佛說造立形像福報經

Once, the Buddha came to the country of Kosala, where the groves of Ghosita were located. The king reigning over this country was named Udayana, who was only fourteen years old. At that time, when the king heard that the Buddha would come to his country, he at once issued a command for all his ministers and attendants to make ready the royal carriage, so that the king might personally go forth to welcome the Buddha.

Seeing the World-Honored One from afar, the king was overjoyed, and at once gave the order to halt the carriage; he stepped down and went on foot, not allowing his ministers, his attendants, or the bearers of the parasols to follow him. From afar the king turned toward the Buddha and bowed his head in homage; then he rose, walked a few more steps, and again paid homage. He did this three times.

The Buddha then said:

– Come hither, Your Majesty!

The king then came before the Buddha, bowed his head and face at the Buddha's feet, rose, circumambulated three times, then knelt down, joined his palms, and addressed him:

– World-Honored One! In the realm of devas and the realm of humans, there is none equal to the Buddha. Now the countenance, the body, and the gait of the World-Honored One are truly so radiant and majestic! Beholding the World-Honored One, I am truly deeply satisfied and know no weariness. The World-Honored One is the great teacher of the people in the realm of devas and the realm of humans. His loving-kindness, pitying and rescuing beings, is without measure.

Hearing this, the Buddha still remained silent.

The king again addressed him:

– I respectfully address the World-Honored One! What blessings and rewards will one who does good deeds obtain? I fear that once the World-Honored One has departed, it may hereafter be difficult to meet him again; therefore I now wish to make an image of the World-Honored One, to revere and worship it. I beg the World-Honored One out of compassion to instruct me: if one makes an image of the Buddha, what blessings and rewards will be obtained?

Then the Buddha said to the young king:

– Your Majesty has asked very well! Your Majesty, listen to the Tathagata, and bear it well in mind!

The king then paid homage and said:

– I beg to hear it!

The Buddha said:

– One who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain many blessings and rewards. Now the Tathagata will expound this matter for Your Majesty!

The king said:

– Yes! I beg to hear it.

The Buddha said:

– Throughout the world, one who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain the blessing and reward that, in whatever place he is born in a future life, he will have clear and bright eyes, an upright countenance, and a body, hands, and feet that are soft, supple, and beautiful. If he is born into the realm of devas, his bodily form will likewise be exceedingly beautiful, with none to equal it.

One who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain the blessing and reward of being born in places where there are no evil and unwholesome things, with a perfect body; after the end of his life he will be born into the seventh heaven, with an upright and surpassingly beautiful countenance, with no deva to equal him, and he will moreover be loved and respected by the devas.

One who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain the blessing and reward of being born, in a future life, into a noble and powerful family, with strength surpassing others, and will not be born into poor and wretched households.

One who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain the blessing and reward of having, in a future life, a body wondrously fine, the color of pure gold, upright with none to equal it, always loved and respected by all people.

One who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain the blessing and reward of being born, in a future life, into a family rich, noble, and powerful, with wealth and treasures beyond reckoning, always cherished by his parents, brothers, and kinfolk.

One who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain the blessing and reward that, in a future life, if he is born into the realm of Jambudvipa, he will often be born into the lineage of kings and of virtuous and good lords and nobles.

One who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain the blessing and reward of becoming, in a future life, a sovereign more noble than other sovereigns, respected and admired by all other kings.

One who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain the blessing and reward of becoming, in a future life, a Cakravartin king.[1] The kings of the four continents of the world will all be his loyal kinsmen.

One who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain the blessing and reward of becoming, in a future life, a Cakravartin king, traveling at ease through the realm of devas and the realm of humans, his decrees of the Dharma proclaimed everywhere.

One who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain the blessing and reward of being born, in a future life, into the seventh heaven of Brahma, with a lifespan of one kalpa, and possessing supreme and unsurpassed wisdom that none can equal. After the lifespan in the Brahma heaven has ended, he will again be born into a family that is filial and obedient and that knows the Buddha-Dharma.

One who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain the blessing and reward of being born, in a future life, beloved by his parents. After the end of his life he will again be born into the realm of devas.

One who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain the blessing and reward that, after the end of his life, he will not fall into the three evil destinies, will hold firmly to his right mindfulness, and will always seek the path of the Buddha.

One who makes an image of the Buddha will obtain the blessing and reward of being born, in a future life, always knowing how to honor the scriptures, always wishing to offer up precious incense and flowers, fine and precious silks, lamps and candles, and all the rare and precious treasures of the world in offering to the stupas of the Buddha. After countless kalpas this person will attain the Nirvana of the Buddha. Those who give rise to the resolve to bring precious offerings such as treasures and jewels in offering to the Buddha are not ordinary people, but are all those who in former lives made images of the Buddha and cultivated the path of the bodhisattva.

One who makes an image of the Buddha obtains blessings and rewards beyond measure; even though immeasurable and endless time should pass, they could not be counted. The waters of the great seas and of the rivers throughout the four continents of the world can be measured, but the merit of making an image of the Buddha cannot. One who makes an image of the Buddha obtains very many blessings and rewards, more than ten times the waters of the great seas and the rivers throughout the four continents of the world, and in future lives, wherever he is born, he will always seek the path of the Buddha. One who makes an image of the Buddha is like a person who has a firm and sturdy house, who has no fear when the rain falls.

One who makes an image of the Buddha, after the end of his life, will not fall into the evil destinies such as the hells, the hungry ghosts, or the animals. Furthermore, whoever, upon beholding an image of the Buddha, gives rise to a mind of reverence, joins his palms and pays homage to the stupa of the Buddha's relics, will, after the end of his life and throughout a hundred kalpas, not fall into the evil destinies such as the hells, the hungry ghosts, or the animals; afterward, at the end of his life, he will be born into the realm of devas, and when the lifespan in the realm of devas is exhausted and he returns to the world, he will be born into a family rich, noble, and powerful.

Thus this person enjoys blessings and rewards beyond reckoning, and hereafter he too will attain the fruit of Nirvana.

The Buddha said further to King Udayana:

– One who does the good deed of making an image of the Buddha will obtain such merit, blessings, and rewards, wholly without falsehood.

Then King Udayana spoke verses in praise of the Buddha:

The Buddha is the great sage,

Expounding the Dharma for living beings.

Here at Kosambi-Ghosita

Udayana, with palms joined, asks.

Hearing the true Brahma-voice,

Unmoved, with the hundred blessings accomplished,

One who carves an image of the Buddha—

What blessings and rewards will he obtain?

Then the World-Honored One spoke verses in reply:

Great king, hear what I say.

The blessing of the Supreme One—

No blessing can equal it.

The blessing and reward of making an image of the Buddha:

To be born into a rich and noble house,

Honored beyond all others,

Beloved always by one's kin.

The blessing and reward of making an image of the Buddha:

Life after life without calamity,

Always possessing the deva-eye,

Deep blue, with none to equal it.

The blessing and reward of making an image of the Buddha:

Parents look upon him with delight,

Upright, of great majesty and virtue,

Loving him without weariness or parting.

The blessing and reward of making an image of the Buddha:

A body the color of gold, radiant,

Beautiful as the lion-image,

Living beings, beholding it, rejoice.

The blessing and reward of making an image of the Buddha:

To be born into a noble house,

Kshatriya or Brahmin,

Becoming one of the fortunate.

The blessing and reward of making an image of the Buddha:

Not to be born in a borderland,

Not blind nor ugly,

The six faculties always complete.

The blessing and reward of making an image of the Buddha:

When about to die, knowing former lives,

Seeing the Buddha before one's face,

Without suffering at the parting from life.

The blessing and reward of making an image of the Buddha:

To become a renowned sovereign,

Or to become a Cakravartin king,

Lord of the four continents of the world.

The blessing and reward of making an image of the Buddha:

To become Sakra, lord of the devas,

Of spiritual powers, ruling the second heaven,[2]

Worshiped reverently by the Thirty-Three.

The blessing and reward of making an image of the Buddha:

To be freed from the realm of Desire,

To become the king of the Brahma heaven,

Reverenced by the host of Brahma.

The blessing and reward of making an image of the Buddha:

Enjoyed just so;

For one who skillfully carves and paints an image of the Buddha,

Heaven and earth may yet be measured,

But that blessing cannot be counted.

Therefore make offerings to the Buddha

With flowers, incense, and fragrant water;

Offering up to the Great One,

One attains the unconditioned and undefiled.

When the Buddha had finished speaking this sutra, the king was overjoyed and at once rose, bowing his head and face to the Buddha's feet. Then the bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, and upasikas, together with the five hundred close ministers and bodyguards, all rejoiced and paid homage to the Buddha. Thereafter they were all reborn into the buddha-land of Amitabha and became great bodhisattvas. As for King Udayana, after hearing the Buddha's words, he joyfully comprehended them and realized the fruit of stream-entry (srota-apanna).

Notes:

[1] Cakravartin king 遮迦越王: The wheel-turning sage king. The king who causes the true Dharma to reign in the world, governing the four continents surrounding Mount Sumeru. The land that this king rules is rich and beautiful, and its people are peaceful and happy.

[2] The second heaven: the Trayastrimsa heaven, the second of the six heavens of the realm of Desire.