妙音菩薩品第二十四
Chapter Twenty-Four: Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva
爾時釋迦牟尼佛放大人相肉髻光明，及放眉間白毫相光，遍照東方百八萬億那由他恒河沙等諸佛世界。過是數已，有世界名淨光莊嚴，其國有佛，號淨華宿王智如來、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，為無量無邊菩薩大眾恭敬圍繞而為說法，釋迦牟尼佛白毫光明遍照其國。爾時一切淨光莊嚴國中，有一菩薩名曰妙音，久已殖眾德本，供養親近無量百千萬億諸佛，而悉成就甚深智慧，得妙幢相三昧、法華三昧、淨德三昧、宿王戲三昧、無緣三昧、智印三昧、解一切眾生語言三昧、集一切功德三昧、清淨三昧、神通遊戲三昧、慧炬三昧、莊嚴王三昧、淨光明三昧、淨藏三昧、不共三昧、日旋三昧，得如是等百千萬億恒河沙等諸大三昧。釋迦牟尼佛光照其身，即白淨華宿王智佛言：「世尊！我當往詣娑婆世界，禮拜、親近、供養釋迦牟尼佛，及見文殊師利法王子菩薩、藥王菩薩、勇施菩薩、宿王華菩薩、上行意菩薩、莊嚴王菩薩、藥上菩薩。」
At that time, Śākyamuni Buddha emitted light from the fleshy protuberance on his head (uṣnīṣa) and from the white tuft of hair between his eyebrows (ūrṇā), illuminating Buddha worlds in the eastern direction as numerous as the sands of one hundred and eight million billion nayutas of Ganges Rivers. Beyond this number, there was a world called Vairocanaraśmipratimaṇḍitā (’Pure Light Adornment’). In that country there was a Buddha named Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṅkusumitābhijña (’Pure Flower Constellation King Wisdom’) 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. He was surrounded by an immeasurable, boundless assembly of great bodhisattvas who respectfully listened to him expound the Dharma. The light from Śākyamuni Buddha's white tuft illuminated that entire country.
At that time, in the country of Vairocanaraśmipratimaṇḍitā, there was a bodhisattva named Gadgadasvara (’Wonderful Sound’). For a long time, he had planted the roots of virtue, made offerings to and closely attended countless hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of Buddhas, and had fully accomplished profound wisdom. He had attained the Dhvajāgrakeyūrā samādhi (Wonderful Banner Mark), the Saddharma-puṇḍarīka samādhi (Lotus Flower), the Vimaladatta samādhi (Pure Virtue), the Nakṣatrarājavikrīḍita samādhi (Playful Constellation King), the Anilambha samādhi (Non-Conditioned), the Jñānamudrā samādhi (Wisdom Seal), the Sarvarutakauśalya samādhi (Understanding the Speech of All Beings), the Sarvapuṇyasamukkaya samādhi (Collection of All Merit), the Prasādavatī samādhi (Purity), the Ṛīddhivikrīḍita samādhi (Playing with the Spiritual Powers), the Jñānolkā samādhi (Wisdom Torch), the Vyūharāja samādhi (Adornment King), the Vimalaprabhā samādhi (Pure Light), the Vimalagarbha samādhi (Pure Treasury), the Apkṛīsn samādhi (Unshared), and the Sūryāvarta samādhi (Solar Revolution). He had attained hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of great samādhis such as these equal to the sands of the Ganges River.
When Śākyamuni Buddha's light illuminated his body, he immediately said to Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṅkusumitābhijña Buddha, "World-Honored One! I should go to the Sahā world to pay homage, draw near to, and make offerings to Śākyamuni Buddha, and to see Mañjuśrī, the Prince of Dharma Bodhisattva, Bhaiṣajyarāja Bodhisattva, Pradhānaśūra Bodhisattva (see Ch 1), Nakṣatrarājasaṅkusumitābhiñā Bodhisattva (see Ch23), Viśiṣṭākāritra Bodhisattva (see Ch 15), Vyūharāja Bodhisattva, and Bhaiṣajyarājasamudgata Bodhisattva."
爾時淨華宿王智佛告妙音菩薩：「汝莫輕彼國，生下劣想。善男子！彼娑婆世界，高下不平，土石諸山，穢惡充滿，佛身卑小，諸菩薩眾其形亦小。而汝身四萬二千由旬，我身六百八十萬由旬，汝身第一端正，百千萬福，光明殊妙，是故汝往、莫輕彼國——若佛、菩薩及國土，生下劣想。」
At that time, Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṅkusumitābhijña Buddha said to Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva, “Do not look down upon that country or think it inferior. Kulaputra! That Sahā world has uneven terrain, mountains of earth and stone, and is full of filth and evil. The Buddha's body there is small, and the bodies of the bodhisattvas are also small. Yet your body is forty-two thousand yojanas tall, while my body is six million eight hundred thousand yojanas tall. Your body is supremely handsome, with hundreds of thousands of millions of blessings and extraordinarily wondrous light. Therefore, when you go there, do not look down upon that country - neither its Buddha, bodhisattvas, nor the land itself - or think them inferior."
妙音菩薩白其佛言：「世尊！我今詣娑婆世界，皆是如來之力，如來神通遊戲，如來功德智慧莊嚴。」於是妙音菩薩不起于座，身不動搖，而入三昧，以三昧力，於耆闍崛山，去法座不遠，化作八萬四千眾寶蓮華，閻浮檀金為莖，白銀為葉，金剛為鬚，甄叔迦寶以為其臺。
Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva said to his Buddha, "World-Honored One! My going to the Sahā world now is all due to the Tathagata's power, the Tathagata's supernatural play, and the adornment of the Tathagata's merit, virtue, wisdom and knowledge." Thereupon, Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva, without rising from his seat or moving his body, entered into samadhi. Through the power of this samadhi, on Mount Gridhrakuta, not far from the Dharma seat, he created eighty-four thousand jeweled lotus flowers. Their stems were of Jambunada gold, their leaves of white silver, their stamens of vajra, and their pedestals of Kiṃśuka jewels.
爾時，文殊師利法王子見是蓮華，而白佛言：「世尊！是何因緣，先現此瑞？有若干千萬蓮華，閻浮檀金為莖，白銀為葉，金剛為鬚，甄叔迦寶以為其臺。」
At that time, Mañjuśrī, Prince of the Dharma, seeing these lotus flowers, said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! What is the cause and condition for this auspicious sign to appear first? There are ever so many thousands of lotus flowers with stems of Jambunada gold, leaves of white silver, stamens of vajra, and pedestals of Kiṃśuka jewels."
爾時釋迦牟尼佛告文殊師利：「是妙音菩薩摩訶薩，欲從淨華宿王智佛國，與八萬四千菩薩，圍繞而來至此娑婆世界，供養、親近、禮拜於我，亦欲供養、聽法華經。」
At that time, Śākyamuni Buddha said to Mañjuśrī, "This Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva-mahāsattva wishes to come from the land of Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṅkusumitābhijña Buddha, surrounded by eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas, to this Sahā world to make offerings, draw near to, and pay homage to me. He also wishes to make offerings and listen to the Lotus Sutra."
文殊師利白佛言：「世尊！是菩薩種何善本？修何功德？而能有是大神通力？行何三昧？願為我等說是三昧名字，我等亦欲勤修行之，行此三昧，乃能見是菩薩色相大小，威儀進止。唯願世尊以神通力，彼菩薩來，令我得見。」
Mañjuśrī said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! What good roots has this bodhisattva planted? What merits has he cultivated to possess such great supernatural powers? What samādhi does he practice? Please tell us the name of this samādhi. We also wish to practice it diligently. By practicing this samādhi, we will be able to see this bodhisattva's physical characteristics, size, deportment, and bearing. We only wish that the World-Honored One would use his supernatural powers to have this bodhisattva come here so that we may see him."
爾時釋迦牟尼佛告文殊師利：「此久滅度多寶如來，當為汝等而現其相。」
At that time, Śākyamuni Buddha said to Mañjuśrī, "This Prabhūtaratna Tathāgata, who has long since passed into extinction, will manifest his form for you."
時多寶佛告彼菩薩：「善男子！來，文殊師利法王子欲見汝身。」于時妙音菩薩於彼國沒，與八萬四千菩薩俱共發來。所經諸國，六種震動，皆悉雨於七寶蓮華；百千天樂，不鼓自鳴。是菩薩目如廣大青蓮華葉，正使和合百千萬月，其面貌端正復過於此，身真金色，無量百千功德莊嚴，威德熾盛，光明照曜，諸相具足，如那羅延堅固之身。入七寶臺，上昇虛空，去地七多羅樹，諸菩薩眾恭敬圍繞，而來詣此娑婆世界耆闍崛山。到已，下七寶臺，以價直百千瓔珞，持至釋迦牟尼佛所，頭面禮足，奉上瓔珞，而白佛言：「世尊！淨華宿王智佛問訊世尊，少病、少惱，起居輕利，安樂行不？四大調和不？世事可忍不？眾生易度不？無多貪欲、瞋恚、愚癡、嫉妬、慳慢不？無不孝父母、不敬沙門、邪見、不善心、不攝五情不？世尊！眾生能降伏諸魔怨不？久滅度多寶如來在七寶塔中，來聽法不？又問訊多寶如來，安隱、少惱，堪忍久住不？世尊！我今欲見多寶佛身，唯願世尊，示我令見。」
Then Prabhūtaratna Buddha said to that bodhisattva, "Kulaputra! Come! Mañjuśrī, the Prince of the Dharma, wishes to see your body."
At that time, Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva disappeared from that country and, together with eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas, set out on his journey. The countries he passed through all trembled in six ways, and everywhere it rained precious lotus flowers. A hundred thousand heavenly instruments played spontaneously without being struck. This bodhisattva's eyes were as large as the broad leaves of a blue lotus. Even if a hundred thousand million moons were combined, his countenance would be even more sublime than that. His body was the color of genuine gold, adorned with immeasurable hundreds of thousands of merits. His dignity blazed brightly, his light shone brilliantly, and he was endowed with all the marks. His body was as firm as that of Nārāyaṇa.
He entered the seven-jeweled tower, rose up into the sky to the height of seven tala trees, and, surrounded respectfully by the assembly of bodhisattvas, came to this Sahā world on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa. Upon arriving, he descended from the seven-jeweled tower and, taking a necklace worth hundreds of thousands, went to where Śākyamuni Buddha was. Bowing his head to the Buddha's feet, he presented the necklace and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṅkusumitābhijña Buddha inquires after the World-Honored One - do you have few ailments and few worries? Are your daily activities easy and comfortable? Is your practice going well? Are the four elements in harmony? Are worldly affairs tolerable? Are living beings easy to save? Are there not many who are greedy, angry, foolish, envious, miserly, and arrogant? Are there not many who are unfilial to parents, disrespectful to śramaṇas, hold wrong views, have unwholesome minds, or do not control their five senses? World-Honored One! Are living beings able to subdue the enmity of Mara? Has the long-extinct Prabhūtaratna Tathāgata within the seven-jeweled stupa come to listen to the Dharma? He also inquires after Prabhūtaratna Tathāgata - is he at peace, with few worries, able to endure his long stay? World-Honored One! I now wish to see the body of Prabhūtaratna Buddha. I only wish that the World-Honored One would show me and let me see him."
爾時釋迦牟尼佛語多寶佛：「是妙音菩薩欲得相見。」
At that time, Śākyamuni Buddha said to Prabhūtaratna Buddha, "This Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva wishes to see you."
時多寶佛告妙音言：「善哉，善哉！汝能為供養釋迦牟尼佛及聽法華經，并見文殊師利等，故來至此。」
Then Prabhūtaratna Buddha said to Gadgadasvara, "Excellent, excellent! You have come here to make offerings to Śākyamuni Buddha and to listen to the Lotus Sutra, as well as to see Mañjuśrī and others."
爾時華德菩薩白佛言：「世尊！是妙音菩薩，種何善根，修何功德，有是神力？」
At that time, Padmaśrī Bodhisattva (Flower Virtue) said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! What good roots has this Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva planted, what merits has he cultivated, to possess such supernatural powers?"
佛告華德菩薩：「過去有佛，名雲雷音王多陀阿伽度、阿羅訶、三藐三佛陀，國名現一切世間，劫名憙見，妙音菩薩於萬二千歲，以十萬種伎樂供養雲雷音王佛，并奉上八萬四千七寶鉢。以是因緣果報，今生淨華宿王智佛國，有是神力。華德！於汝意云何？爾時雲雷音王佛所，妙音菩薩——伎樂供養、奉上寶器者，豈異人乎？今此妙音菩薩摩訶薩是。華德！是妙音菩薩，已曾供養親近無量諸佛，久殖德本，又值恒河沙等百千萬億那由他佛。
The Buddha told Padmaśrī Bodhisattva, "In the past, there was a buddha named Meghadundubhisvararāja (Cloud Thunder Sound King) Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha. His land was called Sarvabuddhasandarśana (Manifest All Worlds), and the kalpa was named Priyadarśana (Joyous Sight). For twelve thousand years, Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva made offerings to Meghadundubhisvararāja Buddha with a hundred thousand kinds of music and presented eighty-four thousand seven-jeweled bowls. As a result of this karmic cause, he was born in the land of Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṅkusumitābhijña Buddha and possesses these supernatural powers.
Padmaśrī! What do you think? Was Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva who made offerings of music and precious vessels to Meghadundubhisvararāja Buddha at that time someone else? It is this very Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva Mahāsattva. Padmaśrī! This Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva has already made offerings to and closely attended countless buddhas, long ago planted the roots of virtue, and has also encountered hundreds of thousands of millions of nayutas of buddhas equal to the sands of the Ganges River."
「華德！汝但見妙音菩薩其身在此，而是菩薩，現種種身，處處為諸眾生說是經典——或現梵王身，或現帝釋身，或現自在天身，或現大自在天身，或現天大將軍身，或現毘沙門天王身，或現轉輪聖王身，或現諸小王身，或現長者身，或現居士身，或現宰官身，或現婆羅門身，或現比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷身，或現長者居士婦女身，或現宰官婦女身，或現婆羅門婦女身，或現童男、童女身，或現天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人等身，而說是經。諸有地獄、餓鬼、畜生，及眾難處，皆能救濟，乃至於王後宮，變為女身，而說是經。
"Padmaśrī! You see only Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva's body here, but this bodhisattva manifests various bodies and in all places expounds this sutra for living beings—sometimes appearing as Brahmā King, sometimes as Śakra, sometimes as Maheśvara, the God of Sovereignty, sometimes as Mahāmaheśvara, God of Great Sovereignty, sometimes as a great heavenly general, sometimes as Vaiśravaṇa Heavenly King, sometimes as a wheel-turning sage king, sometimes as a minor king, sometimes as an elder, sometimes as a householder, sometimes as a state official, sometimes as a brahman, sometimes as a bhikṣu, bhikṣuṇī, upāsaka, or upāsikā, sometimes as the wife of an elder or a householder, sometimes as the wife of a state official, sometimes as the wife of a brahman, sometimes as a young boy or young girl, and sometimes as a deva, naga, yakṣa, gandharva, asura, garuḍa, kiṃnara, mahoraga, human or non-human, and so on, to expound this sutra. He can save and liberate all those in the hells, hungry ghosts, animals, and other difficult circumstances. Even in the king's inner palace, he transforms into a female body to expound this sutra."
「華德！是妙音菩薩，能救護娑婆世界諸眾生者，是妙音菩薩如是種種變化現身，在此娑婆國土，為諸眾生說是經典，於神通、變化、智慧無所損減。是菩薩，以若干智慧明照娑婆世界，令一切眾生各得所知；於十方恒河沙世界中，亦復如是。若應以聲聞形得度者，現聲聞形而為說法；應以辟支佛形得度者，現辟支佛形而為說法；應以菩薩形得度者，現菩薩形而為說法；應以佛形得度者，即現佛形而為說法。如是種種，隨所應度而為現形，乃至應以滅度而得度者，示現滅度。
"Padmaśrī! This Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara, who can save and protect all living beings in the Sahā world, manifests various transformed bodies in this Sahā world to expound this sutra for all living beings, without any diminishment of his supernatural powers, transformations, or wisdom. This bodhisattva, with various kinds of wisdom, illuminates the Sahā world, enabling all living beings to gain understanding. He does the same in worlds as numerous as the sands of Ganges Rivers throughout the ten directions. For those who can be saved by the form of a śrāvaka, he manifests as a śrāvaka to expound the Dharma. For those who can be saved by the form of a pratyekabuddha, he manifests as a pratyekabuddha to expound the Dharma. For those who can be saved by the form of a bodhisattva, he manifests as a bodhisattva to expound the Dharma. For those who can be saved by the form of a buddha, he immediately manifests as a buddha to expound the Dharma. In this way, he manifests various forms according to what is appropriate for saving beings, even to the point of manifesting parinirvāṇa for those who can be saved by seeing parinirvāṇa."
「華德！妙音菩薩摩訶薩，成就大神通智慧之力，其事如是。」
"Padmaśrī! Bodhisattva-mahāsattva Gadgadasvara has accomplished the power of great supernatural abilities and wisdom. This is how it is."
爾時華德菩薩白佛言：「世尊！是妙音菩薩，深種善根。世尊！是菩薩住何三昧，而能如是在所變現，度脫眾生？」
At that time, Padmaśrī Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! This Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara has deeply planted good roots. World-Honored One! In what samādhi does this bodhisattva dwell that enables him to manifest transformations wherever he is and save living beings?"
佛告華德菩薩：「善男子！其三昧名現一切色身，妙音菩薩住是三昧中，能如是饒益無量眾生。」
The Buddha told Bodhisattva Padmaśrī, "Kulaputra! The name of this samādhi is 'Manifesting All Form Bodies' (sarva-rūpa-saṃdarśana). Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva, dwelling in this samādhi, is able to benefit immeasurable living beings in this way."
說是妙音菩薩品時，與妙音菩薩俱來者八萬四千人，皆得現一切色身三昧；此娑婆世界無量菩薩，亦得是三昧及陀羅尼。
When this chapter on Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva was preached, the eighty-four thousand people who had come with Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva all attained the samādhi of Manifesting All Form Bodies. Innumerable bodhisattvas in this Sahā world also attained this samādhi and dhāraṇī.
爾時妙音菩薩摩訶薩供養釋迦牟尼佛及多寶佛塔已，還歸本土，所經諸國，六種震動，雨寶蓮華，作百千萬億種種伎樂。既到本國，與八萬四千菩薩、圍繞至淨華宿王智佛所，白佛言：「世尊！我到娑婆世界饒益眾生，見釋迦牟尼佛，及見多寶佛塔，禮拜、供養；又見文殊師利法王子菩薩，及見藥王菩薩、得勤精進力菩薩、勇施菩薩等，亦令是八萬四千菩薩得現一切色身三昧。說是妙音菩薩來往品時，四萬二千天子得無生法忍，華德菩薩得法華三昧。」
At that time, Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva Mahāsattva, having made offerings to Śākyamuni Buddha and the stupa of Prabhūtaratna Buddha, returned to his own land. The countries he passed through trembled in six ways, it rained precious lotus flowers, and hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of kinds of music were played. After arriving in his own country, surrounded by the eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas, he went to the place of Kamaladalavimalanakṣatrarājasaṅkusumitābhijña Buddha and said to that buddha, "World-Honored One! I went to the Sahā world to benefit living beings. I saw Śākyamuni Buddha and the stupa of Prabhūtaratna Buddha, bowed to them and made offerings. I also saw Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī, the Prince of the Dharma, as well as Bhaiṣajyarāja Bodhisattva, Vīryabalavegaprāpta Bodhisattva (Attainer of Diligent Exertion Power), Pradānasūra Bodhisattva (Courageous Giving), and others. I also enabled these eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas to attain the samādhi of Manifesting All Form Bodies."
When this chapter on the Coming and Going of Gadgadasvara Bodhisattva was preached, forty-two thousand devas attained the patience tolerance of the non-arising of dharmas, and Padmaśrī Bodhisattva attained the Saddharma-puṇḍarīka samādhi.