Chapter 11: The Four Mahārājas Look Upon Devas and Humans
EN
Then the deva king Vaiśravaṇa, the deva king Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the deva king Virūḍhaka, and the deva king Virūpākṣa rose from their seats, and with their upper robes over one shoulder, knelt on their right knees and, facing the Bhagavat with palms together, bowed their heads to the Bhagavat’s feet and said to the Bhagavat, “Bhagavat, this Supremely Victorious King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light is constantly regarded and seen by all buddhas; it is honored by all bodhisattvas; it is paid homage to by all the hosts of devas; it is constantly offered to by all devas and asuras; it is constantly rejoiced in by all the hosts of devas; it is constantly praised by all the protectors of the world; it is possessed by the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas; it illuminates all the divine palaces of the devas; it bestows a superior happiness upon all beings; it ends the suffering of beings who are in the hells, are pretas, and are animals; it dispels all fear and terror; it repels all hostile enemies; it creates excellent harvests during the bad times of famine; it ends all the suffering from diseases; and it ends all bad omens and hundreds of thousands of harms from suffering.
EN
“Bhagavat, this Supremely Victorious King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light bestows happiness and is also beneficial for us. Therefore, Bhagavat, we pray that you will teach it through an extensive instruction within this vast assembly. If we Four Mahārājas and our retinues can obtain the flavor of this Dharma of unsurpassable amṛta, our power and magnificence will increase, we will become diligent and heroic, and our miraculous powers will greatly increase and be superior.
EN
“Bhagavat, we Four Mahārājas practice the Dharma correctly and always teach the true Dharma and guide the Dharma kingdoms. Therefore, we constantly establish devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kumbhāṇḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, and human kings to guide Dharma kingdoms through the true Dharma, so that bad actions are stopped and eliminated, and all demons who have no love or compassion and steal the vitality of others will stay far away.
EN
“Bhagavat, we Four Mahārājas and the twenty-eight great generals of the yakṣas, along with many hundreds of thousands of yakṣas, continually look at this Jambudvīpa with our pure divine vision, which transcends that of humans, and we defend it and protect it.
EN
“Bhagavat, for that reason and condition, we kings are called world protectors.
EN
“Bhagavat, if in this Jambudvīpa there is a king of a country whose opposing enemies are always near, or there is the calamity of disease or famine, or there are a hundred thousand bad omens, then, Bhagavat, if there is a bhikṣu dharmabhāṇaka who adopts, possesses, reads, and comprehends this Supremely Victorious King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light, which we Four Mahārājas venerate and make offerings to, then we Four Mahārājas will go to him to make him understand, and inspire him and supplicate him. Then that dharmabhāṇaka, through the power of recognizing our miraculous manifestations, will go to that land and there widely promulgate this Supremely Victorious King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light. Then, through the power of this sūtra, the hundred thousand calamities and bad omens will all cease and be dispelled.
EN
“Bhagavat, in the land of whichever king the dharmabhāṇaka bhikṣu who possesses this Supremely Victorious King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light goes, know that this sūtra has also gone into that land.
EN
“Bhagavat, at that time the king will go to the dharmabhāṇaka and will listen to whatever Dharma teaching he gives. Having heard it, he will be overjoyed and will honor, make offerings to, and serve that dharmabhāṇaka. With a mind of clear faith he will protect him, and misery and calamities will cease.
EN
“When this sūtra is correctly taught, it will be beneficial for everyone.
EN
“Bhagavat, through that cause and condition, all of us Four Mahārājas will single-mindedly guard that human king and all the humans of that land so that they will be freed of calamities and always be established in happiness.
EN
“Bhagavat, if there is a bhikṣu, bhikṣuṇī, upāsaka, or upāsikā who possesses this sūtra, and if at that time a human king should seek them out, and without reluctance make offerings to them, then we Four Mahārājas will bring happiness to that ruler of the land and all the people in that land and will banish calamities far away.
EN
“Bhagavat, if there is someone who adopts this sūtra, possesses it, reads it, and recites it, and if a human king reveres and makes offerings to and praises that person, then we Four Mahārājas will revere, venerate, and respect him above all other kings so that he will be praised by the kings of other lands.”
EN
When that vast assembly heard those words, they held them with great joy.
Chapter 11: The Four Mahārājas Look Upon Devas and Humans
EN
Then the deva king Vaiśravaṇa, the deva king Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the deva king Virūḍhaka, and the deva king Virūpākṣa rose from their seats, and with their upper robes over one shoulder, knelt on their right knees and, facing the Bhagavat with palms together, bowed their heads to the Bhagavat’s feet and said to the Bhagavat, “Bhagavat, this Supremely Victorious King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light is constantly regarded and seen by all buddhas; it is honored by all bodhisattvas; it is paid homage to by all the hosts of devas; it is constantly offered to by all devas and asuras; it is constantly rejoiced in by all the hosts of devas; it is constantly praised by all the protectors of the world; it is possessed by the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas; it illuminates all the divine palaces of the devas; it bestows a superior happiness upon all beings; it ends the suffering of beings who are in the hells, are pretas, and are animals; it dispels all fear and terror; it repels all hostile enemies; it creates excellent harvests during the bad times of famine; it ends all the suffering from diseases; and it ends all bad omens and hundreds of thousands of harms from suffering.
EN
“Bhagavat, this Supremely Victorious King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light bestows happiness and is also beneficial for us. Therefore, Bhagavat, we pray that you will teach it through an extensive instruction within this vast assembly. If we Four Mahārājas and our retinues can obtain the flavor of this Dharma of unsurpassable amṛta, our power and magnificence will increase, we will become diligent and heroic, and our miraculous powers will greatly increase and be superior.
EN
“Bhagavat, we Four Mahārājas practice the Dharma correctly and always teach the true Dharma and guide the Dharma kingdoms. Therefore, we constantly establish devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kumbhāṇḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, and human kings to guide Dharma kingdoms through the true Dharma, so that bad actions are stopped and eliminated, and all demons who have no love or compassion and steal the vitality of others will stay far away.
EN
“Bhagavat, we Four Mahārājas and the twenty-eight great generals of the yakṣas, along with many hundreds of thousands of yakṣas, continually look at this Jambudvīpa with our pure divine vision, which transcends that of humans, and we defend it and protect it.
EN
“Bhagavat, for that reason and condition, we kings are called world protectors.
EN
“Bhagavat, if in this Jambudvīpa there is a king of a country whose opposing enemies are always near, or there is the calamity of disease or famine, or there are a hundred thousand bad omens, then, Bhagavat, if there is a bhikṣu dharmabhāṇaka who adopts, possesses, reads, and comprehends this Supremely Victorious King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light, which we Four Mahārājas venerate and make offerings to, then we Four Mahārājas will go to him to make him understand, and inspire him and supplicate him. Then that dharmabhāṇaka, through the power of recognizing our miraculous manifestations, will go to that land and there widely promulgate this Supremely Victorious King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light. Then, through the power of this sūtra, the hundred thousand calamities and bad omens will all cease and be dispelled.
EN
“Bhagavat, in the land of whichever king the dharmabhāṇaka bhikṣu who possesses this Supremely Victorious King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light goes, know that this sūtra has also gone into that land.
EN
“Bhagavat, at that time the king will go to the dharmabhāṇaka and will listen to whatever Dharma teaching he gives. Having heard it, he will be overjoyed and will honor, make offerings to, and serve that dharmabhāṇaka. With a mind of clear faith he will protect him, and misery and calamities will cease.
EN
“When this sūtra is correctly taught, it will be beneficial for everyone.
EN
“Bhagavat, through that cause and condition, all of us Four Mahārājas will single-mindedly guard that human king and all the humans of that land so that they will be freed of calamities and always be established in happiness.
EN
“Bhagavat, if there is a bhikṣu, bhikṣuṇī, upāsaka, or upāsikā who possesses this sūtra, and if at that time a human king should seek them out, and without reluctance make offerings to them, then we Four Mahārājas will bring happiness to that ruler of the land and all the people in that land and will banish calamities far away.
EN
“Bhagavat, if there is someone who adopts this sūtra, possesses it, reads it, and recites it, and if a human king reveres and makes offerings to and praises that person, then we Four Mahārājas will revere, venerate, and respect him above all other kings so that he will be praised by the kings of other lands.”
EN
When that vast assembly heard those words, they held them with great joy.
Sutraya