讚觀世音菩薩頌

The Bodhisattva named Avalokiteśvara

His supernatural powers are unobstructed, hard to fathom

He shakes the mountains, fills the seas, and makes the earth tremble

In compassion for sentient beings, sharing one and the same Body

Whoever has remembered His Name, their merit is not in vain

Therefore one should ever recite and be mindful of Him

Now I, with utmost sincerity, am mindful of that Venerable One

With a reverent Mind I beg to extol Him

The Wisdom of the Bodhisattva is deep as the sea

His skillful means and adaptive transformations are hard to measure

However many Devas and Asuras there are

Mahoragas, together with all human beings

All employ wondrous, pure Verses

Praising for an entire Kalpa without growing weary

Now I proclaim and recite this hymn of exaltation

Setting forth but a small portion of His merit

In this World: in form and feature, the most venerable and dignified

The Devas can scarcely compare with Brahmā

How much less can they match the form of the Sovereign Saint

A hundred thousand myriad parts do not equal one

The Venerable One: His head adorned with surpassing beauty

His crown made with Mandāra and golden flowers (Kim Hoa)

Beautiful rainbows used as adornment

And like a half-moon (the half-rim of the moon) glowing upon the Mountain King

And again like a hundred Jewels forming Mount Sumeru

The Venerable One: His bodily marks are most sublime

Like a gentle rain veiling a Jeweled mountain

The Ini garment, broad and lovely, covers His shoulders completely

Radiant light shines and encircles all around

Tall and upright like a mountain of gold

Also like the full moon in Empty Space

And again like the hue of the Sātpaka flower

His body lovelier than the Heaven of Great Sovereignty (Maheśvara: Maheśvara Heaven)

He moves wearing white dragons as His Necklace (Anila/garland)

His right hand holds and bears a golden lotus

The flower's stalk is of the jewel Vaiḍūrya

Kindly and gently it opens, releasing a pure fragrance

Causing the Wise Ones to give rise to delight

The Venerable One holds in His hand the Victorious-Pure flower

Adorned, sublime, and most fresh and fair

Like the moon shining upon the summit of Sumeru

The Saint's body is enthroned upon a lotus seat

Through being moved by the merit of the Venerable One

I, with a Mind of utmost sincerity and deep gratitude

Take refuge and reverently bow to the One who Grants the Four Vows (who bestows what is prayed for)

The Devas make offerings together with praise

Now I, with purified Mind, take refuge and bow

The Venerable One: His curling hair a jet-black hue

Within which the beautiful image of the Muni is enthroned

A radiant halo blazes and spreads around His head

Like the burning of Coral flashing forth lightning

And again like a Crimson Letter glowing upon the Black Mountain

Presumptuously I use Words to extol Him

_The four-faced elephant, maddened, brandishing its sharp tusks

As though about to harm one caught within

Should that person single-mindedly be mindful of the Bodhisattva

He departs far from suffering and gains fearlessness (no longer any dread)

_ A fierce dragon, breathing and roaring, spewing poisonous smoke

Gnashing its teeth in fury, exceedingly cruel and savage

About to bite and harm one—truly terrifying

Recall and be mindful of Avalokiteśvara, and at once one is delivered

_ The sea surges, wind and waves raising their sound

The Makara and great fish all leap and lash about (springing up to make a fearful disturbance)

If the boat is wrecked and people sink and drown

Recall and be mindful of Avalokiteśvara, and one is made safe and secure

_ High mountains, perilous caves, sheer overhanging cliffs

Rushing waters, rolling stones causing calamity

If a person falls with no one to save them

Let the Mind be mindful of Avalokiteśvara, and one shall pass beyond (reaching the Other Shore)

_ A mighty fire blazing up, joined by a wicked wind

Burning and consuming houses and people alike

With utmost Mind be mindful of that Treasury of Merit

And right there the fiery disaster cannot do harm

_ If a person is shut within prison and jail

The body bearing chains together with cangue and fetters

With utmost Mind recite and be mindful of Avalokiteśvara

In a moment that person is delivered

_ If a person falls into a great pit of fire

Single-mindedly reciting the name of Avalokiteśvara

The scorching heat is removed and at once it turns cool

Like a lotus flower blossoming in a pond

_ If a person passes through a vast and broad forest

And suddenly meets thunder and lightning amid a raging storm

Lightning cracks, fire burns, causing the calamity of death

Recite and be mindful of Avalokiteśvara, and the calamity ceases

_ If a person encounters a powerful Lion

Its claws and fangs sharp as sword and blade

Glaring its eyes, roaring, wishing to devour a person

Recite and be mindful of Avalokiteśvara, and at once one escapes harm

_ Cruel bandits, the Turks, arriving by the cartload

Savage and merciless, unkind as Rākṣasas

Again using chains and locks to bind and tie up a person

Reciting the Name and arousing mindfulness, all are delivered

_ Deep mountains, great marshes, places of peril and calamity

Robbers and brigands lying in wait, wishing to seize and plunder

Reciting the Name and being mindful of the Power, vowing to rescue and protect

That person suddenly is freed from suffering

_ Curses and Imprecations, Quarrels and Litigation, causing injury

Ever using an evil Mind to seek out a means

Through ever recalling and being mindful of Avalokiteśvara

In the end that person is not harmed

_ Strife, banners raised, drums beaten, fighting one another

Sharp spears thrust crosswise, truly merciless

At such a time, let the Mind be mindful and recite the Name

The Bodhisattva, within it, bestows Fearlessness

_ Great and Powerful Evil Ghosts seizing and holding a person

The host of Kumbhāṇḍas sucking out a person's marrow

If one can bind their mindfulness, recalling Avalokiteśvara

He upholds that person, and the Pestilence calamity is dissolved

_ Ghost-sickness, fevers, swelling of the belly

Jaundice-sickness, Reddish-sickness (yellowed skin), heart-ache disease

Leprosy, madness, disorders of panic and frenzy

Blood and breath sickly and wasted—every kind of disease

All the black and evil karmas binding one's own body

Reciting the Name and binding the mindfulness, all are removed

_ There are hungry Ghosts with bellies like mountains

Their lips and mouths parched and dry, ever hungry and thirsty

The Bodhisattva, seeing them, gives rise to Compassion

And in due order causes them to become full and satisfied

_ Hungry Ghosts, or else oppressed by bitter cold

Their bodies, flesh, and skin all broken and ruined

Lifting up their two hands in extreme suffering

By skillful means and supernatural power He makes them comfortable

_ If the Garuḍa with golden wings uses its claws and talons

To snatch and seize the kinds of Dragons beneath the waters

Should that Dragon single-mindedly be mindful of the Bodhisattva

At once it departs far from suffering and gains peace and joy

_ If one wishes to seek good Fruits of Reward

Elephants, horses, carriages, together with servants and maids

Clothing, food and drink, all the jewels and treasures

Through ever recalling and being mindful of Avalokiteśvara

In response to that vow, they come of their own accord

_ If one wishes to gain the art of Long Life

To sit and lie amid the clouds, to roam upon the sky

Through ever recalling and being mindful of Avalokiteśvara

One shall obtain the Divine Mantra and the Immortal Elixir (Medicine of the Immortals)

_ I behold the Image of Avalokiteśvara upon the wall

Gazing upon all His forms and features, all His merits

And beholding His Supernatural Powers of Great Sovereignty

Therefore I arouse utmost sincerity and offer praise

His boundless skillful means, great and adept

I gaze upon His pure body of Wondrous Form

Swiftly departing from all the afflictions of Being and Non-Being (Existence, Non-existence)

His benefit is measureless as empty space

Using this Treasury of Praise and Merit

I vow to realize the Tathāgata's All-Knowing Wisdom

I take this Merit and praise Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva. Above, in reliance, I pray for the Sovereign of the Realm, the Saintly and Divine August Emperor. Beneath the throne, may he skillfully turn the golden wheel (Cakra of Gold).

May his form, power, and life-span be without end; may his Wisdom and fruits of reward be beyond discussion; may he ever reign over Jambudvīpa, long abiding in Cīna; may he uphold the Three Jewels and benefit sentient beings, so that all Sentient Spirits may rely upon the Saintly Blessings.

THE HYMN IN PRAISE OF AVALOKITEŚVARA BODHISATTVA (End)