金光明最勝王經

THE FOUR HEAVENLY KINGS PROTECT THE NATION

CHAPTER TWELVE

At that time, when the Blessed One heard the four Heavenly Kings reverently make offerings to the Golden Light Sutra and declare that they would protect those who uphold the Sutra, he praised them, saying: “Excellent! Excellent! You four Heavenly Kings have, in the presence of immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of Buddhas of the past, shown reverence and respect, offered praise, planted roots of goodness, cultivated the True Dharma, constantly expounded the True Dharma, and transformed the world through the Dharma.

Throughout the long night, you have always considered the welfare of sentient beings, aroused the mind of great loving-kindness, and vowed to bestow peace and happiness upon them. Through these causes and conditions, you are now able to receive such excellent rewards. If a human king reverently makes offerings to this Sutra of the Sovereign Kings, the Supreme Golden Light, you must diligently increase your protection of him and cause him to dwell in peace.

You four Heavenly Kings, together with your other retinues and immeasurable, innumerable hundreds of thousands of yakshas, by protecting this Sutra, thereby protect the True Dharma of all Buddhas of the past, present, and future.

“Thus, when you four Heavenly Kings, together with the other devas and the yakshas, wage battle against the asuras, you are always victorious. If you are able to protect this Sutra, then through the power of the Sutra you will be able to eliminate all suffering, hostile invaders, famine, crop failure, and epidemics. Therefore, if you see members of the fourfold assembly receiving, upholding, reading, and reciting this King of Sutras, you should likewise single-mindedly join together to increase your protection of them, remove their afflictions and decline, and bestow peace and happiness upon them.”

Then the four Heavenly Kings immediately rose from their seats, adjusted their robes to bare their right shoulders, knelt with their right knees upon the ground, joined their palms reverently, and addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One! In the future, wherever this King of Sutras, the Supreme Golden Light, reaches and circulates—whether in a country, city, town, village, mountain forest, or wilderness—if the king of that country listens to and receives this scripture with utmost sincerity, praises it, makes offerings to it, provides offerings for the fourfold assembly who uphold this Sutra, and with profound sincerity supports and protects them, enabling them to be free from affliction and decline, then, through these causes and conditions,

we shall protect and assist that king and cause both him and all his people to dwell in peace, far removed from sorrow and suffering, with increased longevity and strength and fully endowed with majestic virtue.

“Blessed One! If that king sees members of the fourfold assembly upholding this Sutra, reverently protects them as he would his own parents, and provides them with everything they require, then we four Heavenly Kings shall constantly protect him and cause all sentient beings to honor him. Therefore, together with immeasurable yakshas and devas, wherever this King of Sutras circulates, we shall conceal ourselves and protect that place, causing it to be free from calamities.

We shall also watch over those people and the kings who hear this Sutra, eliminate their afflictions and disasters, cause them all to dwell in peace, and cause hostile invaders from other regions to retreat and disperse. If a human king listens to this Sutra, and the enemy of a neighboring country gives rise to this thought: ‘I shall assemble the four divisions of my army and destroy that kingdom,’

“O Blessed One! Through the awesome spiritual power of this King of Sutras, at that time other enemies will successively arise against the hostile neighboring kingdom, and when it seeks to invade and disturb that realm, many disasters will befall it and epidemics will spread. When its king sees this, he will immediately marshal the four divisions of his army and set out to subjugate that other country. At that time, together with our retinues and immeasurable, boundless numbers of yakshas and devas, we shall all conceal our forms and render assistance, causing those enemies to submit of their own accord. They will not even dare approach the borders of that kingdom; how, then, could they take up weapons and launch a military campaign against it?!...”

_The Buddha then said to the four Heavenly Kings: “Excellent! Excellent! You four Heavenly Kings are indeed able to protect this scripture in such a manner. Throughout hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of kalpas in the past, I practiced various austerities, attained anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, realized omniscience, and now expound this Dharma. If a human king receives and upholds this Sutra and reverently makes offerings to it, his afflictions and calamities will be eliminated and he will dwell in peace. It will also protect his cities, towns, and villages, and cause all hostile invaders to retreat and disperse. It will further cause all the kings throughout Jambudvipa to remain forever free from affliction, decline, conflict, and strife.

“You four Heavenly Kings should know that throughout this Jambudvipa, the eighty-four thousand cities, towns, and villages and the eighty-four thousand human kings will each enjoy happiness within their own realms and exercise sovereignty. They will possess abundant wealth and treasures for their use, will not invade or plunder one another, and will receive their respective rewards according to causes from former lives.

They will not give rise to evil thoughts of coveting other countries, but will all develop minds of few desires and of benefiting others. They will not suffer the pain of warfare, bondage, and imprisonment. The people of those countries will naturally cherish one another; those above and below will live in harmony like water and milk, sympathizing with, loving, and respecting one another.

They will joyfully travel, play, and take their ease; they will be compassionate, humble, and yielding, and their roots of goodness will increase. Through these causes and conditions, this Jambudvipa will be peaceful, joyful, and prosperous. Its population will be abundant, its soil loose, soft, and fertile, and heat and cold will be temperate.

The seasons will not fall into disorder. The sun, moon, and stars will follow their fixed courses without irregularity. Rain and wind will come at the proper times, and all calamities will be absent.

All public and private wealth and provisions will be abundant. People’s minds will be free from miserliness and narrowness; they will constantly practice generosity and fully cultivate the ten wholesome karmas. When their lives end, most will be born in the heavenly realms, thereby increasing the hosts of devas.

“O Great Kings! If, in the future, human kings listen to and receive this Sutra, reverently make offerings to it, receive and uphold it, honor and praise the fourfold assembly, and also wish to bring peace, happiness, and benefit to you and your retinues and to the immeasurable hundreds of thousands of assemblies of yakshas, then those kings should constantly listen to and receive this wondrous King of Sutras. By hearing this stream of the True Dharma, the supreme-flavored amrita will increase the strength of your bodies and minds, enabling you to advance diligently and courageously and causing your merit, majestic power, and radiance to become completely full.

“If those human kings are able to listen to and receive this Sutra with utmost sincerity, they thereby make a vast and rare offering to me, Shakyamuni, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. To make offerings to me is to make offerings to hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of Buddhas of the past, future, and present. Those who are able to make offerings to the Buddhas of the three times thereby attain immeasurable and inconceivable accumulations of merit.

Through these causes and conditions, you must protect those kings, their queens and consorts, and their retinues, causing them to be free from affliction and decline, and causing the deities of their palaces and dwellings always to enjoy peace and happiness and inconceivable merit. All the people of those countries will likewise enjoy every kind of pleasure of the five desires, and all evil deeds will be completely eradicated.”

At that time, the four Heavenly Kings addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One! In the future, if a human king delights in hearing the Golden Light Sutra in this manner, wishing to protect his own person, his queens and consorts, his princes, and even the palace women within the inner palace, and wishing that his cities, towns, and palaces may all be joyful and tranquil and attain the supreme, foremost, inconceivable peace and happiness; wishing that in his present life his noble and exalted royal position, sovereignty, and prosperity may constantly increase; and further wishing to gather immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable accumulations of merit and to cause his own country to be free from enemies and from all calamities, anxieties, and troubles.

Blessed One! Thus, a human king should not be heedless and allow his mind to become distracted. He should give rise to reverence and, with utmost sincerity and profound regard, listen to and receive this supreme King of Sutras.

When he wishes to listen, he should first adorn the most excellent chamber of the palace, in a spacious and open place that the king cherishes and esteems. He should sprinkle the ground with scented water, scatter all kinds of beautiful, fragrant flowers, and install the supreme lion throne for the Dharma, adorning it with precious jewels and arranging all kinds of jeweled parasols, banners, and pennants. He should burn priceless incense and have various kinds of music performed.

At that time, the king should bathe and cleanse himself, and anoint his body with fragrant unguents. Wearing clean new garments and jeweled necklaces, he should sit upon a low seat, without assuming an exalted manner. He should relinquish the privileges of sovereign authority, abandon all pride and arrogance, and, with an upright mind and right mindfulness, listen attentively to this King of Sutras.

Toward the Dharma master, he should give rise to the perception that he is a great teacher. Furthermore, toward his queens and consorts, princes, palace women, and relatives within the palace, he should give rise to a mind of loving-kindness and compassion. They should look upon one another with delight, their countenances harmonious and gracious, their words gentle, and their bodies and minds pervaded by joy.

He should think thus: “Today I have obtained vast, supreme, and inconceivable benefit. I should make complete offerings to this King of Sutras.”

Once all preparations have been completed, when he sees the Dharma master approaching, he should rise and give rise to a mind of reverent admiration and sincerity.”

The Buddha then told the Four Heavenly Kings: “Such a Dharma master must not be left without a welcoming escort. At that time, the human king should put on clean new garments without the slightest stain and adorn himself with all kinds of jeweled necklaces. Personally holding a white parasol and bearing incense and flowers, he should fully prepare the ceremonial military escort, have all kinds of music performed, and proceed on foot beyond the palace gates to welcome that Dharma master, contemplating reverence and performing this auspicious act.

Four Heavenly Kings! For what reason should that human king personally show such reverence and make such offerings? Whenever that human king raises or lowers his foot, with every single step he thereby reveres, makes offerings to, attends upon, and honors hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of Buddhas, Blessed Ones.

He will also transcend the sufferings of that many kalpas of birth and death. Moreover, in future lives, for that many kalpas he will receive the supreme and honored station of a wheel-turning king. With each and every step, his merit and virtue will also increase in this life.

As a sovereign king, he will possess inconceivable mastery and responsiveness and will be admired and honored by all. Throughout immeasurable hundreds of thousands of kotis of kalpas, among humans and devas, he will enjoy palaces made of the seven precious substances. Wherever he is born, he will always become a king.

His lifespan will increase; his speech and eloquence will be fluent and unobstructed; humans and devas will trust and accept his words; he will be fearless and possess great renown; and all will look up to him with reverence. In the heavens and among humans, he will enjoy sublime and excellent bliss, attain the power of great might, and possess great majestic virtue. His bodily marks will be wondrous, handsome, dignified, and incomparable.

He will encounter the Teacher of Devas and Humans (Śāstā-deva-manuṣyāṇāṃ), meet spiritual friends (Kalyāṇa-mitra), and fully accomplish immeasurable stores of merit.

The Four Heavenly Kings should know that, because those human kings perceive all these immeasurable benefits and virtues, they personally go forth to receive the Dharma master, whether for one yojana or even as far as one hundred yojanas. Toward the Dharma master, they should give rise to the perception that he is the Buddha. Then, upon returning to the city, the king should think thus: “Today Śākyamuni Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, has entered my palace, accepted my offerings, and expounded the Dharma for me.

Having heard the Dharma, I shall never again regress from anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi, unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. This is precisely as though I had directly encountered hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of Buddhas, Blessed Ones. Today, with all kinds of vast, supreme, and sublime musical instruments, I have made offerings to all the Buddhas of the past, future, and present.

Today, I have forever eradicated the sufferings of the realm of King Yama (Yama-rāja), the hells, hungry ghosts, and animals. I have thereby planted the roots of virtue that lead to becoming immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of wheel-turning sage-kings, Śakras, and Brahmā lords. I shall enable immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of sentient beings to escape the suffering of birth and death, attain the bliss of nirvana, and accumulate immeasurable, boundless, and inconceivable stores of merit and virtue.

The inner palace, my relatives, and all the people shall enjoy peace and security. The realm shall be pure and peaceful, free from calamities, poisons, and harm. Evil persons and hostile enemies from other regions shall not come to invade or cause disturbance, and all anxiety shall be left far behind.”

The Four Heavenly Kings should know that the human king should act in this way: he should honor the true Dharma and should also make offerings to, revere, honor, and praise the bhikshus, bhikshunis, upāsakas, and upāsikās who uphold the wondrous scriptures. Of the roots of virtue thus attained, he should first dedicate the supreme merit as an offering to you and all your retinues. Through these causes and conditions, wholesome karma, and great merit and virtue, that human king will attain great sovereignty in this life. His majestic radiance will increase, and he will be adorned with all wondrous and auspicious marks. By means of the true Dharma, he will be able to subdue all hostile enemies.”

At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings addressed the Buddha, saying: “Blessed One! If a human king is able to act in this way—revering the true Dharma, listening attentively to this King of Sutras, and revering, making offerings to, honoring, and praising the fourfold assembly and those who uphold the sutra—then, if that human king wishes to bring joy to us, he should, to one side near the Dharma throne, sprinkle the ground with scented water, scatter all kinds of fresh and beautiful flowers, prepare the place, and set up seats for the Four Heavenly Kings. We shall listen to the true Dharma together with that king, and that king should also dedicate to us a share of the merit from all the roots of virtue he has cultivated for his own benefit.

Blessed One! When the Dharma preacher invited by that human king ascends the throne, the king should then burn all kinds of excellent fragrant incense as an offering to this sutra on our behalf.

Blessed One! In the space of a single thought, the smoke of that incense will rise into the sky and immediately reach our palaces and those of the devas. In the sky, it will transform into a canopy of incense.

When our heavenly assemblies smell that wondrous fragrance, the incense will emit golden light that illuminates the palaces in which we dwell, extending even to the abodes of Brahmā and Śakra (Indra), the Great Goddess of Eloquence (Sarasvatī), the Great Auspicious Goddess (Mahā-śrī-devī), the Firm and Solid Earth Spirit (Dṛḍha-pṛthivī), the Great General of Correct and Complete Knowledge (Saṃjñeya), the yaksha deities of the twenty-eight divisions, the Great Sovereign Deity (Maheśvara), the Vajra Lord of Secrets (Vajra-guhyādhipati), the Great General Maṇibhadra, Hārītī and her five hundred attendants, the Dragon King Anavatapta (Anavatapta-nāgarāja), and the Great Ocean Dragon King (Mahā-sāgara-nāgarāja).

Blessed One! While dwelling in their own palaces, all such assemblies will see that smoke of incense transform in a single instant into a canopy of incense. They will smell its rich fragrance and behold its radiant colors, which will pervade all the palaces of the heavenly deities.”

The Buddha told the Four Heavenly Kings: “The radiance of that incense does not merely reach this palace and transform into an incense canopy emitting great light. When that human king holds an incense burner in his hands and burns all kinds of fine fragrant incense as an offering to the Sutra, within a single thought the smoke of that incense reaches throughout the trichiliocosm, with its hundreds of thousands of suns and moons, its ten billion kings of Mount Sumeru, and its ten billion sets of four continents.

Throughout this trichiliocosm, all the palaces of devas, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, and others completely fill the sky, while every kind of incense smoke transforms into canopies of clouds. These canopies are the color of pure gold and illuminate all the celestial palaces. Thus, throughout the trichiliocosm, all the various clouds and canopies of incense arise through the majestic spiritual power of the Sutra of Golden Light, the Supreme King of Sutras.

When those human kings hold incense burners in their hands, the various fragrances do not merely reach this trichiliocosm. Within a single thought, they also pervade immeasurable and boundless hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of Buddha lands in the ten directions, equal in number to the sands of the Ganges. In the sky above the Buddhas, they likewise transform into canopies of incense radiating pure golden light that shines everywhere.

“When those Buddhas smell this wondrous fragrance and behold these cloud canopies the color of pure gold, the Buddha-Blessed Ones throughout the worlds of the ten directions, equal in number to the sands of the Ganges, manifest spiritual transformations. Having done so, all those Blessed Ones contemplate together and, speaking with different mouths but in one voice, praise that Dharma master, saying: ‘Excellent! Excellent, great being!

You are able to disseminate widely such a profound and wondrous sutra, thereby bringing to fulfillment immeasurable and boundless stores of inconceivable merit. If someone merely listens to such a sutra, the merit gained will be exceedingly abundant; how much more so if one copies, receives and upholds, reads and recites it, expounds it for others, and practices in accordance with its teaching! Why is this so?

Good man, if any sentient being hears this Sutra of Golden Light, the Supreme King of Sutras, that being will never again regress from anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.’

“At that time, throughout the ten directions there were hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of immeasurable and innumerable Buddha lands, equal in number to the sands of the Ganges. All the Tathagatas in those lands, speaking with different mouths but in one voice, praised that Dharma master from their Dharma seats, saying: ‘Excellent! Excellent, good man!

In a future life, through the power of diligent effort, you will cultivate immeasurable hundreds of thousands of difficult practices (Duṣkara-caryā), perfect the provisions (Sambhāra), surpass all assemblies of sages, transcend the three realms, and become the Supremely Honored One. You will sit beneath the splendidly adorned king of bodhi trees and be able to save sentient beings with whom you have affinities throughout the trichiliocosm.

You will skillfully subdue the terrifying hosts of Mara and fully comprehend all dharmas and the most supreme, pure, and profound unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. Good man, you will sit upon the Vajra Seat and turn the profound Dharma wheel of the twelve wondrous practices praised by all unsurpassed Buddhas. You will beat the unsurpassed and exceedingly great Dharma drum, blow the unsurpassed and exceedingly wondrous Dharma conch, raise the unsurpassed and excellent Dharma banner, kindle the unsurpassed and exceedingly brilliant Dharma torch, and pour down the unsurpassed rain of the Dharma’s amrita.

You will cut through the hostile bonds of the afflictions and enable immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of sentient beings to cross the terrifying, boundless great ocean, become liberated from the endless cycle of birth and death, and directly encounter immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of nayutas of Buddhas.’”

The Four Heavenly Kings again addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One, this Sutra of Golden Light, the Supreme King of Sutras, is able both in the future and at present to accomplish such immeasurable merit. Therefore, if a human king is able to hear this wondrous sutra, it means that he has planted roots of virtue in the presence of immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of Buddhas. We shall watch over and remain mindful of that human king.

Moreover, because we perceive its immeasurable merit and benefit, when we Four Heavenly Kings, together with our other retinues and immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of deities in our palaces, behold the various spiritual transformations of the incense smoke and cloud canopies, we shall conceal ourselves and not reveal our forms. In order to hear the Dharma, we shall go to the place where the Dharma is expounded, which has been purified and adorned within that king’s palace.

Likewise, Brahma, Indra, the Great Goddess Sarasvatī, the Great Auspicious Goddess Mahā-śrī-devī, the Firm Earth Deity Dṛḍha-pṛthivī, the Great General Deity Saṃjñeya, who possesses true and complete knowledge, the yaksha deities of the twenty-eight divisions, Maheśvara, Vajra-guhyādhipati, the Great General Maṇibhadra, Hārītī and her five hundred attendants, the Naga King Anavatapta, the Great Ocean Naga King Mahā-sāgara-nāgarāja, and assemblies such as these will all conceal their forms and, in order to hear the Dharma, go to the place of teaching at the lofty, ornamented seat within that human king’s magnificent palace.

“Blessed One, we Four Heavenly Kings, together with our other retinues, the yakshas, and the deities, shall all single-mindedly serve as spiritual friends to that human king. Through the donor (Dāna-pati) of this unsurpassed Great Dharma, we shall partake fully of the flavor of amrita. Therefore, we shall protect that king, remove decline and calamity, and cause him to dwell in peace and security. We shall also cause all evil disasters and misfortunes to be extinguished throughout his palace, cities, towns, and kingdom.”

Then the Four Heavenly Kings joined their palms and addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One, suppose that in a certain kingdom there is a human king who, although possessing this Sutra, does not ensure its continual dissemination, but instead gives rise to a mind of abandonment, takes no delight in hearing it, and neither makes offerings to it nor honors or praises it. When he sees members of the fourfold assembly or people who uphold the Sutra, he likewise fails to honor or make offerings to them.

Consequently, we and our other retinues, together with immeasurable devas, are unable to hear this profound and wondrous Dharma. We are deprived of the flavor of amrita and lose the current of the true Dharma. We become devoid of majestic radiance and power; the evil destinies increase, while devas and humans diminish.

Beings fall into the river of birth and death and turn away from the path to nirvana.

“Blessed One, when we Four Heavenly Kings, together with our retinues and the hosts of yakshas, see such circumstances, we shall abandon that kingdom and have no thought of protecting it. Not only shall we forsake that king, but the immeasurable great benevolent deities who guard the kingdom will all depart as well. Once they have abandoned it, all kinds of calamities will arise in that land, and the kingdom will lose its standing.

None of its people will possess a virtuous mind; there will be only bondage, killing, anger, contention, mutual slander, and deceit. Innocent people will be unjustly condemned; epidemics will spread; comets will appear; two suns will appear simultaneously; solar and lunar eclipses will occur at irregular times; black and white rainbows will signify inauspicious portents; stars will fall; the earth will quake; sounds will issue from wells; violent rains and harmful winds will come out of season.

Famine and crop failure will be frequent; shoots, fruits, and grains will not ripen. Many hostile brigands from other regions will invade, and the people of the kingdom will undergo every kind of suffering. Nowhere in the land will there be peace or happiness.

“Blessed One, when we Four Heavenly Kings, together with immeasurable hundreds of thousands of celestial and benevolent deities who formerly protected and assisted that kingdom, depart far away, immeasurable hundreds of thousands of such evils, disasters, and ominous events will arise.”

Blessed One! If a human king wishes to protect his realm, continually enjoy happiness, cause all beings to dwell in peace and security, subdue all external enemies, ensure that his country remains forever prosperous, cause the True Dharma to spread throughout the world, and eradicate all evil teachings, suffering, and affliction,

Blessed One, all such rulers should listen to and receive this wondrous King of Sutras. They should also reverently make offerings to, read, recite, accept, and uphold this sutra. At that time, through the mighty power of the roots of virtue arising from hearing this Dharma, we and countless other assemblies of devas shall drink the unsurpassed ambrosial flavor of the Dharma, while all our retinues and the other deities shall increase in strength and obtain supreme benefit. Why is this? It is because that human king listens to and receives this scripture with utmost sincerity.

Blessed One! Just as Great Brahma continually expounds to sentient beings treatises (Śāstra) concerning the mundane (Loka) and supramundane (Lokottara), Śakra likewise expounds all manner of treatises (Śāstra), and the sages endowed with the five superknowledges also expound various treatises.

Blessed One! Although Brahma, Śakra, and the sages endowed with the five superknowledges possess hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of treatises, the Buddha, the Blessed One, out of loving-kindness and compassion for the assemblies of humans and devas, has proclaimed the wondrous Scripture of Golden Light. Compared with all that was previously taught, it surpasses them by hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of times and is beyond all comparison.

Why is this? It is because this scripture can cause all kings throughout Jambudvīpa to transform the world through the True Dharma, bring peace and happiness to beings, and protect and assist themselves and their retinues so that they are free from suffering and affliction. Moreover, no hostile invaders from other regions shall harm them, and all evils shall withdraw far away.

It also enables their countries to eliminate calamities and perils, govern through the True Dharma, and remain free from strife and litigation. Therefore, the human kings in their respective realms should kindle the torch of Dharma, illuminating without bounds and increasing the strength of the assemblies of devas and their retinues.

Blessed One! Through these causes and conditions, we Four Heavenly Kings, countless deities, assemblies of yakṣas, and all the deities throughout Jambudvīpa shall drink the unsurpassed ambrosial flavor of the Dharma and acquire great majestic virtue, power, and radiance, lacking nothing whatsoever; and all beings shall dwell in peace and security. Moreover, in future lives, throughout hundreds of thousands of inconceivable nayutas of kalpas, they shall continually enjoy happiness, directly encounter countless Buddhas, plant roots of virtue, and thereafter attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.

Such limitless and boundless supreme benefits arise because the Tathagata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, possesses great loving-kindness and compassion surpassing those of all the assemblies of Brahma, employs great wisdom surpassing Śakra, and cultivates ascetic practices surpassing those of the sages endowed with the five superknowledges by hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of nayutas of times, beyond all reckoning.

For the sake of all beings, he expounds such a wondrous scripture, enabling all rulers and their peoples throughout Jambudvīpa to understand fully every worldly method of governing a country, transforming its people, and encouraging them to practice the Way.

Through the power by which this King of Sutras is propagated, peace and happiness prevail everywhere. This entire accumulation of blessings and benefits arises from the compassionate power of the great teacher Śākyamuni, who has caused this scripture to be widely proclaimed and disseminated.

Blessed One! For these causes and conditions, all human kings should accept, uphold, revere, make offerings to, and praise this wondrous King of Sutras. Why is this? It is because such inconceivably supreme merits benefit all beings. Therefore, it is called the Supreme King of Sutras.”

The Blessed One then said to the Four Heavenly Kings: “You Four Heavenly Kings, together with your retinues and countless hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of devas and great assemblies, upon seeing a human king who listens to this scripture with utmost sincerity and makes offerings to, reveres, honors, and praises it, should protect him and dispel his decline and misfortunes. By doing so, you too shall certainly enjoy peace and happiness.

If members of the fourfold assembly widely propagate this King of Sutras, extensively perform the Buddha’s work among humans and devas, and bring universal benefit to countless beings, then you Four Heavenly Kings should continually protect such people. Do not allow other adverse conditions to disturb or afflict those members of the fourfold assembly. Cause their bodies and minds to be tranquil, peaceful, and joyful, so that they may widely proclaim and disseminate this King of Sutras without interruption, benefiting sentient beings until the end of the future.”

At that time, Vaiśravaṇa, the Heavenly King of Great Learning, rose from his seat and addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One! I possess a Dharma of the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Dhāraṇī. If any being delights in accepting and upholding it, that being shall acquire immeasurable merit. I shall continually protect that being, causing them to leave suffering and attain happiness, and enabling them to perfect the two kinds of provisions: merit (Puṇya) and wisdom (Jñāna). Those who wish to accept and uphold it should first recite this mantra for protecting the body.”

He then spoke the mantra:

“Nam mô bệ thất la mạt noa dã, mạc ha hạt la xà dã. Đát điệt tha: la la la la, củ nộ củ nộ, khu nộ khu nộ, lâu nộ lâu nộ, táp phộc táp phộc, yết la yết la, mạc ha tỳ yết lạt ma, mạc ha tỳ yết lạt ma, mạc ha hạt la xã, hạt lạc xoa, hạt lạc xoa, đổ mạn (state one’s own name) tát bà tát đỏa nan giả, toa ha”

*) NAMO VAIŚRAVAṆĀYA MAHĀ-RĀJĀYA

TADYATHĀ: RARA RARA, KUṆU KUṆU, KHUṆU KHUṆU, LŪṆU LŪṆU, SAPA SAPA, KARA KARA, MAHĀ-VIKRAMA MAHĀ-VIKRAMA, MAHĀ-RĀJĀYA, RAKṢA RAKṢA TUMAṂ (…) SARVA-SATVĀNĀṂCA SVĀHĀ

Blessed One! One who recites this mantra should take a white cord and empower it by reciting the mantra seven times, tying one knot after each recitation, and then bind it behind the elbow. When this has been done, one should take the following incenses: benzoin (Guggulu, or Gulguru), sandalwood (Candana), camphor (Karpūra), storax (Turuṣka), tagara (Tagaraka), and frankincense (Kundurnka), divide them into equal portions, and blend them together. Holding an incense burner in one’s hands, one should burn the incense as an offering, bathe and cleanse oneself, put on clean new robes, and, within a pure chamber, recite the divine mantra to invoke me, the Heavenly King Vaiśravaṇa.

He then spoke the mantra:

“Nam mô bệ thất la mạt noa dã. Nam mô đàn na đà dã, đàn nê thuyết la dã, a yết xả, a bát lại nhĩ đá, đàn nê thuyết la, bát la ma ca lưu ni ca, tát bà tát đỏa, hứ đá, chấn đá, ma ma (use one’s name…) đàn na mạt nô bát lạt duệ xả, toái diêm ma yết xả, toa ha”

*)NAMO VAIŚRAVĀṆĀYA

NAMO DHANADĀYA DHANEŚVARĀYA

ĀKARṢA APARAMITA DHANEŚVARA PARAMA-KĀRUṆĪKA SARVA-SATVA HĪTA CITTA MAMA (…) DHANA MANU-PRAYACCHA SVAYAM ĀKARṢA SVĀHĀ

After reciting this mantra a full seven times, one should next recite the principal mantra. When preparing to recite the mantra, one should first state one’s name and reverently pay homage to the Three Jewels and to the Heavenly King Vaiśravaṇa, who can bestow wealth, fulfill the aspirations of beings, accomplish their wishes, and bring them peace and happiness. Having paid homage in this manner, one should next recite the Divine Heart Mantra of the Wish-Fulfilling Maṇi Jewel of the Heavenly King Vaiśravaṇa, which can grant beings happiness according to their wishes.”

Thereupon, the Heavenly King of Great Learning spoke before the Buddha the Heart Mantra of the Wish-Fulfilling Maṇi Jewel:

“Namo ratna-trayāya. Namo Vaiśravaṇāya mahā-rājāya. Tadyathā: siddhi siddhi, sumu sumu, caṇḍa caṇḍa, cara cara, sara sara, kara kara, kiri kiri, kuru kuru, muru muru, curu curu, sādhaya, ātmānāṃ (My name is….) nityam, artha, dhātvā svāhā. Namo Vaiśravaṇāya, svāhā. Dhanadāya, svāhā. Manoratha paripūrakāya, svāhā.”

*) NAMO RATNA-TRAYĀYA

NAMO VAIŚRAVAṆĀYA MAHĀ-RĀJĀYA

TADYATHĀ: SIDDHI SIDDHI, SUMU SUMU, CAṆḌA CAṆḌA, CARA CARA, SARA SARA, KARA KARA, KIRI KIRI, KURU KURU, MURU MURU, CURU CURU, SĀDHAYA ĀTMĀNĀṂ (…) NITYAM-ARTHA DHĀTVA SVĀHĀ

NAMO VAIŚRAVAṆĀYA SVĀHĀ

DHANADĀYA SVĀHĀ

MANORATHA PARIPŪRAKĀYA SVĀHĀ

When practicing this mantra, first recite it one thousand times. Then, in a purified chamber, smear the ground with gomayī (cow dung), establish a small ritual altar, and single-mindedly make offerings of food and drink at the appropriate times. Constantly burn fine fragrant incense so that the smoke never ceases. Recite the preceding Heart Mantra, keeping the mind firmly concentrated day and night. Recite only loudly enough for your own ears to hear, and do not let others understand it.

Then a son of King Vaiśravaṇa named Śaṇḍika will manifest in the form of a youth and come to that person, asking, “What do you require that you have summoned my father?” One may then say, “Because I wish to make offerings to the Three Jewels, I require wealth and goods. I pray that you will bestow them upon me.”

After Śaṇḍika has heard these words, he will return to his father and report, “There is now a good person who has sincerely resolved to make offerings to the Three Jewels. Because that person lacks wealth and goods, this invocation has been performed.”

His father, namely the Heavenly King Vaiśravaṇa, will say, “You should quickly give that person one hundred kārṣāpaṇas each day.” (Kārṣāpaṇa is the original Sanskrit term. It is also called cowrie currency, and thus its form differs according to the region. It may refer either to cowries or to coins of gold, silver, copper, or iron.

At present in Magadha, one kārṣāpaṇa is commonly equal to 1,600 cowries, from which the total may be calculated. If reckoned according to the value of goods, however, the amount varies from place to place. When a mantra practitioner attains accomplishment and receives the goods, that person will know the amount directly.

Some versions state that one is given one hundred dīnāras each day, namely gold coins, and that throughout one’s life one will continually receive them every day. Among those in the western regions who seek this attainment, most experience its divine efficacy, except those who lack sincerity.)

After the mantra practitioner sees this sign, that person will know that the rite has succeeded. The practitioner should remain alone in a purified chamber, burn incense, and lie down. A box for incense may be placed beside the bed.

Each morning at dawn, upon looking inside the box, the practitioner will find the desired goods. Whenever such goods are obtained, they must that very day be used to make offerings to the Three Jewels—incense, flowers, food, and drink—and to give alms to the poor and needy. Everything must be entirely distributed, and nothing may be retained.

One must give rise to thoughts of loving-kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings and must not entertain anger, deceit, or harmful intent. If anger arises, the divine efficacy will immediately be lost. One should constantly guard the mind and prevent anger from arising.

Furthermore, practitioners of this mantra should remember me, the Heavenly King Vaiśravaṇa, together with my male and female retinue, every day, proclaiming and praising us. They should always support us through the ten wholesome deeds, causing the power of merit of those devas to grow ever more radiant, extending throughout every good deed until bodhi is realized. When those hosts of devas see this, they will all be greatly delighted and will come together to aid and protect the mantra practitioner.

Furthermore, the mantra practitioner will attain a long life lasting immeasurable years, will forever be free from the three evil destinies, and will never suffer calamity. The practitioner will also obtain the wish-fulfilling jewel (cintāmaṇi), hidden treasures, and unimpeded supernormal powers, and every aspiration will be fulfilled. If one seeks honor or official rank, nothing will fail to accord with one’s wishes. One will also understand the languages of all birds and beasts.

World-Honored One! If, while practicing the mantra, one wishes to see me, the Heavenly King Vaiśravaṇa, manifest in person, then on either the eighth or the fourteenth day of the month one may paint an image of the Buddha upon white silk. It should be adorned with plant resin and various pigments.

The person who paints the image must undertake the eight precepts. To the Buddha’s left, paint an image of the Auspicious Goddess Śrī-devī. To the Buddha’s right, paint an image of me, the Heavenly King Vaiśravaṇa, together with my male and female retinue.

Arrange their seats in accordance with the Dharma, display flowers of many colors, burn various fine fragrant incenses, and light lamps continuously so that they remain burning throughout the day and night. Set forth exquisite food and every kind of rare delicacy. With a deeply reverent mind, make offerings at the appropriate times and uphold the divine mantra, never allowing the mind to become careless.

When invoking me, one should recite this mantra:

“Namo śrī-gaṇāya-buddhāya. Namo Vaiśravaṇāya yakṣa-rājāya mahā-rāja adhirājāya. Namaḥ Śrīya-devye. Tadyathā: tāra tāra, turu turu, bala bala, susiddhi susiddhi, maṇi, kanaka, vajra, vaiḍūrya, muktika, alaṃkṛta, śarīraye bhūḥ, sarva-satva hīta kāma, Vaiśravaṇa Śrīya-devī prabhāya, ehyehi mavilamba, gṛhṇa gṛhṇa, virasa virasa, dādā hi mama, amogha-nāmaṣya (state one’s own name) darśana kāmaṣya, darśanāṃ mama-māna, prakradāya svāhā.”

*)NAMO ŚRĪ-GAṆĀYA-BUDDHĀYA

NAMO VAIŚRVAVAṆĀYA- YAKṢA-RĀJĀYA MAHĀ-RĀJĀ ADHIRĀJĀYA

NAMAḤ ŚRĪYA-DEVYE

TADYATHĀ: TĀRA TĀRA, TURU TURU, BALA BALA, SUSIDDHI SUSIDDHI, MAṆI, KANAKA, VAJRA, VAIḌŪRYA, MUKTIKA, ALAṂKṚTA, ŚARĪRAYE BHŪḤ, SARVA-SATVA HĪTA KĀMA VAIŚRAVAṆA ŚRĪYA-DEVĪ PRABHĀYA EHYEHI MAVILAMBA, GṚHṆA GṚHṆA, VIRASA VIRASA, DĀDĀ HI MAMA, AMOGHA-NĀMAṢYA (…) DARŚANA KĀMAṢYA, DARŚANĀṂ MAMA-MĀNA, PRAKRADĀYA SVĀHĀ

World-Honored One! If I see someone reciting this mantra and also see that the offerings have been prepared so completely, I will immediately give rise to a joyful mind of loving-kindness. I will then transform my body into the form of a child, an elderly person, or a bhikṣu, holding in my hand a precious maṇi jewel and a golden bag, and enter the place of practice.

With my body I will show reverence, and with my mouth I will utter the Buddha’s name. I will tell the mantra practitioner, “Whatever you have sought, I shall cause it all to be fulfilled according to your wishes—whether you wish to dwell secluded in a forest or marshland, obtain a precious jewel, be loved and esteemed by everyone, or acquire such things as gold and silver. If you wish to practice any mantra, I shall cause it to be efficacious.

If you desire supernormal powers, long life, or sublime happiness, nothing will fail to accord with your mind.”

Now I further declare this: If one seeks anything else, it too will be accomplished in accordance with one’s aspiration. The treasury of merit will be inexhaustible, and its virtues will know no end. Even if the sun and moon should fall to the earth, or the great earth itself should one day move, these true words of mine will never in the end prove false. Such a person will always enjoy peace and security and experience happiness according to the heart’s desire.

World-Honored One! If anyone is able to receive, uphold, read, and recite this King of Sutras, then when that person recites the mantra, the Dharma will swiftly be accomplished without toil.”

“World-Honored One! I now proclaim this mantra for impoverished sentient beings afflicted by hardship and suffering, so that they may obtain great benefit and all become prosperous, joyful, and free, without calamity throughout their lives. I shall protect and accompany anyone who practices it, removing all calamities and hardships. I shall also cause this Sutra of the Sovereign King of Golden Light, Supreme among Sutras, to circulate widely. Within one hundred paces of one who upholds the mantra, light shall shine forth. All the devas and yaksha spirits under my command shall also constantly protect that person. Whatever that person wishes them to do, nothing shall fail to accord with that person’s mind. I speak these truthful words without falsehood; the Buddha alone is my witness.”

When Vaishravana, the Heavenly King of Great Learning, had finished speaking this mantra, the Buddha said: “Excellent, Heavenly King! You are able to tear apart the net of suffering and poverty that ensnares all sentient beings, enabling them to become prosperous and joyful. You also cause this sutra to circulate widely throughout the world.”

Then the four Heavenly Kings rose from their seats, adjusted their robes to bare one shoulder, bowed their heads at the Buddha’s feet, knelt with their right knees upon the ground, and respectfully joined their palms. With wondrous gathas, they praised the Buddha’s merit and virtue:

“The Buddha’s face is pure like the full moon,

Like a thousand suns emitting radiant light.

His clear, long, and broad eyes resemble blue lotuses;

His white, close-set, even teeth resemble pure snow.

The Buddha’s merit is like the great ocean,

Within which immeasurable wondrous treasures are stored.

It is ever filled with the waters of merit and wisdom,

And replete with hundreds of thousands of supreme samadhis.

The soles of his feet are adorned with wheel-marks;

Their hubs, rims, and thousand spokes are perfectly even.

The webbing between his toes adorns them throughout,

Like the king of geese, complete in all marks.

The Buddha’s body radiates light like a golden mountain,

Pure, extraordinary, and beyond compare.

Like wondrous Sumeru, replete with merit,

Therefore I bow to the Buddha, King of Mountains.

His excellent marks, like empty space, are difficult to fathom;

He courses among a thousand moons, emitting light.

All resemble illusory flames, inconceivable;

Therefore I bow to the Unattached Mind.”

When the four Heavenly Kings had finished praising the Buddha, the Buddha replied in gathas:

“This Sutra of Golden Light, Supreme among Sutras,

Was proclaimed by the Unsurpassed One of the Ten Powers.

You four kings must constantly protect it;

Therefore give rise to a courageous mind that never retreats.

_This wondrous, precious sutra is exceedingly profound

And can bestow joy upon sentient beings.

Because those sentient beings attain peace and joy,

It shall constantly circulate throughout Jambudvipa.

_Within this great trichiliocosm,

All sentient beings without exception—

Hungry ghosts, animals, and denizens of hell—

Shall all be freed from such realms of suffering.

_The kings who dwell in this southern continent,

Together with all other sentient beings,

Shall, through the sutra’s majestic power, always be joyful;

Relying upon its protection, all shall attain peace.

_It shall also cause the sentient beings herein

To be freed from every painful illness and from thieves.

Because this sutra is widely propagated throughout the realm,

It shall be peaceful, prosperous, joyful, and free from affliction.

_If anyone hears and accepts this King of Sutras,

Wishing to seek honor, wealth, and benefit,

The realm shall be prosperous and joyful, without strife,

And every heartfelt wish shall be fulfilled.

_It can cause invading enemies to retreat and disperse,

While one’s own realm remains ever peaceful.

Through the power of this Supreme King of Sutras,

All shall be free from suffering and without fear.

_Like the king of precious trees within one’s home,

Which can produce every delightful object,

The Supreme King of Sutras is likewise,

Able to bestow supreme merit upon human kings.

_Like cool, clear, and limpid water,

Which can dispel scorching heat, hunger, and thirst,

The Supreme King of Sutras is likewise,

Fulfilling the minds of those who delight in merit.

_Like a person whose home contains a casket of wondrous treasures,

Providing whatever is needed, in accordance with one’s wishes,

The Supreme King of Sutras is likewise:

Its blessings accord with one’s mind, lacking nothing.

_You lords of devas and your celestial hosts

Should make offerings to this King of Sutras.

If you can uphold the sutra in accordance with its teaching,

You shall be fully endowed with wisdom and majestic spiritual power.

_In this present Dharma, all Buddhas of the ten directions

Together protect and remain mindful of this King of Sutras.

Whenever they see anyone reading, reciting, accepting, and upholding it,

They praise that person: ‘Excellent! Truly rare!’

_If anyone is able to hear this sutra,

Their body and mind shall rejoice with gladness.

Hundreds of thousands of yaksha hosts shall always

Follow wherever that person dwells and render assistance.

_In this world, the celestial hosts,

Immeasurable in number and inconceivable,

Shall all hear and accept this King of Sutras,

Joyfully upholding it without retreating.

_If anyone hears and accepts this King of Sutras,

They shall possess bold and mighty virtue and always be free.

It shall increase and benefit all humans and devas,

Causing them to leave decline and affliction and increase their radiance.”

At that time, when the four Heavenly Kings had heard these verses, they rejoiced exceedingly and said to the Buddha: “World-Honored One! Never before have we heard such subtle and profoundly wondrous Dharma. Our minds are filled with mingled joy and sorrow; tears and mucus stream down, and our entire bodies tremble. We have witnessed something rare and inconceivable.”

They scattered heavenly mandara flowers and mahamandara flowers over the Buddha. Having made this supreme offering to the Buddha, they said: “World-Honored One! Each of us four Heavenly Kings has a retinue of five hundred yakshas. We shall constantly protect this sutra and the Dharma teachers who expound it wherever they may be, assisting and safeguarding them with the light of wisdom. If they forget any of the meanings or passages of this sutra, we shall enable them to recollect them without forgetting and shall cause them to be fully endowed with the supreme Dharma gateway of dharani. Furthermore, we wish this Supreme King of Sutras to be extensively proclaimed and circulated for sentient beings wherever it abides, so that it will not quickly disappear.”

At that time, as the World-Honored One taught this Dharma amid the great assembly, immeasurable sentient beings all attained great wisdom, keen understanding, and eloquence. They gathered immeasurable stores of merit, departed from all anxiety and distress, skillfully comprehended every treatise, entered the path of liberation, never again retreated, and swiftly realized bodhi.

SUTRA OF THE SOVEREIGN KING OF GOLDEN LIGHT, SUPREME AMONG SUTRAS

VOLUME SIX (End)