Then the Bhagavat said to the entire assembly of all the bodhisattvas and the devas and humans, “You should know this: I have taught you the true cause of enlightenment, the extremely profound Dharma that I obtained through undergoing hardships with dedicated diligence throughout countless, innumerable eons.

“You should develop a courageous mind, and after my nirvāṇa you should, with veneration, protect this Dharma teaching, promulgate it widely, and ensure that this Dharma will remain for a long time.”

Then from among that great assembly, six hundred million great bodhisattvas and the assembled multitude of six hundred million devas said in one voice, “Bhagavat, all of us have that motivation of aspiration, so that we will, with veneration, protect the true cause of enlightenment, the extremely profound Dharma that you attained through undergoing hardships with dedicated diligence throughout countless, innumerable eons. Bhagavat, after your nirvāṇa, without any care for our bodies and lives, we will promulgate this Dharma teaching widely, so that the true Dharma will remain in the world for a long time.”

Those bodhisattva mahāsattvas then recited these verses in the presence of the Bhagavat:

“Bhagavat, you speak the words of genuine truth; You have entered completely into the true Dharma— Through the power of that genuine truth, We will protect and keep this sūtra.

“You wear the armor of great compassion, And you remain within great compassion. Through the power of your love and compassion, We will protect and keep this sūtra.

“You have completed the accumulation of merit, And you have given rise to the accumulation of wisdom— In order to complete the accumulations, We will protect and keep this sūtra.

“You have subjugated all the Māras. You have destroyed all false teachings. In order to dispel all evil views, We will protect and keep this sūtra.

“The world protectors and Śakra, Brahmā, and the asuras, The nāgas, yakṣas, and so on Will protect and keep this sūtra.

“Those who dwell on the earth and in the sky, Those who dwell here for a long time, Those who hold the Bhagavat’s teaching Will protect and keep this sūtra.

“In accordance with the four brahmavihāras, The Bhagavat is adorned by the four noble truths. Because he subdued the four māras, We will protect and keep this sūtra.

“It is possible that space may become solid. It is possible that the solid will become space. But that which is held and protected by the buddhas Cannot be shaken or unsettled by anyone.”

Then the Four Mahārājas, having heard the Bhagavat teach that this Dharma should be protected, all gave rise to rejoicing in their minds, and with the motivation to completely protect the true Dharma, they recited these verses in one voice:

“We and all our retinues of sons and daughters Will single-mindedly, Perfectly protect this sūtra And promulgate it widely.

“We will constantly, from all four directions, Protect and defend and serve those Who are in possession of this sūtra And practice the cause of enlightenment.”

Then Śakra, the lord of devas, placed his palms together in veneration and spoke these verses:

“The buddhas, having realized the Dharma, In order to repay that kindness And in order to benefit the bodhisattvas, Though they have transcended the world, teach the sūtras.

“I also, in order to repay their kindness, Constantly make offerings to the buddhas, And I will protect this sūtra And those sūtras similar to this.”

Then the Tuṣita devas placed their palms together in veneration and spoke these verses:

“Whoever becomes a holder of This sūtra spoken by the Bhagavat Will dwell within a state of enlightenment And will become a Tuṣita deva.

“Bhagavat, with utmost joy we abandon The perfectly ripened result of paradise— We will dwell in Jambudvīpa, And we will proclaim this sūtra.”

Then Brahmā, the lord of the Sahā world realm, the king of devas, placed his palms together in veneration and spoke these verses:

“All the dhyānas and the yānas, And all the countless liberations, All arise from this sūtra, And therefore I will teach this sūtra.

“I have abandoned the pleasures of Brahmā For the places where this sūtra is taught. In order to listen to this sūtra, I will always protect and defend it.”

Then, Śreṣṭhin, the son of the lord of Māras, placed his palms together in veneration and spoke these verses:

“Whoever is a holder of this sūtra, Which possesses the true meaning, Does not follow the conduct of the Māras And purifies the bad actions of the Māras.

“For those who are dedicated to this sūtra, I too will give complete protection, And I will develop great diligence And promulgate it widely everywhere.”

Then the king of Māras placed his palms together in veneration and spoke these verses:

“Whoever possesses this sūtra And is victorious over the kleśas Is a being to whom I will give protection and bring happiness.

“The Māras will be unable to destroy Anyone who is a holder of this sūtra. Through the blessing of the Bhagavat, I will give my protection to that person.”

Then the deva Excellent Auspiciousness placed his palms together in veneration, and in the presence of the Bhagavat spoke these verses:

“From within this sūtra the supreme Enlightenment of the buddhas is taught, And therefore whoever is a holder of the sūtra Will be making an offering to the tathāgatas.

“I will be a keeper of this sūtra And will teach it to ten million devas. I will inspire to the state of enlightenment Those who listen to it with veneration.”

Then the bodhisattva Maitreya placed his palms together in veneration and spoke these verses:

“I will see as a friend, without their asking, Someone who is set upon enlightenment, And completely forsaking life and body I will protect this king of the sūtras.

“When I hear this kind of Dharma, Even though I am in the paradise of Tuṣita, Through the power of the Bhagavat’s blessing I will teach to a vast number of devas and humans.”

Then the sthavira Mahākāśyapa placed his palms together in veneration and spoke these verses:

“Bhagavat, you have taught that In the Śrāvakayāna there is lesser wisdom. Today, through the power of my own strength, I will be a protector and holder of this sūtra.

“I will give my complete protection To whoever will be a holder of this sūtra. I will bestow on them the power of words and eloquence And I will follow after them, always proclaiming their excellence.”

Then Venerable Ānanda placed his palms together and spoke these verses:

“Even though I have heard countless Sūtras directly from the Bhagavat, I have never before heard such A supreme king of the Dharma as this.

“Today I will completely hold this sūtra I have heard directly from the Bhagavat, And hereafter I will promulgate it widely Among those who aspire to enlightenment.”

Then the Bhagavat, on seeing that the great assembly of bodhisattvas, devas, and humans had each developed the motivation to widely promulgate and spread this sūtra and completely defend it and completely protect it, and that the bodhisattvas were truly inspired and would benefit beings, praised them, saying, “Well done! Well done! Your single-mindedly promulgating this sublime, supreme king of sūtras widely in this way, so that it will not dissipate and vanish after my nirvāṇa, is the cause of the highest enlightenment. Therefore you will attain all the merit that can be, which could not be fully described even in as many eons as there are grains of sand in the Ganges River.

“Any bhikṣu or bhikṣuṇī, upāsaka or upāsikā, and moreover any noble man or noble woman, and so on, who makes offerings to, honors, writes out, widely promulgates, or teaches this sūtra correctly to others will obtain such merit as that.

“Therefore, you should meditate on this practice with diligence.”

Then the great assembly, which was innumerable, incalculable, as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges, having heard those words spoken by the Bhagavat, were all completely happy and, obtaining a faith with complete trust, practiced as they had been instructed.

The senior editor and translator Chödrup, a monk in the tradition of the Bhagavat, translated this from a Chinese text and definitively revised it.