Then the bodhisattva mahāsattva Bhaiṣajyarāja and the bodhisattva mahāsattva Mahāpratibhāna, together with a following of two hundred thousand bodhisattvas, facing the Bhagavān, said, “Bhagavān, have no concern over this matter. Bhagavān, we will teach, we will expound this Dharma teaching to beings after the nirvāṇa of the Tathāgata.

“Bhagavān, in that time beings will be wicked, have few roots of merit, be arrogant, be devoted to gain and honor, engage in roots of demerit, be difficult to guide, have no interest, and be filled with disinterest, but, Bhagavān, we will demonstrate the power of patience and in that time we will teach this sūtra, we will uphold it, we will expound it, we will write it out, we will honor it, we will venerate it, and we will make offerings to it. Bhagavān, we will cast aside body and life and teach this sūtra. Therefore, Bhagavān, have no concern.”

That assembly’s bhikṣus, both those in training and those who had passed beyond training, and the five hundred bhikṣus, then said to the Bhagavān, “Bhagavān, we too are resolved to teach this Dharma teaching and will do so in other world realms.”

Thereupon the Bhagavān gave prophecies of the highest, complete enlightenment to all the Bhagavān’s śrāvakas, both those in training and those who had passed beyond training. All the eight thousand bhikṣus, with their hands together in homage, bowed toward the Bhagavān and said to the Bhagavān, “Bhagavān, do not be concerned. In the later times, in the later era, after the Tathāgata has passed into nirvāṇa, we also will expound this Dharma teaching in other world realms. Why is that? Bhagavān, the beings in this Sahā world realm will be arrogant, with few roots of merit, constantly malicious, deceitful, and dishonest.”

The Bhagavān’s maternal aunt Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī and six thousand bhikṣuṇīs, both bhikṣuṇīs in training and those who had passed beyond training, now arose from their seats at the same time, with their hands together in homage, bowed toward the Bhagavān, and stood there gazing at the Bhagavān.

The Bhagavān said to Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī, “Gautamī, do not stand gazing at the Tathāgata, unhappily thinking, ‘The Tathāgata has not spoken to me, has not prophesied the highest, complete enlightenment for me.’ For when I gave a prophecy to the entire assembly, you too, Gautamī, received a prophecy accordingly.

“Gautamī, from now on you will be a bodhisattva mahāsattva dharmabhāṇaka under thirty-eight hundred thousand quintillion buddhas. These six thousand bhikṣuṇīs, both bhikṣuṇīs in training and those who have passed beyond training, will be bodhisattva dharmabhāṇakas with you under those tathāgatas.

“Beyond that and even further beyond that, you will complete your bodhisattva practice and appear in the world as the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha, the one with perfect wisdom and conduct, the sugata, the knower of the world, the unsurpassable guide who tames beings, the teacher of gods and humans, the buddha, the bhagavān named Sarva­sattva­priya­darśana.

“Gautamī, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Sarva­sattva­priya­darśana will give a prophecy to those six thousand bodhisattvas of their successive attainment of the highest, complete enlightenment.”

Then the bhikṣuṇī Yaśodharā, the mother of Rāhula, thought, “The Bhagavān has not said my name.”

The Bhagavān, knowing the thoughts that were in the mind of Bhikṣuṇī Yaśodharā, said to Bhikṣuṇī Yaśodharā, “Yaśodharā, I declare to you, I make it known to you, that you will be a bodhisattva dharmabhāṇaka under a hundred thousand million buddhas. You will eventually complete your bodhisattva practice and in the world realm named Bhadrā you will appear in the world as the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha, the one with perfect wisdom and conduct, the sugata, the knower of the world, the unsurpassable guide who tames beings, the teacher of gods and humans, the buddha, the bhagavān named Raśmi­śata­sahasra­paripūrṇa­dhvaja. The lifespan of the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Raśmi­śata­sahasra­paripūrṇa­dhvaja will be immeasurable.”

At this, Bhikṣuṇī Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī and her following of six thousand bhikṣuṇīs, and Bhikṣuṇī Yaśodharā and her following of four thousand bhikṣuṇīs, were astonished and amazed by obtaining from the Bhagavān the prophecy of their highest, complete enlightenment.

At that time they recited this verse:

“Bhagavān, you are the Instructor, the Guide, The Teacher of the world and its devas. You bring relief and devas and humans make offerings to you. And today we also, Lord, have been made content.” {1}

Having recited that verse, the bhikṣuṇīs said to the Bhagavān, “Bhagavān, we too are resolved to teach this Dharma teaching in a future time, in a future era, in other world realms.”

The Bhagavān now looked toward the eighty thousand bodhisattvas who had attained retention and had turned the irreversible Dharma wheel.

As soon as the Bhagavān looked at them, those bodhisattva mahāsattvas rose from their seats. With their hands placed together in homage they bowed toward the Bhagavān and thought, “The Bhagavān is going to exhort us to teach this Dharma teaching.” At that thought, they all trembled and said to each other, “Noble ones, if the Bhagavān exhorts us to teach this Dharma teaching in the future times, how shall we respond?”

Then those noble ones, because of their veneration for the Bhagavān and because of their past practice and prayers, roared the lion’s roar in the presence of the Bhagavān. “Bhagavān, in the future time when the Tathāgata has passed into nirvāṇa, we will go into the ten directions, and through the power of the Bhagavān we will have beings write out this Dharma teaching, recite it, contemplate it, and teach it. And the Bhagavān, who will be residing in other world realms, will guard us, protect us, and hide us.”

Thereupon those bodhisattva mahāsattvas together spoke these verses to the Bhagavān:

“Do not be concerned, Bhagavān! After you have passed into nirvāṇa, In the very dreadful later era We will teach this supreme sūtra. {2}

“Guide, we will endure it, We will bear it When fools brandishing sticks Abuse us and threaten us. {3}

“In the dreadful future era, The fools will be deceitful, Will lack understanding, will be dishonest and arrogant, And will believe they have attainment when they do not. {4}

“With evil minds they will say, ‘We dwell in solitude, Wear clothing made of patches, And we practice renunciation.’ {5}

“Eager for tastes, and having attachment, They will teach the Dharma to laypeople, And they will be venerated As if they had the six higher knowledges. {6}

“They will have anger and they will have hate. Their thoughts will be on homes and wealth. They will remain in solitude in the forest And they will be maligning us. {7}

“They who are focused on gain and honor Will speak in this way concerning us: ‘These bhikṣus are tīrthikas Who teach what they have made up.’ {8}

“They will strongly malign us, saying, ‘They have created their own sūtra In order to obtain gain and honor, And teach it in the middle of assemblies.’ {9}

“In front of kings and princes, And likewise the king’s ministers, And brahmins and householders, And also in front of other bhikṣus {10}

“They will speak ill of us, Saying that we are tīrthikas. We will endure it all Through our veneration for the great Rishi. {11}

“Those who have evil minds Will at that time mock us, Saying, ‘They will become buddhas.’ But we will endure it all. {12}

“In the disturbed era of destruction, The dreadful time of great fear, Many bhikṣus in the form of yakṣas Will condemn us. {13}

“Because of our veneration for the Lord of the World We will be resolved to do that which is so difficult. We will put on the armor of patience And we will teach this sūtra. {14}

“Guide, we will have no concern For our bodies or even our lives. We will be dedicated to enlightenment And preserving what you have bestowed on us. {15}

“The Bhagavān knows the nature Of those wicked bhikṣus Who will appear in the future times And who will not understand the teaching with implied meaning. {16}

“We will endure all the frowns, Being repeatedly abused, Being expelled from temples, Being bound, and many beatings. {17}

“We will remember in the later times The instructions given by the Lord of the World, And we will fearlessly teach this sūtra In the middle of the assembly. {18}

“Guide, we shall go to the towns And go to the villages Where there are those who seek this, And bestow on them what you have taught. {19}

“Lord of the World, great Muni, We will be your emissaries. You who have attained peace, excellent nirvāṇa, You have no need to be concerned. {20}

“All who are lamps for the world Come from the ten directions; We are speaking words of truth And you know our aspiration.” {21}