English
English version: are aging, sickness, and death. Teaching sentient beings has two essentials. What are the two? First, doing such actions yields such results; second, not doing such actions does not yield such results. As the Buddha said: 'The sins, defilements, sufferings, and afflictions in the Three Realms and Five Paths are inseparable from one's own actions. All misfortunes do not arise out of nowhere, nor are they bestowed by gods, nor by ghosts and spirits, nor by emperors, nor by parents, nor by Shramanas (referring to Buddhist monks), or Brahmanas (referring to Brahmin ascetics). The sins or blessings one commits are like shadows following the body, like echoes responding to sounds, not even a hair's breadth will be lost!' The Buddha said: 'In the past, when I was King Yama (King of the Underworld), I had vast and universal compassion. All those who fell into the hells of sin, I personally interrogated them. I asked them: 'Why have you come here?' The sinners replied: 'When we died, we did not know how to act, and various evil deeds naturally pursued us and sent us here. We hope that Your Majesty will have pity on us and forgive our sins!' I asked them: 'What evil deeds have you committed?' The sinners replied: 'When we were alive, we were not filial to our parents, we killed, stole, committed adultery, deceived, drank alcohol, fought, held knives and acted aggressively, bullied good people, and slandered the path of the sages. The various evil deeds we committed are too numerous to mention! We also believed in evil teachers, and sacrificed to ghosts and spirits, thinking that this would bring blessings; we slaughtered living beings to pray and make offerings to the deities. We now confess and repent of the evil deeds we have committed!' I asked them: 'When you were in the world, I sent five messengers to patrol the world and warn you. Why did you not accept their teachings?' The sinners said: 'When we were alive, we did not see or hear them!' 'I said: 'Listen carefully, I will tell you! The five messengers: The first is the mother in the world, who carries the fetus for ten months, her body becomes ill because of it, and when she is about to give birth, the parents feel fear and danger. After finally giving birth to the child, it is like gaining new life from death, feeding it with milk, holding it in her arms, giving the dry place to the child to sleep, and sleeping in the wet place herself, slowly raising the child, worrying and being anxious for the child. Have you seen these things?' The sinners replied: 'We have seen them!' I said: 'This is my first messenger! The second is the old person in the world, whose appearance has deteriorated, hair has turned white and teeth have fallen out, eyes are dim and ears are deaf, muscles are loose and skin is wrinkled, walking with a stooped back. Have you seen these things?' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
？’罪人曰：‘见之！’王曰：‘是吾二使者。三曰世间病人，困劣着床，百痛普至，美食为恶，汝见之不？’罪人曰：‘见之！’王曰：‘是吾三使者。四曰世间死人，刀风断脉，拔其命根，身体正直，不满十日，肉坏血流，膀胀烂臭，无可取者，生时相爱，死皆相恶。汝见之不？’罪人曰：‘见之！’王曰：‘是吾四使者。五曰世间犯罪，缚束送狱，桁械鞭笞，五毒普至，戮之都市，或截手足，火烧鈇质，斩之枭拖五刑。汝见之不？’罪人曰：‘见之！’王曰：‘是吾五使者。’ “王复告罪人曰：‘汝见是已，当自思惟，汝身亦更生、更老、更病、更死，汝犯逆罪，亦当如彼，现受其殃。汝何不孝顺父母，谦敬长老，慈仁为首，心所不欲，亦勿施人。世有贤明，当从启受；归命三尊，迮心奉道；节情止欲，可得度苦。自汝所作，今当受之，吾不抂汝！’罪人白王：‘我等生时，实作苦剧，不暇得为！’王告狱卒：‘汝便将去，到其剧处。’ “狱卒名傍，牛头人手，两脚牛蹄；力壮排山，持钢铁叉。叉有三股，一叉罪人数百千万，内着镬中。其镬纵广等四十里，自然制持，令不堕落。罪过未毕，故令不死。从口至底百岁，乃至从底至上，亦复百岁，是名剧处。诸罪人受罪，更苦楚毒，遍十八处，中 罪人说：‘我见到了！’阎罗王说：‘这是我的第二位使者。第三位是世间的病人，他们困顿虚弱地躺在床上，各种病痛一齐袭来，即使是美味佳肴也觉得难以下咽，你见到过吗？’罪人说：‘我见到过！’阎罗王说：‘这是我的第三位使者。第四位是世间的死人，他们的气息被刀风斩断，生命之根被拔除，身体僵直，不到十天，肉体腐烂，血液流淌，肿胀发臭，没有任何值得留恋的地方，活着的时候彼此相爱，死后却都令人厌恶。你见到过吗？’罪人说：‘我见到过！’阎罗王说：‘这是我的第四位使者。第五位是世间的罪犯，他们被捆绑着送进监狱，戴上刑具，遭受鞭打，各种酷刑一齐降临，在闹市被处决，或者被砍断手脚，用火烧或用金属烙，斩首后悬挂示众，遭受各种刑罚。你见到过吗？’罪人说：‘我见到过！’阎罗王说：‘这是我的第五位使者。’ 阎罗王又告诉罪人说：‘你既然见到了这些，就应当反思，你的身体也会经历出生、衰老、生病、死亡，你犯下逆罪，也会像他们一样，现在就要承受这些灾殃。你为什么不孝顺父母，谦恭尊敬长辈，以慈悲仁爱为先，自己不喜欢的，也不要强加给别人。世间有贤明的人，应当向他们请教学习；归依三宝（Buddha, Dharma, Sangha），虔诚地奉行正道；节制情欲，就可以脱离苦海。你自己所造的业，现在应当承受，我不会冤枉你！’罪人对阎罗王说：‘我们活着的时候，实在太辛苦了，没有空闲去做这些事情！’阎罗王告诉狱卒：‘你把他们带走，送到他们该去的地方。’ 狱卒名叫傍，长着牛头人身，两只脚是牛蹄；力大无比，可以推开山，拿着钢铁制成的叉子。叉子有三个股，一叉就能叉起成百上千的罪人，把他们扔进大锅里。那口大锅纵横都有四十里，自然有力量控制着，使他们不会掉落。因为罪过还没有受完，所以让他们死不了。从锅口到锅底要一百年，甚至从锅底到锅口，也要一百年，这就是所谓的剧苦之处。各种罪人在那里受罪，遭受更加痛苦的折磨，遍及十八处地狱之中。
English
The sinner said, 'I have seen them!' King Yama said, 'These are my second messengers. The third is the sick people in the world, lying weakly in bed, with all kinds of pain coming at once, even delicious food is unappetizing, have you seen them?' The sinner said, 'I have seen them!' King Yama said, 'These are my third messengers. The fourth is the dead people in the world, their breath cut off by the wind of the sword, the root of their life pulled out, their bodies stiff, in less than ten days, their flesh rots, blood flows, swollen and stinking, there is nothing to be desired, when alive they loved each other, but after death they are all hated. Have you seen them?' The sinner said, 'I have seen them!' King Yama said, 'These are my fourth messengers. The fifth is the criminals in the world, bound and sent to prison, wearing shackles, whipped, all kinds of tortures coming at once, executed in the city, or having their hands and feet cut off, burned with fire or branded with metal, beheaded and hung up for public display, suffering all kinds of punishments. Have you seen them?' The sinner said, 'I have seen them!' King Yama said, 'These are my fifth messengers.' King Yama again told the sinner, 'Since you have seen these, you should reflect, your body will also experience birth, aging, sickness, and death, you have committed rebellious crimes, and you will be like them, now you must bear these disasters. Why don't you be filial to your parents, be humble and respect your elders, take compassion and kindness as the first priority, and do not impose on others what you do not want for yourself. If there are wise people in the world, you should learn from them; take refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), and sincerely follow the right path; restrain your desires, and you can escape from the sea of suffering. You should now bear the karma you have created yourself, I will not wrong you!' The sinner said to King Yama, 'When we were alive, we were really too busy and had no time to do these things!' King Yama told the jailer, 'Take them away and send them to where they should go.' The jailer's name is Pang, with a bull's head and a human body, and two feet are bull's hooves; he is extremely strong and can push mountains, holding a steel fork. The fork has three prongs, and one fork can fork hundreds of thousands of sinners, throwing them into a large pot. The pot is forty li (Chinese mile) in length and width, and it is naturally controlled so that they will not fall out. Because the sins have not been fully suffered, they are not allowed to die. It takes a hundred years from the mouth of the pot to the bottom, and even from the bottom to the mouth, it also takes a hundred years, this is the so-called place of extreme suffering. All kinds of sinners suffer there, suffering more painful tortures, throughout the eighteen hells. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
有罪毕，当得出者。王复现之曰：‘汝等今去，或当为人家作子生，当念孝顺，报父母恩。曼年盛时，当忍恶为善，笃信三尊，守戒奉道，修诸功德。莫复作恶，还来入此。夫地狱者，终不呼人，善自思之！’诸罪人欢喜，皆称：‘万岁！’” 佛言：“诸有闻法乍信乍不信、狐疑进退还入邪者，皆从地狱来出。受阎王教者，信根浅少，故令其然。虽尔，所作功德，终不唐捐；佛之弘慈，亦不遗忘。但劫数弥之耳，久后亦当度世。” 尔时佛告阿难：“受是经典，持讽、诵读、广为人说，疾令时远，普法泽流布来世。” 阿难白佛言：“唯当受之！今斯经典所号？云何奉行？” 佛言：“阿难！是经名‘净除罪盖娱乐佛法’，一名‘授无思议光菩萨道决’。当奉持之！族姓子及族姓女尽其形寿，供养如来，随之宜，从其所安。若以天华，如须弥山，用散佛上，及以名香、泽香、杂香、缯盖、幢幡，谦敬贡上，精进不懈，不如族姓女受是经法，奉持讽诵，广为人说，遵修法行。如是所教，功德福祐，过彼供养巨亿万倍！” 佛言：“阿难！常当以法供养如来，若欲奉敬无上大圣，当受斯经，持讽诵为他人说，及应法卷。” 佛说如是，无思议光菩萨、贤者阿难，一切众会阿须伦、 现代汉语译本 有罪之人受刑完毕，应该被释放。阎罗王再次告诫他们说：‘你们现在离去，或许会转世投胎到别人家做子女，应当谨记孝顺，报答父母的恩情。在年轻力壮的时候，应当忍受恶事，努力行善，虔诚地信仰三宝（佛、法、僧），遵守戒律，奉行正道，修习各种功德。不要再作恶事，再次回到这里。地狱是不会主动召唤人的，你们要好好思考！’ 众罪人听后欢喜，都高呼：‘万岁！’ 佛陀说：‘那些听闻佛法时而相信时而不相信、心怀狐疑、进退不定，最终又堕入邪道的人，都是从地狱中出来的。他们因为受到阎罗王的教诲，所以信根浅薄，才会这样。即使如此，他们所做的功德，最终也不会白费；佛的弘大慈悲，也不会遗忘他们。只不过需要经历漫长的劫数而已，最终也会得度。’ 当时，佛陀告诉阿难（Ananda，佛陀的十大弟子之一）：‘接受这部经典，受持、讽诵、读诵，广泛地为人解说，迅速地使这部经典流传到遥远的未来，让佛法的恩泽普及到后世。’ 阿难（Ananda）对佛陀说：‘我一定接受这部经典！这部经典叫什么名字？我们应该如何奉行？’ 佛陀说：‘阿难（Ananda）！这部经名叫《净除罪盖娱乐佛法》，又名《授无思议光菩萨道决》。应当奉持这部经典！善男子和善女人，尽其一生，供养如来（Tathagata，佛的称号之一），随其能力，从其所安。如果用天上的鲜花，像须弥山（Sumeru，佛教宇宙观中的圣山）那样巨大，用来散在佛的身上，以及用名贵的香、泽香、杂香、缯盖、幢幡，谦恭敬重地供奉，精进不懈，都不如善女人接受这部经法，奉持讽诵，广泛地为人解说，遵照经法修行。这样所教化的功德福报，超过前面所说的供养亿万倍！’ 佛陀说：‘阿难（Ananda）！应当经常用佛法供养如来（Tathagata），如果想要奉敬无上大圣，应当接受这部经，受持讽诵，为他人解说，并且书写经卷。’ 佛陀宣说了这部经，无思议光菩萨（Inconceivable Light Bodhisattva）、贤者阿难（Ananda），以及所有在场的阿须伦（Asura，一种非天神）等大众，
English
English version When the punishment of the guilty was complete, they were to be released. King Yama (阎王, the King of Hell) reappeared and said: 'Now you may leave. Perhaps you will be reborn as children in other people's families. You should remember to be filial and repay the kindness of your parents. When you are young and strong, you should endure evil and strive to do good, sincerely believe in the Three Jewels (三宝, Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), observe the precepts, follow the path, and cultivate all kinds of merits. Do not commit evil again and return here. Hell never calls for people; think carefully about this!' All the sinners rejoiced and shouted: 'Long live!' The Buddha said: 'Those who hear the Dharma and sometimes believe and sometimes do not, who are doubtful and hesitant, and who eventually fall back into heresy, all come from hell. Because they have received the teachings of King Yama (阎王), their roots of faith are shallow, and that is why they are like this. Even so, the merits they have accumulated will not be in vain; the Buddha's great compassion will not forget them. It will only take many kalpas (劫数, eons of time), and eventually they will be saved.' At that time, the Buddha told Ananda (阿难, one of the ten principal disciples of the Buddha): 'Receive this sutra, uphold it, recite it, read it aloud, and explain it widely to others, so that it may quickly spread far into the future and the blessings of the Dharma may reach future generations.' Ananda (阿难) said to the Buddha: 'I will certainly receive this sutra! What is the name of this sutra? How should we practice it?' The Buddha said: 'Ananda (阿难)! This sutra is called 'Purifying the Cover of Sins and Enjoying the Buddha Dharma', and also 'Bestowing the Determination of the Path of the Bodhisattva of Inconceivable Light'. You should uphold this sutra! Sons and daughters of good families, throughout their lives, should make offerings to the Tathagata (如来, 'Thus Gone One', an epithet of the Buddha), according to their ability and convenience. If they use heavenly flowers, as large as Mount Sumeru (须弥山, the central mountain in Buddhist cosmology), to scatter on the Buddha, and use precious incense, scented oils, mixed fragrances, silken canopies, banners, and streamers, offering them with humility and respect, and striving diligently without懈怠, it is not as good as a daughter of a good family receiving this sutra, upholding it, reciting it, reading it aloud, explaining it widely to others, and practicing according to the Dharma. The merits and blessings of such teachings are billions of times greater than the offerings mentioned earlier!' The Buddha said: 'Ananda (阿难)! You should always make offerings to the Tathagata (如来) with the Dharma. If you wish to revere the Supreme Sage, you should receive this sutra, uphold it, recite it, read it aloud, explain it to others, and transcribe the sutra.' The Buddha spoke thus, and the Bodhisattva of Inconceivable Light (无思议光菩萨), the wise Ananda (阿难), and all the assembled Asuras (阿须伦, a type of demigod) and the assembly, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------