Then a hundred or so rival tīrthikas and wandering mendicants intent on looking for an opportunity to inflict harm approached the place where the Blessed One was. Śakra, mighty lord of the gods, had the thought, ‘These rival tīrthikas and wandering mendicants intent on looking for an opportunity to inflict harm have approached the place where the Blessed One is. So that when the perfection of wisdom is being preached, those rival tīrthikas and wandering mendicants do not, having approached the Blessed One, create obstacles, I should by all means chant by heart as much of this perfection of wisdom as I have taken up from the Blessed One.’

Then Śakra, mighty lord of the gods, chanted by heart as much of the perfection of wisdom as he had taken up from the Blessed One. Thereupon, those rival tīrthikas and wandering mendicants circumambulated the Blessed One from afar, in a clockwise direction, and then went back on the same path and through the same door.

Then the venerable Śāradvatīputra thought, “What is the reason those rival tīrthikas and wandering mendicants circumambulated the Blessed One from afar, in a clockwise direction, and then went back on the same path and through the same door?”

The Blessed One, knowing in his mind the thought occurring to the venerable Śāradvatīputra, said to the venerable Śāradvatīputra, “Śāradvatīputra, this is Śakra, mighty lord of the gods, focusing his thoughts, as he habitually does, on the perfection of wisdom. For that reason those rival tīrthikas and wandering mendicants, having circumambulated me from afar, in a clockwise direction, have gone back on that same path and through that same door. Śāradvatīputra, among those rival tīrthikas and wandering mendicants I do not see any with a bright mind. All those rival tīrthikas and wandering mendicants have malicious thoughts and are only intent on looking for an opportunity to inflict harm, even though they think only this assembly is the one they should come into. Śāradvatīputra, I do not see among the beings of this world, with its gods, demons, Brahmā deities, virtuous ascetics, and brahmin priests, any, while this perfection of wisdom is being taught, who would approach with thoughts of hatred, intent on looking for an opportunity to harm. It is impossible.

“If you ask why, Śāradvatīputra, it is because this perfection of wisdom is taken care of by the gods of the Cāturmahārājika realm; the gods of the Trayastriṃśa realm, the Yāma realm, the Tuṣita realm, the Nirmāṇarati realm, and the Paranirmitavaśavartin realm; and the gods of the Brahmakāyika realm, the Brahmapurohita realm, the Brahma­pārṣadya realm, the Mahābrahmā realm, the Ābha realm, the Parīttābha realm, the Apramāṇābha realm, the Ābhāsvara realm, the Śubha realm, the Parīttaśubha realm, the Apramāṇaśubha realm, the Śubhakṛtsna realm, the Vṛha realm, the Parīttavṛha realm, the Apramāṇavṛha realm, the Vṛhatphala realm, the Avṛha realm, the Atapa realm, the Sudṛśa realm, the Sudarśana realm, and the Akaniṣṭha realm in this great billionfold world system—all of them, as many as there are—and by as many śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas as there are, and by as many bodhisattvas as there are. If you ask why, it is because absolutely all of them have originated from the perfection of wisdom.

“Moreover, Śāradvatīputra, this perfection of wisdom is taken care of by however many lord buddhas there are, along with their communities of śrāvakas, and however many pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattva great beings, gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas there are, all of them, in the world systems of the eastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. If you ask why, it is because absolutely all of them have originated from the perfection of wisdom. This perfection of wisdom is taken care of by however many lord buddhas there are, along with their communities of śrāvakas, and however many pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattva great beings, gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas there are, all of them, in the world systems of the southern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. If you ask why, it is because absolutely all of them have originated from the perfection of wisdom. This perfection of wisdom is taken care of by however many lord buddhas there are, along with their communities of śrāvakas, and however many pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattva great beings, gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas there are, all of them, in the world systems of the western direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. If you ask why, it is because absolutely all of them have originated from the perfection of wisdom. This perfection of wisdom is taken care of by however many lord buddhas there are, along with their communities of śrāvakas, and however many pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattva great beings, gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas there are, all of them, in the world systems of the northern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. If you ask why, it is because absolutely all of them have originated from the perfection of wisdom. This perfection of wisdom is taken care of by however many lord buddhas there are, along with their communities of śrāvakas, and however many pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattva great beings, gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas there are, all of them, in the world systems of the intermediate northeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. If you ask why, it is because absolutely all of them have originated from the perfection of wisdom. This perfection of wisdom is taken care of by however many lord buddhas there are, along with their communities of śrāvakas, and however many pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattva great beings, gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas there are, all of them, in the world systems of the intermediate southeastern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. If you ask why, it is because absolutely all of them have originated from the perfection of wisdom. This perfection of wisdom is taken care of by however many lord buddhas there are, along with their communities of śrāvakas, and however many pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattva great beings, gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas there are, all of them, in the world systems of the intermediate southwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. If you ask why, it is because absolutely all of them have originated from the perfection of wisdom. This perfection of wisdom is taken care of by however many lord buddhas there are, along with their communities of śrāvakas, and however many pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattva great beings, gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas there are, all of them, in the world systems of the intermediate northwestern direction, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. If you ask why, it is because absolutely all of them have originated from the perfection of wisdom. This perfection of wisdom is taken care of by however many lord buddhas there are, along with their communities of śrāvakas, and however many pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattva great beings, gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas there are, all of them, in the world systems of the direction below, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. If you ask why, it is because absolutely all of them have originated from the perfection of wisdom. This perfection of wisdom is taken care of by however many lord buddhas there are, along with their communities of śrāvakas, and however many pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattva great beings, gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, and mahoragas there are, all of them, in the world systems of the direction above, numerous as the grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā. If you ask why, it is because absolutely all of them have originated from the perfection of wisdom.”

Then evil Māra had the thought, “It is certain that from among these four assemblies of the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete buddha that are present here, and these gods living in the desire realm and these gods living in the form realm that are also present, that there are bodhisattva great beings who will be prophesied to attain unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment, so I should go to where the Blessed One is and create an obstacle.”

Evil Māra, wishing to go to where the Blessed One was, then conjured up a massive army with four cohorts. Then Śakra, mighty lord of the gods, had the thought, “Oh! This evil Māra has conjured up a massive army with four cohorts with the wish to go to where the Blessed One is. However, this array of evil Māra’s massive army with four cohorts cannot be compared with the array of King Bimbisāra’s army with four cohorts, it cannot be compared with the arrays of the massive armies with four cohorts of King Prasenajit, the Śākyas, or the Licchavis. This evil Māra has for a long time been looking for an opportunity to inflict harm on the Blessed One, seeking for an opportunity to inflict harm with the intention of hurting beings who are engaging correctly, so I should focus on this perfection of wisdom as is my habit and chant it by heart.”

Thinking like that, Śakra, mighty lord of the gods, focused on this perfection of wisdom as was his habit and chanted it clearly from memory, and as Śakra, mighty lord of the gods, clearly chanted this perfection of wisdom by heart, so too, did those evil māras go back on that same path and through that same door.

Then those gods of the Cāturmahārājika realm, up to the gods of the Akaniṣṭha realm, as many as there were in that assembly, conjured up many divine flowers and sets of robes that stayed in the sky, from where they sprinkled them over where the Blessed One was. Having showered them over where the Blessed One was, they said, “May the human beings of Jambudvīpa practice this perfection of wisdom for a long time, because, for as long as these human beings of Jambudvīpa practice this perfection of wisdom, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete Buddha will not disappear, the Dharma will remain for a long time, and the precious jewel of the Saṅgha will become manifest in the world. For as long as these human beings of Jambudvīpa practice this perfection of wisdom, the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas in this great billionfold world system, up to the world systems of the ten directions will not disappear, the Dharma will remain for a long time, and the precious jewel of the Saṅgha will continue to become manifest in the world. The more distinguished conduct of bodhisattva great beings will also exist. Know that the place where the sons or daughters of good families commit this perfection of wisdom to writing and make it into a book, the place where they uphold it, is endowed with luminosity. Know that that place has a protector and is free from darkness.”

Then the Blessed One said to Śakra, mighty lord of the gods, and to the other gods, up to those of Akaniṣṭha, “Kauśika, it is so, it is so! Gods, it is so, it is so! For as long as these human beings of Jambudvīpa practice this perfection of wisdom, the tathāgata, arhat, perfectly complete Buddha will not disappear, the Dharma will remain for a long time, and the precious jewel of the Saṅgha will become manifest in the world. For as long as these human beings of Jambudvīpa practice this perfection of wisdom, the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas in this great billionfold world system, up to the world systems of the ten directions will not disappear, the Dharma will remain for a long time, and the precious jewel of the Saṅgha will become manifest in the world. The more distinguished conduct of bodhisattva great beings will also exist. I know that the place where the sons or daughters of good families commit this perfection of wisdom to writing and make it into a book, the place where they uphold it, is endowed with luminosity. I know that that place has a protector and is free from darkness.”

Then those gods, having conjured up many divine flowers and showered them over where the Blessed One was, made this statement: “Blessed Lord, Māra and the gods included within the class of māras who seek an opportunity to inflict harm will find no opportunity to inflict harm on any sons or daughters of good families who take up, uphold, recite, master, and focus their attention correctly on this perfection of wisdom. Blessed Lord, we too will always guard, protect, and defend those sons or daughters of good families without interruption. If you ask why, it is because we consider those sons or daughters of good families who take up, uphold, recite, master, and focus their attention correctly on this perfection of wisdom as the Teacher or as amounting to the Teacher’s equal.”

Then Śakra, mighty lord of the gods, said to the Blessed One, “Blessed Lord, those sons or daughters of good families who take up, uphold, recite, master, and focus their attention correctly on this perfection of wisdom are not endowed with feeble roots of virtue.

“Blessed Lord, those sons or daughters of good families who take up, uphold, recite, master, and focus their attention correctly on this perfection of wisdom have fulfilled their duties under the conquerors of the past. Blessed Lord, those sons or daughters of good families who take up, uphold, recite, master, and focus their attention correctly on this perfection of wisdom will have venerated many buddhas, and they will have been taken care of by spiritual mentors. If you ask why, Blessed Lord, it is because it is through this, namely, the perfection of wisdom, that they must seek for all-aspect omniscience; because it is through this, Blessed Lord, namely, all-aspect omniscience, that they must seek for the perfection of wisdom.

“If you ask why, Blessed Lord, it is because the perfection of wisdom is not one thing and all-aspect omniscience another, and all-aspect omniscience is not one thing and the perfection of wisdom another, so the perfection of wisdom and all-aspect omniscience are without duality and cannot be divided into two.”

“Kauśika, so it is, so it is!” said the Blessed One. “Kauśika, the all-aspect omniscience of the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas has originated from the perfection of wisdom. The perfection of wisdom has originated from all-aspect omniscience. If you ask why, Kauśika, it is because the perfection of wisdom is not one thing and all-aspect omniscience another, and all-aspect omniscience is not one thing and the perfection of wisdom another, so, in that case, the perfection of wisdom and all-aspect omniscience are without duality and cannot be divided into two.”