Thereafter the Bodhisattva Mahasattva 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 Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara called Avalokiteśvara? So he asked, and the Lord answered to the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Akshayamati:
All the hundred thousands of myriads of koṭis of creatures, young man of good family, who in this world are suffering troubles will, if they hear the name of the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara, be released from that mass of troubles. Those who shall keep the name of this Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara, 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 Mahasattva. In case, young man of good family, creatures carried off by the current of rivers should implore the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara, all rivers will afford them a ford. In case, young man of good family, many hundred thousand myriads of koṭis of creatures, sailing in a ship on the ocean, should see their bullion, gold, gems, pearls, lapis lazuli, conch shells, stones, corals, emeralds, musaragalvas, red 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 Avalokiteśvara, all will be saved from that island of Giantesses. For that reason, young man of good family, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara is named Avalokiteśvara.
All the hundred thousands of myriads of koṭis of creatures, young man of good family, who in this world are suffering troubles will, if they hear the name of the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara, be released from that mass of troubles. Those who shall keep the name of this Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara, 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 Mahasattva. In case, young man of good family, creatures carried off by the current of rivers should implore the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara, all rivers will afford them a ford. In case, young man of good family, many hundred thousand myriads of koṭis of creatures, sailing in a ship on the ocean, should see their bullion, gold, gems, pearls, lapis lazuli, conch shells, stones, corals, emeralds, musaragalvas, red 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 Avalokiteśvara, all will be saved from that island of Giantesses. For that reason, young man of good family, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara is named Avalokiteśvara.
If a man given up to capital punishment implores Avalokiteśvara, 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 Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara 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 Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara is pronounced. Such, young man of good family, is the power of the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara.
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 Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara, 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 Avalokiteśvara with the words: Adoration, adoration be to the giver of safety, to Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva Mahasattva! 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 Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara.
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 Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara is pronounced. Such, young man of good family, is the power of the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara.
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 Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara, 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 Avalokiteśvara with the words: Adoration, adoration be to the giver of safety, to Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva Mahasattva! 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 Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara.
In case creatures act under the impulse of impure passion, young man of good family, they will, after adoring the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara, be freed from passion. Those who act under the impulse of hatred will, after adoring the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara, be freed from hatred. Those who act under the impulse of infatuation will, after adoring the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara, be freed from infatuation. So mighty, young man of good family, is the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara.
If a woman, desirous of male offspring, young man of good family, adores the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, 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 Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara.
Those who adore the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara will derive from it an unfailing profit. Suppose, young man of good family, (on one hand) some one adoring the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara 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 Mahasattva Akṣayamati 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.
If a woman, desirous of male offspring, young man of good family, adores the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, 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 Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara.
Those who adore the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara will derive from it an unfailing profit. Suppose, young man of good family, (on one hand) some one adoring the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara 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 Mahasattva Akṣayamati 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 Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara 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 Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara 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 koṭis of æons. So immense, young man of good family, is the pious merit resulting from cherishing the name of the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara.
Again the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Akṣayamati said to the Lord: How, O Lord, is it that the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara frequents this Saha-world? And how does he preach the law? And which is the range of the skilfulness of the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara? So asked, the Lord replied to the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Akṣayamati: In some worlds, young man of good family, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara preaches the law to creatures in the shape of a Buddha;
Again the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Akṣayamati said to the Lord: How, O Lord, is it that the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara frequents this Saha-world? And how does he preach the law? And which is the range of the skilfulness of the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara? So asked, the Lord replied to the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Akṣayamati: In some worlds, young man of good family, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara preaches the law to creatures in the shape of a Buddha;
With some beings 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 Chakravartin, he shows the law after assuming the shape of a Chakravartin; 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 Senapati, he preaches in the shape of Senapati; to those who are to be converted by assuming a Brahman, he preaches in the shape of a Brahman; to those who are to be converted by Vajrapani, he preaches in the shape of Vajrapani. With such inconceivable qualities, young man of good family, is the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara endowed. Therefore then, young man of good family, honour the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara. The Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara, young man of good family, affords safety to those who are in anxiety. On that account one calls him in this Saha-world Abhayaṃdada (i.e. Giver of Safety).
Further, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Akshayamati said to the Lord: Shall we give a gift of piety, a decoration of piety, O Lord, to the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara? The Lord replied: Do so, if thou thinkest it opportune. Then the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Akshayamati took from his neck a pearl necklace, worth a hundred thousand (gold pieces), and presented it to the Bodhisattva Mahasattva 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 Mahasattva Akshayamati said to the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara: Out of compassion to us, young man of good family, accept this pearl necklace. Then the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara accepted the pearl necklace from the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Akshayamati, out of compassion to the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Akshayamati and the four classes, and out of compassion to the gods, Nagas, 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 Shakyamuni, and the other to the jewel Stupa of the Lord Prabhutaratna, the Tathagata, &c., who had become completely extinct.
With such a faculty of transformation, young man of good family, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara is moving in this Saha-world.
And on that occasion the Lord uttered the following stanzas:
With such a faculty of transformation, young man of good family, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara is moving in this Saha-world.
And on that occasion the Lord uttered the following stanzas:
1. Aitradhvaja asked Akshayamati the following question: For what reason, son of Jina, is Avalokitesvara (so) called?
2. And Akshayamati, that ocean of profound insight, after considering how the matter stood, spoke to Aitradhvaja: Listen to the conduct of Avalokitesvara.
3. Hear from my indication how for numerous, inconceivable aeons he has accomplished his vow 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.
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, he has but to think of Avalokitesvara, and they shall quickly lose their poison.
2. And Akshayamati, that ocean of profound insight, after considering how the matter stood, spoke to Aitradhvaja: Listen to the conduct of Avalokitesvara.
3. Hear from my indication how for numerous, inconceivable aeons he has accomplished his vow 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.
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, he 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.
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 Avalokiteśvara.
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 Amitābha, 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 Sukhakara is situated, there the Chief Amitābha, the tamer of men, has his fixed abode.
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 Avalokiteśvara.
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 Amitābha, 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 Sukhakara is situated, there the Chief Amitābha, 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 Amitābha himself is seated on a throne in the pure and nice cup of a lotus, and shines as the Śāla-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 Mahāsattva Dharaṇīdhara 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 Dharmaparyāya about the Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara and this miraculous power of transformation of the Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara.
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.
32. And the Chief Amitābha himself is seated on a throne in the pure and nice cup of a lotus, and shines as the Śāla-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 Mahāsattva Dharaṇīdhara 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 Dharmaparyāya about the Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara and this miraculous power of transformation of the Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara.
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.