English
English version: The Buddha's light is supremely excellent. Such a body will enter Nirvana in three months.’ The Buddha further told Ananda, ‘Do not think that the Tathagata praises his own body because he has not exhausted greed, hatred, and delusion. The Tathagata's body has completely and permanently exhausted the afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion, as well as their habitual tendencies, leaving nothing remaining. Ananda, the Tathagata, the Arhat, the Samyak-sambuddha has great power and virtue. You have always served the Tathagata's physical body. The merit obtained from this cause is immeasurable, countless, inconceivable, and boundless as many as asamkhya. Ananda, do you now wish to hear about the causes and conditions of future beings making offerings to the Tathagata's fragmented relics after the Tathagata's passing?’ At that time, Ananda, baring his right shoulder, knelt on his right knee, and with his palms together, said to the Buddha, ‘World Honored One! Now is the right time. Great Virtuous Bhagavan! Now is the right time. May the Tathagata, for my sake, explain the causes and conditions of beings making offerings to the Tathagata's fragmented relics after the Buddha's Nirvana. Having heard this Dharma, I will wholeheartedly receive and uphold it, and widely proclaim it to others.’ The Buddha told Ananda, ‘Listen carefully! I will now speak. Ananda, when the Tathagata enters Nirvana, he will enter the Vajra Samadhi (a state of meditative absorption), and shatter this physical body into pieces as small as mustard seeds. One portion of the relics will go to the heavens. At that time, Indra (king of the gods) and the heavenly beings, seeing the Buddha's relics and knowing that the Buddha has entered Nirvana, will rain down heavenly Mandarava flowers (heavenly flowers), Maha-Mandarava flowers (great Mandarava flowers), Manjushaka flowers (heavenly flowers), and Maha-Manjushaka flowers (great Manjushaka flowers) to make offerings to the relics, bowing and circumambulating them as if they were seeing the Buddha's body. Some will plant the roots of good for Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (supreme perfect enlightenment), some will plant the roots of good for Sravakas (those who hear the Dharma and practice), and some will plant the roots of good for Pratyekabuddhas (those who attain enlightenment on their own).’ ‘One portion of the relics will go to the world of the dragons. At that time, the Sagara Dragon King (name of a dragon king) and countless dragons, seeing the Buddha's relics, will make great offerings, using Indra jewels (jewels of Indra), Maha-Indra jewels (great Indra jewels), fire jewels, clear water jewels, and countless other kinds of jewels to make offerings to the fragmented relics, bowing and circumambulating them. After making offerings, the dragons will each make vows. Some will make the vow for Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, some will make the vow for Sravakas, and some will make the vow for Pratyekabuddhas.’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
发声闻菩提愿者，有发辟支佛菩提愿者。 “有一分舍利向夜叉世界，尔时毗沙门王及余无量大夜叉将，见碎身舍利，以种种花、末香、烧香、灯明、音乐，如是无量供养舍利，礼拜合掌右绕恭敬；有发无上大菩提愿者，有发声闻愿，有发辟支佛愿。 “彼余舍利在阎浮提，当来有王名阿输迦，统一阎浮提；此王为供养舍利故，造作八万四千塔，置此舍利而供养之。此阎浮提复有六万诸王，亦当供养碎身舍利，以诸花鬘、种种香等，灯明、音乐，供养礼拜右绕恭敬；有种无上大菩提善根，有种声闻善根，有种辟支佛善根，有即舍家出家，于佛法中信心清净，剃除须发而披法服，精勤修道皆悉漏尽而般涅槃。 “如是，阿难！如来、应供、正遍知有大威德，以彼法身依生身故，供养生身舍利因缘所得功德，无量无边阿僧祇，不可数不可说。” 尔时如来作如是念：“我此三阿僧祇劫勤苦所成佛法，欲令久住于世间故，当往诸天、诸阿修罗、诸龙、迦楼罗、摩睺罗伽等所住之处，付嘱佛法。”尔时如来即于阎浮提没，三十三天中出。 尔时帝释天王见世尊已，即敷高座奉迎如来，白佛言：“世尊！愿受此座。”尔时世尊即坐其座。帝释天王与百千万众，顶礼佛足住在一面。 佛告帝 现代汉语译本：有发愿证得声闻菩提的人，也有发愿证得辟支佛菩提的人。 有一部分舍利去往夜叉世界，那时毗沙门王（Vaisravana，四大天王之一，北方守护神）和其余无数大夜叉将领，见到破碎的舍利，用各种鲜花、末香、烧香、灯火、音乐，这样无量地供养舍利，礼拜合掌，右绕恭敬；其中有发愿证得无上大菩提的，有发愿证得声闻果位的，有发愿证得辟支佛果位的。 其余的舍利在阎浮提（Jambudvipa，我们所居住的这个世界），将来有一位国王名叫阿输迦（Asoka，印度孔雀王朝的国王），统一阎浮提；这位国王为了供养舍利，建造八万四千座佛塔，安置这些舍利并供养它们。这阎浮提还有六万位国王，也将供养破碎的舍利，用各种花鬘、各种香等，灯火、音乐，供养礼拜，右绕恭敬；其中有种下无上大菩提的善根的，有种下声闻善根的，有种下辟支佛善根的，有立即舍弃家庭出家，在佛法中信心清净，剃除须发而披上法服，精勤修道，都漏尽烦恼而入般涅槃。 阿难（Ananda，佛陀的十大弟子之一，以多闻著称）！如来（Tathagata，佛的称号之一）、应供（Arhat，佛的称号之一）、正遍知（Samyaksambuddha，佛的称号之一）有大威德，因为他的法身（Dharmakaya，佛的真理之身）依附于生身（Rupakaya，佛的肉身），供养生身舍利因缘所得到的功德，无量无边阿僧祇（Asankhya，佛教中的极大数字），不可数不可说。 那时如来这样想：‘我这三大阿僧祇劫勤苦所成就的佛法，为了让它长久住世，应当前往诸天、诸阿修罗（Asura，一种好战的神）、诸龙（Naga，一种神兽）、迦楼罗（Garuda，一种金翅鸟神）、摩睺罗伽（Mahoraga，一种大蟒神）等所居住的地方，付嘱佛法。’那时如来就在阎浮提消失，在三十三天（Trayastrimsa，欲界六天之一）中出现。 那时帝释天王（Sakra，忉利天之主）见到世尊后，立即铺设高座迎接如来，对佛说：‘世尊！请接受这个座位。’那时世尊就坐上了那个座位。帝释天王和百千万大众，顶礼佛足，站在一边。 佛告诉帝释天王：
English
English version: There are those who aspire to the Bodhi of a Sravaka (hearer), and there are those who aspire to the Bodhi of a Pratyekabuddha (solitary buddha). A portion of the relics went to the Yaksha (a type of nature spirit) world. At that time, King Vaisravana (one of the Four Heavenly Kings, guardian of the north) and countless great Yaksha generals, seeing the fragmented relics, made limitless offerings to the relics with various flowers, powdered incense, burning incense, lamps, and music. They bowed, joined their palms, circumambulated respectfully to the right. Among them, some aspired to the unsurpassed Great Bodhi, some aspired to the Sravaka path, and some aspired to the Pratyekabuddha path. The remaining relics are in Jambudvipa (the world we inhabit). In the future, there will be a king named Asoka (an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty) who will unify Jambudvipa. This king, for the sake of offering to the relics, will build 84,000 stupas, place these relics within, and make offerings to them. In Jambudvipa, there will also be 60,000 kings who will also make offerings to the fragmented relics, with various flower garlands, various incenses, lamps, and music. They will offer, bow, and circumambulate respectfully to the right. Among them, some will plant the roots of unsurpassed Great Bodhi, some will plant the roots of Sravaka, and some will plant the roots of Pratyekabuddha. Some will immediately leave their homes and become monks, with pure faith in the Buddha's teachings, shaving their heads and donning the monastic robes, diligently cultivating the path, and all will exhaust their defilements and enter Parinirvana. Thus, Ananda (one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, known for his great learning)! The Tathagata (one of the titles of the Buddha), Arhat (one of the titles of the Buddha), Samyaksambuddha (one of the titles of the Buddha) has great power and virtue. Because his Dharmakaya (the truth body of the Buddha) relies on his Rupakaya (the physical body of the Buddha), the merit obtained from the cause of offering to the relics of his physical body is immeasurable, boundless, Asankhya (a very large number in Buddhism), countless and inexpressible. At that time, the Tathagata thought: 'The Dharma that I have attained through diligent practice over three great Asankhya kalpas (eons), in order to make it abide in the world for a long time, I should go to the places where the Devas (gods), Asuras (a type of warring god), Nagas (a type of serpent deity), Garudas (a type of bird deity), Mahoragas (a type of great serpent deity), and others reside, and entrust the Dharma to them.' At that time, the Tathagata disappeared from Jambudvipa and appeared in Trayastrimsa (one of the six heavens of the desire realm). At that time, King Sakra (the ruler of the Trayastrimsa heaven) saw the World Honored One and immediately prepared a high seat to welcome the Tathagata, saying to the Buddha: 'World Honored One! Please accept this seat.' At that time, the World Honored One sat on that seat. King Sakra and hundreds of thousands of people bowed at the Buddha's feet and stood to one side. The Buddha said to King Sakra: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
释言：“汝今当知，吾亦不久当般涅槃，以此佛法嘱累于汝，汝当护持。”如是至三。 帝释天王悲泣雨面收泪而言：“世尊涅槃一何疾哉？如来涅槃何其太速？世间法眼于兹永灭，如佛所教是我力分，即当护持恭敬供养。如来昔于兜率陀天降神母胎，我于尔时与忉利众常作守护；及佛生时亦与诸天共来守护；如来坐于菩提树下破八千万亿魔军，得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提时，我与诸天亦常守护；佛于波罗㮈鹿野苑中，三转十二行法轮时，我与天众亦常守护。我今无力能使如来不入涅槃，无力能护。”尔时世尊种种说法，劝喻安慰示教利喜帝释诸天，令护佛法，从天上没，即于娑伽罗龙王宫出。 尔时龙王见如来至，即时敷座。佛坐其座告龙王曰：“汝今当知，如来不久入于涅槃。我以佛法嘱累于汝，汝当守护无令断绝。龙王当知！此龙世界有诸恶龙，多生瞋恚不知罪福，为恶卒暴破坏我法，是故我今以此佛法嘱累于汝。” 尔时龙王悲泣雨面收泪而言：“世尊！我诸龙等盲无慧眼，是故今者生畜生中。若佛灭后龙世界空，我等舍命，不知未来当生何处？诸佛如来是众生宝，云何今者欲般涅槃世间眼灭？”尔时世尊示教利喜娑伽罗王令护佛法，在龙宫没，于德叉迦龙王宫出。 尔时龙王为佛敷座 现代汉语译本：释迦牟尼佛说：‘你们应当知道，我也不久将要般涅槃（parinirvana，指佛陀的最终寂灭），我将这佛法嘱托给你们，你们应当护持。’这样说了三次。 帝释天王（Indra，佛教的护法神）悲伤地哭泣，擦干眼泪说：‘世尊涅槃怎么如此之快？如来涅槃为何如此迅速？世间的法眼从此将永远熄灭。如佛所教，这是我力所能及的，我应当护持、恭敬供养。如来过去在兜率陀天（Tusita Heaven，欲界六天之一）降生到母亲的胎中时，我那时与忉利天（Trayastrimsa Heaven，欲界六天之一）的众神常常守护；以及佛陀出生时，也与诸天一同前来守护；如来坐在菩提树下，破除八千万亿魔军，获得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提（Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi，无上正等正觉）时，我与诸天也常常守护；佛陀在波罗㮈（Varanasi，古印度城市）鹿野苑中，三转十二行法轮时，我与天众也常常守护。我现在无力使如来不入涅槃，无力守护。’当时，世尊用种种说法，劝导、安慰、教诲、使帝释天等诸天欢喜，让他们护持佛法，然后从天上消失，随即出现在娑伽罗（Sagara，海）龙王的宫殿中。 当时，龙王见到如来到来，立即铺设座位。佛陀坐在座位上告诉龙王说：‘你应当知道，如来不久将要进入涅槃。我将佛法嘱托给你，你应当守护，不要让它断绝。龙王应当知道！这龙的世界里有许多恶龙，多生嗔恚，不知罪福，为恶暴虐，破坏我的佛法，因此我今天将这佛法嘱托给你。’ 当时，龙王悲伤地哭泣，擦干眼泪说：‘世尊！我们这些龙等，盲目没有智慧之眼，因此现在生在畜生道中。如果佛陀灭度后，龙的世界空虚，我们舍弃生命，不知道未来将要生在何处？诸佛如来是众生的珍宝，为何现在要般涅槃，世间的眼睛要熄灭？’当时，世尊教导、开示、使娑伽罗王欢喜，让他护持佛法，然后在龙宫消失，出现在德叉迦（Takshaka，龙名）龙王的宫殿中。 当时，龙王为佛陀铺设座位。
English
English version: The Buddha said, 'You should know that I will soon enter parinirvana (the final passing away of a Buddha), and I entrust this Dharma to you; you should protect it.' He said this three times. Indra (the king of the gods) wept with sorrow, wiped away his tears, and said, 'Why is the World-Honored One's parinirvana so swift? Why is the Tathagata's (another name for the Buddha) parinirvana so quick? The Dharma eye of the world will be extinguished forever. As the Buddha has taught, this is within my power, and I shall protect, respect, and make offerings. When the Tathagata descended from Tusita Heaven into his mother's womb, I and the gods of Trayastrimsa Heaven were always there to protect him; and when the Buddha was born, we also came with the gods to protect him; when the Tathagata sat under the Bodhi tree, broke through the eighty million demon armies, and attained Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (supreme perfect enlightenment), I and the gods were also always there to protect him; when the Buddha turned the twelve-spoked Dharma wheel three times in the Deer Park of Varanasi, I and the heavenly host were also always there to protect him. Now I have no power to prevent the Tathagata from entering parinirvana, and I have no power to protect him.' At that time, the World-Honored One used various teachings to persuade, comfort, instruct, and gladden Indra and the other gods, urging them to protect the Dharma. Then he disappeared from the heavens and immediately appeared in the palace of the dragon king Sagara (the ocean). At that time, the dragon king, seeing the Tathagata arrive, immediately prepared a seat. The Buddha sat on the seat and told the dragon king, 'You should know that the Tathagata will soon enter parinirvana. I entrust the Dharma to you; you should protect it and not let it be cut off. Dragon King, you should know! In this dragon world, there are many evil dragons who are full of anger, do not know about sin and merit, and are violent and destructive, ruining my Dharma. Therefore, I entrust this Dharma to you today.' At that time, the dragon king wept with sorrow, wiped away his tears, and said, 'World-Honored One! We dragons are blind and without the eye of wisdom, and therefore we are now born in the animal realm. If the dragon world becomes empty after the Buddha's passing, and we give up our lives, we do not know where we will be born in the future? The Buddhas and Tathagatas are the treasures of all beings. Why do you now wish to enter parinirvana, and why must the eye of the world be extinguished?' At that time, the World-Honored One taught, instructed, and gladdened King Sagara, urging him to protect the Dharma. Then he disappeared from the dragon palace and appeared in the palace of the dragon king Takshaka. At that time, the dragon king prepared a seat for the Buddha. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------