佛說百佛名經

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was dwelling in the Garden of Jeṭa and Anāthapiṇḍada (Jeṭavaṇe'nāthapiṇḍadasyārāma) in the country of Śrāvasti (Śrāvastya), together with great Bhikṣus (Mahatā-bhikṣu), Bhikṣuṇīs (Bhikṣuṇī), Upāsakas (Upāsaka), Upāsikās (Upāsikā), the assembly of great Bodhisattvas (Mahāsatva-saṃgha), along with the great devas (Mahā-deva), Śakra the Lord of Devas (Indra-deva-rāja), the great Brahmā Heavenly King (Mahā-Brahma-deva-rāja), the Four Great Heavenly Kings (Catur-mahā-rājakajikaḥ), devas (Deva), nāgas (Nāga), yakṣas (Yakṣa), gandharvas (Gandharva), asuras (Asura), garuḍas (Garuḍa), kiṃnaras (Kiṃnara), mahoragas (Mahoraga), humans (Manuṣya),

non-humans (Amanuṣya)... immeasurable hundreds of thousands of the great assembly (Mahāsaṃgha) surrounded him before and behind, reverently making offerings, honoring and praising him.

At that time the World-Honored One expounded the Wondrous Dharma (Saddharma) for the great assembly. Then the Venerable Śāriputra (Śāriputra) rose from his seat, arranged his garments, knelt with his right knee touching the ground, joined the ten fingers of his palms (placed his palms together), and addressed the Buddha, saying: "May the World-Honored One expound the Names (Nāmadheya) of the Buddhas presently in the worlds of the ten directions.

Why is this? Because if there are good sons and good daughters who hear the names (Nāma) of the present Buddhas, they will produce great merit (Mahā-guṇa), give rise to the mind of Anuttarā-samyaksaṃbodhi (Anuttarā-samyaksaṃbuddhi-citta), attain non-retrogression (Avaivartika), and will also swiftly accomplish Anuttarā-samyaksaṃbodhi (Anuttarā-samyaksaṃbuddhi: Unsurpassed Perfect Complete Enlightenment)."

Then the Buddha said to Śāriputra: "Excellent! Excellent! Now, because you wish to benefit and bring peace and joy to the great assembly, to protect and have compassion for the multitude of beings, to cause beings to fulfill what they seek, wishing to cause all to give rise to joy, and also for the sake of the Bodhisattvas (Bodhisatva) of future ages to increase their wholesome roots (Kuśala-mūla).

Excellent! Excellent! That you give rise to wholesome awareness and contemplation and inquire in this way—this inquiry is entirely the awesome spiritual power of the Tathāgata (Tathāgata).

Śāriputra! Now listen attentively! If there are good sons and good daughters who hear the names of these present Buddhas and are able to receive and uphold them, then all the hosts of Māra (Mārā-saṃgha) will find no opportunity to harm such persons, and all evil people will likewise find no opportunity to harm them.

They will attain immeasurable, boundless, profound merit, and wherever they are born they will be complete in the Bodhisattva conduct (Bodhisatva-caryā). They will attain the penetration of recollecting past lives (Purvanivasānusmṛiti-jñānaṃ), with countenance upright and complete in all the marks; they will always draw near to and make offerings to the Buddhas, and will even swiftly accomplish Anuttarā-samyaksaṃbodhi.

Why is this? Śāriputra! If there are those who hear the names of those Buddhas and then receive and uphold them, read and recite them, revere and pay homage to them, write and copy them, make offerings to them, and successively teach them to others, they will attain immeasurable, boundless merit."

Then the World-Honored One spoke a verse, saying:

If a person is able to uphold these names of Buddhas,
This person will not be wounded by blade,
Poison cannot harm them, fire cannot burn them,
Nor will they fall into the eight calamities.
They will behold the golden light of Great Wisdom (Mahā-jñāna),
The thirty-two marks, the Dharma Kings (Dharma-rāja);
Having beheld the Buddhas,
They make immeasurable offerings to those Buddhas.
Such a one: their eyes are not blind, yellow, or red,
Their body is not bent or hunched, nor one-eyed;
They attain the body of mighty Nārāyaṇa (Nārāyaṇa)—
Such is the recompense (fruit of karma) of upholding the names of Buddhas.
They will always be honored by devas, nāgas, and yakṣas,
And the gandharvas will present offerings to them.
Enemies and evil people cannot harm them—
Such is the recompense (fruit of karma) of upholding the names of Buddhas.
Now listen attentively! Śāriputra!
As I have spoken these subtle and wondrous words:
If there are those who hear these names of Buddhas,
They will at once draw near to the Path of Enlightenment (Bodhi-patha, or Bodhi-mārga).
Therefore, now, with single-minded heart, listen!
The Great Dharma Kings of the worlds of the ten directions
Are able to pull out the thorns of afflictions of beings,
Like a medicine tree that removes all illnesses.
To the assembly of ignorant, deluded, blind ordinary beings
They bestow the eyes of Bodhisattva Wisdom.
Again, it is like the Bodhisattva Foremost in Giving:
Throughout immeasurable thousands of koṭis of Ganges-sands of realms,
Filling them entirely with the gold of Jambūdvīpa,
Day and night through the six periods without ceasing,
Offering it to the Great Teacher of Great Compassion;
And again using sandalwood (Candana) filling a hundred realms,
Banners, canopies, and garments as numerous as the Ganges sands,
Throughout immeasurable thousands of myriads of koṭis of kalpas,
With single mind employing these as gifts of charity;
And again, within a single Buddha-land,
Erecting Buddha-stūpas (Buddha-stūpa) filling its interior,
For ten kalpas making offerings
To Buddhas as numerous as the Ganges sands;
And again making stūpas (Stūpa) as tall as Sumeru (Sumeru),
Those stūpas all fashioned of the seven jewels,
Thus filling ten thousand realms,
Their number being thirty-six koṭis,
Using red sandalwood and pearls
To make parasols, canopies, and articles of offering—
Each parasol and canopy covering over entirely
The lands within a hundred Buddha-worlds (Buddha-loka-dhātu);
Pearls and banners equal to the Buddha-fields (Buddha-kṣetra),
Their number as many as the sands of the Ganges River;
And in empty space again making golden parasols and canopies,
Their number as many as the sands of the Ganges River,

Colored like a statue of pure gold with purple radiance (purple-tinged true gold),

Each one illuminating throughout the three thousand realms,

Within each single stūpa setting forth offerings (Pūja)

For immeasurable, boundless, countless kalpas—

The various merits (Guṇa) made as above

Do not equal being able to give rise to the mind of Enlightenment (Bodhi-citta),

To abide in pure precepts without indolence;

It does not equal being able to uphold these names of Buddhas.

Thus, to be able to uphold these names of Buddhas,

And again to have compassion for the multitude of beings,

In the regions where one dwells, to spread them widely,

Teaching and causing others to receive and uphold the names of Buddhas—

Such a one, among the multitude of beings,

Becomes a field of merit (Puṇya-kṣetra) like the Tathāgata.

At that time the Buddha said to Śāriputra: "If there are people who with single mind receive and uphold, read and recite, and remember without forgetting these names of Buddhas, then the greed, anger, and various fears that have already arisen will at once be eliminated; and the greed, anger, and various fears that have not yet arisen will be prevented from arising."

Then the World-Honored One spoke the names of the Buddhas.

1. Homage to Candraprabha Buddha (Moonlight Buddha)

2. Homage to Akṣobhya Buddha

3. Homage to Greatly Adorned Buddha

4. Homage to Tagara-Fragrance Buddha

5. Homage to Ever-Shining Wondrous Buddha

6. Homage to Sandalwood-Virtue Buddha

7. Homage to Supreme Buddha

8. Homage to Lotus-Banner Buddha

9. Homage to Lotus-Born Buddha

10. Homage to Jewel-Heap Buddha

11. Homage to Agaru-Fragrance Buddha

12. Homage to Greatly Energetic Buddha

13. Homage to Sandalwood-Virtue Buddha

14. Homage to Ocean Buddha

15. Homage to Vast-Ocean Buddha

16. Homage to Banner-Virtue Buddha

17. Homage to Brahma-Virtue Buddha

18. Homage to Great-Fragrance Buddha

19. Homage to Great-Birth Buddha

20. Homage to Jewel-Net Buddha

21. Homage to Amitābha Buddha

22. Homage to Great Giving-Virtue Buddha

23. Homage to Great Golden-Pillar Buddha

24. Homage to Great-Mindfulness Buddha

25. Homage to Inexhaustible-Speech Buddha

26. Homage to Ever-Scattering-Flowers Buddha

27. Homage to Great-Love Buddha

28. Homage to Lion's-Fragrance-Victorious Buddha

29. Homage to Nurturing-Virtue Buddha

30. Homage to Śakra's-Fire-Flame Buddha

31. Homage to Ever-Joyful-Virtue Buddha

32. Homage to Lion-Flower-Virtue Buddha

33. Homage to Tranquil-Extinction-Banner Buddha

34. Homage to Precept-King Buddha

35. Homage to Universal-Virtue Buddha

36. Homage to Universal-Virtue-Elephant Buddha

37. Homage to Sorrowless-Virtue Buddha

38. Homage to Utpala-Fragrance Buddha

39. Homage to Great-Earth Buddha

40. Homage to Great-Nāga-Virtue Buddha

41. Homage to Pure-King Buddha

42. Homage to Vast-Mindfulness Buddha

43. Homage to Lotus-Virtue Buddha

44. Homage to Flower-Casting Buddha

45. Homage to Nāga-Virtue Buddha

46. Homage to Flower-Heap Buddha

47. Homage to Fragrant-Elephant Buddha

48. Homage to Ever-Contemplating Buddha

49. Homage to Right-Action Buddha

50. Homage to Well-Abiding Buddha

51. Homage to Nyagrodha-King Buddha

52. Homage to Unsurpassed-King Buddha

53. Homage to Moon-Virtue Buddha

54. Homage to Sandalwood-Forest Buddha

55. Homage to Sun-Treasury Buddha

56. Homage to Virtue-Treasury Buddha

57. Homage to Sumeru-Power Buddha

58. Homage to Maṇi-Treasury Buddha

59. Homage to Vajra-King Buddha

60. Homage to Awesome-Virtue Buddha

61. Homage to Indestructible Buddha

62. Homage to Well-Seeing Buddha

63. Homage to Vigor-Virtue Buddha

64. Homage to Great-Ocean Buddha

65. Homage to Merit-Sāla-Tree Buddha

66. Homage to Vatsa-Virtue Buddha

67. Homage to Buddha-Deva Buddha

68. Homage to Lion-Banner Buddha

69. Homage to Viṣṇu-Virtue Buddha

70. Homage to Boundless-Virtue Buddha

71. Homage to Virtue-Wisdom Buddha

72. Homage to Abundant-Virtue Buddha

73. Homage to Flower-Banner Buddha

74. Homage to Elephant-Virtue Buddha

75. Homage to Vigor-Virtue Buddha

76. Homage to Nāga-Virtue Buddha

77. Homage to Virtue-Born Buddha

78. Homage to Jewel-Heap Buddha

79. Homage to Vatsa-Son-Virtue Buddha

80. Homage to Discourse-on-Meaning Buddha

81. Homage to Universal-Seeing Buddha

82. Homage to Jewel-Sāla Buddha

83. Homage to Universal-Renunciation Buddha

84. Homage to Great-Offering-Virtue Buddha

85. Homage to Great-Net Buddha

86. Homage to King Who Severs the Doubts of All Beings Buddha

87. Homage to Jewel-Virtue Buddha

88. Homage to Universal-Canopy Buddha

89. Homage to Great-Canopy Buddha

90. Homage to Victorious-Virtue Buddha

91. Homage to Deva-Offering Buddha

92. Homage to Jewel-Lotus-Stirring Buddha

93. Homage to Abundant-Virtue Buddha

94. Homage to Wisdom-Banner Buddha

95. Homage to Jewel-Moon-Virtue Buddha

96. Homage to Nyagrodha-Vatsa-King Buddha

97. Homage to Ever-Virtue Buddha

98. Homage to Universal-Lotus Buddha

99. Homage to Equality-Virtue Buddha

100. Homage to Nāga-Protecting-Rescuing Buddha

These groups of names of Buddhas

Are able to rescue and aid the world.

In the first watch of the night, recite them once,

Remember the Buddhas, and then sleep.

In the middle watch, recite them once,

And in the last watch, do likewise.

Thus, throughout the three periods of the day,

In the first, middle, and last portions,

In each period recite them once,

Diligently and without indolence.

One who recites these names of Buddhas

Will always be able to behold auspicious dreams.

Evil ghosts and evil people

Will find no opportunity to do harm.

Therefore these names of Buddhas

Are able to rescue and aid the world.

All the devas, the divine musicians,

The yakṣas, the kumbhāṇḍas,

The rākṣasas, and the various ghosts and spirits

Cannot raise any obstruction.

As for these hundred names of Buddhas,

The person who constantly recites and upholds them—

All the deeds of Māra

Will find no opportunity to do harm."

Then Śakra, Lord of Devas (Indra),

King of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three (33),

Arranged his body and garments,

Knelt and placed his palms together,

And addressed the Buddha, saying: "World-Honored One!

We will always guard and protect

Those who receive and uphold the names of Buddhas;

And the Four Great Heavenly Kings

Will also always aid such persons.

For those who receive and uphold the names of Buddhas,

Excepting only fixed karma

Which cannot be rescued,

Among all devas and humans

None can add anything evil."

Then the All-Knowing One (the Buddha)

Sent forth a great, subtle, and wondrous voice,

The eight kinds of harmonious and gentle sounds,

Which the assembly of the good and beautiful delighted to hear.

He proclaimed to all the great assembly:

"Swiftly receive these names of Buddhas;

In the worlds of the ten directions,

In your dwelling places, spread them widely.

Then perform the Great Dharma-Giving,

Removing doubt (skepticism) for the multitude of beings."

When the Great Sage Śākyamuni (Śākya-muṇi)

Expounded this Dharma at that time:

Three hundred Bhikṣus

All attained the ending of the defilements (Āsrava: another name for afflictions);

And there were also Bhikṣuṇīs,

Their number being forty,

Who ended all the dharmas of defilement (Āsrava: another name for afflictions)

And awaited the attainment of Arhatship (Arhant);

And there were also Upāsakas,

Their number being a full five thousand,

Who abided in a mind of supreme rejoicing

And attained the fruit of Srota-āpanna (Srota-āpanna);

And there were also Upāsikās,

One thousand one hundred people,

Who all departed far from dust and defilement

And attained the pure Dharma-eye (Dharma-cakṣur: the Dharma Eye);

And there were also Great Heavenly Kings (Mahā-deva-rāja),

An immeasurable thousand myriad assembly,

Who, within the Dharma of the Dharma King (Dharma-rāja),

Attained the pure Dharma-eye (Dharma-cakṣur: the Dharma Eye);

As for those Ganges-river sands,

Divided into three portions,

Bodhisattvas equal to one portion

All attained the Forbearance of the Non-arising of Dharmas (Anutpattika-kṣānti).

The realm of the three-thousandfold great-thousand world

Quaked in six ways;

The mountains and lofty peaks,

The great earth all trembled.

Above, within empty space,

There rained down the wondrous flowers of the heavens;

The devas, nāgas, and non-humans

Filled all around with joyful sounds.

Then Śakra, Lord of Devas (Indra-deva),

Maudgalyāyana (Māudgalyāyana), Revata (Revata),

Mahā-rāja (Mahā-rāje), Kapphina (Kapphina),

Mahā-Kātyāyana (Mahā-Kātyāyana),

And Mahā-Kāśyapa (Mahā-Kāśyapa),

Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa (Urubilvā-kāśyapa),

As well as Nadī-Kāśyapa (Nadī-kāśyapa),

Pūrṇa-Maitrāyaṇīputra (Purṇa-maitrāyaṇīputra),

Subhūti the Well-Endowed who Beholds Emptiness (Subhūti),

Ānanda (Ānanda), Gavāṃpati (Gavāṃpati),

Maitreyāṇi-Son (Maitreyāṇi)—

The great assembly gathered thus,

Twenty thousand five hundred people,

With one voice addressed the Buddha, saying:

"Śākyan Lion, Dharma King!

We, exhausting our strength in vigor,

Without any remainder left over,

Using the various powers of spiritual penetration,

Throughout immeasurable worlds,

Manifesting immeasurable bodies (Kāya),

Passing through immeasurable Buddha-lands,

Will constantly proclaim these names of Buddhas,

Just as the Buddha has spoken."

Then the Buddha, World-Honored Protector of the World (Buddha-lokanātha),

In order to cause the assembly to behold it,

Manifested great spiritual penetration,

Revealing immeasurable koṭis of lands.

By the power of the Buddha's spiritual penetration,

They beheld the Śākyan Lion King

Filling and pervading every place,

Speaking this Sūtra (Sūtra: scriptural text),

Just as the Buddhas of the past

Spoke without any difference.

The Buddha said to the great assembly:

"Throughout immeasurable kalpas

I have long and skillfully cultivated spiritual penetration.

Regarding the unsurpassed Buddha-Dharma,

Be decisive and give rise to no doubt.

For the sake of bringing peace and security to beings,

Swiftly proclaim these names of Buddhas,

Causing the multitude of beings

To depart forever from the suffering of birth and death."

At that time the Buddha said to the Wise One Śāriputra: "If there are good sons and good daughters who, having heard the names of the Buddhas, believe profoundly, purely give rise to the mind of Enlightenment (Bodhi-citta), delight in receiving and upholding them, and day and night diligently read and recite them, write and copy them, and widely speak them for others, they will attain immeasurable, boundless, vast and great merit, will attain non-retrogression, and will even swiftly accomplish Anuttarā-samyaksaṃbodhi; and all the hosts of Māra will be unable to disturb them."

When the Buddha had finished speaking this Sūtra, the Wise One Śāriputra, Śakra, Brahmā, the Four Kings (the four Heavenly Kings), the Bhikṣus, Bhikṣuṇīs, Upāsakas, Upāsikās, devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras... the entire great assembly, having heard this Dharma, all greatly rejoiced.

THE SUTRA SPOKEN BY THE BUDDHA ON THE NAMES OF ONE HUNDRED BUDDHAS The End