金光明最勝王經

CHAPTER 12: THE FOUR HEAVENLY KINGS’ PROTECTION OF THE NATION

Having heard the Four Heavenly Kings vow to make offerings to the Sutra of Golden Light and to aid and protect those who receive and uphold it, the Buddha praised them, saying: “Excellent, excellent! You Heavenly Kings have reverently made offerings to, honored, and praised immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of Buddhas in the past. You have also planted deep roots of virtue, practiced the true Dharma, expounded the true Dharma, and used the Dharma to teach and transform the entire world. Always wishing to benefit sentient beings forever, you have aroused great loving-kindness and vowed to bestow every happiness upon them. Therefore, today you have obtained this excellent reward of merit.

“If any king reverently makes offerings to the Sutra of Golden Light, you should wholeheartedly protect him and cause him to dwell in peace. When the Four Heavenly Kings, together with their retinues and immeasurable, innumerable hundreds of thousands of yakshas, protect this sutra, they thereby protect the true Dharma of the Buddhas of the three times. For this reason, you also prevail over the asuras. If you protect and uphold this sutra, then through the power of the sutra that nation will be freed from enemies, famine, and epidemics. If you see members of the four assemblies receiving and upholding this king of sutras, you should wholeheartedly protect them together, eliminate their afflictions, and bring them benefit, peace, and happiness.”

The Four Heavenly Kings immediately rose from their seats, bared their right shoulders, knelt, joined their palms, and reverently addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One! In the future, wherever within a nation this king of sutras circulates—whether in a village, mountain forest, or city—if the king of that nation listens to and receives it with wholehearted sincerity, praises it and makes offerings to it, provides the necessities required by the four assemblies who uphold this sutra, and wholeheartedly supports them and prevents their decline and loss, we shall protect that king and the people of his nation, causing them to dwell securely, free from sorrow and suffering, with increased longevity and complete majestic virtue.

“Blessed One! If a king sees members of the four assemblies upholding this king of sutras and reverently makes offerings to and protects them as he would his own parents, while providing them with the necessities they require, the Four Heavenly Kings will constantly accompany and protect him, causing all sentient beings to honor him. Therefore, wherever this sutra circulates, we and immeasurable yakshas shall secretly support and protect it, ensuring that those who uphold it encounter no obstacles.

We shall also aid those who listen to it, such as kings and ministers, by eliminating calamities and driving away foreign invaders. If, while this king listens to the Sutra of Golden Light, a neighboring king intends to lead his fourfold army in an attack upon his territory, then through the majestic power of this sutra, that neighboring country will itself be invaded by another enemy, while disasters arise and epidemics rage within it.

Seeing this after hearing the sutra, the king will lead his fourfold army to punish that country. At that time, we shall lead our retinues and immeasurable, boundless yakshas, concealing our forms and secretly assisting him, so that the enemy forces naturally submit and dare not even bring their troops to the frontier, much less engage in battle.”

The Buddha said: “Excellent, excellent! You Heavenly Kings are indeed capable of protecting this sutra in such a manner! For hundreds of thousands of koti nayutas of kalpas I practiced austerities, attained unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment, and acquired omniscience. I now expound this Dharma. If a king wholeheartedly receives and upholds the Sutra of Golden Light and reverently makes offerings to it, calamities will be eliminated, his nation will be secure, and its cities, towns, and villages will be peaceful. Enemies will retreat and disperse, and all the kings of Jambudvipa will forever be freed from anxiety over warfare.

“Four Heavenly Kings! You should know that throughout this continent of Jambudvipa there are eighty-four thousand cities and towns and eighty-four thousand kings. Each dwells in his own country, fully enjoys its pleasures, possesses abundant wealth and complete provisions, and does not seize from the others.

They enjoy these blessings because of causes created in previous lives. They do not give rise to evil thoughts or greedily seize another’s land. Having few desires, they benefit all their people, who no longer suffer from conflict.

The people of those countries develop loving hearts; superiors and inferiors live harmoniously, like water blended with milk. They respect one another, happily travel everywhere, and are compassionate and humble, while their roots of virtue increase day by day. Consequently, Jambudvipa is prosperous and secure, densely populated, and fertile.

Heat and cold are temperate; the seasons are favorable; the sun, moon, and stars follow their proper courses; rain and sunshine come in due season; and natural disasters and other calamities cease. The people are wealthy and possess abundant goods. Their minds are not base; they delight in giving and practice the ten wholesome actions.

When they die, they are born in the heavens and increase the celestial hosts.

“Heavenly Kings! In the future, if anyone listens to, faithfully receives, reveres, and makes offerings to this sutra, the four assemblies will honor and praise that person. Moreover, if a king wishes you and your immeasurable hundreds of thousands of yaksha attendants to obtain abundant peace and happiness, he should constantly listen to this wondrous sutra.

By hearing this sutra, it is as though he were drinking the finest amrita; the majestic power of his body and mind will increase, and he will become ever more diligent, courageous, heroic, and endowed with merit. If kings wholeheartedly listen to and faithfully receive this sutra, they thereby perform a vast and rare offering to Shakyamuni, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. To make offerings to me is to have made offerings to hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of koti nayutas of Buddhas throughout the three times.

Having made offerings to the Buddhas of the three times, they obtain immeasurable and inconceivable merit.

“Therefore, you must protect the king, queen, secondary consorts, and people of that country from decline and harm. You must also help the deities who guard its palaces and lands to dwell in peace and obtain abundant, inconceivable blessings, so that the people of that country enjoy the five desires and every evil is eliminated.”

The Four Heavenly Kings addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One! In the future, if a king wishes to hear the Sutra of Golden Light expounded in order to protect himself, the royal household, and the palace women; to make his cities and palaces enduring, supremely magnificent, inconceivable, tranquil, and peaceful; to secure his noble royal position in the present life; to enjoy happiness of body and mind and constant prosperity; to gather immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable blessings; and to free his nation from enemies and every anxiety over calamities, that king should not be heedless or allow his mind to become distracted.

He must reverently and sincerely listen to the Sutra of Golden Light. Before listening, however, he should adorn his palace or another spacious, pure place that pleases him. He should sprinkle the ground with scented water, scatter precious flowers, install a lion throne inlaid with jewels, hang jeweled canopies and banners everywhere, burn priceless incense, and play fine music.

The king should then bathe, anoint his body with fragrance, put on fresh garments, wear jeweled necklaces, and sit upon a low seat. Free from arrogance and without thinking himself a noble king, he should calm his mind and listen to this king of sutras with right mindfulness. He should regard the preacher as a Great Teacher and give rise to compassion for all the queens, secondary consorts, princes, palace women, and relatives.

With an amiable expression, gentle speech, and a heart filled with joy, the king should think: ‘Today I have obtained vast benefit and something exceedingly precious; I should therefore arrange a solemn offering to this sutra.’ When all preparations have been completed and the Dharma master arrives, the king must receive him with earnest sincerity and reverence.”

The Buddha again told the Four Heavenly Kings: “The Dharma master should be welcomed in this manner! The king should then put on clean garments and jeweled necklaces, personally carry a white canopy, incense, and flowers, arrange the full ceremonial retinue of his army, play fine music, and walk outside the city to welcome the Dharma master. He should do this with utmost sincerity and reverence.

“Four Heavenly Kings! Why must the king personally act with such reverence and make offerings? Because every gesture and action by which the king reveres this sutra is itself reverence, offering, and service to hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of Buddha-Blessed Ones.

Thus, he will escape the suffering of birth and death that would otherwise endure for immeasurable kalpas. Moreover, for an equal number of kalpas in the future, this king will become an exceedingly noble wheel-turning monarch. With every gesture and action of reverence and offering toward this sutra, his merit will continually increase.

He will freely instruct all his people, evoke immeasurable responses, and inspire universal admiration. For immeasurable hundreds of thousands of kotis of kalpas, whether born in the heavens or among humans, he will always be a king and enjoy happiness. He will possess a palace of the seven treasures and enjoy a long life.

His eloquence will be unimpeded; gods and humans will trust him; he will be fearless; his fame will spread afar; everyone will cherish him; he will possess power and great majestic virtue; and his physical marks will be beautiful, exceedingly dignified, and incomparable. That king will encounter the Teacher of Gods and Humans[1] and meet spiritual friends who will help him accomplish immeasurable merit.

“You should know that once the king understands these immeasurable and boundless benefits, he should sincerely welcome the Dharma master even from a distance of one yojana, or even hundreds of thousands of times farther, and regard the Dharma master as the Buddha. When he invites the master into the city, the king should think: ‘Today Shakyamuni Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, enters my palace, accepts my offerings, and expounds the Dharma for me.

After hearing it, I shall never regress from unsurpassed bodhi and shall encounter hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of Buddha-Blessed Ones. Today I should play exquisite music as an offering to all the Buddhas of the three times. Today I shall forever eliminate the torments of the hells and the realms of hungry ghosts and animals, while planting immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of seeds for becoming a holy wheel-turning monarch, Brahma king, or Shakra.

I shall enable immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of sentient beings to be freed from the suffering of birth and death, attain nirvana, and gather immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable merit. I shall also cause the entire royal family and all the people to dwell securely, make the nation peaceful and free from disaster and sorrow, and prevent vicious persons and foreign invaders from attacking it.’”

The Four Heavenly Kings addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One! That king should honor the true Dharma in this way and should likewise reverently make offerings to, honor, and praise the four assemblies who uphold this king of sutras. If the king wishes to delight us, he should sprinkle scented water and scatter lovely fresh flowers around the Dharma seat, then set up four seats for the Four Heavenly Kings. We shall sit there and listen to the true Dharma together with the king. The king should also dedicate to us a share of the merit and roots of virtue gained for his own benefit.

“Blessed One! When the king invites the Dharma master to ascend the seat, he should also burn renowned incenses on our behalf as an offering to this sutra. The incense smoke will immediately soar into space, enter our celestial palaces, and transform into incense canopies, and we shall then smell that wondrous fragrance.

At that time, rays of brilliant golden light will issue from the incense smoke and illuminate all our palaces, as well as the palaces of Brahma and Shakra, the goddess Mahasarasvati, the goddess Mahashri, the earth goddess Dridha, the twenty-eight divisions of yakshas, Maheshvara, Vajrapani the Lord of Mysteries, the great general Manibhadra, the mother Hariti and her five hundred followers, the palace of the dragon king of Lake Anavatapta, and the palace of the dragon king of the great ocean.

“From within their palaces, these beings will see the incense smoke instantly transform into incense canopies, richly fragrant and suffused with brilliant golden light illuminating all the palaces of the celestial deities.”

The Buddha further taught: “Not only will the incense smoke reach those palaces, transform into jeweled canopies, and radiate brilliant light; when the king lifts the censer and burns renowned incenses as an offering to this sutra, the smoke will instantly perfume the entire great trichiliocosm, its ten billion suns and moons, Mount Sumeru, the four continents, and the palaces of devas, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, and mahoragas. The incense smoke will fill all of space, transform into cloud canopies, and cast rays of pure golden light throughout all those palaces. Such incense clouds and incense canopies appearing throughout the three-thousand-great-thousand world system arise entirely through the spiritual power of the Sutra of Golden Light.

“Moreover, when the king holds up the censer in his hand as an offering to this sutra, the incense smoke will not merely perfume the three-thousand-great-thousand world system. In an instant it will spread throughout immeasurable, boundless, Ganges-sands of hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of Buddha lands. This incense smoke will gather in space above all the Buddhas and transform into incense canopies, likewise emitting rays of pure golden light that shine everywhere.

When the Buddhas smell that fragrance and see those cloud canopies and that light manifesting in this way, they will contemplate the matter and, with one voice, praise the Dharma master: ‘Excellent, excellent! Great being! You skillfully spread this profound and wondrous sutra far and wide and will certainly obtain immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable merit.

Therefore, even those who merely hear this sutra will acquire exceedingly great merit—how much more those who copy, receive, uphold, read, recite, and expound it to others, and then practice in accordance with its teachings! Why is this so? Because those who hear this sutra will never regress from unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment.’”

At that time, all the Tathagatas seated upon Dharma thrones throughout hundreds of thousands of koti nayutas of immeasurable, boundless, Ganges-sands of Buddha lands in the ten directions simultaneously praised the Dharma master, saying: “Excellent, excellent! In the future, you should diligently cultivate immeasurable hundreds of thousands of arduous practices, perfect the provisions for bodhi, surpass the noble assembly, escape the three realms, become the supreme one, sit beneath the bodhi tree adorned with surpassing magnificence, rescue the sentient beings of the three-thousand-great-thousand world system, crush the terrifying army of Mara, fully penetrate all dharmas, and attain profound and pure unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment.

“Good man! You will sit upon that vajra seat and turn the profound, wondrous Dharma wheel of twelve aspects praised by all the Buddhas. You will beat the unsurpassed great Dharma drum, blow the unsurpassed wondrous Dharma conch, raise the unsurpassed victorious Dharma banner, light the unsurpassed brilliant Dharma torch, and pour down the unsurpassed rain of Dharma amrita. You will also sever immeasurable hostile bonds and afflictions, enabling immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of sentient beings to cross the terrifying, shoreless great ocean, escape the boundless realm of cyclic birth and death, and encounter immeasurable hundreds of thousands of nayutas of Buddhas.”

The Four Heavenly Kings addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One! Since this Sutra of Golden Light has such power to bring about immeasurable merit in the present and future, any king who hears it must certainly have planted immeasurable roots of virtue before hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of immeasurable Buddhas, and we shall constantly remember and protect that king. Desiring to obtain immeasurable merit, we Four Heavenly Kings and the immeasurable hundreds of thousands of divine attendants dwelling in our palaces will, upon seeing the incense smoke transform into clouds and canopies, conceal our forms and come to the place where the Dharma is expounded—the pure and magnificently adorned palace of that king—in order to hear the Dharma.

In the same way, Brahma, Shakra, the goddess Mahasarasvati, the goddess Mahashri, the earth goddess Dridha, the great general Samjnaya, the twenty-eight divisions of yakshas, Maheshvara, Vajrapani the Lord of Mysteries, the great general Manibhadra, the mother Hariti and her five hundred attendants, the dragon king of Lake Anavatapta, the dragon king of the great ocean, and immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of devas and yakshas will conceal their forms and come, wishing to hear the Dharma, to the place in the king’s palace where a high seat has been established for its exposition.

“Blessed One! We Four Heavenly Kings and our attendant yaksha deities will single-mindedly regard that king as a spiritual friend. Because this supreme great donor of Dharma bestows amrita upon us, we shall aid and protect him, eliminate calamities, cause him to dwell securely, and prevent inauspicious signs from appearing in his palace, cities, towns, and country.

“Blessed One! If the Sutra of Golden Light exists within a country but the king abandons it, refuses to propagate it, does not delight in listening to or receiving it, and does not honor, praise, revere, or make offerings to it; and if, upon seeing members of the four assemblies who uphold this sutra, he likewise fails to honor, revere, and make offerings to them, then we and our immeasurable retinues will be unable to hear the profound and wondrous Dharma.

We shall lose the amrita of the Dharma and the current of the true Dharma; our majestic radiance and even our power will disappear; the evil destinies will increase; the realms of gods and humans will decline; we shall fall into the river of birth and death and lose the path to nirvana. We and all our attendants and yakshas will then abandon that country and be unable to protect it. Not only shall we leave; immeasurable benevolent deities who protect the nation will also depart.

“After all of us have left, many calamities and dangers will arise in that land. The royal dynasty will collapse; the people will lose their pure and wholesome dispositions and will constantly become angry, quarrel, fight, and kill. They will deceive one another, and many innocent people will be unjustly condemned. Epidemics will rage; comets will appear; two suns will shine at the same time; solar and lunar eclipses will occur; black and white rainbows will portend misfortune; meteors will fall and earthquakes will strike; strange sounds will issue from wells; violent winds and torrential rains will come; the seasons will become disharmonious; trees will bear no fruit; crops will fail and famine will arise; other nations will invade; and the people will suffer, with anguish everywhere.

“Blessed One! When we Four Heavenly Kings, together with immeasurable hundreds of thousands of celestial deities and benevolent guardians of the nation, depart as described, immeasurable hundreds of thousands of such calamities will befall that country. If the king wishes to protect his nation, remain happy himself, keep his people secure, defeat foreign invaders, make his country forever strong, spread the true teaching throughout the world, and put an end to evil and suffering, he must listen to and faithfully receive the Sutra of Golden Light.

He should also reverently make offerings to those who receive, uphold, read, and recite this wondrous sutra. Through the majestic power of the roots of virtue produced by hearing the Dharma, we and immeasurable celestial hosts will then drink the unsurpassed amrita of the Dharma, increase our retinues, and benefit other celestial deities as well. This will occur because the king single-mindedly listens to and faithfully receives this sutra.

“Blessed One! The Great Brahma King frequently expounds worldly and supramundane treatises to the celestial hosts, while Shakra and the sages endowed with the five superknowledges also expound various treatises. Yet even if they were to expound immeasurable hundreds of thousands of koti nayutas of treatises, the benefit would not equal even one part in a hundred thousand koti nayutas of that produced when the Blessed One, out of loving-kindness and compassion for gods and humans, expounds this wondrous Sutra of Golden Light.

Through this sutra, all the kings of Jambudvipa continually govern their people according to the true Dharma and bestow every happiness upon them. They also protect themselves and their retinues from the oppression of suffering, prevent foreign enemies from invading, eliminate evil, and make their lands peaceful and free from calamity.

“Because the kings teach and transform their people by means of the true Dharma, contentious lawsuits do not arise. Each king remains within his own country and lights the torch of the true Dharma, illuminating everywhere and increasing both the celestial hosts and their retinues. Through these causes and conditions, we Heavenly Kings, immeasurable celestial deities, hosts of yakshas, and benevolent deities of Jambudvipa drink the unsurpassed amrita of the Dharma, perfect our majestic virtue, and increase our power.

At the same time, all sentient beings obtain security and happiness, not only now but throughout immeasurable, boundless hundreds of thousands of inconceivable nayutas of future kalpas. They will also encounter immeasurable Buddhas, plant roots of virtue, and thereafter attain unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment.

“All these immeasurable and boundless benefits arise because the Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, possesses great compassion surpassing the hosts of Brahma, great wisdom transcending that of Shakra, and has cultivated arduous practices hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of times greater than those of sages endowed with the five superknowledges. For the sake of sentient beings, he expounds the wondrous Sutra of Golden Light, enabling the kings and great ministers of Jambudvipa to understand worldly principles, the affairs of governing nations, and the proper instruction of their people.

Because this sutra circulates everywhere, all sentient beings obtain peace and happiness. These blessings and benefits arise through the majestic power of Shakyamuni, who, out of loving-kindness and compassion, causes this wondrous sutra to circulate widely. Therefore, kings should receive and uphold it, reverently make offerings to it, and honor and praise it.

Because of these great and wondrous meritorious benefits, it is called the Supreme King of Sutras.”

The Buddha told the Four Heavenly Kings: “When you and all your relatives, together with immeasurable hundreds of thousands of koti nayutas of devas, see a king wholeheartedly listen to and receive this king of sutras and reverently make offerings to, honor, and praise it, you should protect him and help eliminate his calamities. In this way, you too will obtain security. Those among the four assemblies who propagate this king of sutras perform the Buddha’s work among gods and humans and benefit all sentient beings.

You Four Heavenly Kings should also protect them, causing their bodies and minds always to be peaceful and serene, and never allowing adverse conditions to harm them. You should help this king of sutras circulate everywhere and prevent it from being cut off, so that it may benefit all sentient beings forever into the future.”

The Heavenly King Vaishravana then rose from his seat and addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One! I possess the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Dharani. Whoever receives and upholds it will not only obtain immeasurable merit, but I shall constantly follow and protect that person, enabling him to leave suffering, obtain happiness, and perfect the two provisions of merit and wisdom. One who wishes to uphold it should first recite this mantra for protection of the body:

Nam mô vai sơ ra van na da ma ha ra ja da, tát da tha, ra ra ra ra, ku nu, ku nu, khu nu, khu nu, sa pa, sa pa, ma ha vi ca ra ma, ma ha vi ca ra ma, ma ha ra ja, rát sa, rát san tu, nam, sa ra va, sat tơ va nam, sa va ha.

“Blessed One! This mantra should be recited seven times over a white thread. At each recitation, one knot should be tied. The thread should then be fastened around the elbow, thereby accomplishing protection of the body. Next, equal portions of the following incenses should be thoroughly blended: benzoin[2], sandalwood[3], camphor[4], storax[5], tagara incense[6], frankincense[7], and others. The practitioner should then bathe, put on fresh garments, hold an incense burner in his hands, burn those incenses, enter a quiet chamber, and recite the following mantra seven times to summon me:

Nam mô Vai sa ra van na da, nam mô Đa na đa da, Đa nết va ra da, a ka ra sa, a pa ri mi ta, đa nết va ra, pa ra ma, ka ru ni ka, sa ra va, sat ta va hi ta xi nơ ta, na ma đa na, vác đơ ha pác dê, sa va dam, a ka rơ sa, sa va ha.

“Next, the Wish-Fulfilling Mantra should be recited. First, however, the practitioner must invoke the names of and bow to the Three Jewels, then pay homage to me, the deity empowered to bestow wealth, fulfill every aspiration, and accomplish every happiness. Afterward, he should recite the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Mantra, which has the power to bestow upon sentient beings every happiness according to their wishes.” Vaishravana then proclaimed the mantra before the Buddha:

Nam mô rát na tra da da, nam mô Vai sa ra ma na da, ma ha ra ja da, tát da tha, si mi si mi, su mu su mu, can đa can đa, cha rê cha rê, sa ra sa ra, ka ra ka ra, ki ri ki ri, ku ru ku ru, mu ru mu ru, chu ru chu ru, sa đa da, át ma nam, nít dam, an ta ra, đa tu sa va ha. Nam mô Va sa ra ma na da, sa va ha, đa na đa da, sa va ha, na mô rát tha, pa ri pu ri ka da, sa va ha.

“After reciting it one thousand times, the practitioner should enter a quiet chamber, spread gomaya[8] upon the ground to form a small altar, and at the proper time arrange food and reverently make offerings. He should continually burn renowned incenses without interruption. Then, day and night, he should concentrate upon reciting the Wish-Fulfilling Mantra in a voice audible only to himself, without letting others know.

“At that time, my son, Prince Dhyanaishin, will manifest in the form of a boy, come to the altar, and ask: ‘For what purpose have you summoned my father?’ The practitioner should reply: ‘I require wealth with which to make offerings to the Three Jewels.’ Hearing this, the prince will return and report to me: ‘There is now a pure and virtuous person who has sincerely resolved to make offerings to the Three Jewels but lacks wealth, and therefore summons the royal father!’ I shall immediately command him: ‘Go quickly and provide that person with one hundred karshapanas[9] each day.’

“Having seen this, the mantra practitioner will know that the rite has succeeded. He should immediately enter the quiet chamber alone, burn incense, and lie down, placing a fragrant box beside his bed. Each morning, when he looks inside the box, he will see the wealth he desired.

Once it has been obtained, he must use it that very day to purchase incense, flowers, food, and drink as offerings to the Three Jewels and to acquire provisions for distribution to the poor and suffering. He must use it all and may not store any away. This person must arouse compassion for sentient beings and harbor no anger, deceit, or flattery.

If anger arises in his mind, the rite will immediately lose its efficacy. Every day, this mantra practitioner must remember and praise me and my retinue and practice the ten wholesome actions in support of us, thereby increasing the meritorious power of the celestial hosts and enlarging wholesome karma until unsurpassed bodhi is attained. Seeing this, the celestial hosts of my realm will all greatly rejoice and come together to protect that mantra practitioner.

His life will be long, extending to immeasurable years; he will forever escape the three evil destinies and suffer no calamity. I shall also help him obtain a wish-fulfilling jewel and treasures hidden beneath the earth. Furthermore, he will acquire supernormal powers and fulfill his wishes.

If he seeks official rank, he will obtain it, and he will also understand the speech of all birds and beasts.

“Blessed One! If the mantra practitioner wishes to see me manifest, then on the eighth or fifteenth day of the lunar month he should observe the eight precepts[10]. Using tree resin mixed with pigments, he should paint an image of the Buddha in the center of a piece of white silk, an image of the goddess Shri on the left, and an image of me, the deity Vaishravana, on the right, together with my male and female attendants.

He should then install the image in a place conforming to the Dharma, arrange lovely fresh flowers, burn renowned incenses, and keep lamps continually burning throughout day and night without allowing them to go out. He should also present the finest food, drink, and precious objects, sincerely resolving to make offerings at the proper times. While reciting the mantra, he must not give rise to contempt.

When summoning me, he should recite this mantra:

Nam ma hơ sơ ri, kan na da, bút đa da, nam mô Vai sơ ra ma na da, dát sa ra ja da, ma ha ra ja, a đi ra ja da, nam ma hơ sơ ri dê, ma ha đép dê, tát da tha, ta ra ta ra, tu ru tu ru, ba la ba la, su sút đi, ha na ha na, ma ni ka na ka, va rap vai đua ri a, mút ti ka lam kờ ri ta, sa ri da ra, sa rờ va sát tờ va, hi ta ka ma, Vai sờ ra ma na sờ ri da, đê vi pờ ra đay da, ê hi ê hi, ma vi lam ba, ghu rờ na ghu rờ na, pờ ra si na, pờ ra si da, đa đa hi, ma ma, a ma ka na ma da, đát xa na, ka ma sa da, đát sa nan, ma ma ma na, pa ri ha ra day da, sa va ha.

“Blessed One! If I hear someone reciting this mantra and performing such solemn offerings, I shall give rise to compassion and joyfully transform myself into a child, an old man, or a bhikshu. Holding a wish-fulfilling jewel and a golden bag, I shall enter the place of practice, reverently recollect the Buddha’s name in body and mind, and tell the mantra practitioner: ‘I shall fulfill all your aspirations.

Whether you wish to dwell concealed in mountain forests, create precious jewels, be cherished by everyone, obtain gold and silver, make any mantra you uphold efficacious, acquire supernormal powers or long life, enjoy exquisite pleasures, or fulfill any other wish, all shall be accomplished according to your desire. This treasury is inexhaustible, and its merit is likewise limitless. The sun and moon may fall, and the earth may move to another direction, but my truthful words shall never prove false.

I shall always cause all sentient beings to dwell securely and fulfill their wishes according to their hearts.’

“Blessed One! If one receives, upholds, reads, and recites this sutra, then when that person recites the Wish-Fulfilling Mantra, it will be swiftly accomplished without strenuous effort.

“Blessed One! Today, for the sake of sentient beings who are poor, distressed, and constantly beset by calamities, we expound this mantra so that they may become wealthy, independent, peaceful, and happy, free from anxiety and grief. Throughout their entire lives, I shall constantly remain beside them, secretly protecting them and eliminating calamities. I shall also cause light always to surround, for one hundred paces, those who read, recite, and propagate this sutra and those who uphold the mantra. At the same time, thousands of yakshas will constantly attend them, so that they may command them at will and accomplish every undertaking. All these words of mine are true and never false; may the Buddha alone bear witness for me.”

When the deity Vaishravana had spoken this mantra, the Buddha praised him: “Excellent! Excellent! You have proclaimed this mantra in order to tear apart the net of poverty and distress that binds sentient beings, to make them wealthy, peaceful, and happy, and also to cause the Sutra of Golden Light to circulate throughout the world.”

The Four Heavenly Kings together rose from their seats, bared their right shoulders, bowed at the Buddha’s feet, joined their palms reverently, and spoke verses praising the Buddha’s virtues:

The Blessed One’s countenance resembles the full moon,
Like a thousand suns emitting radiant light.
His clear, long, broad eyes resemble blue lotuses;
His white, close, even teeth are like precious pearls.

The Blessed One’s virtues resemble the great ocean,
Within which immeasurable treasures are contained.
The waters of great wisdom forever fill it,
And hundreds of thousands of supreme samadhis are held therein.

Upon the soles of his feet appears the wheel-mark,
Its hub and rim complete, with a thousand spokes.
Between his fingers and toes are delicate webs,
Resembling the webbed feet of the king of geese.

The radiance of his body resembles a golden mountain,
Pure and wondrous, beyond all comparison.
Like Mount Sumeru, perfect in virtue—
Therefore I bow to the Buddha, King of Mountains.

His marks and excellent characteristics are boundless as space,
Surpassing even the radiance of the sun and moon.
Like a magical transformation, they are inconceivable;
Therefore I bow to the Unattached One.

The Blessed One also instructed them in verse:

This priceless, wondrous sutra is truly profound
And bestows abundant happiness upon sentient beings.
So that all sentient beings may obtain happiness,
Cause this sutra to circulate throughout the world.

Through the sutra’s majestic power, they will always rejoice,
Always be protected, and be caused to dwell in peace.
It will also cause sentient beings throughout the realms
To be free from sickness, suffering, thieves, and robbers.
Because this sutra circulates throughout a nation,
That land will be peaceful and prosperous, free from affliction.

It will cause invading generals and troops to retreat,
Make the nation secure, and end warfare.
Through the power of this supreme king of sutras,
People will leave suffering and be free from fear and anxiety.

Like a person who possesses a jeweled casket at home
And freely takes from it whatever is needed,
So too does this supreme king of sutras
Bestow merit according to one’s heart, lacking nothing.

You celestial lords and all the celestial hosts
Should make offerings to this king of sutras.
If you heed its teaching and receive and uphold it,
You will be complete in wisdom and spiritual majesty.

The Buddhas of the ten directions presently abiding
Together protect this king of sutras.
When they see those who uphold, read, and recite it,
They praise them: “Excellent! How exceedingly rare!”

If anyone hears and receives the Sutra of Golden Light,
His body and mind will be uplifted, peaceful, and joyful.
At every time and in every place,
Hundreds of thousands of yakshas will protect him.

Having heard these verses, the Four Heavenly Kings rejoiced greatly and addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One! Never before have we heard this profound and wondrous Dharma. Having heard it today, our hearts are mingled with joy and sorrow; tears stream from our eyes, our entire bodies tremble, and we realize that this is a rare and inconceivable event.”

Having spoken, the devas scattered celestial mandara and great mandara flowers as offerings to the Buddha. After making these offerings, the four kings addressed the Buddha: “Each of us has five hundred yaksha attendants. They shall constantly follow and protect this sutra and its Dharma masters, while also aiding them with the light of wisdom. If a Dharma master forgets or omits any words or meanings of this sutra, we shall help him remember them without forgetting and shall also bestow upon him a supreme Dharani Dharma gate. Moreover, wherever this sutra exists, we shall cause it to be swiftly transmitted and taught to all sentient beings, never allowing it to become concealed or lost.”

When the Buddha expounded the Sutra of Golden Light, immeasurable sentient beings obtained great eloquence and penetrating wisdom, gathered immeasurable merit, left behind suffering, anxiety, and grief, gave rise to joy and delight, mastered the treatises, attained the path of liberation[11], became irreversible, and swiftly realized bodhi.

Notes:

[1] Teacher of Gods and Humans: the teacher of both gods and humans, namely the Buddha.

[2] Benzoin: an aromatic substance extracted from the benzoin tree.

[3] Sandalwood: a fragrant tree approximately eight meters tall. Its pointed leaves are about five centimeters long and grow symmetrically; its flowers grow in umbels; and its round fruit, approximately the size of a silkworm cocoon, turns black when ripe and contains abundant juice and a hard seed. Its fragrant wood and roots are ground into sandalwood powder or processed into scented oil. The Compendium of Materia Medica calls this tree white sandalwood or fragrant sandalwood.

[4] Camphor: an incense refined from the camphor tree. This is a tall tree, approximately forty to sixty meters high, with symmetrically opposed, oval leaves having pointed tips and highly fragrant white flowers.

[5] Storax: an aromatic substance compounded from various other incenses; alternatively, it is said to be an incense extracted from the resin of the sweetgum tree.

[6] Tagara: tagara incense, namely fenugreek incense.

[7] Frankincense: incense obtained from the frankincense tree. Its fragrance resembles pine resin, and its smoke is pale yellow.

[8] Gomaya: cow or buffalo dung.

[9] Karshapana: a monetary unit used in ancient India, equivalent to twenty mashas; one masha was equivalent to eighty ancient Chinese copper coins.

[10] Eight precepts: eight rules established by the Buddha for lay Buddhists who go to the Sangha for one day and one night to practice the renunciant life, guard the three karmic activities of body, speech, and mind, and close the paths to the evil destinies. They are: not killing; not stealing; abstaining from sexual activity; not lying; not drinking alcohol; not lying or sitting upon broad, high, beautifully decorated beds or seats; not applying perfumes or cosmetics, wearing garlands, or watching and listening to singing and dancing; and not eating outside the prescribed time. Of these eight observances, the first seven are precepts, while abstention from eating outside the prescribed time is the fast. Together, they are called the Eight Fasting Precepts.

[11] Liberation: leaving the realm of delusion, escaping the suffering of cyclic birth and death, and accomplishing the Buddha path in order to attain the state of liberation; it also means leaving the prison of the three realms and escaping the bonds of afflictions and karma.