普賢菩薩勸發品第二十八
爾時普賢菩薩，以自在神通力，威德名聞，與大菩薩無量無邊不可稱數，從東方來。所經諸國，普皆震動，雨寶蓮華，作無量百千萬億種種伎樂。又與無數諸天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人非人等，大眾圍繞，各現威德神通之力，到娑婆世界耆闍崛山中，頭面禮釋迦牟尼佛，右繞七匝，白佛言：「世尊，我於寶威德上王佛國，遙聞此娑婆世界說法華經，與無量無邊百千萬億諸菩薩眾共來聽受，唯願世尊當為說之。若善男子、善女人，於如來滅後，云何能得是法華經？」
At that time, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, with his sovereign supernatural powers and renowned virtue, came from the east with an immeasurable, boundless, and incalculable number of great bodhisattvas. All the lands they passed through quaked, precious lotus flowers rained down, and countless hundreds of thousands of millions of kinds of music played. Moreover, accompanied by innumerable devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans, surrounded by this great assembly, each displaying the power of their virtuous supernatural abilities, they arrived at Mount Gṛidhrakūṭa in the Saha world. They bowed their heads to the ground in reverence to Śākyamuni Buddha, circumambulated him seven times to the right, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One, in the Buddha-land of Ratnatejobhyudgata Buddha (Jeweled Dignity and Virtue Above King), I heard from afar that in this Saha world the Lotus Sutra was being expounded. I have come with immeasurable, boundless hundreds of thousands of millions of bodhisattvas to listen to and receive it. I only pray that the World-Honored One will expound it for us. After the Tathagata's extinction, how can good men and good women acquire this Lotus Sutra?"
佛告普賢菩薩：「若善男子、善女人，成就四法，於如來滅後，當得是法華經：一者、為諸佛護念，二者、殖眾德本，三者、入正定聚，四者、發救一切眾生之心。善男子、善女人，如是成就四法，於如來滅後，必得是經。」
The Buddha told Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, "If good men and good women fulfill four dharmas, they will be able to acquire this Lotus Sutra after the Tathagata's extinction: First, they must be protected and remembered by the Buddhas. Second, they must plant good roots. Third, they must enter the correct type of concentration. Fourth, they must resolve to save all living beings. Good men and good women who thus fulfill these four dharmas will certainly acquire this sutra after the Tathagata's extinction."
爾時普賢菩薩白佛言：「世尊！於後五百歲、濁惡世中，其有受持是經典者，我當守護，除其衰患，令得安隱，使無伺求得其便者，若魔、若魔子、若魔女、若魔民、若為魔所著者，若夜叉、若羅剎、若鳩槃茶、若毘舍闍、若吉遮、若富單那、若韋陀羅等，諸惱人者，皆不得便。是人若行、若立、讀誦此經，我爾時乘六牙白象王，與大菩薩眾俱詣其所，而自現身，供養守護，安慰其心，亦為供養法華經故。是人若坐、思惟此經，爾時我復乘白象王現其人前，其人若於法華經有所忘失一句一偈，我當教之，與共讀誦，還令通利。爾時受持讀誦法華經者，得見我身，甚大歡喜，轉復精進，以見我故，即得三昧及陀羅尼，名為旋陀羅尼、百千萬億旋陀羅尼、法音方便陀羅尼，得如是等陀羅尼。
At that time, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! In the last five hundred years, in this defiled and evil world, if there are those who uphold this sutra, I will protect them, remove their misfortunes, and ensure their safety. I will prevent those who seek to take advantage of them from succeeding, whether they be Māras, sons of Māras, daughters of Māras, Māras followers, those possessed by Māras, yakṣas, rākṣāsas, kumbhāṇḍas, piśācas, krityas, pūtanas, vetālas, or other troublemakers. If such a person walks or stands while reciting this sutra, at that time I will ride the six-tusked white elephant king and, together with a multitude of great bodhisattvas, go to where that person is. I will manifest my body to make offerings, protect, and comfort their heart, and also to make offerings to the Lotus Sutra. If that person sits and contemplates this sutra, at that time I will again ride the white elephant king and appear before that person. If they forget a sentence or verse of the Lotus Sutra, I will teach them and recite it together with them, helping them become skilled again. At that time, those who uphold, read, and recite the Lotus Sutra will be able to see my body and become extremely joyful, increasing their diligence. Because they see me, they will immediately attain samādhis and dhāraṇīs, called revolving dhāraṇīs, a hundred thousand million revolving dhāraṇīs, and the Dharma-sound expedient dhāraṇī. They will obtain dhāraṇīs such as these."
「世尊！若後世後五百歲、濁惡世中，比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷，求索者、受持者、讀誦者、書寫者，欲修習是法華經，於三七日中，應一心精進。滿三七日已，我當乘六牙白象，與無量菩薩而自圍繞，以一切眾生所憙見身，現其人前，而為說法，示教利喜，亦復與其陀羅尼呪，得是陀羅尼故，無有非人能破壞者，亦不為女人之所惑亂，我身亦自常護是人。唯願世尊聽我說此陀羅尼呪。」即於佛前而說呪曰：
"World-Honored One! In the last five hundred years, in this defiled and evil world, if there are bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, upāsakas, or upāsikās who seek, uphold, read, recite, or copy this Lotus Sutra and wish to cultivate it, they should focus single-mindedly for twenty-one days. After twenty-one days, I will ride a six-tusked white elephant and, surrounded by countless bodhisattvas, appear before that person in a form that all beings delight in seeing. I will expound the Dharma for them, instruct, benefit, and bring them joy. I will also give them dhāraṇī spells. Because they obtain these dhāraṇīs, no non-human can harm them, nor will they be confused by women. I myself will always protect this person. I only ask, World-Honored One, that you allow me to speak these dhāraṇī spells." Then, before the Buddha, he spoke the spells, saying:
「阿檀地(途賣反)(一)檀陀婆地(二)檀陀婆帝(三)檀陀鳩舍隷(四)檀陀修陀隷(五)修陀隷(六)修陀羅婆底(七)佛馱波羶禰(八)薩婆陀羅尼阿婆多尼(九)薩婆婆沙阿婆多尼(十)修阿婆多尼(十一)僧伽婆履叉尼(十二)僧伽涅伽陀尼(十三)阿僧祇(十四)僧伽波伽地(十五)帝隷阿惰僧伽兜略(盧遮反)阿羅帝婆羅帝(十六)薩婆僧伽三摩地伽蘭地(十七)薩婆達磨修波利剎帝(十八)薩婆薩埵樓馱憍舍略阿[少/兔]伽地(十九)辛阿毘吉利地帝(二十)
Adaṇḍi daṇḍavati daṇḍāvartani daṇḍakuśale daṇḍasudhāri sudhāri sudhārapati buddhapāśyane sarvadharāṇi āvartani sarvaghāṣāvartani suāvartani saṃghavarikṣaṇi saṃghanirghātani asaṃkhye saṃghaparyādi tiraḍa saṃghatulyārāti bārāti sarvasaṃghasamādhigalanti sarvadharmasuparikṣite sarvasatvarutakauśalyānugate siṃhavikrīḍite
「世尊！若有菩薩得聞是陀羅尼者，當知普賢神通之力，若法華經行閻浮提，有受持者，應作此念：『皆是普賢威神之力。』若有受持、讀誦，正憶念，解其義趣，如說修行，當知是人行普賢行，於無量無邊諸佛所深種善根，為諸如來手摩其頭。若但書寫，是人命終，當生忉利天上，是時八萬四千天女作眾伎樂而來迎之，其人即著七寶冠，於婇女中娛樂快樂；何況受持、讀誦，正憶念，解其義趣，如說修行。若有人受持、讀誦，解其義趣，是人命終，為千佛授手，令不恐怖，不墮惡趣，即往兜率天上彌勒菩薩所。彌勒菩薩，有三十二相大菩薩眾所共圍繞，有百千萬億天女眷屬，而於中生，有如是等功德利益。是故智者，應當一心自書、若使人書，受持、讀誦，正憶念，如說修行。
"World-Honored One! If there are bodhisattvas who hear these dhāraṇīs, they should know it is by the power of Samantabhadra's spiritual penetrations. If the Lotus Sutra circulates in Jambudvipa and there are those who uphold it, they should have this thought, 'It is all due to the majestic spiritual power of Samantabhadra.' If there are those who uphold, read and recite it, correctly remember it, understand its meaning, and cultivate it as taught, know that such people are practicing Samantabhadra's practices. They have deeply planted good roots with immeasurable, boundless Buddhas, and their heads will be patted by the hands of the Tathagatas.
If one merely copies it out, when that person's life ends, they will be born in the Trayastriṃśas Heaven. At that time, 84,000 heavenly maidens will come to welcome them with various kinds of music. That person will immediately wear a crown of seven treasures and enjoy pleasures among the celestial maidens. How much more so for those who uphold, read and recite it, correctly remember it, understand its meaning, and cultivate it as taught.
If there are people who uphold, read and recite it, and understand its meaning, when their lives end, they will be grasped by the hands of a thousand Buddhas, who will keep them from fear and prevent them from falling into evil paths. They will immediately go to the Tuṣita Heaven to the place of Maitreya Bodhisattva. Maitreya Bodhisattva has the thirty-two auspicious characteristics and is surrounded by a great assembly of bodhisattvas. He has hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of heavenly attendants, and one will be born among them. Such are the benefits and merits. Therefore, wise ones should single-mindedly either copy it themselves or have others copy it, uphold, read and recite it, correctly remember it, and cultivate it as taught.
「世尊！我今以神通力故，守護是經，於如來滅後閻浮提內，廣令流布，使不斷絕。」
World-Honored One! I now, by the power of spiritual penetrations, will guard and protect this sutra. After the Tathagata's extinction, I will cause it to circulate widely throughout Jambudvipa and prevent it from being cut off."
爾時釋迦牟尼佛讚言：「善哉，善哉！普賢！汝能護助是經，令多所眾生安樂利益。汝已成就不可思議功德，深大慈悲，從久遠來，發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提意，而能作是神通之願，守護是經。我當以神通力，守護能受持普賢菩薩名者。
At that time, Śākyamuni Buddha praised, saying, "Excellent, excellent! Samantabhadra! You are able to protect and assist this sutra, bringing peace, happiness, and benefit to many sentient beings. You have already accomplished inconceivable merit, with deep and great compassion. From long ago, you have generated anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi citta, and are able to make this vow of supernatural powers to protect this sutra. I will use my supernatural powers to protect those who can uphold the name of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.
「普賢！若有受持、讀誦，正憶念，修習、書寫是法華經者，當知是人，則見釋迦牟尼佛，如從佛口聞此經典；當知是人，供養釋迦牟尼佛；當知是人，佛讚善哉；當知是人，為釋迦牟尼佛手摩其頭；當知是人，為釋迦牟尼佛衣之所覆。如是之人，不復貪著世樂，不好外道經書、手筆，亦復不喜親近其人及諸惡者——若屠兒、若畜猪羊雞狗、若獵師、若衒賣女色——是人心意質直，有正憶念，有福德力，是人不為三毒所惱，亦復不為嫉妬、我慢、邪慢、增上慢所惱，是人少欲知足，能修普賢之行。
"Samantabhadra! If there are those who uphold, read and recite, correctly remember, cultivate and practice, or write out this Lotus Sutra, know that such people will see Śākyamuni Buddha, as if hearing this sutra from the Buddha's own mouth. Know that such people are making offerings to Śākyamuni Buddha. Know that such people are praised by the Buddha saying 'Excellent!' Know that such people's heads are patted by Śākyamuni Buddha's hand. Know that such people are covered by Śākyamuni Buddha's robe.
Such people will no longer be attached to worldly pleasures, will not enjoy non-Buddhist sutras and writings, and will also not take pleasure in associating with such people or with evil-doers - be they butchers, those who raise pigs, sheep, chickens or dogs, hunters, or those who traffic women. These people's minds and intentions are upright and straightforward, they have right mindfulness, they have the power of merit and virtue. These people are not troubled by the three poisons, nor are they troubled by jealousy, arrogance, false pride, or overweening pride. These people have few desires and know contentment, and are able to cultivate the practices of Samantabhadra."
「普賢！若如來滅後後五百歲，若有人見受持、讀誦法華經者，應作是念：『此人不久當詣道場，破諸魔眾，得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，轉法輪、擊法鼓、吹法螺、雨法雨，當坐天人大眾中師子法座上。』
"Samantabhadra! If in the last five hundred years after the Tathagata's extinction, someone sees a person who receives, upholds, reads, and recites the Lotus Sutra, they should have this thought, 'This person will soon go to the place of enlightenment, destroy the hordes of Mara, attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi, turn the wheel of the Dharma, beat the drum of the Dharma, blow the conch of the Dharma, rain the rain of the Dharma, and will sit upon the lion's throne of the Dharma in the midst of the great assembly of gods and humans.'
「普賢！若於後世，受持、讀誦是經典者，是人不復貪著衣服、臥具、飲食、資生之物，所願不虛，亦於現世得其福報。若有人輕毀之，言：『汝狂人耳，空作是行，終無所獲。』如是罪報，當世世無眼；若有供養讚歎之者，當於今世得現果報。若復見受持是經者，出其過惡，若實、若不實，此人現世得白癩病。若有輕笑之者，當世世牙齒踈缺，醜脣、平鼻，手腳繚戾，眼目角睞，身體臭穢，惡瘡、膿血、水腹、短氣、諸惡重病。是故，普賢！若見受持是經典者，當起遠迎，當如敬佛。」
Samantabhadra! If in later ages, those who receive, uphold, read, and recite this sutra will no longer be attached to clothing, bedding, food, drink, or other necessities of life. Their wishes will not be in vain, and they will obtain their karmic rewards in this present life. If anyone disparages them, saying, 'You are a madman! You engage in this practice in vain and will never gain anything,' the karmic retribution for this offense will be that they will be blind life after life. If there are those who make offerings and praise them, they will obtain the karmic rewards in this present life.
Furthermore, if someone sees a person who receives and upholds this sutra and speaks of their faults, whether true or not, that person will in this present life contract white leprosy. If anyone ridicules them, that person will, life after life, have teeth that are missing, ugly lips, a flat nose, deformed hands and feet, squinting eyes, a body that stinks and is filthy, evil sores, pus and blood, a swollen belly, short of breath, and all manner of evil and grave illnesses. Therefore, Samantabhadra, if you see a person who receives and upholds this sutra, you should rise and greet them from afar, showing the same respect as you would to the Buddha."
說是普賢勸發品時，恒河沙等無量無邊菩薩，得百千萬億旋陀羅尼；三千大千世界微塵等諸菩薩，具普賢道。
When this chapter on Samantabhadra's Encouragement was spoken, innumerable and boundless bodhisattvas, equal to the sands of the Ganges River, attained hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of dhāraṇīs, and bodhisattvas equal in number to the dust particles of a three-thousand-great-thousand world system perfected the Way of Samantabhadra.
佛說是經時，普賢等諸菩薩，舍利弗等諸聲聞，及諸天、龍、人非人等，一切大會，皆大歡喜，受持佛語，作禮而去。
When the Buddha had finished preaching this sutra, Samantabhadra and the other bodhisattvas, Śāriputra and the other śrāvakas, along with the entire assembly of devas, nāgas, humans and non-humans, all greatly rejoiced, received and upheld the Buddha's words, made obeisance, and departed.