佛為海龍王說法印經

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the palace of the Sāgara Nāga King, together with twelve hundred and fifty great bhikṣus and many bodhisattva-mahāsattvas.

At that time the Sāgara Nāga King rose from his seat, came before the Buddha, and bowed down with his forehead touching the Buddha's feet. Then he addressed the Buddha, saying:

"World-Honored One! Is it possible that by upholding only a few of the Dharmas one may obtain abundant merit?"

The Buddha said to the Sāgara Nāga King:

"If anyone upholds, reads, recites, and comprehends the meaning of these four supreme Dharmas, then though using but little effort, he shall attain very great merit. That merit is equal to reciting the eighty-four thousand Dharma treasuries. What are the four? They are to recite and contemplate:

All formations are impermanent

All things are suffering

All dharmas are without self

Nirvāṇa is peaceful and blissful

O Nāga King! You should know that these are the four supreme Dharmas that will lead into the inexhaustible Dharma-wisdom of the bodhisattva-mahāsattvas, swiftly realizing non-arising, and quickly attaining final quiescence. Therefore you all should constantly recite and contemplate them."

When the World-Honored One had finished expounding these four verses of the Sūtra of the Dharma Seal, the śrāvakas, the great bodhisattvas, together with the devas, nāgas, and the eightfold assembly, the asuras, and the gandharvas, upon hearing the words taught by the Buddha, all gave rise to great rejoicing in their hearts and faithfully received and reverently practiced them.

The Sūtra of the Dharma Seal Spoken by the Buddha for the Sāgara Nāga King