勸持品第十三
Chapter Thirteen: Encouraging Upholding
爾時藥王菩薩摩訶薩及大樂說菩薩摩訶薩，與二萬菩薩眷屬俱，皆於佛前作是誓言：「唯願世尊不以為慮。我等於佛滅後，當奉持、讀誦、說此經典。後惡世眾生，善根轉少，多增上慢，貪利供養，增不善根，遠離解脫。雖難可教化，我等當起大忍力，讀誦此經，持說、書寫、種種供養，不惜身命。」
At that time, Bhaiṣajya-rāja Bodhisattva Mahasattva and Mahāpratibhāna Bodhisattva Mahasattva, together with twenty thousand bodhisattva attendants, all made this vow before the Buddha, "We only wish that the World-Honored One will not be concerned. After the Buddha's extinction, we will uphold, read, recite, and expound this sutra. In the later evil age, living beings will have fewer and fewer good roots, and many will be arrogant, greedy for offerings, increasing their unwholesome roots, and far from liberation. Although they will be difficult to teach and transform, we will arouse great patience and power to read and recite this sutra, uphold it, expound it, write it out, and make various offerings, not sparing our bodies or lives."
爾時眾中五百阿羅漢得受記者、白佛言：「世尊！我等亦自誓願，於異國土、廣說此經。」
At that time, five hundred arhats in the assembly who had received their predictions said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! We also vow to widely expound this sutra in other lands."
復有學、無學八千人、得受記者，從座而起，合掌向佛作是誓言：「世尊！我等亦當於他國土廣說此經。所以者何？是娑婆國中，人多弊惡，懷增上慢，功德淺薄、瞋濁諂曲，心不實故。」
Furthermore, eight thousand people who were learning and beyond learning, who had also received their predictions, rose from their seats, joined their palms towards the Buddha and made this vow, "World-Honored One! We too shall widely expound this sutra in other lands. Why? Because in this Sahā world, there are many wicked people, with overweening pride, shallow virtue, anger, jealousy, and crooked minds."
爾時佛姨母摩訶波闍波提比丘尼，與學、無學比丘尼六千人俱，從座而起，一心合掌，瞻仰尊顏，目不暫捨。於時世尊告憍曇彌：「何故憂色而視如來，汝心將無謂我不說汝名，授阿耨多羅三藐三菩提記耶？憍曇彌！我先總說一切聲聞皆已授記，今汝欲知記者，將來之世，當於六萬八千億諸佛法中為大法師，及六千學、無學比丘尼俱為法師。汝如是漸漸具菩薩道，當得作佛，號一切眾生喜見如來、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。憍曇彌！是一切眾生喜見佛及六千菩薩，轉次授記得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。」
At that time, the Buddha's aunt, the Bhikṣuṇī Mahaprajapati, together with six thousand bhikṣuṇīs, both learning and beyond learning, rose from their seats. With one mind and joined palms, they gazed at the World-Honored One's venerable countenance without averting their eyes for a moment. Then the World-Honored One said to Gautami, "Why do you look at the Tathagata with a worried expression? Is your heart thinking that I have not mentioned your name and given you a prediction of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi? Gautami, I previously said that all śrāvakas have already been given predictions. Now, if you wish to know your prediction, in the future you shall become a great Dharmabhānaka within the Dharma of sixty-eight thousand million Buddhas, and the six thousand bhikṣuṇīs who are learning and beyond learning shall all become Dharmabhānakas. In this way, you will gradually fulfill the Bodhisattva path and will become a Buddha called Sarvasattvapriyadarśana (Delightful for All Beings Who To See), 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.' Gautami! This Sarvasattvapriyadarśana Buddha along with six thousand bodhisattvas will in succession receive predictions of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi."
爾時羅睺羅母耶輸陀羅比丘尼作是念：「世尊於授記中，獨不說我名。」
At that time, Yaśodharā Bhikṣuṇī, the mother of Rāhula, thought to herself, "The World-Honored One has not mentioned my name in giving predictions."
佛告耶輸陀羅：「汝於來世百千萬億諸佛法中修菩薩行，為大法師，漸具佛道。於善國中當得作佛，號具足千萬光相如來、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。佛壽無量阿僧祇劫。」
The Buddha said to Yaśodharā, "In future lives, you will practice the Bodhisattva path among the Dharma of hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddhas, becoming a great Dharmabhānaka, gradually fulfilling the Buddha's path. In a good country, you will become a Buddha named Raśmiśatasahasraparipūrṇadhvaja (With a Thousand Million Perfect Light Marks) 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. The lifespan of this Buddha will be immeasurable, uncountable kalpas."
爾時摩訶波闍波提比丘尼及耶輸陀羅比丘尼，并其眷屬，皆大歡喜，得未曾有，即於佛前而說偈言：
At that time, Mahāprajāpatī Bhikṣuṇī and Yaśodharā Bhikṣuṇī, along with their followers, were all greatly delighted, experiencing something unprecedented. They immediately spoke these verses before the Buddha:
世尊導師， 安隱天人， 我等聞記， 心安具足。」
"World-Honored One, Guide, You bring peace to devas and humans. We have heard our predictions, Our hearts are now fully at peace."
諸比丘尼說是偈已，白佛言：「世尊！我等亦能於他方國土廣宣此經。」
After the bhikṣuṇīs spoke these verses, they said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! We too are able to widely proclaim this sutra in other lands."
爾時世尊視八十萬億那由他諸菩薩摩訶薩。是諸菩薩——皆是阿惟越致，轉不退法輪，得諸陀羅尼——即從座起，至於佛前，一心合掌，而作是念：「若世尊告勅我等持說此經者，當如佛教，廣宣斯法。」復作是念：「佛今默然，不見告勅，我當云何？」時諸菩薩敬順佛意，并欲自滿本願，便於佛前，作師子吼而發誓言：「世尊！我等於如來滅後，周旋往返十方世界，能令眾生書寫此經，受持、讀誦，解說其義，如法修行，正憶念，皆是佛之威力。唯願世尊，在於他方遙見守護。」
At that time, the World-Honored One looked at the eighty hundred thousand billion nayutas of great bodhisattvas. These bodhisattvas were all avaivartika (non-retrogressing), turning the irreversible Dharma wheel and possessing all dhāraṇīs. They rose from their seats, came before the Buddha, joined their palms with one mind, and thought, ‘If the World-Honored One instructs us to uphold and expound this sutra, we should follow the Buddha's teaching and widely proclaim this Dharma.’ They further thought, ‘The Buddha now remains silent and does not instruct us. What should we do?" At that time, the bodhisattvas, respecting the Buddha's intention and wishing to fulfill their own vows, made a lion's roar before the Buddha and took this vow, "World-Honored One! After the Tathāgata's extinction, we will circulate throughout the worlds of the ten directions. We will enable living beings to write out this sutra, to uphold, read, and recite it, to explain its meaning, to practice it according to the Dharma, and to properly bear it in mind. All this will be due to the Buddha's power. We only wish that the World-Honored One, while in another region, will from afar see and protect us."
即時諸菩薩俱同發聲、而說偈言：
At that time, all the bodhisattvas together raised their voices and spoke in verse saying:
唯願不為慮， 於佛滅度後， 恐怖惡世中， 我等當廣說。
We only wish you not to be concerned, After the Buddha's extinction, In the fearful evil world, We will widely expound this.
有諸無智人， 惡口罵詈等， 及加刀杖者， 我等皆當忍。
There will be some unwise people, Who use evil words to scold and abuse, And even use swords and staves, But we will all endure it.
惡世中比丘， 邪智心諂曲， 未得謂為得， 我慢心充滿。
In the evil world, there are bhikṣus With wrong wisdom and crooked minds, Who claim attainment when unattained, Their hearts full of arrogance.
或有阿練若， 納衣在空閑， 自謂行真道， 輕賤人間者。
There are some āraṇyakas (forest-dwellers), Wearing patched robes in secluded places, Who claim to practice the true way, But despise those in the world.
貪著利養故， 與白衣說法， 為世所恭敬， 如六通羅漢。
For the sake of gain and offerings, They preach the Dharma to laypeople, And are respected by the world, Like arhats with six supernatural powers.
是人懷惡心， 常念世俗事， 假名阿練若， 好出我等過，
These people harbor evil hearts, Always thinking of worldly matters, Falsely calling themselves āraṇyakas, While liking to find fault with us,
而作如是言： 『此諸比丘等， 為貪利養故， 說外道論議；
Saying such things as: "These bhikṣus, For the sake of gain and offerings, Preach non-Buddhist doctrines;
自作此經典， 誑惑世間人， 為求名聞故， 分別於是經。』
They themselves made this sutra, To deceive people in the world, For the sake of fame, They discriminate this sutra."
常在大眾中， 欲毀我等故， 向國王大臣， 婆羅門居士，
Always in the midst of great assemblies, Wishing to defame us, They speak to kings, ministers, Brahmins, and householders,
及餘比丘眾， 誹謗說我惡， 謂是邪見人， 說外道論議。
And other groups of bhikṣus, Slandering and speaking ill of us, Saying we are people of wrong views, Expounding non-Buddhist doctrines.
我等敬佛故， 悉忍是諸惡。 為斯所輕言， 汝等皆是佛， 如此輕慢言， 皆當忍受之。
Out of reverence for the Buddha, We will endure all these evils. We are belittled with words like, "You are all Buddhas." Such contemptuous words We will all patiently bear.
濁劫惡世中， 多有諸恐怖， 惡鬼入其身， 罵詈毀辱我。
In the evil world of turbid kalpas, There are many terrors. Evil spirits possess their bodies, Reviling and insulting us.
我等敬信佛， 當著忍辱鎧， 為說是經故， 忍此諸難事。
We, revering and trusting the Buddha, Will don the armor of patience. For the sake of expounding this sutra, We will endure these difficulties.
我不愛身命， 但惜無上道， 我等於來世， 護持佛所囑， 世尊自當知。
We do not cherish our bodies or lives, But only care for the supreme Way. In the ages to come, We will protect what the Buddha entrusts, The World-Honored One himself knows this.
濁世惡比丘， 不知佛方便， 隨宜所說法， 惡口而顰蹙， 數數見擯出， 遠離於塔寺。
In the turbid world, evil bhikṣus, Not knowing the Buddha's upāya, Nor the Dharma taught according to circumstances, Use harsh words and frown, Repeatedly being expelled, Distancing themselves from stupas and temples.
如是等眾惡， 念佛告勅故， 皆當忍是事。
All such evils, Mindful of the Buddha's instructions, We shall endure these things.
諸聚落城邑， 其有求法者， 我皆到其所， 說佛所囑法。
In villages and cities, Wherever there are those seeking the Dharma, We will go to them, And expound the Dharma entrusted by the Buddha.
我是世尊使， 處眾無所畏， 我當善說法， 願佛安隱住。
We are the World-Honored One's messengers, Fearless among the multitudes, We will skillfully expound the Dharma, Wishing for the Buddha to dwell in peace.
我於世尊前， 諸來十方佛， 發如是誓言， 佛自知我心。」
Before the World-Honored One, And the Buddhas of the ten directions who have come, We make this vow: The Buddha himself knows our hearts.