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 offer reverence to the Sutra of Golden Light and protect those who uphold that sutra, he praised them, saying: “Excellent, Four Heavenly Kings! In the presence of countless Tathagatas of the past, you have respectfully made offerings, honored and praised them, planted roots of goodness, practiced in accordance with the true Dharma, spoken in accordance with the true Dharma, and served the world through the true Dharma.

For the sake of sentient beings, you have long considered ways to benefit them, aroused great compassion, and vowed to bring them peace and happiness. For this very reason, you now enjoy supreme rewards. If any king respectfully makes offerings to the Sutra of Golden Light, you must diligently protect him and his subjects so that they may dwell in peace.

When you Four Heavenly Kings, together with the countless yakshas under your command, protect this sutra, you thereby protect the true Dharma of the Tathagatas of the past, present, and future. Thus, 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 can eliminate every affliction, enemy, famine, and epidemic.

Therefore, if you see anyone among the fourfold assembly upholding this king of sutras, you should also diligently join together to protect them, remove their misfortunes, and bring them peace and happiness.”

The Four Heavenly Kings then rose from their seats, bared their right shoulders, knelt with their right knees touching the ground, joined their palms reverently, and said: “Blessed One, in the future, in whatever country, city, village, mountain forest, wilderness, place, or time this king of sutras, the Sutra of Golden Light, may circulate, the king of that place and time should listen to it wholeheartedly, praise it, make offerings to it, and also attend upon those among the fourfold assembly who uphold this sutra, protecting them with profound sincerity so that they may be free from decline and distress.

For this reason, we shall protect that king and his subjects, so that all may dwell securely, remain far removed from sorrow, enjoy increased longevity, and possess perfect majestic virtue. Blessed One, if that king sees members of the fourfold assembly upholding this sutra, respectfully protects them as he would his father and mother, and provides them with all necessities, then we Four Heavenly Kings shall constantly protect him and cause everyone to honor him.

Together with countless yaksha spirits, wherever this king of sutras may be, we shall conceal ourselves and guard it, allowing no obstruction to arise. We shall also protect those who listen, as well as the king who listens to this sutra, removing their misfortunes and bringing them peace; enemies from foreign lands shall also be made to retreat and disperse. Therefore, if, while a king is listening to this sutra, a hostile neighboring state mobilizes its army to invade and cause destruction, then, Blessed One, through the spiritual power of this sutra, we, together with the countless yakshas under our command, shall all invisibly lend our aid, causing that hostile neighboring state to surrender of its own accord.

It will not dare approach the borders of that kingdom, much less take up weapons to engage in slaughter. ⁽⁵⁵⁾”

The Blessed One said to the Four Heavenly Kings: “Excellent! You are able to protect this sutra in such a manner. Throughout countless past kalpas, the Tathagata cultivated all manner of ascetic practices, attained unsurpassed bodhi, and realized omniscient wisdom; only because of this does he 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 misfortune and establish him in peace. It will also cause his entire kingdom to be secure, so that even its enemies must retreat and disperse. The mighty power of this sutra will likewise cause all the kings of the continent of Jambudvipa to be free from misfortune and warfare.

You should know that the continent of Jambudvipa contains eighty-four thousand countries and kings. Every king shall live joyfully and freely, possess abundant wealth, enjoy complete fulfillment, and neither invade nor seize the lands of others. Each shall enjoy in this life the blessed rewards corresponding to the meritorious causes of former lives, and no one shall harbor evil thoughts or covet another country.

All shall diminish their desires, seek to benefit others, and not inflict the suffering of warfare or banishment. The peoples ruled by those kings shall cherish one another; those above and below shall live in harmony like water and milk, loving and respecting one another, joyful and at ease, gentle and humble, and ever increasing their roots of goodness. Thus, this continent of Jambudvipa shall be peaceful and prosperous, its population abundant, its soil fertile, heat and cold in balance, and the seasons favorable.

The sun, moon, and stars shall move in their proper courses; winds and rains shall come at the proper times; there shall be no calamities; wealth shall abound; people shall be generous by nature, constantly practice giving, and fulfill the ten wholesome karmic deeds. After death, most shall be reborn among the devas, and the celestial hosts shall increase.

“Four Heavenly Kings, in the future, if any king listens to this sutra, respectfully makes offerings to it, and upholds it, he shall be praised by the fourfold assembly and shall also benefit you yourselves and the countless yakshas under your command. Therefore, kings should constantly listen to this king of sutras. The nectar of the true Dharma will increase the strength and vitality of your bodies and minds, make you powerfully diligent, and endow you fully with merit, virtue, majesty, and radiance.

If those kings listen wholeheartedly to this sutra, they thereby present a great and rare offering to me, Shakyamuni Tathagata. To make offerings to the Tathagata is to make offerings to countless Tathagatas of the past, present, and future. To make offerings to the Tathagatas of the three times is to acquire 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 misfortune, abide in peace and happiness, and possess immeasurable roots of goodness. The subjects of those kings shall also fully enjoy the various pleasures of the five desires, and every evil shall be entirely dispelled.”

The Four Heavenly Kings again addressed him: “O Blessed One, in times to come, if there is a king who delights in listening to the King of Golden Light Sutra, seeking supreme peace and happiness for himself and the royal household; wishing his present throne to flourish; wishing to obtain an immeasurable accumulation of merit; and wishing his people and kingdom to be free from enemies, sorrow, and calamity—then, O Blessed One, that king should not be heedless or let his thoughts wander.

With reverence, sincerity, and earnest devotion, he should aspire to hear and receive this supreme king of sutras. To this end, the king should first adorn a palace hall within the royal palace that is most conspicuous and most precious. He should sprinkle the ground with fragrant water, scatter renowned flowers, set up the most beautiful lion throne for the Dharma, ornamented and inlaid with precious jewels, and suspend above it jeweled canopies, banners, and pennants.

He should then burn priceless incense and have various kinds of music performed. The king himself should bathe and purify his body, anoint himself with fragrant substances, put on clean and new garments, and wear jeweled necklaces. Yet he should sit upon a small, low seat, neither exalting himself nor occupying a lofty place.

Abandoning arrogance, he should settle his mind in right mindfulness and await the hearing of this king of sutras. Furthermore, he should regard the Dharma master who is to arrive 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 expressions and soft words.

As for himself, he should be filled with immense joy, thinking: ‘I have obtained a great benefit, for I am able to make a magnificent offering to this king of sutras.’ Having made such preparations, when the king sees the Dharma master arrive, his heart should be filled with reverence, yearning, and admiration.

“The Blessed One said to the Four Heavenly Kings: ‘That king should by no means fail to go forth to welcome the Dharma master. He should put on clean garments and adorn himself with jeweled necklaces. Personally holding a white parasol together with incense and flowers, he should arrange his retinue in solemn order, assemble many musical instruments, and go on foot beyond the gate of the royal city to welcome the Dharma master.

With his mind fully engaged and with wholehearted reverence, he should perform this auspicious act. Four Heavenly Kings, why should the king personally render such reverence and offerings? Because, at that time, with every lifting and placing of his foot, each step constitutes reverence and offerings to immeasurable Tathagatas; each step enables him to transcend that many sufferings of birth and death; and each step becomes a cause for him in the future to attain that many thrones of wheel-turning kings.

Moreover, with every step his present merit increases; he gains sovereign mastery, inconceivable spiritual responsiveness, and the respect of the multitude. For innumerable future kalpas, 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 him; he will be entirely fearless; he will gain great renown and be admired by all.

Among humans and devas he will enjoy sublime happiness, acquire great power and majestic virtue, possess an extraordinary bodily appearance and supremely dignified bearing, encounter Teachers of Humans and Devas and spiritual friends, and perfect an immeasurable accumulation of merit.

“‘Four Heavenly Kings, you should know that, seeing such benefits, the king should personally travel from one yojana to hundreds of thousands of yojanas to welcome the Dharma master. He should regard that Dharma master as the Tathagata. Having welcomed him into the royal city, the king should think: “Thus the Blessed 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 Blessed Ones. Today I have had the most excellent musical instruments played and have presented supreme offerings to the Blessed Ones of the three times. Today I have forever uprooted the suffering of the realm of Yama and planted the seeds of the roots of virtue of Brahma, Shakra, and a wheel-turning king.

What I have done today will enable innumerable sentient beings to escape birth and death, attain nirvana, and accumulate an inconceivable store of merit. It will bring peace and security to my relatives and subjects; it will make my country peaceful and free from calamity; evil people and hostile enemies will be unable to disturb or invade it; and it will be far removed from every sorrow.”

“‘Four Heavenly Kings, the king should cherish the wondrous Dharma in this way. He should also make offerings to, revere, honor, and praise the four assemblies of the Tathagata’s disciples. Then he should first dedicate the supreme merit of these roots of virtue to you yourselves and to your attendants. Because that king possesses such great merit as a contributing cause, he will presently attain great sovereignty, his majestic radiance will increase, and he will be adorned with auspiciousness and excellent marks. Against every kind of hostile enemy, he will have the power to gain victory through the wondrous Dharma.’

“At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings again addressed him: ‘O Blessed One, if a king reveres the wondrous Dharma and wishes to hear the king of sutras in this manner, if he also reverently makes offerings to the four assemblies who receive and uphold the king of sutras—including the Dharma master—and if he wishes to cause us to rejoice, then beside the Dharma throne he should sprinkle fragrant water, scatter flowers, and arrange seats and tables for us, the Four Heavenly Kings.

We shall listen to the Dharma together with the king. When the king obtains roots of virtue, he should also dedicate to us a portion of the merit of those roots of virtue. O Blessed One, when the king invites the Dharma master to ascend the Dharma throne, he should also, in part for our sake, burn renowned incense as an offering to this king of sutras.

“‘O Blessed One, in but an instant, the smoke of that incense will rise into space, reach our palaces, and transform into canopies of incense suspended in the sky. We devas will immediately perceive the fragrance of that renowned incense and see the incense smoke radiating golden light, brilliantly illuminating our palaces. It will also shine upon the palaces of Brahma, Shakra, the Great Goddess of Eloquence, the Great Auspicious Goddess, the Earth Goddess Firm and Steadfast, the Great General Right Understanding, the deities of the twenty-eight divisions of yakshas, Maheshvara, Vajrapani the Lord of Mysteries, the Great General Precious Worthy, the demon mother Hariti and her five hundred children, Anavatapta Dragon King, and Ocean Dragon King.

O Blessed One, all these devas and spirits, each within their own palace, will see that incense smoke transform in an instant into canopies of incense. They will perceive its fragrance and see the light of the incense smoke reaching throughout all the palaces of the devas and spirits.’

The Blessed One said to the Four Heavenly Kings: “That incense smoke, with its fragrance and radiance, does not merely travel to those palaces [which you can see], where it transforms into clouds and canopies of incense and emits great light. The incense smoke rising from the incense burner personally held and kindled by the king as an offering to this king of sutras also, in a single instant, travels throughout this great 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 great trichiliocosm, that incense smoke fills the sky, transforming into clouds and canopies of incense; and the golden radiance of these cloud-canopies illuminates all the palaces of the devas [and divine beings]. All the clouds and canopies of incense throughout this great trichiliocosm arise entirely through the majestic spiritual power of the King of Golden Light Sutras.

Yet the incense smoke rising from the burner personally held and kindled by the king as an offering to this king of sutras does not travel only throughout this great trichiliocosm. In a single instant, it also travels throughout the immeasurable lands of the Tathagatas. Above each of them, in the sky, the incense smoke likewise [gathers into fragrant clouds and] transforms into an incense canopy that radiates golden light.

Every Tathagata perceives the fragrance of that wondrous incense smoke and sees those clouds and canopies of incense and that golden radiance appearing everywhere. Then the immeasurable Tathagatas together contemplate the Dharma master and, with different mouths but a single voice, praise him, saying: ‘Excellent, great being! You possess the power to propagate this profound and wondrous sutra.

In doing so, you have accomplished an inconceivable accumulation of merit. Those who listen to you expound this sutra acquire an exceedingly vast measure of merit—how much more so those who copy it, accept and retain it, remember it, study it, recite it from memory, explain it to others, and practice according to its teachings. Why is this so?

Good man, whoever hears this King of Golden Light Sutras will never again regress from unsurpassed bodhi.’

“The Tathagatas in immeasurable lands, with different mouths but a single voice, while seated upon their Dharma thrones, further praise the Dharma master, saying: ‘Excellent, good man! In a future life, through the power of diligence, you will cultivate innumerable ascetic practices and fully perfect the two provisions of merit and wisdom. You will surpass the worthy and holy ones, transcend the three realms, and become the most honored and supreme.

Adorned with peerless magnificence, you will sit beneath the king of bodhi trees, possessing the power to save the sentient beings connected with you ⁽⁵⁶⁾ throughout the great trichiliocosm. You will skillfully overcome the terrifying armies of Mara and realize the supreme, luminous, exceedingly profound, unsurpassed, perfectly correct, 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 with its twelve wondrous aspects, exceedingly profound.

You will beat the immense drum of the unsurpassed Dharma, blow the wondrous conch of the unsurpassed Dharma, raise aloft the banner of the unsurpassed Dharma, kindle the brilliant torch of the unsurpassed Dharma, and rain down the sweet waters 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 said: “Blessed One, in the present and the future, this King of Golden Light Sutras accomplishes such immeasurable merit. Therefore, any king who is able to hear this wondrous sutra has planted roots of goodness in the presence of immeasurable Blessed Ones. We shall protect and uphold that king.

Moreover, because we perceive its immeasurable merit, when the four of us, together with the immeasurable divine beings in our retinues, see in our palaces the incense smoke transforming into clouds and canopies of incense, we shall conceal our forms and, wishing to hear the Dharma, go to the place where it is taught—the foremost hall within the king’s royal palace. The Brahma kings, Shakra, the Great Goddess Sarasvati, the Great Goddess Shri, the earth deity Dridha, the great general Samjnaya, the divine beings 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 Anavatapta, the dragon king of the Ocean,

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

Blessed One, the four of us, together with the yaksha deities in our retinues, shall single-mindedly become spiritual friends with that king, each supporting the other. Because he is a great donor who bestows the gift of Dharma and satisfies 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 afflicting his royal palace, his kingdom, and his people to disappear.

The Four Heavenly Kings again joined their palms and said together: “Blessed One, suppose a king has this sutra within his kingdom, yet it has never been widely propagated, and he desires to cast it aside, takes no pleasure in listening to it, and neither makes offerings to it nor praises it. When he sees members of the fourfold assembly of the Blessed One’s disciples who accept and uphold this sutra, he likewise neither respects them nor makes offerings to them.

He thereby prevents us, our kin and retinues, and immeasurable devas from hearing the exceedingly profound and wondrous Dharma. We lose the flavor of amrita and the waters of the true Dharma; our majestic radiance and power disappear; the 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 the four of us and the yakshas in our retinues see this, we abandon that kingdom and no longer have any wish to protect it.

Not only do we abandon that king’s realm, but the great benevolent deities who have vowed to protect the country also forsake it and depart. Once they have departed, all manner of calamities arise in that kingdom. The kingdom loses its stature and power ⁽⁵⁷⁾.

Its people lack benevolent hearts. There are only imprisonment, cruelty, resentment, conflict, slander, flattery, helplessness, and injustice. Epidemics rage; comets frequently appear; two suns appear together ⁽⁵⁸⁾; solar and lunar eclipses occur at abnormal times; two rainbows, one black and one white, appear; meteors fall; the earth quakes; sounds issue from the depths of wells; torrential rains and violent winds arise; the seasons fall into disorder; famine and crop failures occur; and foreign enemies and bandits frequently invade, plunder, and lay waste to the land.

The people suffer, and nowhere in the country is there peace. Blessed One, when the four of us, the immeasurable devas and benevolent deities, and the benevolent deities who formerly protected that kingdom all distance ourselves from it, that kingdom gives rise to many such fierce and ominous calamities.

“Blessed One, if a king desires happiness for his kingdom, peace and security for his people, victory over foreign enemies, prosperity for his country, the widespread dissemination of the true Dharma, and the disappearance of suffering and evil, then, Blessed One, that king should listen to this wondrous king of sutras and make offerings to those who accept and uphold it. By doing so, through the power of the roots of goodness generated by hearing the true Dharma and drinking the flavor of amrita, he will increase the supreme benefit of us, of our retinues, and of the devas and benevolent deities. Why is this so? Because that king listens to and accepts this sutra with his whole heart.”

“Blessed One, for the sake of sentient beings, Brahma kings often expound supramundane treatises, Sakra expounds various treatises, and sages possessing the five superknowledges likewise expound all manner of treatises. Although the Brahma kings, Sakra, and the sages possessing the five superknowledges have innumerable treatises, when the Blessed One, out of compassion for humanity and the devas, expounds the Sutra of Golden Light, its excellence surpasses those treatises by incalculable multiples, beyond any possible comparison.

Why is this? Because this sutra has the power to cause all the kings of Jambudvipa to govern their countries according to 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 subjects are free from suffering and distress, and are not invaded or ravaged by hostile enemies. All fierce evils are driven far away, every calamity is eliminated from their lands, and the people are transformed by the true Dharma so that all disputes and litigation cease.

“Therefore, each king, within his own country, should kindle the torch of the true Dharma so that it shines without end, thereby increasing the strength of the devas and their retinues. Blessed One, through the deeds of such a king, we Four Heavenly Kings, together with immeasurable devas, benevolent spirits, hosts of yaksas, and all the benevolent devas and spirits throughout Jambudvipa, are able to drink the supreme flavor of amrita and acquire great majestic virtue, power, and fully endowed radiance. All sentient beings likewise attain peace and security; throughout innumerable future kalpas they constantly enjoy happiness, encounter the Blessed Ones, plant roots of virtue, and eventually realize unsurpassed bodhi.

“Such immeasurable and supreme benefits arise entirely because the Blessed One, possessing great compassion surpassing that of the Brahma kings, great wisdom surpassing that of Sakra, and great ascetic practice surpassing that of the sages possessing the five superknowledges, underwent these practices throughout innumerable kalpas and, for the sake of sentient beings, expounded this wondrous sutra. He thereby enabled all kings and peoples throughout Jambudvipa to understand the worldly methods of governing countries and transforming their populations. Through the propagation of this sutra, peace and happiness prevail everywhere. Such merit arises entirely through the compassionate power of the Lord Sakyamuni, our exalted teacher, who has caused this sutra to be widely propagated.

“Blessed One, therefore, kings should accept and uphold, make offerings to, revere, honor, and praise this wondrous king of sutras. Why is this? Because this sutra benefits all beings by bringing them such inconceivable merit and virtue, and thus it is 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 listens wholeheartedly to this sutra and makes offerings to, reveres, honors, and praises it, should protect that king from every form of decline and loss. By doing so, you too shall enjoy peace and happiness. Among the four assemblies of the Tathagata’s disciples, whoever is able to propagate this king of sutras thereby performs the Buddha’s work extensively among humanity and the devas, bringing supreme benefit to innumerable sentient beings.

Four Heavenly Kings, you should constantly protect such people and never allow other matters to trouble 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 all future time.”

At that time, Vaisravana, the Heavenly King of Great Learning, rose from his seat and said: “Blessed One, I possess a dharani called the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel. Whoever gladly accepts and upholds this dharani will acquire immeasurable merit. I shall constantly protect that person, enabling them to leave suffering and attain happiness, and empowering them to perfect the two provisions of merit and wisdom. Whoever wishes to uphold this dharani must first recite the dharani for personal protection.”

Vaisravana then spoke the dharani for personal 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).

“Blessed One, to recite this dharani, one should take a white cord and recite the dharani seven times, tying one knot after each recitation. Then, by fastening it behind the elbow, the rite of personal protection is accomplished. Next, one should bathe thoroughly, put on clean garments, and combine equal portions of aromatic substances such as benzoin, sandalwood, camphor, storax, tagara, and frankincense. One should personally hold the incense burner and burn these aromatics as an offering. Then, within a quiet chamber ⁽⁵⁹⁾, one should recite the dharani that summons me, Vaisravana.”

Vaisravana then spoke the summoning dharani:

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).

“Only after reciting this dharani seven times should one recite the fundamental dharani, namely the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Dharani. To recite the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Dharani, one should first invoke the sacred names and bow reverently to the Three Jewels, and then bow to me [with these words: 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 bowing in this manner, one should recite my Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Dharani—the dharani of Vaisravana that has the power to bestow upon people whatever happiness they desire.”

Then, before the Blessed One, Vaisravana spoke the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Dharani:

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. Then, in a pure chamber ⁽⁶⁰⁾, smear the ground with gomaya ⁽⁶¹⁾ and prepare a small altar. At appropriate times, single-mindedly offer food and drink.

Constantly burn precious incense so that its smoke never ceases. Then recite the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel mantra, concentrating the mind upon it day and night. Recite it so that only one’s own ears can hear, without letting anyone else know.

At that time, my son, Prince Chanisri, a son of Vaisravana, will manifest in the form of a child, 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 beseech the heavenly king to bestow it upon me.” Having heard these words, Prince Chanisri will swiftly return and report to me, “Father, there is now a good person who sincerely wishes to make offerings to the Three Jewels but lacks wealth, and has therefore summoned you.” I shall tell him, “Go quickly, my son, and each day give that good person one hundred karshapanas ⁽⁶²⁾.” When the upholder of the mantra sees this, that person will know that the rite has succeeded.

The person should remain alone in that pure chamber, burn incense, and lie down. Place a fragrant box beside the bed. Looking inside early each morning, the person will obtain the wealth 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 to give to the poor and needy. It must all be used in this way 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 rite will immediately lose its efficacy. One must constantly guard the mind against anger. Moreover, one who upholds the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel mantra should daily recollect me, Vaisravana, together with my sons, daughters, and retinue, chanting our praises and extolling us, and should always support us through the ten wholesome karmic deeds, causing the power of merit of us devas to shine ever more brightly, our wholesome karma to grow ever greater, and our attainment of bodhi to be realized.

When we devas see this, we shall all rejoice greatly and come together 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 entirely free of calamities. That person will also obtain a wish-fulfilling jewel, discover treasures hidden beneath the earth, freely exercise spiritual powers, and fulfill every aspiration.

Whether seeking official rank, honor, or prosperity, nothing will fail to accord with that person’s wishes. That person will also understand the speech of birds and beasts.

O Blessed One, if one who upholds the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel mantra wishes to behold me manifesting in person, then on the eighth or fifteenth day of each month, that person should have an image of the Blessed One painted upon white cloth, using tree resin and many colors. The painter of the image must have received the Eight Precepts. To the left of the image of the Blessed One, an image of the goddess Sri should be painted; to the right of the image of the Blessed One, an image of me, Vaisravana, should be painted.

Images of my sons, daughters, and retinue should also be painted. They should then be arranged according to the proper rite. Flowers of every color should be set forth, and renowned aromatics should be burned.

Lamps should be kept continually alight, never being extinguished by day or night. The finest and most delicate food and drink, together with rare and precious things, should all be offered at the proper times with an earnest heart. One who upholds the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel mantra must not do so with a careless mind.

When summoning me, that person 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 shall feel loving regard and joy. I shall then transform myself into the body of a child, an elderly man, or a bhiksu, holding a wish-fulfilling jewel and a bag of gold in my hands, and enter the place of practice. With my body I shall show reverence, and with my mouth I shall invoke the honored name of the Blessed One.

I shall then say to the upholder of the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel mantra, “Whatever you seek, I shall fulfill according to your wishes. Whether you wish to dwell concealed in the forests and wilderness, create jewels, be loved by everyone, obtain silver and gold, make any mantra you uphold efficacious, acquire spiritual powers, enjoy long life, or attain sublime happiness, nothing will fail to accord with your wishes. I have now spoken of only a few such matters.

Whatever else you may seek will also be accomplished according to your wishes. The treasury is inexhaustible, and its merit and virtue are boundless. Even if the sun and moon were to fall to the earth, or the great earth were one day to shift from its place, my truthful words would 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 Sutra of the Golden Light, King of Sutras, and reads and recites the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel mantra, that person will not need to undergo excessive toil, yet its efficacy will still be swiftly accomplished. O Blessed One, I now proclaim the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel mantra for the sake of all those who are poor, distressed, and afflicted, so that they may obtain great benefit, become wealthy, joyful, free, and without illness, and so that I may protect them throughout their lives, following those who uphold the mantra and removing all their calamities.

I shall also cause those who propagate and preserve the Sutra of the Golden Light, King of Sutras, and those who uphold the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel mantra to be illumined by light throughout a radius of one hundred paces in every direction. My thousand yaksa divine healers will also constantly protect them, obeying their commands at will and fulfilling all their wishes. My words are sincere, neither empty nor false; may the Blessed One alone bear witness for me.

At that time, after Vaisravana 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 bring them wealth and happiness; therefore, you have proclaimed the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel mantra. You also cause this King of Sutras to be propagated 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, reverently joined their palms, and praised the Blessed One in wondrous verses:

⁽¹⁾ The Blessed One’s countenance

is like the radiant full moon,

like a thousand suns

sending forth brilliant light.

His clear, long, and broad eyes

are like blue lotus petals.

His teeth are even and close-set,

white as snowy 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 supreme samadhi

fills it completely.

⁽³⁾ The wheels upon the soles of his feet

are exquisitely arrayed,

level, firm, and secure,

like perfectly formed wheels ⁽⁶³⁾.

His fingers and toes

are joined by exquisite webs,

like the true net

of the naga king.

⁽⁴⁾ The Blessed One’s body,

a radiant golden mountain,

pure and extraordinary,

with none who can compare,

and filled with merit

like Mount Sumeru:

we reverently bow to

such a King of Mountains.

⁽⁵⁾ His immeasurable excellent marks

are like space itself,

emitting a radiance

brighter than a thousand suns;

regarded as illusory,

inconceivable:

we reverently bow to

the Unattached One.

After the Four Heavenly Kings had praised the virtues of the Blessed One, he responded in the following verses.

⁽⁶⁾ This supreme scripture,

the Golden Light,

was proclaimed

by the Unsurpassed One.

You Heavenly Kings

should always protect it;

let your resolve be

courageous and irreversible.

⁽⁷⁾ This precious scripture

is exceedingly profound;

its power brings

peace and happiness to sentient beings.

Because it brings

peace and happiness to sentient beings,

it should always circulate

throughout Jambudvipa.

⁽⁸⁾ It also causes all

sentient beings of every kind

within the great trichiliocosm

and throughout those worlds,

especially those in the hells,

among hungry ghosts, and among animals,

to be delivered from

all such realms of suffering.

⁽⁹⁾ All the kings

throughout Jambudvipa,

together with all

the people of their realms,

are made joyful

by the power of this scripture,

and are protected

and kept in peace.

⁽¹⁰⁾ All humankind

upon this continent

will be free from illness and suffering,

from enemies and robbers;

because this scripture is widely propagated

throughout their countries,

the people will dwell securely,

prosperous, contented, and joyful.

⁽¹¹⁾ Those who listen to

this king of scriptures,

whether seeking high rank,

wealth, or benefit,

or praying that their country

be prosperous and peaceful,

shall have all their wishes

fulfilled according to their hearts.

⁽¹²⁾ Enemies from foreign lands

will also be driven away,

and within their own country

they will always dwell securely;

through the very power

of this king of scriptures,

they will escape affliction

and be free from fear.

⁽¹³⁾ Just as a jeweled tree

standing within one’s home

produces every kind

of instrument of happiness,

so too does

this supreme scripture

bestow upon kings

all manner of excellent merit.

⁽¹⁴⁾ Just as pure water

that is cool and sweet

completely dispels

heat, hunger, and thirst,

so too does

this supreme scripture

satisfy all those

who delight in merit and happiness.

⁽¹⁵⁾ Just as one who keeps

a casket of precious jewels at home

may enjoy its riches

entirely as one wishes,

so too does

this supreme scripture

bestow merit and happiness according to one’s heart,

without any deficiency.

⁽¹⁶⁾ You Heavenly Kings,

together with all the devas,

should make offerings to

this king of scriptures;

upholding this scripture

in accordance with the Tathagata’s words,

you will possess every kind

of wisdom and majestic spiritual power.

⁽¹⁷⁾ At present, throughout the ten directions,

all the Tathagatas

together protect and uphold

this king of scriptures;

when they see anyone reading, reciting,

accepting, and upholding this scripture,

they praise that person, saying, “Excellent!

This is exceedingly rare!”

⁽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 always follow them everywhere

and protect them.

⁽¹⁹⁾ Within this world-system,

the hosts of devas

are immeasurable in number

and inconceivable;

each of them listens to

this king of scriptures

and joyfully protects it

without ever turning back.

⁽²⁰⁾ Those who listen to

this king of scriptures

will possess mighty virtue

and always enjoy mastery;

it will increase the numbers

of humans and devas,

bring every decline to an end,

and cause their radiance to grow.

When the Four Heavenly Kings heard these verses, they rejoiced and were invigorated. They said, “Blessed One, never before, from ancient times until now, have we heard such an extremely profound and wondrous sound of Dharma. Our hearts are filled at once with joy and deep emotion; tears stream from our eyes and noses, and our entire bodies tremble.

We have realized something rare and inconceivable.” The Heavenly Kings then scattered heavenly mandarava and great mandarava flowers over the Blessed One. After making such an excellent offering, they again said, “Blessed One, each of us Four Heavenly Kings has five hundred attendant yakshas. We shall constantly protect this scripture and the Dharma teacher who proclaims it, assisting that teacher with the light of wisdom.

If that Dharma teacher forgets any word or meaning in this king of scriptures, we shall cause the teacher to remember it and never forget it again. We shall also bestow upon that Dharma teacher an excellent vidya-mantra, so that the teacher may become fully accomplished. Furthermore, wherever this supreme king of scriptures may be, we shall cause it to be widely propagated among the people and prevent it from swiftly disappearing.”

When the Blessed One delivered this Dharma discourse within the great assembly, immeasurable sentient beings attained eloquence endowed with great wisdom and intelligence, accumulated an immeasurable treasury of merit, abandoned sorrow and gave rise to joy, skillfully understood every kind of treatise, entered the path of liberation, became irreversible, and swiftly attained unsurpassed bodhi.

Notes:

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

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

⁽⁵⁷⁾ That is, as when sovereignty and independence are lost.

⁽⁵⁸⁾ That is, as when the temperature doubles.

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

⁽⁶⁰⁾ Pure chamber: a clean room.

⁽⁶¹⁾ Gomaya is cow dung. See note 69.

⁽⁶²⁾ Master Yijing himself wrote: “Kalisapana (karsapana), strictly speaking, refers only to cowrie shells (shells formerly used as currency). Yet the meaning of the term varies by region: in some places it means cowrie shells, and elsewhere it means metal coins. In Magadha, one karsapana was worth 1,600 cowrie shells (one cowrie shell being worth sixteen or nineteen ancient coins). Some Sanskrit manuscripts, however, state that one is given one hundred dinaras (gold coins) each day. Those who uphold this mantra will receive this amount every day throughout their lives. Prayers made in India are, for the most part, efficacious, except when one is not wholehearted.” (Taisho 16/431).

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