稱揚功德品第四
「復次，憍尸迦！假使充滿此贍部洲佛設利羅以為一分，有書般若波羅蜜多甚深法門復為一分，於此二分，汝取何者？」
"Furthermore, Kauśika! Suppose Buddha relics filling this entire Jambudvīpa were one portion, and a copy of the profound Prajñāpāramitā dharma gate were another portion—between these two portions, which would you choose?"
天帝釋言：「我意寧取甚深般若波羅蜜多。所以者何？我於諸佛設利羅所，非不信樂供養恭敬，然諸佛身及設利羅，皆因般若波羅蜜多甚深法門而出生故，皆由般若波羅蜜多甚深法門功德威力所熏修故，乃為一切世間天、人、阿素洛等供養恭敬、尊重讚歎。一切菩薩摩訶薩眾皆於般若波羅蜜多甚深法門，精勤修學證得無上正等菩提。一切如來、應、正等覺，皆由般若波羅蜜多，通達真如、法界、法性及實際等成就法身。由法身故說名為佛，佛設利羅依法身故，乃為世間恭敬供養。
Śakra said: "I would rather choose the profound Prajñāpāramitā. Why is this so? It is not that I do not believe in, delight in, make offerings to, and revere the Buddha's relics. However, all Buddha bodies and relics arise because of the profound dharma gate of Prajñāpāramitā; they are all cultivated and perfumed by the merit and power of the profound dharma gate of Prajñāpāramitā, and thus are offered to, revered, honored, and praised by all worldly beings—gods, humans, asuras, and others. All assemblies of bodhisattva-mahāsattvas diligently study and practice this profound dharma gate of Prajñāpāramitā and thereby realize supreme perfect enlightenment. All Tathāgatas, Arhats, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones, through Prajñāpāramitā, penetrate suchness, the dharma realm, dharma-nature, ultimate reality, and so forth, and accomplish the Dharma body. Because of the Dharma body they are called Buddhas, and because Buddha relics depend on the Dharma body, they are revered and offered to by the world.
「世尊！如我坐在三十三天善法殿中天帝座上，為諸天眾宣說正法時，有無量諸天子等，來至我所聽我所說，供養恭敬，右遶而去。我若不在彼法座時，諸天子等亦來其處，雖不見我，如我在時恭敬供養，咸言：『此處是天帝釋為諸天等說法之座，我等皆應如天主在，供養右遶禮拜而去。』甚深般若波羅蜜多亦復如是，若有書寫、受持、讀誦，廣為有情宣說流布，當知是處恒有此土及餘十方無邊世界無量無數天、龍、藥叉、阿素洛等皆來集會，設無說者，敬重法故，亦於是處供養恭敬、右遶而去。
"World-Honored One! When I sit upon the throne of the lord of gods in the Hall of Good Dharma in the Thirty-three Heavens and proclaim the true Dharma to the celestial assemblies, countless divine sons come to my presence to hear what I teach, make offerings with reverence, circumambulate to the right, and depart. When I am not present at that Dharma seat, the divine sons also come to that place, and though they do not see me, they make reverent offerings just as when I am there, all saying: 'This place is the seat where Śakra teaches the Dharma to the gods—we should all make offerings, circumambulate to the right, bow, and depart as if the lord of heaven were present.' The profound Prajñāpāramitā is just the same. Wherever it is copied, upheld, recited, extensively proclaimed and propagated to sentient beings, you should know that countless, numberless gods, dragons, yakṣas, asuras, and others from this land and the limitless worlds of the remaining ten directions constantly gather there. Even when there is no teacher present, out of respect for the Dharma, they also make offerings with reverence at that place, circumambulate to the right, and depart.
「世尊！甚深般若波羅蜜多與諸菩薩摩訶薩行，及佛所得一切智智，為因、為緣、為所依止、為能引發。是故我說：假使充滿此贍部洲佛設利羅以為一分，有書般若波羅蜜多甚深法門復為一分，於此二分，我意寧取甚深般若波羅蜜多。
"World-Honored One! The profound Prajñāpāramitā serves as the cause, condition, foundation, and catalyst for the practices of bodhisattva-mahāsattvas and the all-knowing wisdom attained by Buddhas. Therefore I say: suppose Buddha relics filling this entire Jambudvīpa were one portion, and a copy of the profound Prajñāpāramitā dharma gate were another portion—between these two portions, I would rather choose the profound Prajñāpāramitā.
「復次，世尊！且置充滿此贍部洲佛設利羅以為一分。假使充滿四大洲界佛設利羅以為一分，若復充滿小千世界佛設利羅以為一分，若復充滿中千世界佛設利羅以為一分，若復充滿大千世界佛設利羅以為一分，有書般若波羅蜜多甚深法門復為一分，於此二分，我意寧取甚深般若波羅蜜多。所以者何？我於諸佛設利羅，所非不信樂供養恭敬，然諸佛身及設利羅，皆因般若波羅蜜多甚深法門而出生故，皆由般若波羅蜜多甚深法門功德威力所熏修故，乃為一切世間天、人、阿素洛等供養恭敬、尊重讚歎。
"Furthermore, World-Honored One! Setting aside Buddha relics filling this entire Jambudvīpa as one portion—suppose Buddha relics filling the four great continents were one portion, or Buddha relics filling a small chiliocosm were one portion, or Buddha relics filling a medium chiliocosm were one portion, or Buddha relics filling a great chiliocosm were one portion, and a copy of the profound Prajñāpāramitā dharma gate were another portion—between these two portions, I would rather choose the profound Prajñāpāramitā. Why is this so? It is not that I do not believe in, delight in, make offerings to, and revere the Buddha's relics. However, all Buddha bodies and relics arise because of the profound dharma gate of Prajñāpāramitā; they are all cultivated and perfumed by the merit and power of the profound dharma gate of Prajñāpāramitā, and thus are offered to, revered, honored, and praised by all worldly beings—gods, humans, asuras, and others.
「復次，世尊！若善男子、善女人等，於深般若波羅蜜多至心聽聞、受持、讀誦、精勤修學、如理思惟、書寫、解說、廣令流布，彼於當來不墮惡趣，遠離聲聞及獨覺地，不畏一切災橫、疾疫之所侵惱。如負債人怖畏債主，即便親近奉事國王，依王勢力得免怖畏。王喻般若波羅蜜多，彼負債人喻善男子、善女人等，依恃般若波羅蜜多，得離惡趣及餘怖畏。世尊！譬如有人依附王故、王攝受故，為諸世人供養恭敬、尊重讚歎。佛設利羅亦復如是，由深般若波羅蜜多所熏修故，為諸天、人、阿素洛等供養恭敬、尊重讚歎。王喻般若波羅蜜多，佛設利羅喻依王者。世尊！諸佛所得一切智智，亦依般若波羅蜜多而得成就故，我寧取甚深般若波羅蜜多。
"Furthermore, World-Honored One! If good men and good women wholeheartedly listen to, uphold, recite, diligently study, contemplate according to principle, copy, explain, and widely propagate the profound Prajñāpāramitā, they will not fall into evil destinies in the future, will be far removed from the stages of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, and will not fear being troubled by any disasters, calamities, or epidemics. It is like a debtor who fears creditors and immediately draws near to serve a king, relying on the king's power to be freed from fear. The king represents Prajñāpāramitā, and the debtor represents good men and good women—by relying on Prajñāpāramitā, they escape evil destinies and other fears. World-Honored One! It is like a person who, because of depending on and being accepted by a king, is offered to, revered, honored, and praised by worldly people. Buddha relics are just the same—because they are cultivated and perfumed by the profound Prajñāpāramitā, they are offered to, revered, honored, and praised by gods, humans, asuras, and others. The king represents Prajñāpāramitā, and the Buddha relics represent those who depend on the king. World-Honored One! The all-knowing wisdom attained by all Buddhas is also accomplished through dependence on Prajñāpāramitā, therefore I would rather choose the profound Prajñāpāramitā."
「復次，世尊！甚深般若波羅蜜多於三千界作大饒益、具大神力，隨所在處，則為有佛作諸佛事，所謂利樂一切有情。世尊！譬如無價大寶神珠，具無量種勝妙威德，隨所住處有此神珠，人及非人終無惱害。設有男子或復女人，為鬼所執身心苦惱，若有持此神珠示之，由珠威力鬼便捨去。諸有熱病、或風、或痰、或熱風痰和合為病，若有繫此神珠著身，如是諸病無不除愈。此珠在闇能作照明，熱時能涼寒時能暖，隨地方所有此神珠時節調和不寒不熱。若地方所有此神珠，蛇蠍等毒無敢停止。設有男子或復女人，為毒所中楚痛難忍，若有持此神珠令見，珠威勢故毒即消滅。若諸有情身嬰癩疾、惡瘡、腫疱、目眩、瞖等眼病、耳病、鼻病、舌病、喉病、身病、諸支節病，帶此神珠眾病皆愈。若諸池沼泉井等中，其水濁穢或將枯涸，以珠投之水便盈滿，香潔澄淨具八功德。若以青黃赤白紅紫碧綠雜綺種種色衣，裹此神珠投之於水，水隨衣綵作種種色。如是無價大寶神珠，威德無邊說不能盡，若置箱篋亦令其器具足成就無邊威德。設空箱篋由曾置珠，其器仍為眾人愛重。」
"Furthermore, World-Honored One! The profound Prajñāpāramitā brings great benefit to the trichiliocosm and possesses great spiritual power. Wherever it is present, it is as if there were a Buddha performing Buddha activities—namely, benefiting and bringing joy to all sentient beings. World-Honored One! It is like a priceless great jeweled divine pearl that possesses countless kinds of supreme wonderful powers. Wherever this divine pearl is present, humans and non-humans will never be harmed or troubled. If there are men or women who are possessed by ghosts and suffer bodily and mental anguish, if someone shows them this divine pearl, by the pearl's power the ghosts will immediately depart. For all kinds of fever, wind diseases, phlegm diseases, or diseases caused by combinations of heat, wind, and phlegm, if one ties this divine pearl to the body, all such diseases will be completely cured. This pearl can provide illumination in darkness, coolness in heat, and warmth in cold. Wherever this divine pearl is present, the seasons are harmonious—neither cold nor hot. Wherever this divine pearl is present, poisonous creatures like snakes and scorpions dare not remain. If there are men or women who are struck by poison and suffer unbearable pain, if someone shows them this divine pearl, by the pearl's mighty power the poison is immediately eliminated. If sentient beings suffer from leprosy, malignant sores, swellings, dizziness, eye cataracts and other eye diseases, ear diseases, nose diseases, tongue diseases, throat diseases, body diseases, or joint ailments, wearing this divine pearl will cure all diseases. If the water in pools, ponds, springs, wells, and so forth is turbid and filthy or about to dry up, casting the pearl into it will cause the water to become full, fragrant, clean, clear, and possess the eight excellent qualities. If one wraps this divine pearl in cloth of various colors—blue, yellow, red, white, crimson, purple, turquoise, green, and multicolored brocades—and casts it into water, the water will take on the various colors of the cloth. This priceless great jeweled divine pearl has limitless power that cannot be fully described. Even placing it in a box or chest will cause that container to possess limitless power completely. Even an empty box or chest that once contained the pearl will still be cherished by many people."
爾時，慶喜問帝釋言：「如是神珠為天獨有，人亦有耶？」
At that time, Ānanda asked Śakra: "Are such divine pearls possessed only by gods, or do humans also have them?"
天帝釋言：「人中、天上俱有此珠，若在人中形小而重，若在天上形大而輕；又人中珠相不具足，在天上者其相周圓；天上神珠威德殊勝，無量倍數過人所有。」
Śakra said: "Both the human realm and heavenly realm possess these pearls. In the human realm they are small and heavy; in the heavenly realm they are large and light. Moreover, the pearls in the human realm do not have perfect characteristics, while those in the heavenly realm are perfectly round. The divine pearls of heaven have supreme power, exceeding those possessed by humans by countless multiples."
時，天帝釋復白佛言：「甚深般若波羅蜜多亦復如是，為眾德本能滅無量惡不善法，隨所在處，令諸有情身心苦惱皆悉除滅，人非人等不能為害。世尊！如來所得一切智智及餘無量無邊功德，皆由般若波羅蜜多大神呪王之所引顯，威德深廣無量無邊。佛設利羅由諸功德所熏修故，是諸功德所依器故，佛涅槃後堪受一切世間天、人、阿素洛等供養恭敬、尊重讚歎。
At that time, Śakra again addressed the Buddha, saying: "The profound Prajñāpāramitā is just the same—it is the root of all virtues and can eliminate countless evil and unwholesome dharmas. Wherever it is present, it causes all bodily and mental sufferings of sentient beings to be completely eliminated, and humans, non-humans, and others cannot cause harm. World-Honored One! The all-knowing wisdom attained by the Tathāgata and countless other limitless merits are all manifested and revealed by Prajñāpāramitā, the great divine king of mantras, whose power is profound, vast, limitless, and boundless. Buddha relics, being cultivated and perfumed by these merits and serving as the vessel that depends on these merits, are worthy of receiving offerings, reverence, honor, and praise from all worldly beings—gods, humans, asuras, and others—after the Buddha's parinirvāṇa.
「復次，世尊！置三千界佛設利羅。假使充滿十方各如殑伽沙界佛設利羅以為一分，有書般若波羅蜜多甚深法門復為一分，於此二分，我意寧取甚深般若波羅蜜多。所以者何？我於諸佛設利羅所，非不信樂供養恭敬，然諸佛身及設利羅，皆因般若波羅蜜多甚深法門而出生故，皆由般若波羅蜜多甚深法門功德威力所熏修故，乃為一切世間天、人、阿素洛等供養恭敬、尊重讚歎。
"Furthermore, World-Honored One! Setting aside Buddha relics filling the trichiliocosm—suppose Buddha relics filling worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges in each of the ten directions were one portion, and a copy of the profound Prajñāpāramitā dharma gate were another portion—between these two portions, I would rather choose the profound Prajñāpāramitā. Why is this so? It is not that I do not believe in, delight in, make offerings to, and revere the Buddha's relics. However, all Buddha bodies and relics arise because of the profound dharma gate of Prajñāpāramitā; they are all cultivated and perfumed by the merit and power of the profound dharma gate of Prajñāpāramitā, and thus are offered to, revered, honored, and praised by all worldly beings—gods, humans, asuras, and others.
「復次，世尊！甚深般若波羅蜜多能生如來一切智智，如來所得一切智智能生佛身及設利羅，是故供養甚深般若波羅蜜多，則為供養過去未來現在諸佛一切智智及設利羅。
"Furthermore, World-Honored One! The profound Prajñāpāramitā can give birth to the Tathāgata's all-knowing wisdom, and the all-knowing wisdom attained by the Tathāgata can give birth to the Buddha body and relics. Therefore, making offerings to the profound Prajñāpāramitā is making offerings to the all-knowing wisdom and relics of all Buddhas of the past, future, and present.
「復次，世尊！若善男子、善女人等，欲得常見十方無量無數如來、應、正等覺，當行般若波羅蜜多，當修般若波羅蜜多。」
"Furthermore, World-Honored One! If good men and good women wish to constantly see the countless, numberless Tathāgatas, Arhats, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the ten directions, they should practice Prajñāpāramitā and cultivate Prajñāpāramitā."
爾時，佛告天帝釋言：「如是！如是！如汝所說。憍尸迦！過去如來、應、正等覺，皆依如是甚深般若波羅蜜多，已證無上正等菩提；未來如來、應、正等覺，皆依如是甚深般若波羅蜜多，當證無上正等菩提；現在十方無邊世界一切如來、應、正等覺，皆依如是甚深般若波羅蜜多，現證無上正等菩提。今我如來、應、正等覺，亦依如是甚深般若波羅蜜多，而證無上正等菩提。」
At that time, the Buddha told Śakra: "So it is! So it is! It is as you have said. Kauśika! All past Tathāgatas, Arhats, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones have already realized supreme perfect enlightenment by relying on this profound Prajñāpāramitā; all future Tathāgatas, Arhats, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones will realize supreme perfect enlightenment by relying on this profound Prajñāpāramitā; all present Tathāgatas, Arhats, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones in the limitless worlds of the ten directions are now realizing supreme perfect enlightenment by relying on this profound Prajñāpāramitā. I, the present Tathāgata, Arhat, and Perfectly Enlightened One, have also realized supreme perfect enlightenment by relying on this profound Prajñāpāramitā."
天帝釋言：「甚深般若波羅蜜多是大波羅蜜多，是無上波羅蜜多，是無等等波羅蜜多。一切如來、應、正等覺，及諸菩薩摩訶薩眾，皆依如是甚深般若波羅蜜多，知諸有情心行差別。」
Śakra said: "The profound Prajñāpāramitā is the great pāramitā, the supreme pāramitā, the unequaled pāramitā. All Tathāgatas, Arhats, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones, and all assemblies of bodhisattva-mahāsattvas, rely on this profound Prajñāpāramitā to know the different mental activities of sentient beings."
爾時，佛告天帝釋言：「如是！如是！如汝所說。憍尸迦！諸菩薩摩訶薩長夜修行甚深般若波羅蜜多，能如實見一切有情心行差別。」
At that time, the Buddha told Śakra: "So it is! So it is! It is as you have said. Kauśika! Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas who cultivate the profound Prajñāpāramitā throughout the long night are able to truly see the different mental activities of all sentient beings."
時，天帝釋復白佛言：「諸菩薩摩訶薩為但應行般若波羅蜜多為亦應行餘五波羅蜜多耶？」
At that time, Śakra again addressed the Buddha, saying: "Should bodhisattva-mahāsattvas practice only Prajñāpāramitā, or should they also practice the other five pāramitās?"
爾時，佛告天帝釋言：「憍尸迦！諸菩薩摩訶薩應具行六波羅蜜多，然行布施、淨戒、安忍、精進、靜慮觀諸法時，皆以般若波羅蜜多而為上首。憍尸迦！如贍部洲所有諸樹，枝條、莖幹、華葉、果實，雖有種種形類不同，而其蔭影都無差別，具大功德眾所歸依。如是六種波羅蜜多雖各有異，而由般若波羅蜜多方便善巧，攝受迴向一切智智，諸差別相都不可得，具大功德眾所歸依。」
At that time, the Buddha told Śakra: "Kauśika! Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas should practice all six pāramitās completely. However, when practicing generosity, pure conduct, patience, vigor, and meditation while contemplating all dharmas, they should take Prajñāpāramitā as their leader. Kauśika! Just as all the trees in Jambudvīpa—their branches, stems, flowers, leaves, and fruits—although having various different forms and types, cast shadows that are all the same, possessing great merit and serving as a refuge for many. Similarly, although the six pāramitās each have their differences, through the skillful means of Prajñāpāramitā, when they are embraced and dedicated toward all-knowing wisdom, all their distinguishing characteristics become unobtainable, and they possess great merit and serve as a refuge for many."
時，天帝釋復白佛言：「甚深般若波羅蜜多成就廣大殊勝功德，成就一切殊勝功德，成就圓滿殊勝功德，成就無量殊勝功德，成就無邊殊勝功德，成就無數殊勝功德，成就無等殊勝功德，成就無盡殊勝功德。」
At that time, Śakra again addressed the Buddha, saying: "The profound Prajñāpāramitā accomplishes vast supreme merit, accomplishes all supreme merits, accomplishes perfect supreme merit, accomplishes countless supreme merits, accomplishes limitless supreme merits, accomplishes numberless supreme merits, accomplishes unequaled supreme merits, and accomplishes inexhaustible supreme merits."
爾時，佛告天帝釋言：「如是！如是！如汝所說。」
At that time, the Buddha told Śakra: "So it is! So it is! It is as you have said."