18. The Entrustment of the Samādhi SR
佛復告月光童子言：
The Buddha again told the youth Candraprabha:
「若菩薩摩訶薩於此三昧經典受持、讀誦、為他解說、如說修行，得四功德。何者為四？一者、成就滿足福德，二者、不為怨家所壞，三者、成就無邊智慧，四者、成就無量辯才。童子！若有菩薩摩訶薩有能於此三昧經典受持、讀誦、繫念思惟、廣為人說，獲得如是四種功德。」
"If bodhisattva mahāsattvas uphold, read, recite, explain to others, and cultivate in accordance with this Samādhi Sūtra, they will attain four kinds of merits. What are the four? First, they will perfect and fulfill merit and virtue; second, they will not be harmed by enemies; third, they will perfect boundless wisdom; fourth, they will perfect immeasurable eloquence. O youth, if there are bodhisattva mahāsattvas who are able to uphold, read, recite, contemplate, and widely explain this Samādhi Sūtra to others, they will attain these four kinds of merits."
爾時，世尊而說偈言：
At that time, the Bhagavān spoke this gāthā:
「福德成就恒滿足，
於一切時常不斷，
受持如是三昧故，
得諸如來之境界；
"Accomplishing merit and always being fulfilled,
At all times, it is always uninterrupted;
Because of upholding this samādhi,
One attains the realm of the Tathāgatas.
勇健功德所守護，
於一切時常成就，
修行如是勝寂定，
必獲無上勝菩提。
Being guarded by the merits of courage and strength,
At all times, it is always accomplished;
Practicing this supreme tranquil meditation,
One will certainly attain unsurpassed supreme enlightenment.
彼無一切諸怨敵，
常不為怨之所害，
智慧成就悉滿足，
於一切時恒不斷。
They have no enemies at all,
They are never harmed by enemies;
Their wisdom is accomplished and completely fulfilled,
At all times, it is always uninterrupted.
彼人成就無量智、
亦復具足無邊慧、
無量無邊勝辯才，
以持如是勝定故；
That person accomplishes immeasurable wisdom
And also perfects boundless wisdom
With immeasurable and boundless eloquence
Because they uphold this supreme meditation [i.e., Samādhi];
成就滿足福德聚、
亦成最妙菩薩行，
彼無一切諸怨敵，
以持寂滅勝定故；
They accomplish a full accumulation of merit
And also perfect the supreme bodhisattva conduct
They have no enemies at all
Because they uphold this tranquil meditation;
彼智廣大無有邊、
亦成無邊勝辯才，
其音美妙甚可樂，
以說如是勝定故；
Their wisdom is vast and boundless
And they accomplish boundless eloquence
Their voice is beautiful and very pleasing
Because they expound this supreme meditation;
善友智者所愛樂，
謂能宣說自義故，
諸人皆知是福藏，
宣說如是勝定故；
They are loved by good friends and wise ones
Because they can proclaim their own meaning
All people know they are a treasury of merit
Because they expound this supreme meditation;
得勝利養、妙衣服、
亦獲勝妙上甘饍，
顏貌端正甚可愛，
以持如是寂定故；
They obtain excellent offerings and fine clothing
And also obtain excellent and superb delicacies
Their appearance is upright and very pleasing
Because they uphold this tranquil meditation;
多見諸佛世間親，
以無等供供養佛，
無有一切諸障難，
以持如是勝定故；
They often see the buddhas, the bhagavāns
And make unequaled offerings to the buddhas
They have no obstacles at all
Because they uphold this supreme meditation;
住於佛前而讚歎，
喜心說妙多百偈，
於其智慧而不損，
以說如是寂定故；
They dwell in front of the Buddhas and praise them
With joyful hearts, they speak hundreds of wonderful verses
And do not diminish their wisdom
Because they expound this tranquil meditation;
十力世尊在前坐，
相好莊嚴可愛身，
無垢鮮淨如金山，
以修如是勝定故；
The Ten-Powered Bhagavān sits before them
With a body adorned with the marks of perfection
Pure and stainless like a golden mountain
Because they cultivate this supreme meditation;
彼智曾無有損減，
多聞智慧亦豐足，
成就最勝大法藏，
以說如是三昧故；
Their wisdom is never diminished
Their abundant learning and wisdom are also sufficient
They accomplish the supreme great Dharma treasury
Because they expound this Samādhi;
智慧廣大無有量，
多百劫說而不盡，
聞於如是深寂定，
如佛所說安住故；
Their wisdom is vast and immeasurable
They speak for hundreds of kalpas without exhausting it
Hearing this profound and tranquil meditation
Because they abide according to the Buddha's teachings;
不生一切諸難處，
如是，佛子！恒為王，
如法治國常安隱，
以持如是勝定故。
They are not born in any difficult place
Thus, O sons of the Buddha, they are always kings
They govern the country according to the Dharma and are always peaceful
Because they uphold this supreme meditation.
無量無邊億劫數，
十力說彼功德利，
說其少分不能盡，
猶如大海一渧水。」
For countless, boundless billions of kalpas,
The ten powered ones may speak of their merits and benefits,
But even speaking of a small portion cannot exhaust it,
Like a drop of water from the great ocean."
是時童子甚欣悅，
忽然從坐整服起，
合十爪掌面向佛，
生大欣喜而讚言：
At that time, the youth was very happy,
Suddenly he rose from his seat,
Facing the Buddha with his palms joined,
And spoke these words of praise with great joy:
「世尊大雄甚奇特，
能為世親作光明；
大牟尼尊說功德，
顯示如是勝利益。
"The Bhagavān, the Great Hero, is truly extraordinary,
Being a light for the world;
The Great Muni, the Bhagavān, speaks of merit,
Revealing such supreme benefits.
大聖世雄為我說，
願垂憐愍救護故，
何人能於末代時，
聽聞如是修多羅，
O Great Sage, Bhagavān, please explain it for me,
Out of compassion and to save me;
What person in the future age
Will be able to hear such a sūtra,
迦陵頻伽妙音聲，
深遠雷震悅樂聲，
具足無量勝智慧？」
With a voice like the kalaviṅka bird,
Deep and far-reaching, thundering and delightful,
Possessing immeasurable supreme wisdom?"
告月光童作是言：
He told Candraprabha, the youth:
「汝今諦聽我當說，
無上最勝微妙行，
若欲護持於法者，
聽受如是三昧經；
"Listen carefully, I will now explain
The supreme, subtle, and wondrous practices,
If you wish to protect and uphold the Dharma,
Listen to and accept this Samādhi Sūtra;
虔心供養一切佛，
以清淨心求佛智，
復應修習慈愍心，
聽受如是修多羅；
With a reverent mind, make offerings to all Buddhas,
With a pure mind, seek the wisdom of the Buddha,
And also cultivate the mind of compassion,
Listen to and accept this sūtra;
成就頭陀離過行，
修行寂靜功德林，
安住大勝上妙智，
聽受如是三昧經；
Accomplish the practices of austerity and avoiding faults,
Cultivate the forest of merit of tranquility,
And abide in supreme and wondrous wisdom,
Listen to and accept this Samādhi Sūtra;
行於惡行諸眾生、
及以毀破禁戒者，
如是諸惡比丘輩，
不能聞是三昧經。
Those who practice evil among sentient beings
And those who violate and destroy the precepts,
Such evil bhikṣus
Cannot hear this Samādhi Sūtra;
勇猛修行諸梵行，
其心無有諸穢濁，
常為諸佛所加護，
此經當入彼人手；
Those who courageously practice the pure practices
And whose minds are free from defilement
Are always protected by the Buddhas:
This sūtra will fall into the hands of such people;
若人於諸無量佛，
給侍恭敬修供養，
是人當生末世中，
此經墮在彼人手。
If one serves and makes offerings to immeasurable Buddhas
With respect and reverence,
This person will be born in the future age
And this sūtra will fall into the hands of such a person.
若人在於過去世，
於外道中行惡行，
彼人聞是修多羅，
其心不喜起嫌惡；
If a person in a past life
Practiced evil in the non-Buddhist paths,
When he hears this sūtra,
His mind will not be happy and he will give rise to slander and detest it;
於佛法中得出家，
不為涅槃求活命，
以慳嫉妬而自纏，
彼必誹謗佛經典；
He will have renounced the household life in the Buddha's Dharma,
But will not seek nirvāṇa for a livelihood,
And will be bound by stinginess and jealousy;
He will certainly slander the Buddha's sūtras;
貪著他家起慳悋，
為魔波旬所加護，
專求利養破禁戒，
於佛法中必不信；
He will be attached to others' households and be stingy,
And will be protected by Māra Pāpīyān,
He will seek only benefits and offerings, break the precepts,
And certainly not believe in the Buddha's Dharma;
往昔不殖於善根，
未得智慧起高慢，
依止我見愚凡夫，
亦於末世心無信；
He has not planted good roots in the past,
Has not attained wisdom and gives rise to arrogance,
And is a foolish ordinary person who relies on the view of self;
He will also have no faith in the latter age;
於其世間禪定中，
便謂已得果證想，
自謂羅漢食他供，
彼必謗佛勝菩提。
In worldly meditative absorption,
He will think he has attained the fruition of realization,
And will consider himself an arhat who eats others' offerings;
He will certainly slander the Buddha's supreme enlightenment.
所有一切閻浮處，
毀壞一切佛塔廟，
若有毀謗佛菩提，
其罪廣大多於彼；
If all the people of Jambudvīpa,
Destroy all the stūpas and monasteries,
If one slanders the bodhi of the Buddha,
The fault is greater than that;
若有殺害阿羅漢，
其罪無量無邊際；
若有誹謗修多羅，
其罪獲報多於彼。
If one kills an arhat,
The fault is immeasurable and boundless,
If one slanders the sūtras,
The fault will receive a retribution greater than that.
誰能於此起勇猛，
在於末代惡世中，
正戒、正法毀壞時，
顯說如是修多羅？」
Who can be courageous in this,
In the evil world of the last age,
When the right precepts and right Dharma are destroyed,
To reveal and expound such sūtras?"
童子悲號而起立，
叉手合掌發是言：
The youth wept in grief and stood up,
Joined his palms together and spoke these words:
「我於今朝師子吼，
在於最勝法王前。
"Today I will roar the lion's roar
In front of the supreme Dharma King.
我於如來滅度後，
在於末代惡世時，
棄捨身命不悋惜，
廣弘如是修多羅。
After the Tathāgata's nirvāṇa,
In the future evil age,
I will not begrudge my body and life
To widely propagate such sūtras.
能忍愚夫語言道、
不實誹謗極損辱、
罵詈、輕毀及恐怖，
勇猛精進而忍受。
I will endure the path of words spoken by fools,
Extremely slanderous and defaming,
Abusive, disparaging, and terrifying,
With courageous and diligent endurance.
除去一切諸惡業，
於過去世所造者，
內懷不生於瞋怒，
必當安住佛法中。」
Eliminate all evil karma
Created in past lives,
And internally do not give rise to anger
But certainly abide in the Buddha's Dharma."
淨妙閻浮金色手，
摩彼月光童子頂，
如來發於和雅音：
With a pure and wondrous golden-colored hand,
He patted the crown of the youth Candraprabha,
The Tathāgata spoke in a gentle and pleasant voice:
「月光童子大威德。
我今正當加護汝，
在於末代後世時，
不令汝有諸障難、
命難、梵行諸障礙。」
"Candraprabha, you have great majestic virtue.
I shall now give you protection,
So that in the future world
You will not have any obstacles,
Difficulties in life, or obstructions to the pure practices."
更有餘者一時起，
持法比丘八百人，
自言：
There were also others who arose at that same time.
Eight hundred bhikṣus who would uphold the Dharma,
Who said:
「我於末世中，
必當護持是經典。」
"In the future age,
We will surely protect and uphold this sūtra."
爾時多億夜叉、龍，
即時從坐而起立，
更有餘八那由他，
啟請世尊如是言：
At that time, many koṭis of yakṣas and nāgas
Immediately rose from their seats
And there were also other eight nayutas
Who requested the Bhagavān, saying:
「我等於此比丘所，
謂向從坐而起者，
在於惡世末代時，
我必擁護彼比丘。」
"We will protect those bhikṣus
Who have risen from their seats
In that evil world of the final age
And we will certainly protect those bhikṣus."
當說如是經典時，
以佛神力加護故，
所有恒河沙數界，
無量佛剎悉震動。
When this sūtra was spoken,
By the Buddha's supernormal power,
All the worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges,
Countless buddha lands, all shook.
隨其所動諸世界，
隨界應化作多佛，
悉是釋迦所變化，
演說如是修多羅。
In the worlds that shook,
Innumerable buddhas appeared in accordance with the transformations of the worlds,
All emanations of Śākyamuni,
Expounding this sūtra.
一切所有諸佛剎，
不可思議億眾生，
悉得聽聞是勝法，
安住諸佛如來智。
All the buddha lands,
Inconceivable billions of sentient beings,
All heard this supreme Dharma,
And abided in the wisdom of the buddhas and tathāgatas.
於此世界佛剎中，
數有九億諸天眾，
一切悉發菩提心，
即於佛所散妙花：
In this world, in the buddha lands,
There were nine billion devas,
All of whom aroused the aspiration for bodhi,
And scattered wonderful flowers over the Buddha:
所有比丘、比丘尼、
優波婆素、優婆夷，
其數七億六千萬，
悉得聞是修多羅。
All bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs,
Upāsakas, and upāsikās,
Their number was seven billion and six hundred million,
All heard this sūtra.
牟尼王尊授彼記：
The Muni, the King of the Bhagavāns, gave them a prophecy:
「必當見彼兩足尊，
其數猶如恒河沙，
皆得修習菩提行。
"You will surely see the honored ones among bipeds,
Their number like the sands of the Ganges,
All practicing the bodhisattva path.
供養恭敬彼諸佛，
為求如來智慧故，
悉能於彼諸佛所，
得聞如是妙經典。
You will make offerings and venerate those buddhas,
Seeking the wisdom of the Tathagata,
And in the presence of all those Buddhas,
You will all be able to hear this wondrous sūtra.
過於八億劫數中，
皆當得成如來尊，
彼福德者於一劫，
度脫眾生令安樂。
After eight billion kalpas,
You will all become honoured tathāgatas,
And in one kalpa,
You will liberate sentient beings and bring them peace and happiness.
於其彌勒如來所，
施設無上勝供養，
善持彼佛真妙法，
悉得往生安養國。
You will make the supreme and excellent
Offerings to Maitreya Tathāgata,
Upholding the true and wondrous Dharma of that Buddha,
And all be born in the Land of Sukhāvatī.
彼離垢穢如來尊，
其佛號曰阿彌陀，
於彼廣設勝供養，
為求無上菩提故。
That Tathāgata, free from defilement,
Is called Amitābha Buddha,
And you will make extensive and excellent offerings to him,
Seeking the unsurpassed bodhi.
於其七十阿僧祇，
滿足如是劫數中，
不墮一切諸惡趣，
得聞如是勝經典。
For seventy asamkhyas,
You will fulfill such a number of kalpas,
Not falling into any evil realms,
And hearing this wondrous sūtra.
若有於後未來世，
聽聞如是修多羅，
聞已悲泣而淚落，
我已供養於彼人。
If there are those in the future who
Hear this sūtra,
And after hearing it, weep with tears falling,
I have already been made offerings by those people.
我今勸語汝一切：
我前所有、現在者，
由此故得菩提道，
是以付囑此經典。」
I now urge all of you:
Whatever I have in the past and the present,
It is by this that I attain the path of bodhi,
Therefore I entrust this sūtra to you."