Ch.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
CHAPTER XXIV.
CHAPTER CALLED THAT OF THE ALL-SIDED ONE, CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF THE TRANSFORMATIONS OF AVALOKITESVARA.
Thereafter
the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Akshayamati rose from his seat,
put his upper robe upon one shoulder, stretched his joined
hands towards the Lord, and said: For what reason, O Lord,
is the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara called
Avalokitesvara? So he asked, and the Lord answered to the
Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Akshayamati: All the hundred
thousands of myriads of kolis of creatures, young man of
good family, who in this world are suffering troubles will,
if they hear the name of the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva
Avalokitesvara, be released from that mass of troubles.
Those who shall keep the name of this Bodhisattva
Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara, young man of good family, will,
if they fall into a great mass of fire, be delivered
therefrom by virtue of the lustre of the Bodhisattva
Mahâsattva. In case, young man of good family, creatures,
carried off by the current of rivers, should implore the
Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara, all rivers will
afford them a ford. In case,young man of good family, many
hundred thousand myriads of kotis of creatures, sailing in
a ship on the ocean, should see their bullion, gold, gems,
pearls, lapis lazuli, conch shells, stones (?), corals,
emeralds, Musâragalvas, read pearls (?), and other goods
lost, and the ship by a vehement, untimely gale cast on the
island of Giantesses, and if in that ship a single being
implores Avalokitesvara, all will be saved from that island
of Giantesses. For that reason, young man of good family,
the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara is named
Avalokitesvara.
If a man given up to capital punishment implores
Avalokitesvara, young man of good family, the swords of the
executioners shall snap asunder. Further, young man of good
family, if the whole triple chiliocosm were teeming with
goblins and giants, they would by virtue of the name of the
Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara being pronounced lose
the faculty of sight in their wicked designs. If some
creature, young man of good family, shall be bound in
wooden or iron manacles, chains or fetters, be he guilty or
innocent, then those manacles, chains or fetters shall give
way as soon as the name of the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva
Avalokitesvara is pronounced. Such, young man of good
family, is the power of the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva
Avalokitesvara. If this whole triple chiliocosm, young man
of good family, were teeming with knaves, enemies, and
robbers armed with swords, and if a merchant leader of a
caravan marched with a caravan rich in jewels; if then they
perceived those robbers, knaves, and enemies armed with
swords, and in their anxiety and fright thought themselves
helpless; if, further, that leading merchant spoke to the
caravan in this strain: Be not afraid, young gentlemen, be
not frightened; invoke, all of you, with one voice the
Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara, the giver of safety;
then you shall be delivered from this danger by which you
are threatened at the hands of robbers and enemies; if then
the whole caravan with one voice invoked Avalokitesvara
with the words: Adoration, adoration be tothe giver of
safety, to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Mahâsattva! then, by
the mere act of pronouncing that name, the caravan would be
released from all danger. Such, young man of good family,
is the power of the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara.
In case creatures act under the impulse of impure passion,
young man of good family, they will, after adoring the
Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara, be freed from
passion. Those who act under the impulse of hatred will,
after adoring the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara, be
freed from hatred. Those who act under the impulse of
infatuation will, after adoring the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva
Avalokitesvara, be freed from infatuation. So mighty, young
man of good family, is the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva
Avalokitesvara. If a woman, desirous of male offspring,
young man of good family, adores the Bodhisattva
Avalokitesvara, she shall get a son, nice, handsome, and
beautiful; one possessed of the characteristics of a male
child, generally beloved and winning, who has planted good
roots. If a woman is desirous of getting a daughter, a
nice, handsome, beautiful girl shall be born to her; one
possessed of the (good) characteristics of a girl,
generally beloved and winning, who has planted good roots.
Such, young man of good family, is the power of the
Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara.
Those who adore the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara
will derive from it an unfailing profit. Suppose, young man
of good family, (on one hand) some one adoring the
Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara and cherishing his
name; (on the other hand) another adoring a number of Lords
Buddhas equal to sixty-two times the sands of the river
Ganges, cherishing their names and worshipping so many
Lords Buddhas during their stay, existence, and life, by
giving robes, alms-bowls, couches, medicaments for the
sick; how great is then in thine opinion, young man of good
family, the accumulation of pious merit which that young
gentleman or young lady will produce in consequence of it?
So asked, the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Akshayamati said to
the Lord: Great, O Lord, great, O Sugata, is the pious
merit which that young gentleman or young lady will produce
in consequence of it. The Lord proceeded: Now, young man of
good family, the accumulation of pious merit produced by
that young gentleman paying homage to so many Lords
Buddhas, and the accumulation of pious merit produced by
him who performs were it but a single act of adoration to
the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara and cherishes his
name, are equal. He who adores a number of Lords Buddhas
equal to sixty-two times the sands of the river Ganges and
cherishes their names, and he who adores the Bodhisattva
Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara and cherishes his name, have an
equal accumulation of pious merit; both masses of pious
merit are not easy to be destroyed even in hundred
thousands of myriads of kotis of Æons. So immense, young
man of good family, is the pious merit resulting from
cherishing the name of the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva
Avalokitesvara.
Again the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Akshayamati said to the
Lord: How, O Lord, is it that the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva
Avalokitesvara frequents this Saha-world? And how does he
preach the law? Andwhich is the range of the skilfulness of
the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara? So asked, the
Lord replied to the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Akshayamati: In
some worlds, young man of good family, the Bodhisattva
Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara preaches the law to creatures in
the shape of a Buddha; in others he does so in the shape of
a Bodhisattva. To some beings he shows the law in the shape
of a Pratyekabuddha; to others he does so in the shape of a
disciple; to others again under that of Brahma, Indra, or a
Gandharva. To those who are to be converted by a goblin, he
preaches the law assuming the shape of a goblin; to those
who are to be converted by Isvara, he preaches the law in
the shape of isvara; to those who are to be converted by
Mahesvara, he preaches assuming the shape of Mahesvara. To
those who are to be converted by a Kakravartin [This term
is ambiguous; it means both 'the mover of the wheel', i.e.
Vishnu, and 'an emperor'], he shows the law after assuming
the shape of a Kakravartin; to those who are to be
converted by an imp, he shows the law under the shape of an
imp; to those who are to be converted by Kubera, he shows
the law by appearing in the shape of Kubera; to those who
are to be converted by Senâpati [Ambiguous; the word
denotes both 'the commander-in-chief of the army of the
gods, Skanda,' and 'a commander-in-chief in general'], he
preaches in the shape of Senapati ; to those who are to be
converted by assuming a Brâhman [the Brâhman may be
Brihaspati] , he preaches in the shape of a Brâhman; to
those who are to be converted by Vagrapâni [Vagrapâni is
the name of one of the Dhyânibuddhas, and of certain
geniuses, and an ephitet of Indra] , he preaches in the
shape of Vagrapâni [The function of Avalokitesvara, as it
appears from these passages, agree with those of
Gadgadasvara mentioned in the foregoing chapter]. With such
inconceivable qualities, young man of good family, is the
Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara endowed. Therefore
then, young man of good family, honour the Bodhisattva
Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara. The Bodhisattva Mahâsattva
Avalokitesvara, young man of good family, affords safety to
those who are in anxiety. On that account one calls him in
this Saha-world Abhayandada (i. e. Giver of Safety).
Further, the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Akshayamati said to the
Lord: Shall we give a gift of piety, a decoration of piety,
O Lord, to the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara? The
Lord replied: Do so, if thou thinkest it opportune. Then
the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Akshayamati took from his neck a
pearl necklace, worth a hundred thousand (gold pieces), and
presented it to the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara
as a decoration of piety, with the words: Receive from me
this decoration of piety, good man. But he would not accept
it. Then the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Akshayamati said to the
Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara: Out of compassion to
us, young man of good family, accept this pearl necklace.
Then the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara accepted the
pearl necklace from the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Akshayamati,
out of compassion to the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Akshayamati
and the four classes, and out of compassion to the gods,
Nâgas, goblins, Gandharvas demons, Garudas, Kinnaras, great
serpents, men: and beings not human. Thereafter he divided
(the necklace) into two parts, and offered one part to the
Lord Sakyamuni, and the other to the jewel Stûpa of the
Lord Prabhûtaratna, the Tathagata, &c., who had become
completely extinct.
With such a faculty of transformation, young man of good
family, the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara is moving
in this Saha-world.
And on that occasion the Lord uttered the following
stanzas:
1. Kitradhvaga asked Akshayamati the following question:
For what reason, son of Gina, is Avalokitesvara (so)
called?
2. And Akshayamati, that ocean of profound insight, after
considering how the matter stood, spoke to Kitradhvaga:
Listen to the conduct of Avalokitesvara.
3. Hear from my indication how for numerous, inconceivable
Æons he has accomplished his vote under many thousand kotis
of Buddhas.
4. Hearing, seeing, regularly and constantly thinking will
infallibly destroy all suffering, (mundane) existence, and
grief of living beings here on earth.
5. If one be thrown into a pit of fire, by a wicked enemy
with the object of killing him, he has but to think of
Avalokitesvara, and the fire shall be quenched as if
sprinkled with water.
6. If one happens to fall into the dreadful ocean, the
abode of Nagas, marine monsters, and demons, he has but to
think of Avalokitesvara, and he shall never sink down in
the king of waters.
7. If a man happens to be hurled down from the brink of the
Meru, by some wicked person with the object of killing him,
he has but to think of Avalokitesvara, and he shall,
sunlike, stand firm in the sky.
8. If rocks of thunderstone and thunderbolts are thrown at
a man's head to kill him, he has but to think of
Avalokitesvara, and they shall not be able to hurt one hair
of the body.
9. If a man be surrounded by a host of enemies armed with
swords, who have the intention of killing him, he has but
to think of Avalokitesvara, and they shall instantaneously
become kind-hearted.
10. If a man, delivered to the power of the executioners,
is already standing at the place of execution, he has but
to think of Avalokitesvara, and their swords shall go to
pieces.
11. If a person happens to be fettered in shackles of wood
or iron, he has but to think of Avalokitesvara, and the
bonds shall be speedily loosened.
12. Mighty spells, witchcraft, herbs, ghosts, and spectres,
pernicious to life, revert thither whence they come, when
one thinks of Avalokitesvara.
13. If a man is surrounded by goblins, Nâgas, demons,
ghosts, or giants, who are in the habit of taking away
bodily vigour, he has but to think of Avalokitesvara, and
they shall not be able to hurt one hair of his body.
14. If a man is surrounded by fearful beasts with .sharp
teeth and claws, he has but to think of Avalokitesvara, and
they shall quickly fly in all directions.
15. If a man is surrounded by snakes malicious and
frightful on account of the flames and fires (they emit),
be has but to think of Avalokitesvara, and they shall
quickly lose their poison.
16. If a heavy thunderbolt shoots from a cloud pregnant
with lightning and thunder, one has but to think of
Avalokitesvara, and the fire of heaven shall quickly,
instantaneously be quenched.
17. He (Avalokitesvara) with his powerful knowledge beholds
all creatures who are beset with many hundreds of troubles
and afflicted by many sorrows, and thereby is a saviour in
the world, including the gods.
18. As he is thoroughly practised in the power of magic,
and possessed of vast knowledge and skilfulness, he shows
himself' in all directions and in all regions of the world.
19. Birth, decrepitude, and disease will come to an end for
those who are in the wretched states of existence, in hell,
in brute creation, in the kingdom of Yama, for all beings
(in general).
[Then Akshayamati in the joy of his heart uttered the
following stanzas:]
20. O thou whose eyes are clear, whose eyes are kind,
distinguished by wisdom and knowledge, whose eyes are full
of pity and benevolence; thou so lovely by thy beautiful
face and beautiful eyes!
21. Pure one, whose shine is spotless bright, whose
knowledge is free from darkness, thou shining as the sun,
not to be beaten away, radiant as the blaze of fire, thou
spreadest in thy flying course thy lustre in the world.
22. O thou who rejoicest in kindness having its source in
compassion, thou great cloud of good qualities and of
benevolent mind, thou quenchest the fire that vexes living
beings, thou pourest out nectar, the rain of the law.
23. In quarrel, dispute, war, battle, in any great danger
one has to think of Avalokitesvara, who shall quell the
wicked troop of foes.
24. One should think of Avalokitesvara, whose sound is as
the cloud's and the drum's, who thunders like a rain-cloud,
possesses a good voice like Brahma, (a voice) going through
the whole gamut of tones.
25. Think, O think with tranquil mood of Avalokitesvara,
that pure being; he is a protector, a refuge, a recourse in
death, disaster, and calamity.
26. He who possesses the perfection of all virtues, and
beholds all beings with compassion and benevolence, he, an
ocean of virtues, Virtue itself, he, Avalokitesvara, is
worthy of adoration.
27. He, so compassionate for the world, shall once become a
Buddha, destroying all dangers and sorrows; I humbly bow to
Avalokitesvara.
28. This universal Lord, chief of kings, who is a (rich)
mine of monastic virtues, he, universally worshipped, has
reached pure, supreme enlightenment, after plying his
course (of duty) during many hundreds of Æons.
29. At one time standing to the right, at another to the
left of the Chief Amitabha, whom he is fanning, he, by dint
of meditation, like a phantom, in all regions honours the
Gina.
30. In the west, where the pure world Sukhâkara is
situated, there the Chief Amitabha, the tamer of men, has
his fixed abode.
31. There no women are to be found; there sexual
intercourse is absolutely unknown; there the sons of Gina,
on springing into existence by apparitional birth, are
sitting in the undefiled cups of lotuses.
32. And the Chief Amitâbha himself is seated on a throne in
the pure and nice cup of a lotus, and shines as the
Sâla-king.
33. The Leader of the world, whose store of merit has been
praised, has no equal in the triple world. O supreme of
men, let us soon become like thee!
Thereupon the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Dharanindhara rose
from his seat, put his upper robe upon one shoulder, fixed
his right knee against the earth, stretched his joined
hands towards the Lord and said: They must be possessed of
not a few good roots, O Lord, who are to hear this chapter
from the Dharmaparyâya about the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva
Avalokitesvara and this miraculous power of transformation
of the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Avalokitesvara.
And while this chapter of the All-sided One was being
expounded by the Lord, eighty-four thousand living beings
from that assembly felt their minds drawn to that supreme
and perfect enlightenment, with which nothing else can be
compared.