佛說戒香經

Thus have I truly heard!

At one time the Buddha, together with a great assembly of bhikṣus, was dwelling in the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the venerable Ānanda came to see the Buddha. Having arrived, the venerable one bowed his head and face to the Buddha's feet, joined his palms in reverence, and addressed the Buddha:

"World-Honored One! I have a small doubt that I wish to ask about. I respectfully beg the World-Honored One to explain it clearly for me." Then the venerable Ānanda said: "I see that in the world there are three kinds of fragrance: the fragrance of roots, the fragrance of flowers, and the fragrance of seeds. These three kinds spread everywhere; when there is wind they are smelled, and when there is no wind they are also smelled. What are these fragrances?"

At that time, the World-Honored One said to the venerable Ānanda: "Do not say that these three kinds of fragrance spread everywhere, smelled whether there is wind or whether there is no wind. These three kinds of fragrance, whether there is wind or no wind, do indeed spread everywhere, but they cannot be smelled everywhere.

Ānanda! Now, if you wish to hear of the fragrance that spreads everywhere and is smelled whether there is wind or no wind, then you must listen attentively, and I shall speak it for you to hear."

Ānanda said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! Now I wish to hear it. I beg the World-Honored One to explain it clearly for my sake."

The Buddha said to Ānanda: Those fragrances, whether there is wind or no wind, spread throughout the ten directions. In the world, if there are upāsakas[1] and upāsikās[2] who keep the pure precepts and practice the wholesome dharmas, such as: not killing, not stealing, not engaging in sexual misconduct, not lying, and not drinking intoxicants, then the fragrance of the precepts of those upāsakas and upāsikās spreads throughout the ten directions, and all the beings in the ten directions praise them.

Those beings proclaim: "In a certain city there are such upāsakas and upāsikās, who keep the Buddha's pure precepts and practice the wholesome dharmas, such as not killing, not stealing, not engaging in sexual misconduct, not lying, and not drinking intoxicants, and so forth. Whoever practices these precepts completely, that person attains such a fragrance of the precepts. Whether there is wind or no wind, that fragrance also spreads throughout the ten directions, and all beings hear of it, know it, praise it, and revere it."

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke a verse:

All the flowers and fruits in the world,

Even aloeswood, sandalwood, and musk,

These kinds of fragrance do not spread far;

Only the fragrance of the precepts is heard everywhere.

Sandalwood, saffron, and storax,

The utpala flower and jasmine—

Among these precious fragrant flowers,

Only the fragrance of the precepts is supreme.

The many kinds of aloeswood and sandalwood in the world,

Though their fragrance is sweet, it does not spread;

But the fragrance of one who upholds the Buddha's pure precepts—

The devas all smell it and cherish it.

Thus, with the pure precepts made complete,

And diligently practicing wholesome deeds,

That person can unbind the world,

And all the māras ever keep their distance.

At that time, the venerable Ānanda together with the great assembly of bhikṣus, having heard what the Buddha taught, rejoiced and faithfully received it, then bowed to the Buddha and withdrew.

Notes:

[1] Upāsaka 近事男 (S: Upāsaka): a layman who receives and upholds the five precepts, draws near to the Three Jewels, and serves the Tathāgata.

[2] Upāsikā 近事女 (S: Upāsikā): a laywoman who receives and upholds the five precepts, draws near to the Three Jewels, and serves the Tathāgata.