文殊師利菩薩根本大教王經金翅鳥王品

At that time, Buddha Sakyamuni (Śākyamuṇi-buddha) again contemplated the palace of the Pure Abode Heaven and said to Manjusri, the Youthful Bodhisattva (Maṃjuśrī-kumāra-bhūta): “Manjusri! Within your Great Teaching is that which all Tathagatas have praised and rejoiced in. It accords with the practice of the Great True Mantra, enabling all sentient beings to enter the Samaya Mandala and master the five kinds—earth, water, fire, wind, and space.

By knowing these, they comprehend the languages of all sentient beings and inconceivable realms, perfect the True Mantra Practice of the Garuda King, and, through the supernormal wisdom and skillful means of this realization, accomplish all worldly (loka) and supramundane (lokottara) dharmas. They even fully comprehend all dharmas pertaining to the bodies of animals and the Garuda Kings (Garuḍa-rāja).”

At that time, within the great assembly of bodhisattvas, the Garuda King, surrounded by immeasurable Garudas (Garuḍa), rose from his seat, went before the great bodhisattva Manjusri, bowed his head and face at his feet, knelt with palms joined, and said to Manjusri: “I abide on the bodhisattva stage. For the benefit and happiness of sentient beings, I shall teach within this King of Teachings one hundred ancient methods. May the great bodhisattva rejoice and permit me to teach them.”

Bodhisattva Manjusri said: “For the benefit of sentient beings, you may now teach them.”

Then, through the Buddha’s majestic spiritual power, the Garuda King rose from his seat, joyful and delighted.

Manjusri said: “You should proclaim the one hundred ancient methods together with their profound and secret Dharma essentials.”

The Garuda King then spoke the True Mantra:

Nẵng mạc tam mãn đa một đà nam (1) A bát-la để (2) hạ đa (3) xả tát na nam (4) đát nễ dã-tha (5) Án xả cú na (6) ma hạ xả cú na (7) vĩ đán đa (8) bả khất-xoa (9) tát phộc bả nẵng (10) nga na ca (11) khư khư, khư hứ khư hứ (12) tam ma dã (13) ma nô tát-ma la (14) hồng, để sắt-xá (15) mạo địa tát đát-vũ (16) chỉ-nương bả dã để (17) sa-phộc hạ (18)

NAMAḤ SAMANTA-BUDDHĀNĀṂ APRATIHATA-ŚASANĀNĀṂ TADYATHĀ: OṂ ŚAKUNA MAHĀŚAKUNA VITAṂTA-PAKṢA SARVA PANAGANAKA KHAKHA KHAHI KHAHI SAMAYAM-ANUSMARA HŪṂ TIṢṬA BODHISATVO JÑĀPAYATI SVĀHĀ

When the Garuda King had spoken the True Mantra, he next taught the one hundred ancient methods: summoning dragons, commanding dragons, capturing dragons; causing both those bitten by dragons and those not bitten to manifest spiritual efficacy and speak of all matters past and future; summoning snakes, punishing snakes, extracting venom, and making them perform without being poisoned; summoning every poison, whether merely by a corresponding thought or by mentally performing the rite, and so forth.

The practitioner should observe the fasting precepts and abstain from food for three days or twelve days. Beside a riverbank, use powders of five colors to construct a mandala six cubits wide. Draw eight eight-petaled lotuses. In the center, draw the Buddha in the posture of teaching the Dharma. To the Buddha’s right, use powder to draw the great noble bodhisattva Manjusri with palms joined, gazing reverently at the Buddha. To the Buddha’s left, draw Narayana Deva with four arms holding four kinds of emblematic weapons. Near Narayana, draw the Garuda King in a terrifying and fearsome form. Near the Garuda King, draw Aruna Deva. Behind the great noble Manjusri, draw the Bodhisattva Without Wisdom, Sudhana the Youth, and Subhuti abiding with palms joined. This is called the Central Mandala.

Next, in the outer court, on the eastern side of the mandala, use white ash to draw a vajra; on the left, the southern side, use charcoal powder to draw a sword; on the northern side, use yellow pigment to draw a staff; and on the western side, use red pigment to draw a cord. In this way the mandala’s outer court is arranged.

When the drawing is complete, three kinds of sweet-flavored food should be offered on all four sides.

Upon the mandala, scatter various flowers and place various anointing fragrances, powdered incense, argha water, and auspicious vessels filled with scented water. Burn benzoin incense and recite the Root True Mantra to invite all the noble assembly. Before this mandala, make a homa hearth, kindle smokeless charcoal, and cast khadira wood into it.

Give rise to great loving-kindness toward all sentient beings and sit upon the dragon seat. Dip jati wood in the three sweet substances—curds, honey, and ghee—and cast it into the hearth 1,008 times. Signs of accomplishment will immediately appear, and a multitude of snakes will arrive.

Offer argha at once; one should know that the True Mantra Dharma has been accomplished. Recite the True Mantra and make this vow: “May the True Mantra Dharma attain siddhi.” Then recite the Root True Mantra and dismiss them. While reciting the True Mantra, sprinkle all the offered food, drink, incense, and flowers with argha water, and then cast them into the river.

From that time onward, whatever is done—summoning, restraining, or prohibiting every kind of poison—will be accomplished through the corresponding recitation.

There is another method. If one wishes to make two people hate each other, mix white flowers with poison and perform homa twenty-one times; they will then hate each other.

There is another method. If one wishes to destroy an enemy, take a snakeskin, recite the True Mantra once, and cast it into the fire twenty-one times; that enemy will be destroyed.

There is another method. Take a bird’s wing feather and perform homa twenty-one times; that enemy will go mad and flee, leaping like a crow.

There is another method. If one wishes to make a man and woman love and respect each other, mix white mustard seeds with ghee and perform homa twenty-one times; they will respect and obey each other.

There is another method. If one wishes to make a king show love and respect, perform homa twenty-one times with milk porridge; one’s wish will be fulfilled.

There is another method. Empower a clod of earth and cast it into a fire; the fire will cease to burn hot. To release it, empower grass and cast it in; the fire will immediately be released.

There is another method. Recite the True Mantra seven times and empower a great river, canal, or stream; no fish there will become caught in nets.

There is another method. Snap the fingers and recite the True Mantra; one can summon the fish.

There is another method. For anyone suffering from illness, empower water twenty-one times and pour it over the crown of the person’s head; the illness will immediately be cured.

There is another method. Empower a staff twenty-one times and strike any door; the door will open by itself.

There is another method. Place the staff entirely inside a blue bag and, before a battle formation, signal the enemy army from afar; that army will immediately disperse.

There is another method. Empower the flap of a robe twenty-one times and flash it before the enemy army; all that army’s knives, staves, bows, and crossbows will break by themselves. All will be restrained and unable to move. To release them, recite the True Mantra once, and they will immediately be released.

There is another method. Take a snake’s head, empower ash, seal the snake’s mouth, speak a person’s name, and recite the True Mantra twenty-one times; that person will become mute.

There is another method. If someone has been struck by a poisoned arrow, empower water and sprinkle it from afar; the arrow will immediately come out.

There is another method. If one wishes to break another True Mantra, recite this True Mantra and the other rite will lose its efficacy. If one wishes to release it, it will be released at once.

There is another method. Empower a fired brick twenty-one times and cast it toward someone imprisoned in cangue and fetters; the restraints will immediately break and release him.

There is another method. If one wishes to make rain fall, construct the mandala, offerings, and homa hearth according to the preceding mandala rite. Kindle a fire with neem wood and perform homa 1,008 times with white mustard seeds; sweet rain will immediately fall. If one wishes for abundant rain, perform homa even a thousand kotis of times, and it will accord with one’s wish.

There is another method. Empower a betel leaf twenty-one times. Hold it in the hand and face the direction in which one wishes the phenomenon dispersed; evil mists and hailstorms will move elsewhere.

There is another method. If a house is burning, perform the preceding rite and the fiery calamity will move elsewhere.

There is another method. If one seeks rain or snow, also perform this rite, as should be understood from the foregoing.

There is another method. Make a snake from clay, empower it twenty-one times, and say: “Bite the person named ....” It will go to that place and bite the person.

There is another method. Make a snake with charcoal powder, also according to the preceding rite. To release the person, recite the True Mantra and say, “Release,” and the person will immediately be released.

There is another method. If one wishes to summon snakes, empower white mustard seeds seven times and cast them in the four directions; the snakes will immediately come. Establish the boundary, then sprinkle water, and they will be dismissed.

There is another method. Empower a clod of earth and cast it into a dragon pond; the dragon will immediately come.

There is another method. Empower earth and cast it into water; a dragon will immediately leap forth. The practitioner may stand upon the dragon’s back and have complete mastery.

There is another method. If someone has been poisoned by a snake, make four Garudas—golden-winged birds—from clay. Recite the True Mantra, sprinkle water over the person’s body, and cast the Garudas in the four directions. Each bird will seize a snake in its beak and bring it back. The practitioner says: “Drink this person’s poison.” The poison will immediately disappear, and the person will recover.

There is another method. Empower small beans 108 times and scatter them in the four directions. A dragon will come in the form of a bee. Say to it: “Bite the person named ....” The bee will bite that person, and no other practitioner will be able to release him. The person who originally performed the rite should empower water and sprinkle it; the spell will be released and the poison disappear.

There is another method. Take a bow, empower an arrow, and shoot it in the four directions; a snake will coil around the arrow and be brought back. The practitioner says: “Drink this poison.” The person who was bitten will immediately recover. The arrowhead must not be made of steel. This should be understood.

There is another method. If someone has been struck by a poisoned arrow, empower water and sprinkle it upon the arrow; the arrow will immediately come out.

There is another method. Use earth from an anthill to make four mongooses (Nakula, an animal that catches snakes). Empower water and sprinkle it over the person’s body; the mongooses will go, seize snakes in their mouths, and bring them back. The practitioner says: “Drink that poison.” The poison will be neutralized, and the bitten person will recover.

There is another method. Empower charcoal and draw a snake upon the ground. Strike it with an argha-wood staff; the drawn snake will go, seize the snake, and bring it back. It will then drink the poison, and the bitten person will escape death.

There is another method. Empower a banner and wave it over a person who has died from poison; that person will return to life.

There is another method. Empower musical instruments and pluck, strike, or blow them; all who have succumbed to poison will return to life.

There is another method. If one wishes to summon dragons and snakes, dye earth in five colors and draw a mandala. Clap the hands and recite the True Mantra; dragons and snakes will come from the four directions and enter the mandala. One should not be afraid. If one protects oneself and forms the Crown-Knot Seal, they will not dare cause harm.

There is another method. Empower the eyes with the True Mantra and glare angrily; in an instant the other person will fall to the ground and become a snake. When one wishes to release him, he will immediately be released.

There is another method. By reciting the True Mantra in this way, both those affected by poison and those not affected will manifest spiritual efficacy, and the practitioner will attain mastery.

There is another method. Take withered flowers previously offered to Narayana Deva, recite the True Mantra, empower them 108 times, and cast them at a crossroads or into someone’s house. The flowers will turn into snakes capable of biting people. If empowered water is sprinkled, the poison of the bitten person will immediately be neutralized.

There is another method. Empower one’s own hand, and for six months one will not be harmed by poisons.

There is another method. Empower one’s own body and command a snake to bite another person; it will bite him.

There is another method. Empower a crown, necklace, and other articles and wear them upon the body; they will protect one’s body from all poisons.

There is another method. If someone has died from poison, recite the True Mantra beside the body, smear it with clay, sprinkle it with water, fan it with a fan, or mentally recite the True Mantra; the person who died from poison will immediately return to life.

There is another method. If someone is thin and weak, mix Mahamangying with ghee, burn it, and fumigate the person; that person will become stout, plump, and full-bodied.

There is another method. Grind manusa bones—human bones—into powder, burn them with crows, owls, horned owls, and so forth, and recite the True Mantra. Insert that person’s name into the formula; the person will die.

There is another method. Recite the True Mantra and empower the drug Mananana mixed with rice husks, then burn it; the other person will become insane.

There is another method. Mix white mustard seeds with sesame and burn them. Recite the True Mantra and add the other person’s name; that person will meet with calamity. This also treats the affliction of malarial fever.

There is another method. Mix coix seeds with cat excrement, burn the mixture, and empower it by reciting the True Mantra; it will cause people to hate one another.

There is another method. Mix powdered skull bone, powdered dried bullfrog, and powdered dried fish with honey, burn the mixture, and empower it by reciting the True Mantra; it will cause that person to lose his life.

There is another method. Mix ox bile and human bone with ghee and burn them; this will crush the enemy.

There is another method. Mix fish roe, liquor, and the seeds of butterfly flowers. Empower the mixture by reciting the True Mantra. If a person is separated and far away, speak that person’s name, and before long the person will return.

There is another method. Put tat wood and bean stalks into a mortar and grind them into powder. Pound them together with chicken meat and a chick, form pills the size of jujube seeds, and burn them while speaking that person’s name; this accomplishes summoning.

There is another method. Pound radish seeds, mix them with sesame oil, and burn them. This is the Incense Rite of Swift Summoning.

There is another method. Mix benzoin incense with ghee and burn it. Speak that person’s name; this will cure every illness.

There is another method. Mix sesame with white mustard seeds and perform homa for seven nights while speaking that person’s name; one will gain that person’s love, respect, obedience, and submission.

There is another method. Mix salt with mustard seeds and perform homa 1,080 times, three periods each day, for a full seven days; one will gain the love and respect of a great person.

There is another method. Grind a skull into fine powder, empower it 1,080 times, rub it upon the hand, and then touch the aforementioned person; one will immediately gain that person’s love and respect.

There is another method. Take ash from a charnel ground, empower it 108 times, and scatter it over that person’s body; the person will suffer severe malarial fever. If the person later gives rise to repentance, empower with this True Mantra and the affliction will immediately be released.

There is another method. Mix mongoose hair (Nakula), white mustard seeds, and snakeskin into powder. Speak the aforementioned person’s name, empower the powder 108 times, and burn it; everyone will hate that person. To reverse it, empower sesame and burn it; people will again love and respect the person, who will obtain wealth and treasure.

There is another method. Mix sesame, non-glutinous rice, and ghee, burn them together, and empower them by reciting the True Mantra; one will gain a woman’s love and respect.

There is another method. Beside a dragon pond, perform homa for three nights with barley, sesame, bullfrog, and lumps of fat; heaven will send down heavy rain.

There is another method. Make an image of the Garuda from clay, place it between one’s palms, join the palms, and enter water up to the chest. At midnight, speak that person’s name and recite 108 times; love and respect will be accomplished.

There is another method. Scatter non-glutinous rice in a charnel ground and then gather it again. Take one grain at a time, recite the True Mantra once, and strike the heart of the Garuda; one will obtain the splendid emoluments of official rank, and one’s retinue will share in them.

There is another method. Mix mongoose hair with butterfly-flower seeds and burn the mixture while reciting; all ghosts and spirits will show love and respect, and whatever they are commanded to do will be accomplished.

There is another method. Mix poison and Bharata with honey and burn them; one will gain everyone’s love and respect.

There is another method. Mix the skull bone of a red chick with oil from red mustard seeds and burn it; love and respect will be accomplished.

There is another method. Mix Alasalan incense, the drug Tzumanana, flowers, and so forth, and burn them together; love and respect will be accomplished.

There is another method. Mix fennel seeds, heavenly wood, bullfrog excrement, and so forth, and burn them together; love and respect will be accomplished.

There is another method. Mix barley, sesame, kusa grass, and owl-grass with cow urine and burn them; love and respect will be accomplished.

There is another method. Mix orpiment, a crow’s tongue, and blood from one’s own body, then burn the mixture while speaking that person’s name; the person will become mute.

There is another method. Mix human hair and beef with sesame and burn them; this will cause another person to become ill.

There is another method. Mix crow wings, horned-owl wings, and neem oil, then burn them while speaking the evil person’s name; this accomplishes expulsion. The person will lose self-control and depart far away.

There is another method. Mix benzoin incense and ghee with the juice of three kinds of fruit, burn the mixture, and recite; everyone will show love and respect.

There is another method. Mix Lysimachia incense, Chinese cinnamon, and storax incense, burn the three together, and recite; everyone will comply and obey the commands of the Teaching.

There is another method. Burn storax, white sandalwood, camphor, the drug anjana, and so forth, and recite; nobles will be delighted.

There is another method. Before an image of Narayana, sit in the Mahamangsa posture. First recite eight times and make homa offerings; afterward recite the True Mantra 1,008 times. Perform the rite for three nights, and whatever is sought will be obtained.

There is another method. In a charnel ground, use charnel-ground ash to make the person’s image, then burn the flesh of a great beast as incense. Sit upon kusa grass and recite one thousand times; whatever is sought will be brought by the person from whom it is sought, and that person will carry out one’s directions.

There is another method. Mix butterfly flowers with rice husks and crow wings, then perform homa; in an instant the other person will be driven away.

There is another method. In a charnel ground, kindle a fire with udumbara wood, use a kapala as a seat, and burn snakeskin; the food in that household will never be exhausted.

There is another method. Take bone from a charnel ground, pound it into powder, mix it with white mustard seeds, and perform homa 1,008 times while speaking that person’s name; anyone within one hundred yojanas will be summoned, transcending the defilements of sensual forms.

There is another method. Carve from white sandalwood an image of the Garuda King with outspread wings and every ornament—dragons, necklaces, and so forth—with very sharp beak and talons. Make it terrifying and fearsome, standing upon a lotus pedestal and gazing downward. It may instead be made from a special wood or painted upon a wall. The artisan who makes the image should undertake the eight precepts and be paid more than the customary wage so that he is pleased. The image may be as large as a post for tethering livestock. When all rites are performed before this image, nothing sought will fail to be accomplished.

There is another method. One who seeks increase should make an image of the Garuda King from vi wood and recite before it; whatever is sought will be obtained.

There is another method. One who seeks love and respect should make the image from udumbara wood and recite before it; love and respect will immediately be accomplished.

There is another method. One who seeks children or wishes to possess a herd of cattle should make the image from night-closing wood.

There is another method. One who seeks money should make the image from madhuka wood.

There is another method. Perform homa with pork, and the result will certainly be accomplished.

There is another method. If one seeks official rank, perform homa with horse meat.

There is another method. Perform homa with the meat of a black sala bird to seek auspicious merit.

There is another method. To seek widespread fame, women, fields, and so forth, burn the flesh of a great beast as a homa offering.

There is another method. One who seeks victory in debate should also perform homa with the flesh of a great beast, maṃsa (meat), and success will immediately be attained.

There is another method. To seek victory in battle, perform homa with the flesh of a great beast; victory will certainly be gained.

There is another method. To seek the love and respect of a powerful king, perform homa with elephant meat; his respect and submission will immediately be gained.

There is another method. To gain the respect and submission of a powerful, arrogant, conceited favorite or prime minister, perform homa with horse-fragrance grass—one of the four precious grasses of the brahmans.

There is another method. To cause another person to lose his life, burn elephant hair while speaking that person’s name and performing homa.

There is another method. Carve an image of the Garuda from chaumana wood. Recite before that image, and the other person will lose his life.

There is another method. Recite before an image of pure gold; this accomplishes the Rite of Increase.

There is another method. Recite before a silver image to seek widespread fame.

There is another method. Performing homa with crow wings can injure the other person.

There is another method. Performing homa with vulture wing feathers can cause killing.

There is another method. Performing homa with horned-owl wing feathers can make people hate one another.

There is another method. Performing homa with peacock feathers will bring abundant wealth and treasure.

There is another method. Performing homa with pheasant wing feathers will bring many wives and concubines.

There is another method. Performing homa with the wing feathers of a small bird will bring many children and grandchildren.

There is another method. If one seeks pure gold, one should burn vulture wing feathers.

There is another method. Performing homa with the wings of a long-eared owl can cause the other person to fall unconscious.

There is another method. Performing homa with dog meat can cause another person to lose his life.

There is another method. Performing homa with buffalo meat accomplishes summoning.

There is another method. If one wishes to harm another person, perform homa with the flesh of a great beast.

There is another method. If one wishes to pacify calamity, perform homa with deer hair.

There is another method. If one wishes to destroy a city, burn black goat hair as a homa offering.

There is another method. If one wishes to make people hate one another, perform homa with hair from a human body.

There is another method. If one wishes to injure another person, also perform homa with human hair; this can also destroy an enemy.

Methods of this kind should be performed as homa rites during three periods each day for seven days. If one merely recollects me, one can remove every poison. If one constantly recites, one can accomplish every undertaking.

“Blessed One! If anyone cultivates this True Mantra within this Great King of Teachings and recites it during the three periods of each day, I shall constantly remove all calamities for that person and always follow behind him.”

The Garuda King then taught his hand seal. Intertwine the two thumbs and bend the two hands like wings. Forming this seal accomplishes the Body Seal.

This is the seal formerly taught by Great Mahesvara. If any dragons see this seal, they will all be subdued and will not dare disobey the command.

_Lower this seal and beckon repeatedly with the remaining fingers; this becomes the Dragon-Summoning Seal.

The True Mantra is:

Án, nhược

OṂ JAḤ

This seal and True Mantra can subdue dragons and also subdue those difficult to tame.

Again, join the two palms like an unopened lotus, place the two thumbs inside, and close the hands into fists joined together. This seal is called the Seal for Subduing All Dragons in Heaven and the Human Realm. It can accomplish every undertaking.

Another seal is taught. Join the two palms. Cross the two ring fingers outward behind the middle fingers. Place the two thumbs together, slightly curved like a mouth. Hook each index finger around a ring finger and erect the two little fingers together.

Use the Root True Mantra. This is called the Garuda King’s Penetrating-Light Seal and also the Seal That Terrifies All Dragons.

I have taught all the practices of the True Mantra and the ritual rules of the worldly Garuda Scripture. All employ this True Mantra and seal to assist in accomplishing undertakings. Out of compassion for all sentient beings, I have taught this Root King of Teachings. One should constantly seek accomplishment in this supreme Teaching and perform deeds of exceptional benefit for sentient beings. In the future age of the Final Dharma, one should use this Dharma to preserve the Buddha-Dharma, protect kings and their countries, and enable all sentient beings to attain peace and happiness.

For this Dharma gate, one must select a suitable Dharma vessel: a person with pure faith in the Three Jewels, who abides in bodhicitta and has compassion for sentient beings; who is filial toward parents, loyal and respectful toward the king, and reveres the preceptor and acarya; whose faculties are complete; who has profound faith in the True Mantra Dharma; who will undoubtedly attain accomplishment in this life; and who gives rise to deep yearning, earnestly seeks this Dharma, and does not cherish body or life.

If an acarya sees a person of this kind making an earnest request, he should have the person prepare the mandala and the necessary articles. He should then construct for the person the mandala described above, require the disciple to purify himself through the fasting precepts, confer the Three Refuges and the bodhicitta precepts, and lead him into the mandala. The disciple casts a flower. If it lands upon the Buddha, a bodhisattva, Narayana, the Garuda King, or another deity, that person may be accepted as a Dharma vessel, is qualified to hear the teaching, and is fit to receive this Dharma.

If the cast flower does not land upon the noble assembly, the person will have no share in accomplishing this Dharma.

If the cast flower does land upon the noble assembly, then before this mandala the acarya should empower scented water three times with the Root True Mantra and have the disciple make this oath: “After receiving this Dharma, I shall never dare speak of it to anyone who has not entered the mandala. I shall not show contempt for the acarya or betray his kindness. If in this life I do not turn away from this oath, may siddhi become manifest before me, and in a future life may I be born in the palace of the great noble Manjusri. If I disclose the teaching or betray his kindness, may I die prematurely, meet with many calamities, and afterward fall into an evil destiny.”

After making this oath, the disciple should be made to drink the oath-water and then follow the acarya, receiving, retaining, reading, and reciting each teaching after careful selection. One must not damage the Dharma on account of minor faults.

Whatever rites are performed should be for the benefit of many people, for protecting the country, and for preserving the Buddha-Dharma. One who gives rise to such an aspiration will swiftly attain accomplishment with only a little effort and obtain immeasurable, vast merit.

This Dharma is exceedingly profound and must be revered. Among all Garuda dharmas, it is the king and is supremely excellent.

If one wishes to subdue all Shouzi (? children), burn deer meat in a fire.

If one wishes to make people hate one another, burn deer meat in a fire.

If one wishes to subdue Shouzi (? children), burn pheasant wing feathers in a fire.

If one wishes to summon a person from afar, burn buffalo meat, and it will be accomplished.

Perform the rite during three periods each day, 1,008 times during each period, and accomplishment will be attained.

THE CHAPTER ON THE GARUDA KING FROM THE GREAT KING OF TEACHINGS SUTRA OF BODHISATTVA MANJUSRI

ONE FASCICLE (End)