English
English version: Manjushri, after each Buddha enters Nirvana in kalpas (aeons) as numerous as grains of sand, if someone builds a seven-jeweled stupa, one yojana (an ancient Indian unit of distance, approximately 7-9 miles) wide and one hundred yojanas high, with paths adorned with various treasures, embellished with wonderful things like mani (wish-fulfilling) jewels and pearls, erecting various jeweled banners and canopies, and covering it with a net of the King of Freedom jewels, with all sorts of decorations. If someone with a pure heart, upon hearing, believing, and understanding such profound Dharma, which is the wisdom light adornment of entering the realm of all Buddhas, or even slightly, with a pure mind, even just explaining a four-line verse to others, the merit they obtain is immeasurable. They will directly realize the wisdom of the Buddha and accomplish the supreme meritorious deeds. This is incomparable to the merit accumulated by the previous Bodhisattvas through giving; it is less than one percent, less than one thousandth, less than one hundred thousandth, less than one thousand kotis (a crore, ten million)th, less than one hundred thousand kotisth, and cannot be compared even by using calculations, analogies, or even any part of the Upanishads (ancient Indian philosophical texts). Furthermore, Manjushri, if a lay Bodhisattva offers food, clothing, bedding, and medicine for illnesses to as many Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Sravakas (hearers) as there are sands in the Ganges River, for as many kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges River. Or if an ordained Bodhisattva, with pure precepts and a complete mind, even slightly offers a single meal to any group of cattle, the merit they obtain is incomparable to the merit of the previous offerings; it is less than one percent, less than one thousandth, less than one hundred thousandth, less than one thousand kotisth, less than one hundred thousand kotisth, and cannot be compared even by using calculations, analogies, or even any part of the Upanishads. Furthermore, Manjushri, if there are as many ordained Bodhisattvas in the three thousand great thousand worlds as there are dust particles, and if they are complete in practice and have pure minds, each of these Bodhisattvas offers food, clothing, bedding, and medicine for illnesses to as many Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Sravakas as there are sands in the Ganges River in the ten directions, for as many kalpas as there are sands in the Ganges River, the merit obtained by these Bodhisattvas is immeasurable. If there is a Bodhisattva, whether lay or ordained, who is complete in precepts and has a pure mind, in this --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
正法闻已信解，若自书写或教人书，此所获福比前菩萨布施福蕴倍复增胜，百分不及一，千分不及一，百千俱胝、算数、譬喻，皆不及一。 “又，妙吉祥！若有菩萨以三千大千世界满中七宝，经三千大千世界微尘数劫，布施供养佛菩萨等。若有菩萨于此正法，少略乃至一四句偈，能解入者此所获福，比前福蕴百分不及一，千分不及一，百千俱胝、算数、譬喻，皆不及一。 “妙吉祥！且置如上经三千大千世界微尘数劫布施福行。妙吉祥！假使阿僧祇殑伽沙数等诸菩萨，一一菩萨皆于阿僧祇殑伽沙数佛刹土中，以阎浮檀金所成诸妙宝树及殊妙衣服，普遍光明真珠摩尼宝网垂覆，自在王摩尼宝所成楼阁，以电光明摩尼宝而为界道，竖立殊妙幢幡宝盖，圆满作已，普为阿僧祇殑伽沙数佛世尊等日日供养，如是经于阿僧祇殑伽沙劫修布施行。或有菩萨于此最上甚深正法生信解已，少略乃至一四句偈，为余菩萨如理宣说令其解入，此获福蕴比前菩萨布施福蕴，百分不及一，千分不及一，百千俱胝、算数、譬喻，皆不及一。 “又，妙吉祥！正使三界成已，所有一切地狱、饿鬼、畜生趣中诸众生类，若有在家菩萨为彼地狱、饿鬼、畜生趣中一切众生普令救拔，得出离已皆悉建立成缘觉果。若有出家菩萨于诸牛 畜聚中，少略乃至施以一食，此所获福无有称量。 “又，妙吉祥！正使十方所有一切佛刹土中，不可说俱胝那庾多百千如微尘等出家菩萨，一一菩萨于十方世界，一一方分皆有十佛刹不可说俱胝那庾多百千如微尘等诸佛世尊，彼一一佛并诸菩萨声闻大众，经十佛刹不可说俱胝那庾多百千微尘数劫，以饮食、衣服、坐卧之具、病缘医药，为彼一一诸佛如来，于日日中以十佛刹不可说俱胝那庾多百千如微尘等世界充满自在王摩尼妙宝布施供养。若有菩萨于此正法生信解已，于其牛畜聚中少略乃至施以一食，此所获福比前菩萨布施福蕴，百分不及一，千分不及一，百千俱胝算数譬喻，皆不及一。何以故？今此正法若得闻者，即得不退转诸大菩萨大智印故。 “又，妙吉祥！若有菩萨能为十方一切世界一切众生，悉令建立皆住随信行地；若有菩萨为一众生建立令住随义行地，此所获福无有称量。 “又，妙吉祥！若有菩萨能为十方一切世界一切众生建立令住随义行地；若有菩萨为一众生建立令住随法行地，此所获福无有称量。 “又，妙吉祥！若有菩萨能为十方一切世界一切众生，建立令住随法行地；若有菩萨为一众生建立令住须陀洹果，此所获福无有称量。 “又，妙吉祥！若有菩萨能为 现代汉语译本：在畜生聚集的地方，哪怕只是稍微布施，甚至只是一口食物，所获得的福报也是无法估量的。 ‘还有，妙吉祥（Manjushri，文殊菩萨）！即使十方所有一切佛刹土中，有不可说俱胝那庾多百千如微尘般多的出家菩萨，每一位菩萨在十方世界，每一方都有十个佛刹，其中有不可说俱胝那庾多百千如微尘般多的诸佛世尊，这些佛和菩萨、声闻大众，在十个佛刹不可说俱胝那庾多百千微尘数劫的时间里，用饮食、衣服、坐卧之具、治病医药，每日供养这些如来，并用十个佛刹不可说俱胝那庾多百千如微尘般多的世界充满自在王摩尼妙宝来布施供养。如果有一位菩萨，对此正法生起信心和理解后，在畜生聚集的地方，哪怕只是稍微布施，甚至只是一口食物，他所获得的福报，比之前那些菩萨布施的福德，百分之一都比不上，千分之一也比不上，百千俱胝的算数譬喻都比不上。为什么呢？因为现在这个正法如果能被听闻，就能得到不退转的大菩萨的大智慧印记。’ ‘还有，妙吉祥！如果有一位菩萨能让十方一切世界的一切众生，都安住于随信行地；如果有一位菩萨能让一个众生安住于随义行地，他所获得的福报也是无法估量的。’ ‘还有，妙吉祥！如果有一位菩萨能让十方一切世界的一切众生，都安住于随义行地；如果有一位菩萨能让一个众生安住于随法行地，他所获得的福报也是无法估量的。’ ‘还有，妙吉祥！如果有一位菩萨能让十方一切世界的一切众生，都安住于随法行地；如果有一位菩萨能让一个众生安住于须陀洹果（Srotaapanna，预流果），他所获得的福报也是无法估量的。’ ‘还有，妙吉祥！如果有一位菩萨能为’
English
English version: Among a gathering of animals, even a slight offering, even just a single meal, the merit gained is immeasurable. ‘Furthermore, Manjushri! Even if in all the Buddha-lands of the ten directions, there were unspeakable kotis of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of monastic Bodhisattvas, as numerous as dust motes, and each Bodhisattva in each of the ten directions, in each direction, there were ten Buddha-lands with unspeakable kotis of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of Buddhas, as numerous as dust motes, and those Buddhas, along with Bodhisattvas and Shravaka (hearer) assemblies, for a period of time equal to the number of dust motes in ten Buddha-lands, unspeakable kotis of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of kalpas (eons), were to offer food, clothing, bedding, and medicine for illness to each of those Tathagatas (Buddhas), and were to offer them daily with the most precious Mani jewels, filling ten Buddha-lands, unspeakable kotis of nayutas of hundreds of thousands of worlds, if a Bodhisattva, having generated faith and understanding in this Dharma, were to make even a slight offering, even just a single meal, among a gathering of animals, the merit gained would not be comparable to the merit of the previous Bodhisattvas' offerings, not even one part in a hundred, not even one part in a thousand, not even one part in a hundred thousand kotis of numerical comparisons. Why is this so? Because if this Dharma is heard, one immediately obtains the great wisdom seal of the non-retrogressing great Bodhisattvas.’ ‘Furthermore, Manjushri! If a Bodhisattva were to establish all beings in all worlds of the ten directions in the stage of following faith; if a Bodhisattva were to establish one being in the stage of following meaning, the merit gained would be immeasurable.’ ‘Furthermore, Manjushri! If a Bodhisattva were to establish all beings in all worlds of the ten directions in the stage of following meaning; if a Bodhisattva were to establish one being in the stage of following Dharma, the merit gained would be immeasurable.’ ‘Furthermore, Manjushri! If a Bodhisattva were to establish all beings in all worlds of the ten directions in the stage of following Dharma; if a Bodhisattva were to establish one being in the fruit of Srotaapanna (stream-enterer), the merit gained would be immeasurable.’ ‘Furthermore, Manjushri! If a Bodhisattva were to’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
十方一切世界一切众生，建立令住须陀洹果；若有菩萨为一众生建立令住斯陀含果，此所获福无有称量。 “又，妙吉祥！若有菩萨能为十方一切世界一切众生，建立令住斯陀含果；若有菩萨为一众生建立令住阿那含果，此所获福无有称量。 “又，妙吉祥！若有菩萨能为十方一切世界一切众生，建立令住阿那含果；若有菩萨为一众生建立令住阿罗汉果，此所获福无有称量。 “又，妙吉祥！若有菩萨能为十方一切世界一切众生，建立令住阿罗汉果；若有菩萨为一众生建立令住缘觉之果，此所获福无有称量。 “又，妙吉祥！若有菩萨能为十方一切世界一切众生，建立令住缘觉之果；若有菩萨为一众生建立令发大菩提心，此所获福无有称量。 “又，妙吉祥！若有菩萨能为十方一切世界一切众生，建立令发菩提心已；若有菩萨为一众生建立令住不退转位，此所获福无有称量。 “又，妙吉祥！正使菩萨普为一切众生，建立皆住不退转位；若有菩萨发清净心，于此最上甚深正法生信解已，能自书写若教人书，或复为他广大宣说，少略乃至令一众生于此最上甚深正法信解悟入者，所获福蕴无量无数不可称计。” 尔时，世尊普为大众说伽陀曰： “若有诸菩萨， 供十俱 现代汉语译本 “妙吉祥（Manjushri，文殊菩萨）！如果菩萨能使十方一切世界的所有众生都达到须陀洹果（Srotapanna，预流果，小乘初果），而另一位菩萨能使一个众生达到斯陀含果（Sakrdagamin，一来果，小乘二果），那么后者所获得的福德是无法估量的。 “又，妙吉祥！如果菩萨能使十方一切世界的所有众生都达到斯陀含果，而另一位菩萨能使一个众生达到阿那含果（Anagamin，不还果，小乘三果），那么后者所获得的福德是无法估量的。 “又，妙吉祥！如果菩萨能使十方一切世界的所有众生都达到阿那含果，而另一位菩萨能使一个众生达到阿罗汉果（Arhat，无学果，小乘四果），那么后者所获得的福德是无法估量的。 “又，妙吉祥！如果菩萨能使十方一切世界的所有众生都达到阿罗汉果，而另一位菩萨能使一个众生达到缘觉（Pratyekabuddha，独觉）的果位，那么后者所获得的福德是无法估量的。 “又，妙吉祥！如果菩萨能使十方一切世界的所有众生都达到缘觉的果位，而另一位菩萨能使一个众生发起大菩提心（Mahabodhi-citta，成佛之心），那么后者所获得的福德是无法估量的。 “又，妙吉祥！如果菩萨能使十方一切世界的所有众生都发起菩提心，而另一位菩萨能使一个众生安住于不退转位（Avaivartika，不退转地），那么后者所获得的福德是无法估量的。 “又，妙吉祥！即使菩萨普遍地使一切众生都安住于不退转位，如果另一位菩萨能以清净心，对这最上甚深的正法生起信心和理解，并能亲自书写或教他人书写，或者为他人广为宣说，哪怕只是使一个众生对这最上甚深的正法产生信解和领悟，那么他所获得的福德之蕴也是无量无数，不可称量的。” 这时，世尊为大众说了偈颂： ‘如果有菩萨，供养十俱胝（koti，千万）…'
English
English version “Furthermore, Manjushri! If a Bodhisattva were to establish all sentient beings in all the worlds of the ten directions in the fruit of Srotapanna (stream-enterer), and another Bodhisattva were to establish one sentient being in the fruit of Sakrdagamin (once-returner), the merit of the latter would be immeasurable. “Again, Manjushri! If a Bodhisattva were to establish all sentient beings in all the worlds of the ten directions in the fruit of Sakrdagamin, and another Bodhisattva were to establish one sentient being in the fruit of Anagamin (non-returner), the merit of the latter would be immeasurable. “Again, Manjushri! If a Bodhisattva were to establish all sentient beings in all the worlds of the ten directions in the fruit of Anagamin, and another Bodhisattva were to establish one sentient being in the fruit of Arhat (worthy one), the merit of the latter would be immeasurable. “Again, Manjushri! If a Bodhisattva were to establish all sentient beings in all the worlds of the ten directions in the fruit of Arhat, and another Bodhisattva were to establish one sentient being in the fruit of Pratyekabuddha (solitary buddha), the merit of the latter would be immeasurable. “Again, Manjushri! If a Bodhisattva were to establish all sentient beings in all the worlds of the ten directions in the fruit of Pratyekabuddha, and another Bodhisattva were to establish one sentient being in the generation of the great Bodhicitta (mind of enlightenment), the merit of the latter would be immeasurable. “Again, Manjushri! If a Bodhisattva were to establish all sentient beings in all the worlds of the ten directions in the generation of Bodhicitta, and another Bodhisattva were to establish one sentient being in the stage of Avaivartika (non-retrogression), the merit of the latter would be immeasurable. “Again, Manjushri! Even if a Bodhisattva were to universally establish all sentient beings in the stage of non-retrogression, if another Bodhisattva, with a pure mind, were to generate faith and understanding in this supreme and profound Dharma, and were able to personally write it or teach others to write it, or extensively proclaim it to others, even if it were only to cause one sentient being to generate faith, understanding, and realization in this supreme and profound Dharma, the accumulation of merit he would obtain would be immeasurable, countless, and incalculable.” At that time, the World Honored One spoke the following verses for the assembly: ‘If there are Bodhisattvas, who offer to ten kotis (ten million)…’