Chinese
有初发大乘道心，福德智慧殊胜于彼。那罗延！如四天下一切众生，乃至三千大千世界所有众生，是众生界之所摄者，是一一众生皆具转轮大王福德，是诸转轮大王福德为一转轮大王德聚，是一一众生复具是德。于意云何？是诸福德宁为多不？” 那罗延言：“是一人福尚多无数，况复无量阿僧祇人所有德聚？” 佛言：“那罗延！置是三千大千世界所有众生，乃至恒河沙等世界所有众生，悉具转轮大王福德。那罗延！于意云何？是诸德聚宁为多不？” 那罗延言：“世尊！若一三千大千世界众生具足转轮大王所有德聚，尚多无量无边阿僧祇；况复无量无边世界众生具足转轮大王福德之聚？” “那罗延！我今知已而唱是言，有初发菩提之心，所有德聚比前德聚，百分不及其一，千分百千分百千万亿分，乃至算数譬喻所不能及。那罗延！是名初说入集一切福德三昧。 “复次，那罗延！如千世界梵王慈心普遍满此一千世界，那罗延！有人复以满千世界七宝布施。于意云何？是人施福、梵王慈福，何者为胜？” 那罗延言：“世尊！梵王慈福无量无边。” “那罗延！置是千世界梵王慈心。若二千世界梵王慈心普遍满此二千世界，那罗延！若复有人以满二千世界七宝持用布 现代汉语译本：佛陀对那罗延（Narayan，印度教神祇，在此处作为听众）说：‘如果有人初次发起了大乘道心，他的福德和智慧将远远超过前面所说的那些。那罗延！比如四天下（Sì tiānxià，佛教宇宙观中的四大洲）的一切众生，乃至三千大千世界（Sānqiān dàqiān shìjiè，佛教宇宙观中的一个大宇宙）所有众生，这些众生都属于众生界所包含的，每一个众生都具有转轮大王（zhuǎnlún dàwáng，拥有统治世界的理想君主）的福德。这些转轮大王的福德聚集在一起，成为一个转轮大王的福德总和，而每一个众生又都具有这样的福德。你认为如何？这些福德难道不多吗？’ 那罗延回答说：‘即使是一个人的福德也已经多得数不清了，更何况是无量阿僧祇（āsēngqí，佛教中表示极大数量的单位）人所有的福德总和呢？’ 佛陀说：‘那罗延！先放下三千大千世界所有众生，乃至恒河沙（hénghé shā，比喻极多的数量）等世界所有众生，都具有转轮大王的福德。那罗延！你认为如何？这些福德总和难道不多吗？’ 那罗延回答说：‘世尊！如果一个三千大千世界的众生都具有转轮大王的所有福德总和，就已经多得无法衡量了，更何况是无量无边世界众生都具有转轮大王的福德总和呢？’ ‘那罗延！我现在知道并且要说，一个初发菩提之心（pútí zhī xīn，追求觉悟的心）的人，他所拥有的福德总和，比前面所说的福德总和，百分之一都比不上，千分之一、百千分之一、百千万亿分之一都比不上，乃至用算数和比喻都无法表达。那罗延！这叫做初说入集一切福德三昧（sānmèi，佛教中的一种禅定状态）。’ ‘再者，那罗延！比如一个千世界（qiān shìjiè，佛教宇宙观中的一个中等宇宙）的梵王（fànwáng，佛教中的天神）用慈悲心普遍充满这个千世界，那罗延！如果有人又用充满这个千世界的七宝（qībǎo，佛教中珍贵的七种宝物）来布施。你认为如何？这个人的布施福德和梵王的慈悲福德，哪个更殊胜？’ 那罗延回答说：‘世尊！梵王的慈悲福德无量无边。’ ‘那罗延！先放下这一个千世界梵王的慈悲心。如果二千世界（èr qiān shìjiè，佛教宇宙观中的一个中等宇宙）的梵王用慈悲心普遍充满这二千世界，那罗延！如果又有人用充满这二千世界的七宝来布施，你认为如何？这个人的布施福德和二千世界梵王的慈悲福德，哪个更殊胜？’
English
English version: The Buddha said to Narayana (a Hindu deity, here as a listener): 'If someone initially generates the Bodhi mind (the mind of enlightenment) of the Mahayana path, their merit and wisdom will far surpass those mentioned earlier. Narayana! For example, all sentient beings in the four continents (Sì tiānxià, the four continents in Buddhist cosmology), and even all sentient beings in the three thousand great chiliocosms (Sānqiān dàqiān shìjiè, a large universe in Buddhist cosmology), all these beings are included in the realm of sentient beings, and each sentient being possesses the merit of a Chakravartin king (zhuǎnlún dàwáng, an ideal ruler who governs the world). The merits of these Chakravartin kings are gathered together, becoming the total merit of one Chakravartin king, and each sentient being possesses such merit. What do you think? Are these merits not numerous?' Narayana replied: 'Even the merit of one person is already countless, let alone the total merit of immeasurable Asankhyeya (āsēngqí, a unit of extremely large number in Buddhism) people?' The Buddha said: 'Narayana! Set aside all the sentient beings in the three thousand great chiliocosms, and even all the sentient beings in the worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River (hénghé shā, a metaphor for an extremely large number), all possessing the merit of a Chakravartin king. Narayana! What do you think? Are these total merits not numerous?' Narayana replied: 'World Honored One! If the sentient beings of one three thousand great chiliocosm all possess the total merit of a Chakravartin king, it is already immeasurable and boundless; how much more so if the sentient beings of immeasurable and boundless worlds all possess the total merit of a Chakravartin king?' 'Narayana! I now know and say that a person who initially generates the Bodhi mind (pútí zhī xīn, the mind seeking enlightenment), the total merit they possess cannot compare to the total merit mentioned earlier, not even by one percent, one thousandth, one hundred thousandth, one hundred millionth, or even by any calculation or analogy. Narayana! This is called the initial explanation of entering the Samadhi (sānmèi, a state of meditative absorption in Buddhism) of gathering all merits.' 'Furthermore, Narayana! For example, if a Brahma king (fànwáng, a deity in Buddhism) of a thousand worlds (qiān shìjiè, a medium-sized universe in Buddhist cosmology) universally fills this thousand worlds with loving-kindness, Narayana! If someone then uses the seven treasures (qībǎo, seven precious treasures in Buddhism) that fill this thousand worlds to make offerings. What do you think? Which is more superior, the merit of this person's offering or the loving-kindness merit of the Brahma king?' Narayana replied: 'World Honored One! The loving-kindness merit of the Brahma king is immeasurable and boundless.' 'Narayana! Set aside the loving-kindness of the Brahma king of this one thousand worlds. If the Brahma king of two thousand worlds (èr qiān shìjiè, a medium-sized universe in Buddhist cosmology) universally fills these two thousand worlds with loving-kindness, Narayana! If someone then uses the seven treasures that fill these two thousand worlds to make offerings, what do you think? Which is more superior, the merit of this person's offering or the loving-kindness merit of the Brahma king of two thousand worlds?' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
施，汝意云何？是人施福、梵王慈福，何者为胜？” 那罗延言：“世尊！梵王慈福无量无边。” “那罗延！如三千大千世界梵王慈心普遍满此三千大千世界，若复有人以满三千大千世界七宝布施。于意云何？是人施福、梵王慈福，何者为胜？” 那罗延言：“世尊！梵王慈福无量无边。” 那罗延言：“世尊！施福比慈百分不及一，千分、百千分乃至算数譬喻所不能及。” 佛言：“如是四千世界梵王慈心亦遍满此四千世界、五千世界梵王慈心亦遍满此五千世界、十千世界梵王慈心亦遍满此十千世界、百千世界梵王慈心亦遍满此百千世界，那罗延！若人以满百千世界所有七宝持用布施，所得福聚比慈福德，慈福为胜。 “那罗延！正使是等三千大千世界之中一切众生各具慈心，如百千世界大梵天王所有慈心，是诸慈心福德之聚。欲比菩萨初发道心，专志增上，为脱一切所有众生，无幻无伪，实为一切众生修行慈心福德，百分不及一，千分、百千分、亿分、百亿分、千亿分，乃至算数譬喻所不能及。 “那罗延！是故，当知若欲修集一切福德，是善男子、善女人应发阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。今发、当发，具足如是无量无边福德之聚，是第二说入集一切福德三昧。 现代汉语译本：佛陀问：‘施（指那罗延，Narayan）啊，你认为如何？是这个人布施的福德，还是梵天（Brahma）的慈悲福德，哪个更为殊胜？’ 那罗延回答说：‘世尊！梵天的慈悲福德是无量无边的。’ 佛陀说：‘那罗延！如果三千大千世界（Trisahasra-Mahasahasra-lokadhatu）的梵天以慈悲心普遍充满这个三千大千世界，又有人用充满三千大千世界的七宝（七种珍宝）进行布施。你认为如何？是这个人布施的福德，还是梵天的慈悲福德，哪个更为殊胜？’ 那罗延回答说：‘世尊！梵天的慈悲福德是无量无边的。’ 那罗延说：‘世尊！布施的福德比慈悲的福德，百分之一都比不上，千分之一、百千分之一，乃至用算数譬喻都无法比拟。’ 佛陀说：‘如果四千世界的梵天以慈悲心也充满这四千世界，五千世界的梵天以慈悲心也充满这五千世界，十千世界的梵天以慈悲心也充满这十千世界，百千世界的梵天以慈悲心也充满这百千世界。那罗延！如果有人用充满百千世界的所有七宝进行布施，所得的福德聚集比慈悲的福德，慈悲的福德更为殊胜。’ ‘那罗延！即使这三千大千世界中的一切众生都各自具有慈悲心，如同百千世界大梵天王所具有的慈悲心，这些慈悲心的福德聚集。如果与菩萨初发道心（Bodhi-citta），专心致力于增上，为了解脱一切众生，没有虚幻没有虚伪，真正为一切众生修行慈悲心的福德相比，百分之一都比不上，千分之一、百千分之一、亿分之一、百亿分之一、千亿分之一，乃至用算数譬喻都无法比拟。’ ‘那罗延！因此，应当知道，如果想要修集一切福德，这位善男子、善女人应当发起阿耨多罗三藐三菩提心（Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi，无上正等正觉）。现在发起，将来发起，具足如此无量无边的福德聚集，这是第二种说法，进入集一切福德三昧（Samadhi，禅定）。’
English
English version: The Buddha asked: 'Shī (referring to Narayana), what do you think? Which is superior, the merit of a person's giving or the merit of Brahma's compassion?' Narayana replied: 'World Honored One! The merit of Brahma's compassion is immeasurable and boundless.' The Buddha said: 'Narayana! If the Brahma of the Trisahasra-Mahasahasra-lokadhatu (three-thousand great thousand world system) universally fills this three-thousand great thousand world system with compassion, and someone uses the seven treasures (seven kinds of precious gems) that fill the three-thousand great thousand world system for giving. What do you think? Which is superior, the merit of this person's giving or the merit of Brahma's compassion?' Narayana replied: 'World Honored One! The merit of Brahma's compassion is immeasurable and boundless.' Narayana said: 'World Honored One! The merit of giving cannot compare to the merit of compassion, not even one percent, one thousandth, one hundred thousandth, or even by numerical analogy.' The Buddha said: 'If the Brahma of four thousand worlds also fills these four thousand worlds with compassion, the Brahma of five thousand worlds also fills these five thousand worlds with compassion, the Brahma of ten thousand worlds also fills these ten thousand worlds with compassion, and the Brahma of one hundred thousand worlds also fills these one hundred thousand worlds with compassion. Narayana! If someone uses all the seven treasures that fill one hundred thousand worlds for giving, the accumulated merit is less than the merit of compassion; the merit of compassion is superior.' 'Narayana! Even if all beings in these three-thousand great thousand world systems each possess compassion, like the compassion possessed by the Great Brahma King of one hundred thousand worlds, the accumulation of merit from these compassionate minds. Compared to the merit of a Bodhisattva's initial aspiration for enlightenment (Bodhi-citta), who is wholeheartedly dedicated to progress, to liberate all beings, without illusion or falsehood, and truly cultivates compassion for all beings, it cannot compare even one percent, one thousandth, one hundred thousandth, one billionth, one hundred billionth, one trillionth, or even by numerical analogy.' 'Narayana! Therefore, it should be known that if one wishes to cultivate all merits, this good man or good woman should generate the aspiration for Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (unexcelled complete enlightenment). Whether generating it now or in the future, they will possess such immeasurable and boundless accumulation of merit. This is the second teaching, entering the Samadhi (meditative absorption) of accumulating all merits.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
“复次，那罗延！汝意云何？东方虚空为普遍不？南、西、北方四维、上、下所有虚空为普遍不？” 那罗延言：“世尊！东方虚空尚不得边，何况十方不可说无量无边随有世界虚空普遍？” 佛言：“那罗延！假令有人乃至百千万亿劫中引诸喻说，欲尽虚空得其边际，不得其边。那罗延！我今引喻以明斯义，为欲成满是集一切福德三昧故，亦令增益诸有修集福德众生增长志欲，令向大乘菩萨摩诃萨满大精进。 “那罗延！若以芥子盛满三千大千世界，乃至非想、非非想处满中芥子，假令有人持过东方百千恒河沙等世界下一芥子，如是东行，尽是芥子，犹不能得世界边际；南、西、北方四维、上、下亦复如是。那罗延！若复恒河沙等世界满中芥子，那罗延！颇有人天能数如是一切芥子知其数不？” 时那罗延白言：“世尊！若四天下一切众生成就智慧如舍利弗，于一劫数犹尚不能数其一分，况能数尽大芥子聚？” “那罗延！假令有人过于东方恒河沙世界着一芥子，如是东行尽是芥子，犹故不得世界边际；南、西、北方四维、上、下亦复如是。那罗延！如是世界虚空普遍，设有人天以满中七宝持用布施，那罗延！于意云何？是福德聚宁为多不？” 那罗延言：“无量，世尊！无 现代汉语译本： 佛陀又对那罗延（Narayan，印度教神祇，在此处作为听法者）说：‘你的想法如何？东方的虚空是普遍存在的吗？南方、西方、北方、四维、上方、下方所有的虚空是普遍存在的吗？’ 那罗延回答说：‘世尊！东方的虚空尚且没有边际，更何况十方不可说、无量无边的所有世界虚空是普遍存在的呢？’ 佛陀说：‘那罗延！假设有人乃至用百千万亿劫的时间，引用各种比喻来说明，想要穷尽虚空，得到它的边际，也是不可能得到边际的。那罗延！我现在引用比喻来阐明这个道理，是为了成就圆满这个集一切福德的三昧，也为了增益那些修集福德的众生，增长他们的志向和欲望，使他们趋向大乘菩萨摩诃萨，圆满大精进。 ‘那罗延！如果用芥子盛满三千大千世界，乃至盛满非想非非想处（Neither perception nor non-perception，佛教禅定中的最高境界）的芥子，假设有人拿着这些芥子，经过东方百千恒河沙数的世界，放下一粒芥子，这样一直向东走，直到放完所有的芥子，仍然不能到达世界的边际；南方、西方、北方、四维、上方、下方也是如此。那罗延！如果又有恒河沙数的世界都装满了芥子，那罗延！有没有人或天神能够数清所有这些芥子，知道它们的数量呢？’ 这时，那罗延回答说：‘世尊！如果四天下（Sumeru, Jambudvipa, Godaniya, Uttarakuru，佛教宇宙观中的四大洲）所有众生都具有像舍利弗（Sariputra，佛陀十大弟子之一，以智慧著称）一样的智慧，用一个劫的时间都不能数清其中的一小部分，更何况要数尽如此巨大的芥子堆呢？’ ‘那罗延！假设有人经过东方恒河沙数的世界放下一粒芥子，这样一直向东走，直到放完所有的芥子，仍然不能到达世界的边际；南方、西方、北方、四维、上方、下方也是如此。那罗延！像这样世界的虚空是普遍存在的，假设有人或天神用装满七宝（gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, ruby, emerald, and agate，佛教中的七种珍宝）的容器来布施，那罗延！你认为如何？这样的福德积累难道不多吗？’ 那罗延回答说：‘无量，世尊！无量！’