult ascetic practice, attained unsurpassed bodhi, and realized the wisdom of all modes; only for this reason can I now proclaim this sutra. If any king upholds this sutra and respectfully makes offerings to it, then its mighty power will free that king from all decline and harm and enable him to dwell in peace. It will also cause his entire kingdom to be protected, so that even hostile enemies will retreat and disperse. The mighty power of this sutra will likewise cause all the kings throughout the continent of Jambudvipa to be free from decline, harm, and warfare.

“Furthermore, you should know that the continent of Jambudvipa contains eighty-four thousand kingdoms and kings. Every king takes delight in freedom, possesses abundant wealth, and fully enjoys all necessities, without invading or plundering one another. Each enjoys in this life the blessed rewards arising from meritorious causes cultivated in previous lives, and no one harbors evil thoughts or covets another’s kingdom. All diminish their desires, seek to benefit others, and do not inflict the suffering of warfare and exile. The subjects of those kings cherish one another; those above and below live in harmony like water and milk, regarding one another with affection and respect. They are joyful and at ease, gentle and humble, and continually increase their roots of goodness.

“Therefore, this continent of Jambudvipa is peaceful, happy, and prosperous. Its population is abundant, its lands fertile, heat and cold are temperate, and the seasons are favorable. The sun, moon, and stars move in their proper courses; winds and rains come at the appropriate times; there are no calamities; wealth is abundant; people are generous by nature, constantly practice giving, and fulfill the ten wholesome courses of karma. After death, most are reborn among the devas, and the celestial hosts increase.

“Four Heavenly Kings, in the future, if any king listens to this sutra, respectfully makes offerings to it, and upholds it, he will be praised by the four assemblies and will also benefit you yourselves and your innumerable attendant yakshas. Therefore, kings should constantly listen to this king of sutras. This water of the true Dharma, this ambrosial nectar, will increase the strength and vigor of your bodies and minds, causing you to advance with powerful diligence and become endowed with merit, majestic virtue, and radiant glory.

“If those kings listen wholeheartedly to this sutra, they thereby make a vast and rare offering to me, the Tathagata Shakyamuni. To make offerings to the Tathagata is to make offerings to innumerable Tathagatas of the past, present, and future. By making offerings to the Tathagatas of the three times, they obtain an inconceivable accumulation of merit. For this reason, you should protect those kings, their royal households, and the guardian spirits of their palaces, so that all may be free from decline and harm, attain peace and happiness, and acquire immeasurable roots of goodness. The subjects of those kings shall also fully enjoy every kind of pleasure of the five desires, while all evils and misfortunes shall be utterly dispelled.”

The Four Heavenly Kings again said, “World-Honored One, if in the future there is a king who delights in hearing the King of Sutras, the Golden Light, so that he and the royal household may attain supreme peace and happiness; so that his present royal throne may flourish; so that he may amass an immeasurable accumulation of merit; and so that his people and kingdom may be free from enemies, sorrow, and calamity—then, World-Honored One, that king should not be heedless or let his thoughts wander.

Rather, with reverence, sincerity, and earnest devotion, he should aspire to hear and receive this supreme King of Sutras. To do so, the king should first adorn the most prominent and honored hall within the royal palace. He should sprinkle the ground with scented water, scatter renowned flowers, set up the finest lion throne for the Dharma, inlaid with precious jewels, suspend jeweled canopies, banners, and streamers above it, burn priceless incense, and have many kinds of music performed.

The king himself should bathe and cleanse his body, anoint himself with fragrant perfumes, put on clean new garments, and wear jeweled necklaces. Yet he should sit upon a small, low seat, neither exalting himself nor occupying a lofty throne. Casting aside arrogance, he should compose his mind and abide in right mindfulness while awaiting the opportunity to hear this King of Sutras.

Furthermore, he should regard the Dharma master who is to come as a great teacher. Toward his relatives and attendants, he should give rise to loving-kindness; they should look upon one another joyfully, with gentle countenances, and speak in soft and pleasant words. As for himself, he should be filled with immense joy and think: ‘I have obtained a great benefit, for I am able to make a magnificent offering to this sovereign King of Sutras.’ After the king has made such preparations, when he sees the Dharma master approaching, his heart should be filled with reverence, yearning, and admiration.

“The Buddha said to the Four Heavenly Kings, ‘That king must not fail to go forth to welcome the Dharma master. The king should put on clean garments, adorn himself with jeweled necklaces, personally carry a white parasol together with incense and flowers, arrange his retinue in solemn order, assemble many musical instruments, and proceed on foot beyond the gate of the royal city to welcome the Dharma master. Concentrating his thoughts and acting with wholehearted reverence, he should perform this auspicious observance.

Four Heavenly Kings, why must the king personally render such reverence and offerings? Because at that time, every time the king raises and sets down his foot, each step constitutes reverence and offerings to immeasurable Tathagatas; with each step, he transcends that many sufferings of birth and death; and in the future, he will attain that many thrones of wheel-turning kings. Moreover, with every step his present merit increases; he gains sovereign freedom, inconceivable spiritual responsiveness, and the respect of the multitudes.

For innumerable kalpas in the future, he will obtain palaces made of the seven treasures among humans and devas. Wherever he is born, he will become a king; his lifespan will increase; his speech will be eloquent and unhindered; humans and devas will trust and accept his words; he will be entirely fearless, gain great renown, and be admired by all. Among humans and devas he will enjoy wondrous happiness, possess great power and majestic virtue, have a magnificent bodily form and unsurpassed dignity, encounter the Teachers of Humans and Devas and virtuous spiritual friends, and perfect an immeasurable accumulation of merit.

Four Heavenly Kings, you should know that, seeing such benefits, that king should personally travel to welcome the Dharma master from a distance of one yojana, or even hundreds or thousands of yojanas. He should regard that Dharma master as the Tathagata. After escorting him into the royal city, he should think: “Thus the World-Honored One Shakyamuni has entered my royal palace, accepted my offerings, and expounded the wondrous Dharma for me.

Having heard the wondrous Dharma, I shall become irreversible from unsurpassed bodhi and shall encounter immeasurable World-Honored Ones. Today I have caused the finest musical instruments to be played and have presented supreme offerings to the World-Honored Ones of the three times. Today I have forever uprooted the suffering of the realm of King Yama and have planted the seeds of the wholesome roots of Brahma kings, Shakra, and wheel-turning kings.

What I do today will enable countless sentient beings to escape birth and death, attain nirvana, and accumulate an inconceivable mass of merit. It will bring peace and security to my relatives and subjects; it will make my kingdom peaceful and free from calamity; it will prevent evildoers and hostile enemies from causing disturbance or invasion; and it will remove every sorrow.” Four Heavenly Kings, that king should cherish the wondrous Dharma in this way.

He should also make offerings to, revere, honor, and praise the fourfold assembly of the Tathagata’s disciples. He should then first dedicate the supreme merit of these wholesome roots to you and your retinues. Because the king possesses such immense merit as a supporting cause, in this very life he will attain great sovereignty, his majestic splendor will increase, and he will be adorned with auspiciousness and excellent marks.

Against every kind of hostile enemy, he will have the power to triumph through the wondrous Dharma.’

“At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings again said, ‘World-Honored One, if a king reveres the wondrous Dharma and wishes to hear the King of Sutras in this manner, and if he also reverently makes offerings to the fourfold assembly who uphold this King of Sutras, including the Dharma master, and wishes to gladden us, then near one side of the Dharma throne he should sprinkle scented water, scatter flowers, and set out seats and tables for the four of us Heavenly Kings.

We shall listen to the Dharma together with the king. When the king obtains wholesome roots, he should also dedicate to us a portion of the merit arising from those wholesome roots. World-Honored One, when the king invites the Dharma master to ascend the Dharma throne, he should also, partly for our sake, burn renowned incense as an offering to this King of Sutras.

World-Honored One, in an instant the smoke of that incense will rise into space, reach our palaces, and transform into canopies of incense suspended in the air. We devas will immediately smell the fragrance of that renowned incense and see its smoke radiating golden light, brilliantly illuminating our palaces. It will also shine upon the palaces of the Brahma kings, Shakra, the goddess Mahasarasvati, the goddess Mahashri, the earth deity Drdha, the great general Samjnaya, the deities of the twenty-eight divisions of yakshas, Maheshvara, Vajrapani the Lord of Secrets, the great general Manibhadra, the demon mother Hariti and her five hundred children, the dragon king of Lake Anavatapta, and the dragon king of the Great Ocean.

World-Honored One, all these devas and deities, each in their own palace, will see that smoke of incense instantly transform into canopies of incense; they will smell its fragrance and see its radiance reaching every palace of all the devas and deities.’

The Blessed One said to the Four Heavenly Kings: “That incense smoke, with its fragrance and light, does not merely travel to the palaces [that you can see], where it transforms into clouds and canopies of incense and emits a great radiance. The smoke of the incense personally kindled by the king as he holds the censer in his own hands and makes an offering to this king of sutras also, in an instant, travels throughout this trichiliocosm, with its ten billion suns and moons, ten billion Mount Sumerus, and ten billion sets of four great continents.

In the palaces of all the beings of the eight classes throughout this trichiliocosm, that incense smoke fills space, transforming into clouds and canopies of incense. The golden light of these cloud-canopies illuminates all the palaces of the devas [and spirits]. All the clouds and canopies of incense throughout this trichiliocosm arise entirely through the majestic spiritual power of the King of Sutras, the Golden Light.

“Yet the incense smoke personally kindled by the king, who holds the censer in his own hands as an offering to this king of sutras, does not travel merely throughout this trichiliocosm. In an instant, it also travels throughout the immeasurable lands of the Tathagatas. In the space above each of them, the incense smoke likewise [gathers into clouds of incense and] transforms into canopies of incense, radiating golden light. Every Tathagata perceives the fragrance of this wondrous incense smoke and sees these clouds and canopies of incense and their golden light appearing everywhere before immeasurable Tathagatas. The Tathagatas then contemplate this and, though speaking from different mouths, praise the Dharma teacher with one voice, saying:

“‘Excellent, great being! You possess the power to propagate this profound and wondrous sutra. By doing so, you have accumulated an inconceivable mass of merit. Anyone who listens to you expound this sutra acquires an exceedingly vast measure of merit—how much more so one who copies it, accepts and retains it, studies it, memorizes and recites it, explains it to others, and practices in accordance with its teachings. Why is this? Good man, whoever hears this Sutra of Golden Light will never again regress from unsurpassed bodhi.’

“The Tathagatas in immeasurable lands, though speaking from different mouths, also praise the Dharma teacher with one voice while seated upon their Dharma thrones, saying:

“‘Excellent, good man! In a future life, through the power of diligence, you will cultivate countless ascetic practices and fully perfect the two kinds of provisions: merit and wisdom. You will surpass sages and saints, transcend the three realms, and become the most honored and supreme. Adorned with sublime magnificence, you will sit beneath the king of bodhi trees, possessing the power to liberate the sentient beings connected with you ⁽⁵⁶⁾ throughout the trichiliocosm. You will skillfully vanquish the terrifying armies of Mara and realize the supreme, luminous, exceedingly profound, unsurpassed, perfectly accurate, and all-encompassing wisdom that knows all dharmas.

“‘Good man, you will sit upon the vajra seat and turn the unsurpassed Dharma wheel, praised by all the Tathagatas and complete in its twelve wondrous and exceedingly profound aspects. You will beat the immense drum of the unsurpassed Dharma, blow the wondrous conch of the unsurpassed Dharma, raise the lofty banner of the unsurpassed Dharma, kindle the brilliant torch of the unsurpassed Dharma, and shower down the sweet rain of the unsurpassed Dharma. You will sever immeasurable bonds of affliction, enable immeasurable sentient beings to cross the terrifying and shoreless ocean, bring their endless cycle of birth and death to an end, and enable them to encounter immeasurable Tathagatas.’”

The Four Heavenly Kings again addressed him: “Blessed One, in the present and the future, this Sutra of Golden Light accomplishes immeasurable merits such as these. Therefore, any king who hears this wondrous sutra has done so because he planted roots of virtue before immeasurable Blessed Ones. We shall protect and uphold that king.

“Moreover, because we perceive these immeasurable merits, when we Four Heavenly Kings and our immeasurable retinues of spirits see from our palaces the incense smoke manifesting as clouds and canopies of incense, we shall conceal our forms and, wishing to hear the Dharma, proceed to the place where it is taught: the foremost hall within the king’s royal palace. The Brahma kings, Sakra, the Great Goddess of Eloquence, the Great Goddess of Auspiciousness, the earth spirit Drdha, the great general Samjnaya, the spirits of the twenty-eight divisions of yakshas, Mahesvara, Vajrapani the Lord of Secrets, the great general Manibhadra, the demon mother Hariti and her five hundred children, the dragon king of Lake Anavatapta, the dragon king of the Great Ocean,

and immeasurable devas and yakshas will likewise conceal their forms and, wishing to hear the Dharma, proceed to the foremost hall within the king’s palace, where the lofty Dharma seat has been established for the teaching of the Dharma.

“Blessed One, we Four Heavenly Kings and our retinues of yaksha spirits shall wholeheartedly join the king in serving as spiritual friends to one another. Because he is a great donor who bestows the Dharma and fills us with the flavor of amrita, we shall protect him, eliminate calamities on his behalf, and bring him peace and security. We shall also cause every kind of disaster to vanish from his royal palace, his kingdom, and his people.”

The Four Heavenly Kings again joined their palms and addressed the Blessed One together: “Blessed One, suppose a king possesses this sutra within his kingdom, yet it has never been widely propagated there, and he wishes to forsake it, takes no delight in listening to it, and neither makes offerings to it nor praises it. When he sees members of the four assemblies of the Blessed One’s disciples upholding this sutra, he likewise fails to honor them or make offerings to them.

Consequently, neither we and our retinues nor the immeasurable devas are able to hear the exceedingly profound and wondrous Dharma. We lose the flavor of amrita and the water of the true Dharma; our majestic radiance and power disappear; evil destinies increase while humans and devas diminish; beings fall into the river of birth and death and lose the path to nirvana.

“Blessed One, when we Four Heavenly Kings and our attendant yakshas see this, we abandon that kingdom and no longer have any wish to protect it. Not only do we abandon that king’s kingdom, but the great benevolent spirits who have vowed to protect the land also depart and forsake it. Once they have left, every kind of calamity afflicts that kingdom.

The standing of the nation is lost ⁽⁵⁷⁾. Its people harbor no wholesome intentions. There are only imprisonment, cruelty, hatred, conflict, slander, flattery, the oppression and wrongful suffering of the powerless, rampant epidemics, and the frequent appearance of comets.

Two suns appear simultaneously ⁽⁵⁸⁾; solar and lunar eclipses occur at irregular times; black and white rainbows appear; meteors fall; earthquakes occur; sounds issue from within wells; torrential rains and violent winds arise; the seasons fall into disorder; famine and crop failure prevail; and hostile forces and bandits repeatedly come from other lands to pillage and invade. The people suffer, and nowhere in the land is peaceful.

“Blessed One, when we Four Heavenly Kings, the immeasurable devas and benevolent spirits, together with the benevolent spirits who formerly protected that kingdom, have all departed far away, that kingdom will experience many such fierce and ominous calamities.

“Blessed One, if a king desires happiness for his kingdom, security for his people, victory over foreign enemies, prosperity for his land, the widespread dissemination of the true Dharma, and the dissolution of suffering and evil, then, Blessed One, that king should listen to this wondrous king of sutras and make offerings to those who uphold it. By doing so, he enables us and the immeasurable devas and benevolent spirits, through the power of the roots of virtue arising from hearing the true Dharma and drinking the flavor of amrita, to increase the supreme benefits enjoyed by us, our retinues, and all devas and benevolent spirits. Why is this? It is because that king listens to and accepts this sutra wholeheartedly.”

“O Blessed One, for the sake of sentient beings, Brahma King often expounds supramundane treatises, Sakra expounds various treatises, and the sages possessing the five superknowledges also expound all manner of treatises. Although Brahma King, Sakra, and the sages possessing the five superknowledges have innumerable treatises, when the Blessed One, out of compassion for humankind and the devas, expounds the Sutra of Golden Light, its qualities surpass those treatises by innumerable degrees, beyond all possibility of comparison.

Why is this? Because this sutra has the power to cause all the kings of Jambudvipa to serve their countries in accordance with the true Dharma; it has the power to bestow every happiness upon sentient beings and to ensure that the kings themselves, their royal households, and their peoples are not afflicted by suffering or invaded and ravaged by hostile forces. All dreadful evils are driven far away, every calamity is eliminated from their lands, transformation is brought about through the true Dharma, and all contention and litigation cease.

Therefore, each king, within his own country, should kindle the torch of the true Dharma and cause its light to shine without end, thereby increasing the strength of the devas and their retinues.

“O Blessed One, we Four Heavenly Kings, together with immeasurable devas, benevolent spirits, hosts of yaksas, and all the devas and benevolent spirits throughout Jambudvipa, shall, through the deeds of such a king, drink the supreme nectar and acquire great majestic virtue, power, and light in their fullness. All sentient beings shall also dwell in peace and security; throughout innumerable future kalpas they shall constantly enjoy happiness, encounter the Blessed Ones, plant roots of virtue, and ultimately realize unsurpassed bodhi.

Such immeasurable supreme benefits arise entirely because the Blessed One, with great compassion surpassing that of Brahma King, great wisdom surpassing that of Sakra, and great ascetic practice surpassing that of the sages possessing the five superknowledges, has undergone these experiences throughout innumerable kalpas and, for the sake of sentient beings, expounded this wondrous sutra. Thus all kings and peoples throughout Jambudvipa may understand the worldly methods of governing countries and transforming their peoples.

Through the propagation of this sutra, peace and happiness prevail everywhere. Such merit is due entirely to the compassionate power of the Venerable Sakyamuni, our exalted teacher, who has caused this sutra to be widely propagated.

“O Blessed One, for this reason kings should receive and uphold, make offerings to, revere, honor, and praise this wondrous king of sutras. Why is this? Because this sutra benefits all beings with such inconceivable merit and is therefore also called the Sutra of the Supreme Sovereign.”

The Blessed One then said to the Four Heavenly Kings, “You, your retinues, and the immeasurable devas, whenever you see a king who wholeheartedly listens to, makes offerings to, reveres, honors, and praises this sutra, should protect that king from every decline and loss. By doing so, you yourselves shall also enjoy peace and happiness. Whoever among the four assemblies of the Tathagata’s disciples is able to propagate this king of sutras thereby performs the Buddha’s work extensively among humans and devas and brings supreme benefit to innumerable sentient beings.

You Four Heavenly Kings should constantly guard such people and not allow other affairs to disturb them. Cause their bodies and minds to remain peaceful so that they may continuously propagate this king of sutras, enabling it to endure and benefit sentient beings until the end of future time.”

At that time, Vaisravana, the Heavenly King of Great Learning, rose from his seat and said, “O Blessed One, I possess a vidya-mantra called the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel. Whoever delights in receiving and upholding this vidya-mantra shall gain immeasurable merit. I shall constantly protect that person, enabling them to leave suffering and attain happiness, and they shall be able to perfect the two accumulations of merit and wisdom. One who wishes to receive and uphold this vidya-mantra must first recite the vidya-mantra for self-protection.” Vaisravana then spoke the vidya-mantra for self-protection:

Nam mô, Vai sra va na da ma ha ra ja da, tát da tha, ra, ra, ra, ra, ku nu, ku nu, khu nu, khu nu, sa pa, sa pa, ma ha vi ka ra ma, ma ha vi ka ra ma, ma ha ra ja, rát sa, rát săn tu, năng, sa ra, sát toa năng, soa ha. (Namo Vaisravanayamaharajaya tadyatha ra ra ra ra kunu kunu khunu khunu sapa sapa mahavikarama mahavikarama maharaja raksa raksantu nam sarva sattvanam svaha).

“O Blessed One, one who recites this vidya-mantra should take a white cord and recite the mantra seven times, tying one knot after each recitation. Then, by fastening it behind the elbow, the rite of self-protection is accomplished. Next, one should bathe and cleanse oneself, put on clean garments, and take equal portions of aromatic substances such as benzoin, sandalwood, camphor, suhap, tagara, and frankincense, mixing them together. One should personally hold the incense burner and burn these aromatic substances as an offering. Then, within a quiet chamber ⁽⁵⁹⁾, one should recite the vidya-mantra that summons me, Vaisravana.” Vaisravana then spoke the summoning vidya-mantra:

Nam mô, Vai sra va na da, nam mô, Đa na đa da, Đa nết va ra da, a ka sá, a pa ri mi ta, đa nết va ra, pa ra ma, ka ru ni ka, sa va, sát toa hi ta chin ta, ma ma, đa na, va đa pa dê, soa dăm, a ka sa, soa ha. (Namo Vaisravanya namo Danadaya Danesvaraya akarsa aparimita danesvara parama karunika sarva sattvahitacinta mama dana vardhaparye svayam akarsa svaha).

“After reciting this vidya-mantra seven times, one should then recite the fundamental vidya-mantra, namely the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Vidya-Mantra. One who wishes to recite the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Vidya-Mantra must first invoke the sacred names and bow reverently to the Three Jewels, and then bow to me, [saying: Homage to] Vaisravana, the Heavenly King who has the power to bestow wealth and precious treasures, fulfill all wishes, and bring about peace and happiness. After invoking and paying homage in this way, one should recite my Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Vidya-Mantra, the vidya-mantra of Vaisravana, which has the power to bestow upon people whatever happiness they desire.” Vaisravana then spoke the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Vidya-Mantra before the Blessed One:

Nam mô, rát na tra da da, nam mô, Vai sra ma na da, ma ha ra ja da, tát da tha, si mi, si mi, su mu, su mu, chăn đa, chăn đa, cha rê, cha rê, sa ra, sa ra, ka ra, ka ra, ki ri, ki ri, ku ru, ku ru, mu ru, mu ru, chu ru, chu ru, sa đa da, át ma năm, nít dăm, ăn ta ra, đa tu, soa ha; nam mô, Vai sra ma na da, soa ha, đa na đa da, soa ha, na mô ra tha, pa ri pu ri ka da, soa ha. (Namo ratnatrayaya namo Vaisramanaya maharajaya tadyatha simi simi sumu sumu canda canda care care sara sara kara kara kiri kiri kuru kuru muru muru curu curu sadaya atmanam nityam antara dhatu svaha; namo Vaisramanaya svaha dhanadaya svaha namoratha paripurikaya svaha).

[O Blessed One], one who upholds the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mantra should first recite it one thousand times. Thereafter, within a pure chamber ⁽⁶⁰⁾, one should smear the ground with gomaya ⁽⁶¹⁾ and make a small mandala. At the appropriate times, one should single-mindedly offer food and drink.

One should constantly burn precious incense so that its smoke never ceases. Then one should recite the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mantra, concentrating the mind upon it day and night. The recitation should be audible only to oneself and should not be made known to anyone.

At that time, my son, Prince Thiền ni si, a son of Vaiśravaṇa, will manifest in the form of a youth, come to the place of the reciter, and ask, “What do you require that you have summoned my father?” The reciter should reply, “I wish to make offerings to the Three Jewels, but I need wealth. I therefore ask the heavenly king to bestow it upon me.” Having heard these words, Prince Thiền ni si will immediately return and report to me, saying, “Father, there is now a good person who sincerely wishes to make offerings to the Three Jewels but lacks wealth, and for this reason has summoned you.” I will tell him, “Go quickly.

Each day, bring that good person one hundred kārṣāpaṇas ⁽⁶²⁾.” When the upholder of the mantra sees this, one will know that the rite has succeeded. One should remain alone within that pure chamber, burn incense, and lie down. Place a fragrant box beside the bed.

Looking inside it early each morning, one will obtain the wealth one sought. Whenever wealth is received, it must be used that very day to make offerings of incense, flowers, food, and drink to the Three Jewels and also to give to the poor and needy. It must all be used in this manner and must not be stored away.

One must give rise to compassion for sentient beings and must not become angry, deceitful, flattering, or harmful. If one becomes angry, the efficacy will immediately be lost. One must constantly guard the mind from anger.

“Furthermore, one who upholds the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mantra should each day recollect me, Vaiśravaṇa, together with my sons, daughters, and kindred, praising and extolling us, and should constantly support one another through the ten wholesome karmic actions, thereby causing the power of merit of us devas to shine ever more brightly, our wholesome karma to increase, and our attainment of bodhi to be realized. When we devas see this, we will all rejoice greatly and together come to protect the upholder of the mantra.

That upholder of the mantra will enjoy a long life, forever remain apart from the three evil destinies, and always be free of calamities. That person will also obtain a wish-fulfilling jewel and treasures hidden beneath the earth, exercise spiritual powers freely, and fulfill every aspiration. If one seeks official rank, honor, and prosperity, nothing will fail to accord with one’s wishes.

Moreover, one will understand the speech of birds and beasts.

“O Blessed One, if one who upholds the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mantra wishes to see me manifest in person, then on the eighth or fifteenth day of each month one should paint an image of the Blessed One on white cloth, using tree resin and various pigments. The painter must have received the Eight Precepts for the observance day. To the left of the image of the Blessed One, one should paint an image of the Goddess Śrī; to the right of the image of the Blessed One, one should paint an image of me, Vaiśravaṇa.

One should also paint my sons, daughters, and kindred. The images should then be arranged in accordance with the rite. Flowers of various colors should be set out, and renowned aromatic substances should be burned.

Bright lamps should be kept alight continuously, never being extinguished by day or night. At the proper times, the finest and most exquisite foods and rare delicacies should all be offered with an earnest heart. One who upholds the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mantra must not do so with a careless mind.

When summoning me, one should recite this mantra: Na ma hơ, Sri, kăn na da, bút đa da, nam mô, Vai sra ma na da, dát sa ra ja da, ma ha ra ja, a đi ra ja da, na ma hơ, sri dê, ma ha đêv dê, tát da tha, ta ra, ta ra, tu ru, tu ru, ba la, ba la, su sút đi, ha na, ha na, ma ni ka na ka, va rát vai đu ry da, múc ti ka lăm kri ta, sa ra ra da, sar va sát toa, hi ta ka ma, Vai sra ma na sri da, đê vi pra đa ya, ê hi, ê hi, ma vi lăm ba, gu ri na, gu ri na, pra si da, pra si da, đa đa hi, ma ma, a na ka na ma da, đa sá na, ka ma si da, đa săn năn, ma ma, ma na, pa ri ha ra đa da,

soa ha. (Namah Sri kannaya buddhaya namo Vaisramanaya yaksarajaya maharaja adhirajaya namah sriye mahadevye tadyatha tara tara turu turu bala bala susuddhi hana hana manikanaka vajravaidurya muktikalamkrsta sariraya sarvasattva hitakama Vaisramanasriya devipradhaya ehy ehi mavilamba ghurna ghurna prasya prasya dadhahi mama amakanamaya darsana kamasya darsanan mama mana pariharadhaya svaha).

“O Blessed One, if I see that person reciting and upholding the mantra and also making such solemn offerings, I will regard that person with affection and rejoice. I will then transform myself into the body of a child, an elderly man, or a bhikṣu, holding a wish-fulfilling jewel and a bag of gold in my hands, and enter the place of practice. With my body I will show reverence, and with my mouth I will recite the honored name of the Blessed One.

I will then say to the upholder of the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mantra, ‘Whatever you seek, I will cause it to be fulfilled according to your wish. Whether you wish to live concealed in the forests and wilderness, to fashion jewels, to be loved by everyone, to obtain silver and gold, to make any mantra you uphold efficacious, or to attain spiritual powers, long life, and sublime bliss, nothing will fail to accord with your wishes.

I have now spoken of only a few such matters. Whatever else you seek may likewise be accomplished according to your wishes. The treasury will be inexhaustible, and merit and virtue will be boundless.

Even if the sun and moon should fall to the earth, or if the great earth should one day shift from its place, my truthful words will never be without effect. Peace and happiness will always be present, and blessings will accord with your heart.’

“O Blessed One, if anyone upholds the King of Golden Light Sutra and recites the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mantra, its efficacy will be swiftly accomplished without requiring excessive toil. O Blessed One, I now proclaim the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mantra for the sake of all those who are poor, destitute, distressed, and afflicted, so that they may obtain great benefit, become wealthy, joyful, independent, and free of illness, and remain under my protection throughout their lives.

I will follow the upholders of the mantra and eliminate all their calamities and misfortunes. I will also cause light to shine throughout an area extending one hundred paces in every direction around those who propagate and preserve the King of Golden Light Sutra and those who uphold the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mantra. A thousand of my yakṣa spirits will also constantly protect them, obey their commands at will, and satisfy them in every respect.

My words are sincere, neither empty nor false. May the Blessed One alone bear witness for me.”

At that time, after Vaiśravaṇa had spoken about the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mantra, the Blessed One said, “Excellent, heavenly king! You are able to tear apart the net of poverty and suffering that ensnares sentient beings and cause them to become wealthy and joyful; therefore, you have proclaimed the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mantra. You will also cause this King of Sutras to spread throughout the world.”

The Four Heavenly Kings then rose from their seats, bared one shoulder, bowed their heads at the feet of the Blessed One, knelt with their right knees touching the ground, and reverently joined their palms. They praised the Blessed One in sublime verses:

⁽¹⁾ The Blessed One’s countenance

is radiant like the full moon,

like a thousand suns

emitting brilliant light.

His clear, long, and broad eyes

are like blue lotus petals.

His teeth are even and closely set,

white as snow and jade.

⁽²⁾ The Blessed One’s virtues

are boundless as the ocean;

all precious qualities

are gathered here.

The waters of great awakened wisdom

are held there in abundance;

the jewel of great, supreme samadhi

completely fills its depths.

⁽³⁾ The soles of his feet are perfectly rounded,

with exquisitely arranged marks,

level and steady

like smooth wheels ⁽⁶³⁾.

His fingers and toes

are joined by beautiful webs,

like the webbing between the toes

of the naga king.

⁽⁴⁾ The Blessed One’s body,

a radiant golden mountain,

pure and extraordinary,

is beyond all compare,

and replete with merit

like Mount Sumeru:

we reverently bow

to this King of Mountains.

⁽⁵⁾ His immeasurable excellent marks

are like space itself,

emitting a radiance

brighter than a thousand suns;

like an illusion,

inconceivable:

we reverently bow

to the Unattached One.

After the Four Heavenly Kings had praised the Blessed One, he in turn spoke the following verses.

⁽⁶⁾ This supreme scripture

of Golden Light

was expounded

by the Unsurpassed One.

You Heavenly Kings,

always protect it;

be resolute and courageous,

never retreating.

⁽⁷⁾ This precious scripture

is exceedingly profound,

and has the power to bring

peace and happiness to sentient beings.

Because it brings

peace and happiness to sentient beings,

may it always circulate

throughout Jambudvipa.

⁽⁸⁾ It also causes all

the sentient beings of every kind

throughout the great trichiliocosm

to have their sufferings removed,

especially the sufferings of the hells,

hungry ghosts, and animals;

all the sufferings of those realms

are completely eliminated.

⁽⁹⁾ All the kings

throughout Jambudvipa,

together with all

their subjects,

are gladdened

by the power of this scripture,

and are safeguarded

and kept in peace.

⁽¹⁰⁾ All the people

of this continent

are free from illness and suffering,

free from enemies and bandits;

because this scripture is widely propagated

throughout their lands,

the people dwell securely,

prosperous, joyful, and content.

⁽¹¹⁾ Those who listen

to this king of scriptures,

whether seeking honor and rank,

wealth or gain,

or wishing their lands

to be prosperous and peaceful,

shall have every prayer

fulfilled according to their hearts.

⁽¹²⁾ Enemies from other lands

will likewise be driven back,

and within their own countries

people will always dwell securely;

it is through the power

of this king of scriptures

that they escape suffering and affliction

and remain without fear.

⁽¹³⁾ Just as a wish-fulfilling tree

standing within one’s home

produces every means

of happiness,

so too does

this supreme scripture

bestow upon kings

manifold supreme blessings.

⁽¹⁴⁾ Just as water that is pure,

cool, and sweet

completely relieves

heat, hunger, and thirst,

so too does

this supreme scripture

satisfy all those

who desire merit and happiness.

⁽¹⁵⁾ Just as one who has

a casket of precious jewels at home

may enjoy its riches

entirely as one wishes,

so too does

this supreme scripture

bring merit and happiness as the heart desires,

with nothing lacking.

⁽¹⁶⁾ You Heavenly Kings,

together with all the devas,

should make offerings

to this king of scriptures;

if you uphold this scripture

in accordance with the Tathagata’s words,

you will possess perfect

wisdom and majestic spiritual power.

⁽¹⁷⁾ At present, the Tathagatas

of the ten directions

together protect and uphold

this king of scriptures;

when they see anyone recite

and uphold this scripture,

they praise that person, saying,

“Excellent! Most rare indeed!”

⁽¹⁸⁾ Those who listen

to this king of scriptures

will be invigorated in body and mind

and filled with joy;

hundreds of thousands

of yaksha hosts

will constantly follow them everywhere

and grant them protection.

⁽¹⁹⁾ Throughout this world-system,

the hosts of devas

are immeasurable in number

and inconceivable;

each listens

to this king of scriptures,

joyfully protecting it

without ever retreating.

⁽²⁰⁾ Those who listen

to this king of scriptures

will possess great majestic virtue

and always enjoy mastery;

it will increase the hosts

of humans and devas,

bring all decline to an end,

and increase their radiance.

After hearing these verses, the Four Heavenly Kings rejoiced and were invigorated. They said, “Blessed One, never before, from ancient times until now, have we heard such an exceedingly profound and wondrous sound of Dharma. Our hearts are mingled with joy and sorrow; tears flow from our eyes and noses, and our entire bodies tremble.

We have witnessed something rare and inconceivable.” The Heavenly Kings then scattered heavenly mandarava and great mandarava flowers over the Blessed One. Having made this supreme offering, they said further, “Blessed One, each of us Four Heavenly Kings has five hundred attendant yakshas. We shall constantly protect this scripture and the Dharma master who expounds it, supporting that master with the light of wisdom.

If that Dharma master forgets any words or meanings from this king of scriptures, we shall cause that master to remember them and never forget. We shall also bestow upon that Dharma master a supreme vidya-mantra, enabling that master to attain perfection. Moreover, wherever this supreme king of scriptures is found, we shall cause it to be widely propagated among the people and prevent it from quickly disappearing.”

When the Blessed One expounded this Dharma discourse within the great assembly, immeasurable sentient beings attained eloquence endowed with great wisdom and intelligence, amassed immeasurable stores of merit, left sorrow behind, gave rise to joy, skillfully understood all manner of treatises, entered the path of liberation, became irreversible, and swiftly attained unsurpassed bodhi.

Notes:

⁽⁵⁵⁾ Several sentences have been abridged from this short passage.

⁽⁵⁶⁾ “Sentient beings connected with oneself”; the original text reads “sentient beings with karmic affinities.”

⁽⁵⁷⁾ That is, as when speaking of the loss of sovereignty and independence.

⁽⁵⁸⁾ That is, as when speaking of twice the temperature.

⁽⁵⁹⁾ The original text reads “pure chamber.”

⁽⁶⁰⁾ Pure chamber: a clean room.

⁽⁶¹⁾ Gomaya means cow dung. See note 69.

⁽⁶²⁾ Master Yijing himself noted: Karsapana, fully translated, properly refers only to cowrie shells (cowrie shells were formerly used as currency). Depending on the region, however, the term may refer either to cowrie shells or to metal coins. In Magadha, one karsapana was worth 1,600 cowrie shells (one cowrie shell was worth 16 or 19 ancient coins). Some Sanskrit manuscripts, however, state that one receives 100 dinaras (gold coins) each day. One who upholds this mantra will receive that amount every day throughout life. In India, prayers are generally efficacious, except when made without wholehearted devotion. (Taisho 16/431).

⁽⁶³⁾ Translated in full: like the rim of a wheel with all one thousand spokes.