大寶積經卷第一百二
隋三藏達摩笈多譯
第三十六善住意天子會
Suṣṭhitamatidevaputra Sūtra
緣起品第一 Chapter One: Conditioned Arising
如是我聞：
Thus have I heard:
一時婆伽婆住王舍城耆闍崛山內，與大比丘眾六萬二千人俱，皆是大德具足神通，諸大聲聞而為上首。
At that time, the Bhagavat was dwelling on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa in Rājagṛha, accompanied by a great assembly of sixty-two thousand bhikṣus. They were all great virtuous ones with perfected supernatural powers, and the great disciples were their leaders.
爾時復有四萬二千菩薩摩訶薩，其名曰：文殊師利菩薩、師子幢菩薩、彌勒菩薩、觀世音菩薩、大勢至菩薩、大辯聚王菩薩、陀羅尼自在王菩薩、善丈夫菩薩、須彌頂菩薩、須彌幢菩薩、不可動菩薩、善思義菩薩、善思義意菩薩、善思惟菩薩、思心菩薩、勇意菩薩、善思菩薩、寶髻菩薩、山相擊王菩薩、寶手菩薩、寶意菩薩、寶印手菩薩、常舉手菩薩、常下手菩薩、常精進菩薩、度眾生菩薩、上精進菩薩、如言行菩薩、上願菩薩、燈手菩薩、心平等菩薩、除惡道菩薩、除諸憂暗菩薩、不捨重擔菩薩、日藏菩薩、月藏菩薩、金剛步菩薩、無邊步菩薩、無量步菩薩、不動行步菩薩、虛空藏菩薩、勝意菩薩、益意菩薩、增上意菩薩、成行菩薩、持地菩薩、月光菩薩、月幢菩薩、光德菩薩、明照菩薩、勇步菩薩、師子奮迅吼音菩薩、無礙辯菩薩、相應辯菩薩、捷疾辯菩薩、最勝菩薩、翳日月光菩薩、無攀緣菩薩、無著意菩薩、常笑菩薩、喜根菩薩、除諸障蓋菩薩、轉女身菩薩、摩尼珠菩薩、燈明菩薩、毘盧遮那菩薩、火焰菩薩、眾勝王菩薩、深說者菩薩，如是等菩薩摩訶薩而為上首。
At that time, there were also forty-two thousand great bodhisattva mahāsattvas, whose names were: Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī, Bodhisattva Lion Banner, Bodhisattva Maitreya, Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, Bodhisattva Mahāsthāmaprāpta, Bodhisattva King of Great Eloquence, Bodhisattva Dhāraṇī Self-Sovereign King, Bodhisattva Good Man, Bodhisattva Summit of Mount Sumeru, Bodhisattva Banner of Mount Sumeru, Bodhisattva Immovable, Bodhisattva Good Reflection on Meaning, Bodhisattva Good Reflection on Meaning and Intent, Bodhisattva Good Contemplation, Bodhisattva Thoughtful Heart, Bodhisattva Courageous Intent, Bodhisattva Good Thought, Bodhisattva Jeweled Topknot, Bodhisattva King of Mountain-Striking Appearance, Bodhisattva Jewel Hand, Bodhisattva Jewel Mind, Bodhisattva Jewel-Seal Hand, Bodhisattva Always Raising Hand, Bodhisattva Always Lowering Hand, Bodhisattva Constant Diligence, Bodhisattva Liberating Beings, Bodhisattva Supreme Diligence, Bodhisattva Acting as Spoken, Bodhisattva Supreme Vow, Bodhisattva Lamp Hand, Bodhisattva Equanimous Mind, Bodhisattva Eliminator of Evil Destinies, Bodhisattva Remover of All Worries and Darkness, Bodhisattva Not Abandoning Heavy Burdens, Bodhisattva Sun Treasury, Bodhisattva Moon Treasury, Bodhisattva Vajra Step, Bodhisattva Boundless Step, Bodhisattva Immeasurable Step, Bodhisattva Immovable Gait, Bodhisattva Space Treasury, Bodhisattva Victorious Intent, Bodhisattva Beneficial Intent, Bodhisattva Increasing Intent, Bodhisattva Accomplished Practice, Bodhisattva Earth-Holder, Bodhisattva Moonlight, Bodhisattva Moon Banner, Bodhisattva Light Virtue, Bodhisattva Brilliant Illumination, Bodhisattva Courageous Step, Bodhisattva Lion's Vigorous Roar, Bodhisattva Unobstructed Eloquence, Bodhisattva Corresponding Eloquence, Bodhisattva Swift Eloquence, Bodhisattva Supreme Victor, Bodhisattva Eclipsing Sun and Moon Light, Bodhisattva Non-Clinging, Bodhisattva Non-Attached Mind, Bodhisattva Always Smiling, Bodhisattva Joyful Root, Bodhisattva Remover of All Obstacles, Bodhisattva Transformer of Female Body, Bodhisattva Maṇi Jewel, Bodhisattva Lamp Light, Bodhisattva Vairocana, Bodhisattva Flame, Bodhisattva King of Many Victories, and Bodhisattva Deep Speaker. These great bodhisattvas were the leaders.
爾時復有四天大王、忉利天王、娑婆世界主大梵天王，如是等而為上首，與六萬諸天眾俱。復有善住意天子、善德天子、大自在天子，如是等而為上首，與三萬諸天眾俱，於菩薩道皆已久住。復有二萬阿修羅王，羅睺阿修羅王、須彌阿修羅王，如是等而為上首，亦皆已住於菩薩道。復有六萬諸大龍王，阿那婆達多龍王、勝月龍王，如是等而為上首，亦皆已住於菩薩道。并餘無量天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽億百千眾，乃至一切比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷，無量大眾皆來集會。
At that time, there were also the Four Great Heavenly Kings, the King of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, and the Great Brahma King, the Lord of the Sahā World, who were the leaders, accompanied by sixty thousand heavenly beings. There were also the devaputra (’godling’) Suṣṭhitamati (’Good Abiding Intention’), the devaputra Good Virtue, and the devaputra Great Freedom, who were the leaders, accompanied by thirty thousand heavenly beings, all of whom had long dwelt on the bodhisattva path. There were also twenty thousand Asura Kings, including Rāhu Asura King and Sumeru Asura King, who were the leaders, and they had also dwelt on the bodhisattva path. There were also sixty thousand great Nāga Kings, including Anavatapta Nāga King and Victorious Moon Nāga King, who were the leaders, and they had also dwelt on the bodhisattva path. In addition, there were countless hundreds of thousands of other heavenly beings, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas, as well as all bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, upāsakas, and upāsikās. This immeasurable great assembly all gathered together.
爾時世尊以如是等無量百千大眾圍遶於說法時，文殊師利菩薩摩訶薩即於己室入彼無諍除心三昧寂然不動。於是文殊師利一心安詳從三昧起，應時十方無量無邊諸佛世界六種振動。時文殊師利起三昧已，作如是念：「彼無量無邊諸世界中，乃有一佛、如來、應供、正遍覺出興於世，如優曇花希復現耳。如是諸如來、應供、正遍覺，世間希有出現甚難，所可說法盡諸有生寂滅涅槃，不可思量無有分別，甚深無譬難解難知。然以諸佛不出世故不可得聞，以不聞故諸眾生苦難可窮盡。我今應當詣於如來、正遍覺所諮問是義，問斯義故令諸眾生成就善根，亦令一切行菩薩者於彼甚深不可思議諸佛法中無復疑惑，皆得成滿佛菩提事。然此娑婆世界諸眾生等，多有貪欲、具足瞋恚、成就愚癡，斷除白法、頑鈍誑詐，無有慚愧、我慢貢高，遠離諸佛違背法僧，令彼眾生得聞如是甚深妙法獲淨智眼。」
At that time, when the World-Honored One was surrounded by such countless hundreds of thousands of great assemblies and was expounding the Dharma, Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Mañjuśrī entered the Non-Contention Mind-Eliminating Samādhi in his own chamber, remaining still and motionless. Then, Mañjuśrī emerged from the samādhi with a focused and serene mind, and at that moment, the six kinds of quakes occurred throughout the countless and boundless Buddha worlds in the ten directions.
After arising from the samādhi, Mañjuśrī thought to himself: "In these countless and boundless worlds, the appearance of a Buddha, a Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha in the world is as rare as the udumbara flower. The appearance of such Tathāgatas, Arhats, Samyaksaṃbuddhas in the world is extremely rare and difficult. The Dharma they expound leads all beings to the quiescence of nirvāṇa, which is inconceivable, without discrimination, extremely profound, incomparable, difficult to understand, and difficult to know. Because the Buddhas do not appear in the world, it cannot be heard, and because it is not heard, the suffering of sentient beings is difficult to exhaust.
I should now go to the Tathāgata, the Samyaksaṃbuddha, to inquire about this meaning. By asking about this meaning, I will cause sentient beings to accomplish wholesome roots, and also cause all those practicing the bodhisattva path to be free from doubts regarding the profound and inconceivable Buddha Dharma, all achieving the fulfillment of Buddha bodhi.
However, the sentient beings in this Sahā world are full of desire, complete with anger, and accomplished in delusion. They have cut off wholesome dharmas, are stubborn and deceitful, without shame or modesty, arrogant and conceited, far from the Buddhas and turning away from the Dharma and Sangha. May these sentient beings hear such profound and wonderful Dharma and obtain the pure wisdom eye."
爾時文殊師利復作是念：「我今應當大集十方諸菩薩眾，令皆得聞如來所說是妙法門，證深法忍。」爾時文殊師利如是念已，即入普光無垢莊嚴三昧。入此三昧已，放大光明照於東方如恒河沙等諸佛世界，普皆柔和潤澤清淨，明朗無垢微妙難稱。而此光明遍照南西北方四維上下十方世界，其間所有一切暗冥幽隱之處，山崖樹林大小諸山，目真隣陀山、摩訶目真隣陀山、鐵圍山、大鐵圍山，及餘黑山，須彌山、大須彌山，如是一切光明朗徹無有障礙。
At that time, Mañjuśrī thought to himself: "I should now gather the great assembly of bodhisattvas from the ten directions, so that they may all hear the wonderful Dharma gate expounded by the Tathāgata and realize the profound Dharma patience." Having thought this, Mañjuśrī immediately entered the Universal Light Stainless Adornment Samādhi.
After entering this samādhi, he emitted a great light that illuminated the Buddha worlds in the east, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. The light was gentle, moistening, pure, bright, stainless, subtle, and indescribable. This light then illuminated the ten directions of the world - south, west, north, the four intermediate directions, above and below - penetrating all dark and hidden places, mountain cliffs, forests, small and large mountains, Mount Mucilinda, Great Mount Mucilinda, Iron Ring Mountains, Great Iron Ring Mountains, and other black mountains, Mount Sumeru, and Great Mount Sumeru. The light penetrated all these places without obstruction.
爾時十方恒河沙世界所有諸佛現說法者，彼諸弟子各請其佛言：「世尊！何因緣故乃有如是大瑞光明現於世間？世尊！我從昔來初未聞見如是光明、如是清淨、如是微妙。世尊！此何光明？而令我等大喜遍身心得清淨，亦令眾生無復貪欲瞋恚愚癡，煩惱眾惡一切不行。世尊！今此光明誰之所作？誰所加持而來現此？」
At that time, in the Buddha worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges in the ten directions, where Buddhas were currently expounding the Dharma, their disciples each asked their respective Buddhas: "World-Honored One! For what reason has such a great auspicious light appeared in the world? World-Honored One! Never before have I seen or heard of such a light, so pure and so wondrous. World-Honored One! What is this light? It has caused us to feel great joy throughout our bodies and minds, becoming purified. It has also caused all beings to be free from greed, anger, and delusion, with all afflictions and evils ceasing to arise. World-Honored One! Who has created this light? By whose power has it appeared here?"
彼諸侍者如是請已，彼諸世尊默然無報。當爾之時，十方世界一切所有諸種音聲，所謂若天聲、若龍聲、若夜叉聲、若乾闥婆聲、若阿修羅聲、若迦樓羅聲、若緊那羅聲、若摩睺羅伽聲、若人聲、若非人聲、若象馬聲、若諸獸聲，如是等聲咸皆止息。若風聲、若火聲、若水聲、若大海波聲、若音樂聲、若歌讚聲，當爾之時如是諸聲以佛力故，亦皆止息一切寂然。
After the attendants made this request, the World-Honored Ones remained silent and gave no reply. At that time, all kinds of sounds in the ten directions of the world ceased, including the sounds of devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans, non-humans, elephants, horses, and various beasts. All these sounds stopped. The sounds of wind, fire, water, ocean waves, music, and songs also ceased at that time due to the Buddha's power. Everything became completely silent.
時彼十方諸佛侍者復請彼佛言：「世尊！惟願大慈，憐愍一切諸天人故、安樂一切諸天人故、利益一切諸天人故，為我宣說如是光明所從來處，而能普照諸佛國土？」
Then the attendants of the Buddhas in the ten directions again requested their respective Buddhas, saying: "World-Honored One! We beseech you, out of great compassion, for the sake of showing mercy to all devas and humans, for the sake of bringing peace and happiness to all devas and humans, and for the sake of benefiting all devas and humans, please explain to us the source of this light that is able to illuminate all the Buddha lands."
爾時十方諸佛即以十方恒河沙數世界所有一切諸如來聲，悉同梵音，如一如來口業所說，其所說事亦無差殊，用是妙聲各皆報告己之侍者。當彼諸佛出聲告時，一切佛剎悉皆振動，百千樂音一時皆作，乃至一切天人阿修羅所有音樂不鼓自鳴。又彼樂音眾聲之中出諸法音，所謂無常聲、苦聲、無我聲、空聲、無相聲、無願聲、離欲聲、解脫聲、法界聲、如如聲、實際聲、檀波羅蜜聲、尸波羅蜜聲、羼提波羅蜜聲、毘梨耶波羅蜜聲、禪波羅蜜聲、般若波羅蜜聲、大慈聲、大悲聲、大喜聲、大捨聲、和合聲、利益聲、出離聲，出如是等種種百千諸法之聲。又彼種種諸聲出時，無量阿僧祇億那由他百千眾生，皆得住於不退轉阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。復有成就辟支佛者、成聲聞者，乃至得成大梵天王、天帝釋、轉輪王等。
At that time, the Buddhas in the ten directions, using the voices of all Tathāgatas in worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges in the ten directions, spoke in unison with the Brahma voice, as if from the speech of a single Tathāgata. What they said was without difference, and they used this wondrous voice to inform their respective attendants. When these Buddhas spoke, all Buddha lands trembled, and hundreds of thousands of musical sounds played simultaneously. Even the musical instruments of all devas, humans, and asuras sounded without being played.
From these musical sounds emerged the sounds of various dharmas, namely: the sound of impermanence, the sound of suffering, the sound of non-self, the sound of emptiness, the sound of signlessness, the sound of wishlessness, the sound of detachment from desire, the sound of liberation, the sound of the dharma realm, the sound of suchness, the sound of ultimate reality, the sound of the perfection of giving, the sound of the perfection of morality, the sound of the perfection of patience, the sound of the perfection of diligence, the sound of the perfection of meditation, the sound of the perfection of wisdom, the sound of great loving-kindness, the sound of great compassion, the sound of great joy, the sound of great equanimity, the sound of harmony, the sound of benefit, and the sound of emancipation. Such hundreds of thousands of dharma sounds emerged.
When these various sounds emerged, countless, innumerable, billions and trillions of sentient beings attained the stage of non-retrogression for unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment. Others attained the state of pratyekabuddhas, became śrāvakas, or even became Great Brahma Kings, Śakra Devānām Indra, or wheel-turning kings.
爾時十方諸佛世尊咸各告其侍者弟子言：「諸善男子！汝今不應請問是事。何以故？此光明因緣，一切聲聞辟支佛等非其境界。我若說者，乃至世間天、人、阿修羅皆即迷沒，是故不應請問斯事。諸佛如來若說如是光明因緣，乃是能生成就不可思議諸勝善根，亦緣如是不思議諸勝善根而得出生，所謂布施、持戒、忍辱、精進、禪定、智慧諸度等行。如是諸行即是光明之所出生，亦為光明之所成就。是故我等諸佛如來，若於一劫若減一劫，讚說如是光明功德終不能盡。又以如是慈悲喜捨諸善根力共相熏修，令此光明能生歡喜。」
At that time, all the World-Honored Buddhas in the ten directions each told their attendant disciples: "Good sons! You should not ask about this matter now. Why? The cause of this light is beyond the realm of all śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas. If I were to explain it, even the devas, humans, and asuras in the world would become confused and lost. Therefore, you should not inquire about this matter. If the Tathāgatas were to explain the cause of this light, it would generate and accomplish inconceivable supreme wholesome roots. It is also due to such inconceivable supreme wholesome roots that it is produced, namely the practices of the perfections of giving, morality, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. Such practices are what give rise to this light, and are also accomplished by this light. Therefore, even if we Buddhas and Tathāgatas were to praise the merits of this light for one kalpa or less than one kalpa, we could not exhaust them. Moreover, through the power of such wholesome roots of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity cultivated together, this light is able to generate joy.”
時彼十方諸佛侍者，各自殷勤再三啟請白言：「惟願世尊！憐愍一切諸天人故、安樂一切諸天人故、利益一切諸天人故、成熟菩薩諸善根故，為我等說光明因緣。」
Then the attendants of the Buddhas in the ten directions each earnestly requested three times, saying: "We beseech the World-Honored One! For the sake of showing compassion to all devas and humans, for the sake of bringing peace and happiness to all devas and humans, for the sake of benefiting all devas and humans, and for the sake of maturing the wholesome roots of bodhisattvas, please explain to us the cause of this light."
彼諸菩薩如是請已，於是十方諸佛世尊復各告其侍者弟子言：「諸善男子！汝宜諦聽，吾為汝說。」
After the bodhisattvas made this request, the World-Honored Buddhas in the ten directions each told their attendant disciples: "Good sons! Listen carefully, I will explain it to you."
諸侍者言：「唯然世尊！願樂聽聞。」
The attendants replied: "Yes, World-Honored One! We are eager to hear it."
爾時彼佛各各告其侍者言：「善男子！有世界名曰娑婆，其土有佛，號釋迦牟尼如來、應供、正遍覺、明行足、善逝、世間解、無上士、調御丈夫、天人師、佛、世尊，出五濁世。彼土眾生多有貪欲瞋恚愚癡，眾惱所迫。彼諸眾生無有恭敬，不識慚恥都無羞愧，所為行業多諸不善。能於如是濁惡世中，成就阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，然今現在處眾說法。善男子！彼世界中釋迦如來有一大弟子菩薩摩訶薩名文殊師利，有大功德，具足智慧精進勇猛，有大威神，能令菩薩咸得歡喜故、能令菩薩具足修行故、令諸菩薩增長威力故、令諸菩薩發勤勇猛故、能善分別一切法句故、能達無礙智慧彼岸故、能具足得無礙辯才故，又於諸陀羅尼得自在故、已具成滿一切菩薩不思議功德故，令彼菩薩將欲請問釋迦牟尼如來、應供、正遍覺甚深法門，為諸菩薩善根成就故、為行菩薩乘人得滿足彼不思議諸佛法故。善男子！又彼文殊師利放斯光明，欲令十方世界無量阿僧祇諸菩薩眾大集故、令彼諸菩薩得勝法故。以是因緣，彼文殊師利放大光明照諸佛土。」
At that time, each of those Buddhas told their attendants: "Good sons! There is a world called Sahā, where there is a Buddha named Śākyamuni Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha, Vidyācaraṇasampanna, Sugata, Lokavid, Anuttara, Puruṣadamyasārathi, Śāstā Devamanuṣyāṇāṃ, Buddha, Bhagavat, who has appeared in the world of the five turbidities. The beings in that land are full of greed, anger, and delusion, oppressed by many afflictions. Those beings have no respect, do not recognize shame or modesty, and their actions are mostly unwholesome. Yet in such an impure and evil world, he has attained Anuttara Samyak Saṃbodhi and is now expounding the Dharma to the assembly.
Good sons! In that world, the Śākyamuni Tathāgata has a great disciple, a Bodhisattva Mahāsattva named Mañjuśrī, who possesses great merit, is endowed with wisdom, diligence, and valor, and has great spiritual power. He can cause all bodhisattvas to rejoice, enable bodhisattvas to perfect their practice, increase the power of bodhisattvas, inspire bodhisattvas to be diligent and valorous, skillfully discriminate all phrases of the Dharma, reach the other shore of unobstructed wisdom, fully attain unhindered eloquence, gain mastery over all dhāraṇīs, and has already fulfilled all the inconceivable merits of bodhisattvas.
He is about to ask Śākyamuni Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha about the profound Dharma gate, for the sake of perfecting the wholesome roots of bodhisattvas and for those practicing the bodhisattva vehicle to fully realize the inconceivable Buddha Dharma.
Good sons! Furthermore, this Mañjuśrī has emitted this light to gather the countless, innumerable assemblies of bodhisattvas from the ten directions and to enable those bodhisattvas to attain the supreme Dharma. For this reason, Mañjuśrī has emitted this great light illuminating all Buddha lands."
爾時十方世界諸佛侍者復各請問彼諸佛言：「世尊！彼文殊師利住何三昧放此光明？」
At that time, the attendants of the Buddhas in the ten directions again asked their respective Buddhas: "World-Honored One! In what samādhi does Mañjuśrī abide to emit this light?"
爾時十方諸佛咸各告其侍者弟子言：「諸善男子！彼文殊師利入普明無垢莊嚴三昧故，放斯光明。」
Then the Buddhas in the ten directions each told their attendant disciples: "Good sons! Mañjuśrī has entered the Universal Light Stainless Adornment Samādhi, and thus emits this light."
侍者菩薩復白諸佛言：「世尊！我初未見如是光明、如是清淨、如是能令身心歡喜。」
The attendant bodhisattvas again said to the Buddhas: "World-Honored One! Never before have we seen such light, so pure and able to bring joy to body and mind."
諸佛復告諸菩薩曰：「彼將不欲教諸菩薩起修行耶？彼將不欲大集諸菩薩眾耶？彼將不欲集諸菩薩宣說如斯妙經典耶？」
The Buddhas again told the bodhisattvas: "Does he not wish to teach the bodhisattvas to begin their practice? Does he not wish to gather a great assembly of bodhisattvas? Does he not wish to gather the bodhisattvas to expound such a wonderful sutra?"
爾時十方無量不可思議恒河沙等諸佛世界，一一世界中有無量阿僧祇諸菩薩眾，各自詣彼諸世尊所，頂禮佛足。禮已即復請白彼諸佛言：「世尊！誰有是光？誰有斯德？我等昔來未曾見聞，忽現是光照諸世界。」
At that time, in the countless, inconceivable Buddha worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges in the ten directions, in each world there were countless, innumerable assemblies of bodhisattvas. They each went to their respective World-Honored Ones and bowed at the Buddha's feet. After paying homage, they again asked those Buddhas: "World-Honored One! Who possesses this light? Who has such virtue? We have never seen or heard of such light suddenly appearing and illuminating all worlds."
時彼諸佛復告彼諸菩薩眾曰：「諸善男子！彼有世界名曰娑婆，其佛號釋迦牟尼如來、應供、正遍覺，今現說法。彼有菩薩名文殊師利，具大威德，其為大集一切菩薩摩訶薩眾故，放斯光明。」
Then those Buddhas told those assemblies of bodhisattvas: "Good sons! There is a world called Sahā, where the Buddha named Śākyamuni Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha is currently expounding the Dharma. There is a bodhisattva named Mañjuśrī, who possesses great majestic virtue. In order to gather all bodhisattva mahāsattvas, he has emitted this light."
時彼諸菩薩復白彼諸佛言：「世尊！我等今者願詣娑婆世界，意欲奉見釋迦如來，禮拜恭敬故、供養承事故、請問義理故，并欲見彼文殊師利及餘菩薩摩訶薩故。」
Then those bodhisattvas again said to those Buddhas: "World-Honored One! We now wish to go to the Sahā world, desiring to pay homage to Śākyamuni Tathāgata, to worship and serve him, to inquire about the meaning of the Dharma, and also to see Mañjuśrī and other bodhisattva mahāsattvas."
彼諸世尊即便告彼諸菩薩言：「諸善男子！欲往隨意。汝應知時。」
Those World-Honored Ones then told those bodhisattvas: "Good sons! If you wish to go, you may do so as you please. You should know the right time."
爾時十方無量阿僧祇不思議不可計不可稱不可量億那由他百千頻婆羅菩薩摩訶薩各禮佛足已，猶如壯士屈伸臂頃，各於彼世界沒，而來現此娑婆國土。是時十方諸來菩薩摩訶薩眾，皆詣世尊釋迦如來、應供、正遍覺所。其間或有能雨眾香，所謂塗香末香及以香鬘，來詣世尊釋迦如來、應供、正遍覺所。或有菩薩雨諸妙花，所謂優鉢羅花、鉢頭摩花、拘物頭花、分陀利花、瞻波迦花、波吒利花、陀奴迦利花、阿他目多迦花、蘇摩那花、婆利師迦花、曼陀羅花、摩訶曼陀羅花、波盧沙花、摩訶波盧沙花、旃陀羅花、摩訶旃陀羅花、微妙旃陀羅花、斫迦羅花、摩訶斫迦羅花、最妙斫迦羅花，雨如是等種種花鬘，來詣世尊釋迦如來、應供、正遍覺所。或有菩薩摩訶薩能出百千上妙諸音，來詣世尊釋迦如來、應供、正遍覺所。復有菩薩摩訶薩能以一音遍滿三千大千世界歌讚佛德，來詣世尊釋迦如來、應供、正遍覺所。以如是等種種莊嚴，咸詣世尊釋迦如來、應供、正遍覺所。
At that time, countless, innumerable, inconceivable, incalculable, inexpressible, immeasurable billions of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of bodhisattva mahāsattvas from the ten directions, having paid homage at the Buddha's feet, disappeared from their respective worlds in the time it takes a strong man to bend and stretch his arm, and appeared in this Sahā world. Then, these bodhisattva mahāsattvas from the ten directions all went to the World-Honored One, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha.
Among them, some were able to rain down various fragrances, such as perfumes, powdered incense, and fragrant garlands, as they approached the World-Honored One, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha. Some bodhisattvas rained down various wondrous flowers, such as utpala, padma, kumuda, puṇḍarīka, campaka, pāṭalī, dhānuṣkārī, atimuktaka, sumanā, vārṣikī, mandāra, mahāmandāra, pāruṣaka, mahāpāruṣaka, candana, mahācandana, subtle candana, cakra, mahācakra, and supreme cakra flowers. They rained down such various flower garlands as they approached the World-Honored One, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha.
Some bodhisattva mahāsattvas were able to produce hundreds of thousands of sublime sounds as they approached the World-Honored One, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha. There were also bodhisattva mahāsattvas who could, with a single sound, fill the entire three-thousand great thousandfold world system with songs praising the Buddha's virtues as they approached the World-Honored One, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha. With such various adornments, they all came to the World-Honored One, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha.
時彼十方諸來菩薩摩訶薩眾大集於此娑婆世界，而此三千大千世界所有眾生，地獄、畜生、餓鬼、若閻魔界，悉皆寂然身心安樂，無有貪欲瞋恚愚癡，遠離眾毒嫉妬諂誑我慢熱惱，一切眾生皆起慈心具足歡喜。何以故？以彼十方諸大菩薩威神力故，其事若是。
At that time, the great assembly of bodhisattva mahāsattvas from the ten directions gathered in this Sahā world. All beings in this three-thousand great thousandfold world system, including those in the hells, animal realms, hungry ghost realms, and the realm of Yama, became peaceful and happy in body and mind. They were free from greed, anger, and delusion, and far removed from the various poisons of jealousy, flattery, deceit, arrogance, and afflictions. All beings gave rise to minds of loving-kindness and were filled with joy. Why was this so? It was due to the majestic spiritual power of the great bodhisattvas from the ten directions.
爾時十方無量百千億那由他諸大菩薩摩訶薩等，咸集世尊釋迦如來、應供、正遍覺所。到佛所已，頭面禮敬右遶三匝，住於虛空，即入菩薩隱身三昧。入三昧已，隨意所生無量百千種種妙色大蓮花座，結加而坐，悉皆隱身令不復現。
Then, the countless hundreds of thousands of billions of nayutas of great bodhisattva mahāsattvas from the ten directions all gathered before the World-Honored One, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha. Upon arriving at the Buddha's place, they bowed their heads in reverence, circumambulated him three times, and stood in the air. They then entered the Bodhisattva's Invisibility Samādhi. After entering the samādhi, they manifested countless hundreds of thousands of various wondrous-colored great lotus seats according to their wishes. They sat cross-legged on these seats and made their bodies invisible.
爾時尊者摩訶迦葉見彼殊特希有瑞相大神通事，復見彼眾大雨花香，亦見彼作無量樂音，又復見彼放大光明，又亦見此三千世界諸四天下皆雨妙花積至于膝，又復見彼一切大眾天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人及非人，乃至所有比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷等，一切皆悉具足成就金色相身。於是尊者摩訶迦葉從座而起正持威儀，偏袒右臂右膝著地，合掌恭敬，以偈讚曰：
At that time, the Venerable Mahākāśyapa witnessed these extraordinary and rare auspicious signs of great supernatural powers. He also saw the great rain of flowers and fragrances, heard the countless musical sounds, saw the emission of great light, and observed that in all four continents of this three-thousand world system, wondrous flowers rained down, piling up to the knees. He also saw that all the great assemblies of devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans, as well as all bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, upāsakas, and upāsikās, had all fully accomplished bodies with golden marks. Thereupon, the Venerable Mahākāśyapa rose from his seat with proper deportment, bared his right shoulder, knelt on his right knee, joined his palms respectfully, and praised in verse, saying:
歡喜常與一切樂， 圓滿無垢清淨顏， 十力雄猛諸大人， 具足金剛百福相。
Joyfully bestowing happiness upon all, With a perfect, stainless, and pure countenance, The great beings with the ten powers, fierce and mighty, Possess the hundred merit marks of vajra.
遊於三界人天間， 一切無能如佛者， 不可思議難測度， 惟願除斷我疑心。
Wandering among humans and gods in the three realms, None can compare to the Buddha, Inconceivable and immeasurable, I only wish to dispel my doubts.
過那由他百千劫， 常行布施攝世間， 遠離執著無所依， 淨持禁戒無倫比。
For billions of kalpas past, Constantly practicing generosity to embrace the world, Free from attachments and dependencies, Purely upholding precepts beyond compare.
具足修忍超世間， 一切力中十力最， 功德備滿無過者， 唯願永絕我疑心。
Perfecting patience, transcending the world, Among all powers, the ten powers are supreme, Virtues complete, none surpassing, I only wish to forever eliminate my doubts.
過百千劫修眾行， 以見眾生受諸苦， 勇猛精進終無疲， 常生歡喜無有量。
For hundreds of thousands of kalpas, practicing various deeds, Seeing sentient beings suffer, Courageously and tirelessly persevering, Always giving rise to immeasurable joy.
頭目髓腦持與人， 棄捨男女及妻妾， 厭離國城及眾具， 唯願除解我疑網。
Offering one's head, eyes, marrow, and brain to others, Renouncing sons, daughters, wives, and concubines, Detaching from countries, cities, and all possessions, I only wish to remove the web of my doubts.
世尊往昔行施時， 象馬輦輿不可數， 過那由他上衣服， 常以歡喜惠世間。
When the World-Honored One practiced giving in the past, Countless elephants, horses, and carriages, More than billions of fine garments, Were always joyfully bestowed upon the world.
世尊常以先心施， 如是雜物及眾珍， 飲食湯藥并田宅， 是故今日我諮問。
The World-Honored One always gives with a foremost mind, Such various objects and precious things, Food, drink, medicine, and even fields and houses, Therefore, today I inquire.
往昔割身及耳鼻， 內心無垢不生瞋， 若他詰問如法言， 猶能巧說忍辱力。
In the past, he cut off his body, ears, and nose, His inner heart was pure and did not give rise to anger, If others questioned him, he spoke according to the Dharma, Still able to skillfully explain the power of patience.
以能通達深空法， 心意微妙難稱量， 能施他樂功德人， 是故今我問無垢。
Because he can penetrate the profound emptiness Dharma, His mind and intention are subtle and hard to measure, Able to give joy to others, a person of merit, Therefore, I now ask the Stainless One.
諸漏久盡患悉除， 深見眾生沒諸苦， 黑暗所覆愚癡者， 生於垢濁及我人。
All outflows long exhausted, all afflictions removed, Deeply seeing sentient beings sunk in various sufferings, Those covered by darkness and delusion, Born in defilement and ego-clinging.
憐愍諸有起慈心， 過百千劫勤修行， 開發正覺菩提岸， 唯願除斷我今疑。
Compassionate for all beings, giving rise to a kind heart, For hundreds of thousands of kalpas diligently practicing, Developing the shore of right enlightenment and bodhi, I only wish to eliminate my present doubts.
善能出入神通門， 隱顯自在巧行住， 證得無我破我相， 毀壞諸法亦非空。
Skillfully able to enter and exit the door of supernatural powers, Freely manifesting and concealing, skillfully acting and abiding, Realizing non-self and breaking the mark of self, Destroying all dharmas yet not empty.
佛於世中無染著， 真實正行及正思， 微妙寂滅離諸垢， 唯願為我決此疑。
The Buddha in the world is without attachment, True and correct in conduct and thought, Subtle and quiescent, free from all defilements, I only wish for you to resolve my doubts.
世尊昔日修行時， 施戒忍進無暫廢， 禪定智慧亦常修， 利益群生無有比。
When the World-Honored One practiced in the past, Giving, morality, patience, and diligence were never abandoned, Meditation and wisdom were also constantly cultivated, Benefiting all beings without compare.
諸功德聚難思量， 深大如海無窮盡， 善能往來亦善住， 唯願為我作歸依。
The accumulation of merits is hard to fathom, Deep and vast like the ocean, without end, Skillfully able to come and go, and also to abide well, I only wish for you to be my refuge.
往昔無垢修大慈， 怖鴿歸投救不捨， 剜身割股血滂流， 稱肉與鷹而代之。
In the past, the Stainless One cultivated great kindness, When a frightened dove sought refuge, he did not abandon it, He gouged his flesh and cut his thigh, blood flowing, Weighing his flesh to exchange for the dove.
全身上秤謂敵彼， 而鴿尚重身猶輕， 大明善巧以行慈， 唯願為我決疑惑。
His whole body on the scale was said to match it, Yet the dove was still heavier and his body lighter, The Great Illuminated One skillfully practiced kindness, I only wish for you to resolve my doubts.
須彌動搖眾星落， 諸天宮殿盡破亡， 四大海水一朝枯， 阿修羅宮處天上。
Mount Sumeru may shake and all stars may fall, All heavenly palaces may be destroyed, The four great oceans may dry up in a day, The asura palaces may be in the heavens.
假使日輪墜於地， 明月處空忽暝冥， 諸佛正覺兩足尊， 所言真誠無有二。」
Even if the sun wheel were to fall to the earth, And the bright moon in the sky suddenly darkened, The Buddhas, the Perfectly Enlightened Ones, the Two-Footed Honored Ones, Their words are true and without duplicity.
爾時尊者摩訶迦葉說偈讚已，復白佛言：「大德世尊！何因緣故世間有是微妙光明？復何因緣忽現如是未曾有瑞眾相明了？」
After the Venerable Mahākāśyapa finished reciting the verses of praise, he further asked the Buddha: "Great Virtuous World-Honored One! For what reason is there such subtle and wondrous light in the world? And for what reason have such unprecedented auspicious signs suddenly appeared so clearly?"
爾時世尊告大迦葉言：「迦葉！汝今不應諮問是事。何以故？如是境界非諸聲聞緣覺所知，若我說是光明義者，一切世間天、人、阿修羅皆當驚疑入迷沒處，是故汝今不應問也。」
At that time, the World-Honored One said to Mahākāśyapa: "Kāśyapa! You should not inquire about this matter now. Why? Such a realm is beyond the knowledge of all śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas. If I were to explain the meaning of this light, all the devas, humans, and asuras in the world would be startled, doubtful, and fall into confusion. Therefore, you should not ask about this now."
時大迦葉復白佛言：「世尊！唯願大慈，憐愍一切諸天人故、利益一切諸天人故、安樂一切諸天人故，說此光明甚深因緣，令我開解。」
Then Mahākāśyapa again said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! I only wish, out of great compassion, for the sake of showing mercy to all devas and humans, for the sake of benefiting all devas and humans, and for the sake of bringing peace and happiness to all devas and humans, that you would explain the profound causes and conditions of this light, allowing me to understand."
爾時世尊告迦葉言：「汝宜諦聽，善思念之，吾為汝說。」
At that time, the World-Honored One said to Kāśyapa: "You should listen attentively and reflect well upon it. I will explain it to you."
大迦葉言：「善哉世尊！願樂欲聞，唯垂敷演。」
Mahākāśyapa said: "Excellent, World-Honored One! I joyfully wish to hear it. Please expound it."
時佛復告大迦葉言：「迦葉！今我文殊師利入彼普明無垢莊嚴三昧，三昧力故放斯光明，遍照十方過恒沙等諸佛國土，為大集彼無量無邊不可數不可量阿僧祇諸大菩薩摩訶薩等而來至此娑婆世界。彼等皆已頂禮我足，右遶三匝，處在虛空高一多羅樹，皆各於彼大蓮花座結加而坐。」
Then the Buddha again said to Mahākāśyapa: "Kāśyapa! Now my Mañjuśrī has entered the Universal Light Stainless Adornment Samādhi. Due to the power of this samādhi, he emits this light, illuminating the Buddha lands in the ten directions, more numerous than the sands of the Ganges. This is to gather the countless, boundless, innumerable, immeasurable, incalculable great bodhisattva mahāsattvas to come to this Sahā world. They have all bowed at my feet, circumambulated me three times, and are now seated in the air at the height of a tāla tree, each on a great lotus seat in the cross-legged position."
爾時尊者大迦葉復白佛言：「世尊！今有何等菩薩摩訶薩威神德力而雨如是微妙花香，復出如是百千音樂不鼓自鳴？」
At that time, the Venerable Mahākāśyapa further asked the Buddha: "World-Honored One! What bodhisattva mahāsattvas with such spiritual power are causing this rain of wondrous flowers and fragrances, and producing these hundreds of thousands of musical sounds that play without being struck?"
佛告大迦葉言：「迦葉！是為十方諸菩薩等威神力故而雨如是勝妙花香，乃至於上虛空之中無量樂音皆自鳴也。」
The Buddha told Mahākāśyapa: "Kāśyapa! It is due to the spiritual power of the bodhisattvas from the ten directions that such supreme and wondrous flowers and fragrances are raining down, and even in the sky above, countless musical sounds are playing by themselves."
迦葉復言：「世尊！我於是中乃至不見彼一菩薩，云何世尊更言十方諸菩薩等？」
Kāśyapa again said: "World-Honored One! I cannot see even one of these bodhisattvas here. How then does the World-Honored One speak of bodhisattvas from the ten directions?"
「迦葉！一切聲聞辟支佛等終不能見彼諸菩薩摩訶薩眾。何以故？迦葉！是中聲聞辟支佛等，於大慈悲非其所住故。若能住是慈悲地中，斯則能為利益他事，則亦能行布施、持戒、忍辱、精進、禪定、智慧諸波羅蜜等。若已受正位，終不能行此諸菩薩所行之處。迦葉！斯諸菩薩摩訶薩等一切皆入隱身三昧，是故一切聲聞辟支佛不能見彼諸菩薩等，唯除諸佛及大菩薩住斯地者乃能見耳。迦葉！初住大乘諸菩薩等尚不能見，何況一切聲聞辟支佛而能得見？若得見者無有是處。」
"Kāśyapa! All śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas are unable to see these assemblies of bodhisattva mahāsattvas. Why? Kāśyapa! Because the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas do not dwell in great loving-kindness and compassion. If they could dwell in this state of loving-kindness and compassion, they would be able to benefit others, and also be able to practice the perfections of giving, morality, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. If they have already attained the right position, they can never practice in the realms where these bodhisattvas practice.
Kāśyapa! All these bodhisattva mahāsattvas have entered the Invisibility Samādhi, therefore all śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas cannot see these bodhisattvas. Only the Buddhas and great bodhisattvas dwelling at this stage can see them. Kāśyapa! Even the bodhisattvas who have just entered the Great Vehicle cannot see them, let alone all śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas. It is impossible for them to see."
爾時大迦葉復白佛言：「世尊！菩薩摩訶薩具足幾法、修何善根、獲何功德而能入是隱身三昧？」
At that time, Mahākāśyapa further asked the Buddha: "World-Honored One! How many dharmas must a bodhisattva mahāsattva perfect, what wholesome roots must they cultivate, and what merits must they acquire to be able to enter this Invisibility Samādhi?"
佛言：「迦葉！菩薩摩訶薩成就十法，即能獲是隱身三昧。何等為十？一者志性和柔深住正信；二者恒不捨離一切眾生；三者畢竟成滿大慈悲心；四者覺了一切不著眾相；五者雖復思求一切佛法終不妄取；六者亦不思想一切聲聞辟支佛智；七者世間所有盡皆能捨，乃至身命尚無悋惜，豈況餘物而不施者；八者雖行無量生死煩惱，而不染著諸有為行；九者常修無量布施、持戒、忍辱、精進、禪定、智慧，而不分別諸波羅蜜；十者常生是心，我當安立一切眾生於菩提已，然後方當坐佛樹下，不取菩提及眾生相。迦葉！是為菩薩摩訶薩具足十法，便能獲得隱身三昧。」
At that time, Mahākāśyapa further asked the Buddha: "World-Honored One! How many dharmas must a bodhisattva mahāsattva perfect, what wholesome roots must they cultivate, and what merits must they acquire to be able to enter this Invisibility Samādhi?"
The Buddha said: "Kāśyapa! A bodhisattva mahāsattva must accomplish ten dharmas to attain this Invisibility Samādhi. What are these ten?
- Having a gentle nature and deeply abiding in right faith;
- Never abandoning any sentient being;
- Ultimately fulfilling the mind of great loving-kindness and compassion;
- Realizing all things without attachment to their characteristics;
- Although seeking all Buddha dharmas, never grasping them wrongly;
- Not contemplating the wisdom of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas;
- Being able to renounce everything in the world, even one's own life, let alone other possessions;
- Although experiencing countless cycles of birth and death and afflictions, not being defiled by conditioned actions;
- Constantly cultivating immeasurable giving, morality, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom, without discriminating among the perfections;
- Always generating this thought: 'I shall establish all sentient beings in bodhi, and only then will I sit under the Bodhi tree, without grasping at the characteristics of bodhi or sentient beings.'
Kāśyapa! These are the ten dharmas that a bodhisattva mahāsattva must perfect to attain the Invisibility Samādhi."
爾時尊者大迦葉復白佛言：「希有世尊！快說斯事。世尊乃能作如是說。世尊！一切聲聞辟支佛尚皆未曾一發是心，我當安置一切眾生於阿羅漢地，況佛法乎？」
At that time, the Venerable Mahākāśyapa again said to the Buddha: "How extraordinary, World-Honored One! You have explained this matter so well. The World-Honored One is able to speak in this way. World-Honored One! Even all the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas have never once given rise to this thought: 'I should establish all sentient beings in the state of an arhat,' let alone in the Buddha Dharma!"
佛言：「迦葉！如是如是。是故一切聲聞辟支佛，悉無能入菩薩所行隱身三昧。此三昧名尚自不知，云何能入？若能入者無有是處。」
The Buddha said: "Kāśyapa, it is so, it is so. Therefore, all śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas are entirely unable to enter the Invisibility Samādhi practiced by bodhisattvas. They do not even know the name of this samādhi, so how could they enter it? It is impossible for them to enter it."
爾時尊者大迦葉復白佛言：「世尊！我等今者深願見彼諸大菩薩摩訶薩等。所以者何？斯諸大士難可會遇。」
Then the Venerable Mahākāśyapa again said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! We now deeply wish to see those great bodhisattva mahāsattvas. Why? Because these great beings are difficult to encounter."
佛言：「迦葉！汝宜且住。當須待我文殊來者，彼諸菩薩當從定出，汝等然後乃見之耳。雖然，迦葉！汝亦得是無量百千諸三昧門，今當攝心求彼菩薩摩訶薩等為在何處？住何威儀？作何事業？」
The Buddha said: "Kāśyapa, you should wait for now. When Mañjuśrī arrives, those bodhisattvas will emerge from their samādhi, and then you will see them. However, Kāśyapa, you have also attained countless hundreds of thousands of samādhi gates. Now you should concentrate your mind and seek out where these bodhisattva mahāsattvas are, in what deportment they abide, and what activities they are engaged in."
時大迦葉蒙聖教已，承佛威神及己通力，即入二萬諸三昧門，如是思求彼諸菩薩今在何所？住何威儀？為行步耶？而竟不見為住立耶，而亦不見為倚臥耶，而亦不見為端坐耶，而亦不見乃至不知以何語言作何事業、來何所從去何所至。於是起定，前白佛言：「甚奇世尊！甚奇世尊！我已經歷二萬定門，求諸菩薩竟無所見。世尊！彼諸菩薩摩訶薩等尚未證知薩婆若處，已得如是微妙三昧，何況當證無上菩提。世尊！諸善男子善女人其有見聞如斯神變，而不疾發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心者，無有是處。世尊！能得如是隱身三昧菩薩摩訶薩，為欲度彼一切眾生被精進鎧，然終不得離是妙定。」
Then Mahākāśyapa, having received the Buddha's instruction and empowered by the Buddha's spiritual power and his own supernatural abilities, entered twenty thousand samādhi gates. He sought out where these bodhisattvas were, in what deportment they abided, whether they were walking, standing, reclining, or sitting, but he could not see them at all. He did not know what language they were using, what activities they were engaged in, where they came from, or where they were going. He then emerged from his samādhi and said to the Buddha: "How marvelous, World-Honored One! How marvelous, World-Honored One! I have traversed twenty thousand samādhi gates, seeking the bodhisattvas, but could not see them at all. World-Honored One! These bodhisattva mahāsattvas have not yet realized the state of omniscience, yet they have already attained such subtle and wondrous samādhis. How much more so when they attain unsurpassed bodhi! World-Honored One! It is impossible for any good man or good woman who sees or hears of such supernatural transformations not to swiftly give rise to the aspiration for anuttara samyak saṃbodhi. World-Honored One! The bodhisattva mahāsattvas who can attain such an Invisibility Samādhi don the armor of diligence to liberate all sentient beings, yet they never depart from this wondrous samādhi."
佛告迦葉：「如是如是，如汝所說。是中一切聲聞辟支佛尚非境界，況餘眾生。」
The Buddha told Kāśyapa: "It is so, it is so, as you have said. This realm is beyond even all śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, let alone other sentient beings."
爾時尊者舍利弗作如是念：「世尊稱我聲聞人中智慧第一，我今寧可求諸菩薩今在何所？住何威儀？作何事業？若得覩見不亦善乎。」時舍利弗如是念已，承佛威神及自力故，即入三萬諸三昧門，周旋觀察彼諸菩薩今為何所、住何威儀，乃至不知如毫釐相。
At that time, the Venerable Śāriputra thought to himself: "The World-Honored One has praised me as foremost in wisdom among the śrāvakas. Now, should I not try to seek out where these bodhisattvas are? In what deportment do they abide? What activities are they engaged in? Would it not be good if I could see them?" Having thought this, empowered by the Buddha's spiritual power and his own strength, Śāriputra entered thirty thousand samādhi gates, searching and observing where these bodhisattvas were and in what deportment they abided, but he could not perceive even the slightest trace of them.
爾時尊者須菩提作如是念：「我今亦當求諸菩薩為何所在？住何威儀？造作何事？若覩見者不亦善乎。」時須菩提作是念已，承佛威神及自力故，即入四萬諸三昧門，周遍推求彼諸菩薩為何所在、住何威儀，乃至不見行住坐臥、從何所來去何所至。然後出定前至佛所，頭面禮足，白言：「世尊！世尊記我聲聞人中無諍三昧最為第一，是三昧門我亦已得。如是世尊！我若入定，正使有人具大神力，能以百億四天下為一大鼓，取須彌山為一大槌，於我定時令一大人住在我前，執彼大槌撾擊大鼓，無暫休廢乃至經劫，如是鼓聲尚不入耳，何況亂心能令我出。若彼鼓聲能為定患牽我起者，永無是處。世尊！我今所得無諍三昧，弘普若是。我向經歷四萬三昧，周遍推求彼諸菩薩終不能見，乃至不覩一人暫時往來之相。如是世尊！有諸菩薩摩訶薩輩念求如是不思議智，為一一眾生於恒河沙劫生地獄中備受眾苦。世尊！彼求菩薩道故，雖經眾苦而不捨離如是甚深不思議智。如是世尊！若我今日漏心未盡、未得解脫、於諸佛法有所未知者，令我當來常在生死，更不捨離彼不思議大妙乘也。」
At that time, the Venerable Subhūti also thought: "I too should now seek out where these bodhisattvas are. In what deportment do they abide? What activities are they engaged in? Would it not be good if I could see them?" Having thought this, empowered by the Buddha's spiritual power and his own strength, Subhūti entered forty thousand samādhi gates, thoroughly searching for where these bodhisattvas were and in what deportment they abided, but he could not see them walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, nor where they came from or where they went.
Then, emerging from his meditation, Subhūti went before the Buddha, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and said: "World-Honored One! The World-Honored One has declared me to be foremost among śrāvakas in the Conflict-Free Samādhi, and I have indeed attained this samādhi gate. World-Honored One! When I enter this samādhi, even if someone with great supernatural powers were to make a great drum out of a hundred billion four-continent worlds, using Mount Sumeru as a drumstick, and have a great person stand before me striking this drum without pause for an entire kalpa, even such a drum sound would not enter my ears, let alone disturb my mind and cause me to emerge from the samādhi. It is impossible for such a drum sound to become a disturbance that could draw me out of the samādhi. World-Honored One! The Conflict-Free Samādhi I have attained is so vast and pervasive. I have just traversed forty thousand samādhis, thoroughly searching for these bodhisattvas, but I could not see them at all, not even a momentary sign of their coming or going.
World-Honored One! There are bodhisattva mahāsattvas who seek such inconceivable wisdom, willing to be born in hell for as many kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges River, enduring all kinds of suffering for the sake of each sentient being. World-Honored One! Although they undergo such sufferings in seeking the bodhisattva path, they do not abandon this profound and inconceivable wisdom. World-Honored One! If today my defilements are not yet exhausted, if I have not yet attained liberation, if there is anything in the Buddha's teachings that I do not yet know, may I always remain in the cycle of birth and death in the future, never abandoning this inconceivable great and wondrous vehicle."
於是世尊讚須菩提言：「善哉善哉，誠如汝言。汝以信故作如斯說。令汝此身不取涅槃者，以斯善根於當來世過恒沙劫，汝當得作轉輪聖王正法治世，然後乃成阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。又須菩提！今此三千大千世界眾生數類寧為多不？」
Then the World-Honored One praised Subhūti, saying: "Excellent, excellent! It is truly as you say. You have spoken thus out of faith. Because you wish that this body of yours not attain nirvāṇa, with this wholesome root, after innumerable kalpas in the future world, you will become a wheel-turning sage king ruling the world with righteous law, and only then will you attain anuttara samyak saṃbodhi. Moreover, Subhūti! Are the sentient beings in this three thousand great thousand world-system numerous or not?"
須菩提言：「甚多。世尊！甚多。世尊！」
Subhūti said: "Very many, World-Honored One! Very many, World-Honored One!"
佛言：「如是如是。須菩提！是諸世界所有眾生，成就智慧如舍利弗、解空第一如須菩提、苦行超倫如大迦葉，即令如是諸大聲聞共盡知見求彼菩薩，若於一劫、若於百劫、若於千劫，乃至無量恒河沙劫，亦不能見。若能見者，無有是處。何以故？須菩提！彼諸菩薩凡所為作，非是一切聲聞辟支佛所行境界，是故二乘終不能見。」
The Buddha said: "It is so, it is so. Subhūti! Even if all the sentient beings in these worlds were to attain wisdom like Śāriputra, understand emptiness like Subhūti, and practice austerities like Mahākāśyapa, and if all these great śrāvakas were to use their combined knowledge and vision to seek those bodhisattvas for one kalpa, a hundred kalpas, a thousand kalpas, or even for innumerable kalpas as many as the sands of the Ganges, they still would not be able to see them. It is impossible for them to see them. Why? Subhūti! Whatever these bodhisattvas do is not within the realm of experience of all śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas. Therefore, those of the two vehicles can never see them."
說此法時，是眾會中八萬四千天人皆發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心，三千世界六種震動。
When this teaching was expounded, eighty-four thousand devas and humans in the assembly gave rise to the aspiration for anuttara samyak saṃbodhi, and the three thousand world systems shook in six ways.
爾時文殊師利於己住室如是思惟：「今此十方億百千數諸大菩薩皆已集會。吾當復召諸天大眾咸令雲集。如是可乎？」時文殊師利既思惟已，即以神力如意化成八萬四千億那由他妙寶蓮花，大如車輪，純金為莖、白銀為葉，勝藏羅網毘瑠璃寶。是諸花中皆有化佛及諸菩薩，結加趺坐蓮花臺上，身紫金色，三十二相八十種好，威德巍巍光明普照。時彼蓮花上昇四天王天、三十三天、夜摩天、兜率天、化樂天、他化自在天，及諸梵天乃至有頂。如是略說，遍此三千大千世界，乃至百億須彌、百億四天下、欲界天宮、色界天宮，彼化蓮花無不遍至。是諸化處及菩薩眾，出大音聲遍告三千大千世界，而說偈言：
At that time, Mañjuśrī, in his own dwelling, thought to himself: "Now, the great bodhisattvas from the ten directions, numbering in the billions and hundreds of thousands, have all gathered. Should I also summon the great assemblies of devas to gather like clouds? Is this appropriate?" Having thought this, Mañjuśrī used his supernatural powers to magically create eighty-four billion nayutas of wondrous jeweled lotus flowers, as large as chariot wheels, with pure gold stems and silver leaves, adorned with nets of the finest lapis lazuli jewels. Within each of these flowers was a magically created Buddha and bodhisat
tvas, sitting cross-legged on the lotus platforms, their bodies the color of purple gold, adorned with the thirty-two marks and eighty minor characteristics, majestic and dignified, their light illuminating everywhere.
At that time, these lotus flowers ascended to the Heaven of the Four Great Kings, the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, the Yāma Heaven, the Tuṣita Heaven, the Nirmāṇarati Heaven, the Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven, and all the Brahma Heavens up to the Peak of Existence. In brief, they pervaded this three thousand great thousand world system, reaching the hundred billion Mount Sumerus, the hundred billion four continents, the heavenly palaces of the desire realm, and the heavenly palaces of the form realm. These magically created lotus flowers reached everywhere. These magically created places and the assemblies of bodhisattvas emitted a great sound that pervaded the three thousand great thousand world system, speaking verses saying:
世尊明慧日， 希有出世間， 譬如憂曇花， 難遇復過是。
The World-Honored One, a sun of bright wisdom, Rare in appearing in the world, Like the udumbara flower, Even more difficult to encounter.
釋師子人雄， 今者現於世， 班宣深妙法， 永拔眾苦源。
The Śākya Lion, hero among men, Now appears in the world, Expounding the profound and wondrous Dharma, Forever uprooting the source of all suffering.
諸天雖快樂， 誰能保長久？ 任業還三塗， 復受眾苦毒。
Though the devas enjoy happiness, Who can guarantee it will last long? Subject to karma, they return to the three evil paths, Again enduring the poison of many sufferings.
所習諸欲事， 貪愛獨增長， 三界本無樂， 而愚耽著之。
The affairs of desire they practice, Only increase greed and attachment, The three realms fundamentally have no joy, Yet the foolish cling to them.
已獲最上難， 所謂諸佛出， 愚癡放逸人， 焉覺苦不斷？
Having attained the most difficult thing, Namely, the appearance of Buddhas, How can the foolish and negligent Be aware that suffering does not cease?
汝等當速求， 見佛聞正法， 若聖涅槃已， 雖悔難可追。
You should quickly seek To see the Buddha and hear the true Dharma, If the sage has entered nirvāṇa, Though you regret, it will be hard to pursue.
魔網深可怖， 汝等為放逸， 既被羈羅已， 寧有解脫期？
The net of Māra is deep and fearsome, You are negligent, Once caught in its snare, How can there be hope for liberation?
獨有求佛法， 汝為眾生資， 汝等但速求， 三十二妙相。
Only by seeking the Buddha's Dharma, Can you be a resource for sentient beings, You should quickly seek The thirty-two wonderful characteristics.
佛能救世間， 餘無可依者， 世雄甚希有， 大慈難思量。
The Buddha can save the world, There is no other one to rely on, The World Hero is extremely rare, His great compassion is inconceivable.
無量億數劫， 所行不可量， 集功德智慧， 成就釋師子，
For countless billions of kalpas, His practices are immeasurable, Accumulating merit and wisdom, To accomplish the Śākya Lion,
闡揚微妙法， 甚深難覺知。 何處有眾生， 及我人壽命？
Expounding the subtle and wondrous Dharma, Profound and difficult to comprehend. Where are there sentient beings, And self, person, lifespan?
如是破常見， 斷已自無餘， 放捨一切相， 為眾生說此。
Thus breaking the view of permanence, Cut off without remainder, Abandoning all characteristics, This is taught for sentient beings.
宣明真實際， 世間絕心行， 唯彼空無相， 無願亦無作。
Proclaiming the ultimate truth, Beyond worldly thoughts and actions, Only emptiness without characteristics, No wishes and no doings.
虛空本無形， 不起亦不滅， 無來亦無去， 智者之所說。
Space is originally formless, Neither arising nor ceasing, Neither coming nor going, So say the wise.
無盡無所生， 本淨無所有， 無相貌可見， 無思想能說。
Inexhaustible and unborn, Originally pure and non-existent, No appearance can be seen, No thought can express it.
眾生本無生， 云何得言死？ 寂滅無眾生， 眾生在何處？
Sentient beings are originally unborn, How can one speak of death? In quiescence, there are no sentient beings, Where are sentient beings to be found?
言音為說法， 法不住言音， 亦不可文字， 世尊如斯說。
Words are used to expound the Dharma, But Dharma does not dwell in words, Nor can it be found in writing, So says the World-Honored One.
諸處遍推求， 不見風水火， 地亦無分別， 慧眼之所宣。
Searching everywhere, Wind, water, and fire cannot be seen, Earth also has no distinctions, This is proclaimed by the wisdom eye.
色受及與想， 行識同虛空， 假言彼五陰， 其實無積聚。
Form, feeling, perception, Volition, and consciousness are like empty space, The five aggregates are merely conventional terms, In reality, there is no accumulation.
眼耳鼻舌身， 心意等諸根， 雖說本性空， 空亦不可得。
Eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, Mind and other faculties, Though said to be empty in nature, Even emptiness cannot be grasped.
色聲香味觸， 及以種種法， 斯由分別生， 分別體空寂。
Form, sound, smell, taste, touch, And various dharmas, Arise from discrimination, But discrimination itself is empty and quiescent.
欲界與色界， 及彼無色天， 皆說如幻化， 虛偽不真實。
The desire realm, form realm, And the formless heavens, Are all said to be like illusions, False and unreal.
如是諸世尊， 為眾生說法， 欲求出眾苦， 速歸大導師。」
Thus the World-Honored Ones Expound the Dharma for sentient beings, Wishing to liberate them from suffering, Quickly returning to the Great Guide.
彼諸化佛說此偈時，於是三千大千世界咸得聞之。有九十六億欲色諸天遠塵離垢得法眼淨，二萬天子厭離眾欲，三萬二千天子皆發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心，一萬行菩薩乘諸天子得無生法忍。爾時彼化如來所可勸召無量無邊阿僧祇億那由他百千諸天大眾，於須臾間悉皆雲集釋迦如來、應供、正遍覺所。稽首足下，右遶三匝退住一面。以天花香，所謂優鉢羅花、鉢頭摩花、拘物頭花、分陀利花、曼陀羅花、摩訶曼陀羅花，及諸花鬘末香塗香，奉散世尊及餘供養。復以種種天妙樂音，歌詠稱讚滿彼虛空。時大集眾其數甚多難可稱計，周遍充滿此四天下，無有空地如一杖頭而不遍者。是諸天人具大威德，所散諸花滿四天下積至于膝。
When these magically created Buddhas spoke these verses, they were heard throughout the three thousand great thousand world systems. Ninety-six billion devas from the desire and form realms became free from defilements and attained the pure Dharma eye, twenty thousand devaputras became weary of desires, thirty-two thousand devaputras gave rise to the aspiration for anuttara samyak saṃbodhi, and ten thousand devaputras practicing the bodhisattva vehicle attained the patient acceptance of the non-arising of dharmas.
At that time, the countless, boundless, incalculable billions of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of great assemblies of devas summoned by those magically created Tathāgatas all gathered like clouds in an instant before Śākyamuni Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha. They bowed their heads at his feet, circumambulated him three times, and stood to one side. They offered celestial flowers and fragrances to the World-Honored One and made other offerings, including utpala flowers, padma flowers, kumuda flowers, puṇḍarīka flowers, mandāra flowers, mahāmandāra flowers, as well as flower garlands, powdered incense, and perfumes. They also filled the sky with various celestial wonderful musical sounds, singing praises.
At that time, the great assembled crowd was so numerous that it was difficult to count. They completely filled the four continents, without even a space the size of a staff's tip left unoccupied. These devas and humans possessed great majestic virtue, and the flowers they scattered filled the four continents, piling up to the knees.
大寶積經卷第一百二