提婆達多品第十二
Chapter Twelve: Devadatta
爾時佛告諸菩薩及天人四眾：「吾於過去無量劫中，求法華經，無有懈惓。於多劫中常作國王，發願求於無上菩提，心不退轉。為欲滿足六波羅蜜，勤行布施，心無悋惜，象、馬、七珍、國、城、妻、子，奴婢、僕從，頭、目、髓、腦，身、肉、手、足，不惜軀命。時世人民壽命無量，為於法故，捐捨國位，委政太子，擊鼓宣令四方求法：『誰能為我說大乘者，吾當終身供給走使。』時有仙人來白王言：『我有大乘，名妙法華經。若不違我，當為宣說。』王聞仙言，歡喜踊躍，即隨仙人，供給所須——採菓、汲水、拾薪、設食，乃至以身而為床座——身心無惓，于時奉事。經於千歲，為於法故，精勤給侍，令無所乏。」
At that time, the Buddha said to the bodhisattvas and the fourfold assembly of devas and humans, "In countless past kalpas, I searched for the Lotus Sutra without rest. For many kalpas, I was always a king, vowing to seek supreme bodhi awakening with unwavering resolve. To fulfill the six pāramitās, I diligently practiced giving, without any miserliness. I gave away elephants, horses, the seven treasures, countries, cities, wives, children, servants, attendants, even my head, eyes, marrow, brain, body, flesh, hands and feet - I did not spare my life. At that time, people's lifespans were immeasurable. For the sake of the Dharma, I renounced my throne, entrusted the government to the crown prince, and beat the drum to announce in all four directions, seeking the Dharma, 'Whoever can expound the Great Vehicle to me, I will serve them for life.'
At that time, a ṛṣi sage came and said to the king, 'I have a Great Vehicle sutra called the Lotus Sutra of Wonderful Dharma. If you do not disobey me, I will expound it for you.'
When the king heard the sage's words, he was overjoyed and immediately followed the sage, providing for all his needs - gathering fruits, drawing water, collecting firewood, preparing food, even using his body as a seat and bed - serving him tirelessly in body and mind. For a thousand years, for the sake of the Dharma, he diligently attended to the sage, ensuring he lacked nothing."
爾時世尊欲重宣此義，而說偈言：
At that time, the World-Honored One, wishing to restate this meaning, spoke in verse saying:
我念過去劫， 為求大法故， 雖作世國王， 不貪五欲樂。
I remember in past kalpas, In search of the great Dharma, Though I was a king of the world, I did not crave the five desires.
搥鍾告四方， 誰有大法者， 若為我解說， 身當為奴僕。
Beating the bell, I announced in four directions, ’Who has the great Dharma? If they can explain it to me, I will be their servant.’
時有阿私仙， 來白於大王： 『我有微妙法， 世間所希有。
At that time there was Asita-ṛṣi Who came and said to the great king ’I have a subtle and wondrous Dharma, Rare in the world.
若能修行者， 吾當為汝說。』
If you are someone who can practice it, I will explain it to you.
時王聞仙言， 心生大喜悅， 即便隨仙人， 供給於所須，
When the king heard the ṛṣi's words, His heart was filled with great joy. He immediately followed the ṛṣi, Providing for all his needs.
採薪及菓蓏， 隨時恭敬與， 情存妙法故， 身心無懈惓。
Gathering firewood and fruits, Respectfully offering them at the proper times, Because his heart was set on the wondrous Dharma, His body and mind were tireless.
普為諸眾生， 勤求於大法， 亦不為己身， 及以五欲樂。
For the sake of all sentient beings, He diligently sought the great Dharma, Not for himself, Nor for the five desires.
故為大國王， 勤求獲此法， 遂致得成佛， 今故為汝說。」
Thus it was a great king, Who diligently sought and obtained this Dharma, And then consequently attained Buddhahood, Who now explains it to you.
佛告諸比丘：「爾時王者，則我身是；時仙人者，今提婆達多是。由提婆達多善知識故，令我具足六波羅蜜，慈悲喜捨，三十二相，八十種好，紫磨金色，十力、四無所畏、四攝法、十八不共神通道力，成等正覺，廣度眾生，皆因提婆達多善知識故。」
The Buddha said to the bhikṣus, "At that time, the king was myself, and the ṛṣi was Devadatta. Because of Devadatta as a good friend (kalyāṇamitra), I was able to perfect the six pāramitās, loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity (the four immeasurables), the thirty-two marks, the eighty minor characteristics, the purple-gold complexion, the ten powers, the four fearlessnesses, the four means of unification, the eighteen unique qualities, and the demonstration of spiritual power. I attained perfect enlightenment and broadly liberated sentient beings, all because of Devadatta as a good friend."
告諸四眾：「提婆達多却後過無量劫，當得成佛，號曰天王如來、應供、正遍知、明行足、善逝、世間解、無上士、調御丈夫、天人師、佛、世尊。世界名天道。時天王佛住世二十中劫，廣為眾生說於妙法，恒河沙眾生得阿羅漢果，無量眾生發緣覺心，恒河沙眾生發無上道心，得無生忍，至不退轉。時天王佛般涅槃後，正法住世二十中劫。全身舍利起七寶塔，高六十由旬，縱廣四十由旬，諸天人民，悉以雜華、末香、燒香、塗香，衣服、瓔珞、幢幡、寶蓋，伎樂、歌頌，禮拜供養七寶妙塔。無量眾生得阿羅漢果，無量眾生悟辟支佛，不可思議眾生發菩提心，至不退轉。」
He told the fourfold assembly, "After countless kalpas have passed, Devadatta will become a Buddha named Deva-rājaḥ (Heavenly King) Tathāgata, Arhat, one of right and universal knowledge, of perfect clarity and conduct, well gone one, knower of worlds, most supreme, hero tamer, teacher of devas and humans, Buddha, World-Honored One. His world will be called Heavenly Path. At that time, Buddha Deva-rājaḥ will remain in the world for twenty middle kalpas, extensively expounding the wonderful Dharma for sentient beings. Sentient beings as numerous as the sands of the Ganges will attain the fruit of arhatship, countless beings will give rise to pratyekabuddha realization, and beings as numerous as the sands of the Ganges will give rise to the unsurpassed Way, attain the patient acceptance of non-arising, and reach the stage of non-retrogression."
"After Buddha Deva-rājaḥ enters parinirvāṇa, the true Dharma will remain in the world for twenty middle-length kalpas. His entire body relics will be enshrined in a seven-jeweled stupa, sixty yojanas high and forty yojanas wide. All the devas and humans will make offerings to this wondrous seven-jeweled stupa with various flowers, powdered incense, burning incense, perfumed ointments, garments, necklaces, banners, jeweled canopies, music and songs, bowing and worshiping. Countless beings will attain the fruit of arhatship, countless beings will awaken to pratyekabuddhahood, and inconceivable numbers of beings will give rise to bodhicitta and reach the stage of non-retrogression."
佛告諸比丘：「未來世中，若有善男子、善女人，聞妙法華經提婆達多品，淨心信敬不生疑惑者，不墮地獄、餓鬼、畜生，生十方佛前，所生之處，常聞此經。若生人天中，受勝妙樂，若在佛前，蓮華化生。」
The Buddha said to the bhikṣus, "In future ages, if there are good men and good women who hear the Devadatta chapter of the Lotus Sutra of Wonderful Dharma and believe in it with pure hearts without doubts, they will not fall into hell, the realm of hungry ghosts, or the animal realm. They will be born in the presence of the Buddhas of the ten directions, and wherever they are born, they will always hear this sutra. If they are born among humans or devas, they will enjoy supreme and wonderful pleasures. If they are in the presence of a Buddha, they will be born by transformation from lotus flowers."
於時下方多寶世尊所從菩薩，名曰智積，白多寶佛：「當還本土。」釋迦牟尼佛告智積曰：「善男子！且待須臾。此有菩薩，名文殊師利，可與相見，論說妙法，可還本土。」
At that time, a bodhisattva who accompanied Prabhūtaratna World-Honored One, named Jñānākara (Accumulated Wisdom), said to Prabhūtaratna Buddha, "Let us return to our original land." Śākyamuni Buddha said to Jñānākara, "Kulaputra! Wait a moment. There is a bodhisattva named Mañjuśrī. You should meet him, discuss the wonderful Dharma, and then return to your original land."
爾時文殊師利，坐千葉蓮華，大如車輪——俱來菩薩亦坐寶蓮華——從於大海娑竭羅龍宮自然踊出，住虛空中，詣靈鷲山，從蓮華下，至於佛所，頭面敬禮二世尊足。修敬已畢，往智積所，共相慰問，却坐一面。
At that time, Mañjuśrī, sitting on a thousand-petaled lotus flower as large as a carriage wheel - along with the bodhisattvas who came with him, also sitting on precious lotus flowers - emerged naturally from the palace of the nāga king Sāgara in the great ocean. They remained in the air and proceeded to Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa. Descending from their lotus flowers, they went to where the Buddha was and respectfully bowed their heads at the feet of the two World-Honored Ones. When they had finished paying their respects, they went to where Jñānākara was, exchanged greetings, and then sat to one side.
智積菩薩問文殊師利：「仁往龍宮，所化眾生，其數幾何？」
Bodhisattva Jñānākara asked Mañjuśrī, "When you went to the nāga palace, how many beings did you convert?"
文殊師利言：「其數無量，不可稱計，非口所宣，非心所測，且待須臾，自當有證。」所言未竟，無數菩薩坐寶蓮華，從海踊出，詣靈鷲山，住在虛空。此諸菩薩，皆是文殊師利之所化度，具菩薩行，皆共論說六波羅蜜。本聲聞人，在虛空中說聲聞行，今皆修行大乘空義。文殊師利謂智積曰：「於海教化，其事如是。」
Mañjuśrī replied, "The number is immeasurable and incalculable. It cannot be expressed in words or conceived in thought. Wait a moment and you will realize for yourself."
Before he had finished speaking, innumerable bodhisattvas sitting on precious lotus flowers emerged from the ocean and went to Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa, where they remained in the air. These bodhisattvas had all been converted and taught by Mañjuśrī. They had perfected the bodhisattva practices and were all discussing the six pāramitās together. Those who were originally śrāvakas were in the air expounding the practices of śrāvakas, but now they were all practicing the emptiness of the Great Vehicle. Mañjuśrī said to Jñānākara, "This is the result of my teaching in the ocean."
爾時智積菩薩，以偈讚曰：
At that time, Bodhisattva Accumulated Wisdom praised in verse, saying:
大智德勇健， 化度無量眾， 今此諸大會， 及我皆已見。
"Great wisdom and virtue, courageous and strong, Converting and saving countless beings, Now this great assembly, And I have all seen.
演暢實相義， 開闡一乘法， 廣導諸眾生， 令速成菩提。」
Expounding the meaning of true reality, Revealing the Dharma of the One Vehicle, Broadly guiding all sentient beings, Causing them to swiftly attain Bodhi."
文殊師利言：「我於海中，唯常宣說妙法華經。」
Mañjuśrī said, "In the ocean, I constantly expound only the Lotus Sutra of Wonderful Dharma."
智積問文殊師利言：「此經甚深微妙，諸經中寶，世所希有。頗有眾生，勤加精進，修行此經，速得佛不？」
Bodhisattva Jñānākara asked Mañjuśrī, "This sutra is extremely profound and subtle, a treasure among sutras, rare in the world. Are there any sentient beings who, through diligent effort and practice of this sutra, can swiftly attain Buddhahood?"
文殊師利言：「有娑竭羅龍王女，年始八歲，智慧利根，善知眾生諸根行業，得陀羅尼，諸佛所說甚深祕藏，悉能受持。深入禪定，了達諸法，於剎那頃發菩提心，得不退轉，辯才無礙。慈念眾生、猶如赤子，功德具足，心念口演，微妙廣大，慈悲仁讓，志意和雅，能至菩提。」
Mañjuśrī replied, "There is the daughter of the Nāga King Sāgara, who is only eight years old. She is wise and sharp-faceted, understands the faculties and karmic actions of all beings, has attained dhāraṇīs, and can fully retain all the profound secret treasuries spoken by the Buddhas. She has deeply entered samādhi and comprehends all dharmas. In a kṣaṇa (thought-moment) she can generate bodhicitta and attain non-retrogression, with unobstructed eloquence. She regards sentient beings with kindness, as if they were her own children. Her merits are complete, and her thoughts and speech are subtle, vast, compassionate, and harmonious. She is capable of attaining Bodhi."
智積菩薩言：「我見釋迦如來，於無量劫難行苦行，積功累德，求菩提道，未曾止息。觀三千大千世界，乃至無有如芥子許非是菩薩捨身命處，為眾生故，然後乃得成菩提道。不信此女於須臾頃、便成正覺。」
Bodhisattva Jñānākara said, "I see that Śākyamuni Buddha practiced difficult austerities for countless kalpas, accumulating merit in pursuit of the path of Bodhi without ever resting. I observe that within the three thousand great thousand world-system, there is not even a spot as small as a mustard seed where the Bodhisattva has not sacrificed his body and life for the sake of sentient beings, and only then was able to attain the path of Bodhi. I cannot believe that this girl could attain perfect enlightenment in a kṣaṇa."
言論未訖，時龍王女忽現於前，頭面禮敬，却住一面，以偈讚曰：
Before he finished speaking, the Nāga King's daughter suddenly appeared before them. She bowed her head in reverence, then stood to one side and praised in verse:
深達罪福相， 遍照於十方， 微妙淨法身， 具相三十二， 以八十種好， 用莊嚴法身。
Deeply understanding the nature of merit and wrongdoing, Illuminating the ten directions, The subtle and pure Dharma body, Replete with the thirty-two characteristics, and eighty excellent signs, Adorning the Dharma body.
天人所戴仰， 龍神咸恭敬， 一切眾生類， 無不宗奉者。
Revered by devas and humans, Nāgas and spirits all pay respect, Of all types of living beings, None fail to venerate.
又聞成菩提， 唯佛當證知， 我闡大乘教， 度脫苦眾生。」
And having heard, Bodhi is achieved, Only the Buddha truly knows, I expound the teaching of the Great Vehicle To liberate suffering beings.
時舍利弗語龍女言：「汝謂不久得無上道，是事難信。所以者何？女身垢穢，非是法器，云何能得無上菩提。佛道懸曠，經無量劫勤苦積行，具修諸度，然後乃成。又女人身猶有五障：一者、不得作梵天王，二者、帝釋，三者、魔王，四者、轉輪聖王，五者、佛身。云何女身速得成佛？」
At that time, Śāriputra said to the nāga girl, "You claim that you will soon attain the unsurpassed Way, but this is hard to believe. Why? A woman's body is filthy and impure, not a vessel of the Dharma. How could you attain supreme Bodhi? The Way of the Buddha is vast and distant, requiring countless kalpas of diligent practice and cultivation of all the perfections before it can be achieved. Moreover, the female body has five obstacles: it cannot become a 1) Brahma King, 2) Śakra, 3) Māra King, 4) Wheel-Turning Sage King, or 5) a Buddha. How could a female body swiftly attain Buddhahood?"
爾時龍女有一寶珠，價直三千大千世界，持以上佛。佛即受之。龍女謂智積菩薩、尊者舍利弗言：「我獻寶珠，世尊納受，是事疾不？」
At that time, the nāga girl had a precious jewel worth as much as the three thousand great thousand worlds, which she presented to the Buddha. The Buddha immediately accepted it. The nāga girl said to Bodhisattva Jñānākara and the Venerable Śāriputra, "I offered the precious jewel and the World-Honored One accepted it. Was this not quick?"
答言：「甚疾。」
They answered: "Very quick."
女言：「以汝神力，觀我成佛，復速於此。」
The girl said, "Watch me attain Buddhahood. It will be even quicker than that."
當時眾會，皆見龍女忽然之間變成男子，具菩薩行，即往南方無垢世界，坐寶蓮華，成等正覺，三十二相、八十種好，普為十方一切眾生演說妙法。
At that moment, the entire assembly saw the nāga girl suddenly transform into a young man, perfect in the bodhisattva practice. She immediately went to the Vimala World in the south, sat on a jeweled lotus flower, and attained perfect enlightenment, with the thirty-two characteristics and eighty minor sings, expounding the wonderful Dharma for all sentient beings throughout the ten directions.
爾時娑婆世界，菩薩、聲聞、天龍八部、人與非人，皆遙見彼龍女成佛，普為時會人天說法，心大歡喜，悉遙敬禮。無量眾生，聞法解悟，得不退轉；無量眾生，得受道記。無垢世界，六反震動；娑婆世界，三千眾生住不退地，三千眾生發菩提心而得受記。智積菩薩及舍利弗，一切眾會，默然信受。
At that time, in the Sahā world, the bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, the devas, nāgas, and other eight kinds of beings, and humans and non-humans all saw from afar that the nāga girl had become a Buddha and was expounding the Dharma to the assembly of humans and devas. Their hearts were filled with great joy, and they all bowed in reverence from afar. Countless beings heard the Dharma and awakened to understanding, attaining the stage of non-retrogression. Countless beings received predictions of enlightenment. The Vimala World shook in six ways. In the Sahā world, three thousand beings dwelt in the stage of non-retrogression, and three thousand beings generated bodhicitta and received predictions. Bodhisattva Jñānākara, Śāriputra, and the entire assembly silently believed and accepted this.