English
English version Each sentient being daily offers a bed and seat, its breadth and length like the four continents (Jambudvipa, Aparagodaniya, Purvavideha, Uttarakuru), its height like Mount Sumeru, adorned with the interweaving of the seven treasures. What are the seven treasures? They are: gold, silver, as well as beryl (a type of gemstone), sphatika (crystal), red pearls, tridacna (giant clam), and agate, used to adorn the lion throne, covered with celestial garments. Shariputra (one of Shakyamuni Buddha's disciples)! If a Bodhisattva-Mahasattva (great Bodhisattva) makes such offerings daily for each sentient being, the Bodhisattva accepts and uses them at will, whether sitting or lying down, etc. Shariputra! The Bodhisattva-Mahasattva always accepts in this way, always uses in this way, and ultimately consumes these offerings. Why? Shariputra! Even from the initial arising of the Bodhi-mind (mind of enlightenment), the Bodhisattva-Mahasattva, from the day of arising the mind, is a field of merit for all Shravakas (those who attain enlightenment by hearing the Dharma), Pratyekabuddhas (those who attain enlightenment through observing conditions), and sentient beings. 'Shariputra! A Bodhisattva-Mahasattva, for each sentient being daily, offers palaces of such color and seven treasures, their breadth and length like the four continents, namely: Jambudvipa (Southern Jambudvipa), Aparagodaniya (Western Godaniya), Purvavideha (Eastern Videha), Uttarakuru (Northern Kuru), their breadth and length being such, each place hanging seven-treasure curtains; in each of those places, there are seven-treasure nets, high banners and canopies, adorned with various celestial treasures, those palaces being so tall as to reach the realm of Paranirmitavasavartin Devas (the sixth heaven of the desire realm); in each of those places, various treasure trees are everywhere; all those trees can provide whatever is needed at will, and each tree emits beautiful music; among those trees, some can emit various fragrances, some can emit various wonderful flowers, some can emit various fruits; those palaces and places have many ponds, filled with water possessing the eight qualities, the bottom of the ponds covered with golden sand; those ponds are filled with seven-treasure lotus flowers; all the ponds use beryl as steps, and the ponds are surrounded by seven-treasure railings; on the banks of the ponds, there are countless lion thrones, covered with billions of nayutas (extremely large numerical units) of hundreds of thousands of coverings, with celestial wonderful flowers scattered all over the ground. Shariputra! If a Bodhisattva-Mahasattva, in such palaces, such seats, such places, whether sitting, lying down, walking, dwelling, speaking, or being silent, can do so at will.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
舍利弗！若菩萨摩诃萨一切众生于日日中，如是色殿、如是色座、如是色处，得已受用，舍利弗！如是菩萨摩诃萨于一切众生毕竟消施，如是乃至初发心者。何以故？舍利弗！菩萨摩诃萨一切众生无上福田。 “舍利弗！汝今见此种姓尊贵，大富饶财有大安乐，所谓：刹利大姓、婆罗门大姓、长者大姓、居士大姓，人中之王、转轮圣王七宝成就，四天王天、三十三天释提桓因、炎摩天子、兜率天子、化乐天子，如是他化自在天子，梵娑婆主，次第乃至色、无色中生处众生。若人得住初果、二果、三果、四果，复有获得辟支佛道，若人欲觉阿耨多罗三藐三菩提，舍利弗！此如是等一切皆于菩萨中生、菩萨所化，应如是知。何以故？舍利弗！菩萨摩诃萨行菩萨已，次第获得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提，觉转于法轮，于菩萨所得闻法已，如是得入须陀洹果、斯陀含果、阿那含果、阿罗汉果、辟支佛道，次第乃至阿耨多罗三藐三菩提觉；闻布施已则能布施，以布施故，则得生于刹利大姓、婆罗门大姓、长者大姓，得为人王、转轮圣王；闻说戒已能受持戒，受持戒故，则得生于四天王天、三十三天、炎摩、兜率、化乐、自在；闻四无量故得修行，以修行故，生色界天。舍利弗！此门如是应当善知，此一切法皆依菩萨菩萨所化。 现代汉语译本： 舍利弗！如果菩萨摩诃萨让一切众生每天都能得到并享用这样的华丽宫殿、华丽座位、华丽场所，舍利弗！这样的菩萨摩诃萨对于一切众生来说，就是彻底的施予者，甚至对于那些刚刚发起菩提心的人也是如此。为什么呢？舍利弗！菩萨摩诃萨是一切众生无上的福田。 ‘舍利弗！你现在所见到的那些种姓尊贵、极其富有、享有极大安乐的人，比如：刹帝利大姓（武士阶层）、婆罗门大姓（祭司阶层）、长者大姓（富裕的商人）、居士大姓（富有的在家信徒），以及人间的君王、拥有七宝的转轮圣王，还有四天王天（佛教宇宙观中的第一层天）、三十三天（佛教宇宙观中的第二层天）的释提桓因（帝释天）、炎摩天子（夜摩天之主）、兜率天子（兜率天之主）、化乐天子（化乐天之主），以及他化自在天子（他化自在天之主）、梵娑婆主（大梵天王），乃至色界天和无色界天中的众生。如果有人证得初果（须陀洹果）、二果（斯陀含果）、三果（阿那含果）、四果（阿罗汉果），还有人证得辟支佛道（缘觉乘），如果有人想要觉悟阿耨多罗三藐三菩提（无上正等正觉），舍利弗！要知道，所有这些都是从菩萨中产生，被菩萨所教化。为什么呢？舍利弗！菩萨摩诃萨在修行菩萨道之后，次第获得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提，觉悟并转动法轮，众生在菩萨那里听闻佛法之后，才能证入须陀洹果、斯陀含果、阿那含果、阿罗汉果、辟支佛道，乃至最终觉悟阿耨多罗三藐三菩提；听闻布施之后才能行布施，因为布施的缘故，才能投生到刹帝利大姓、婆罗门大姓、长者大姓，才能成为人间的君王、转轮圣王；听闻持戒之后才能受持戒律，因为受持戒律的缘故，才能投生到四天王天、三十三天、夜摩天、兜率天、化乐天、自在天；听闻四无量心（慈、悲、喜、舍）之后才能修行，因为修行的缘故，才能生到梵天。舍利弗！这个法门应当好好了解，这一切法都依赖于菩萨，都是菩萨所教化的。'
English
English version: Sariputra! If a Bodhisattva-Mahasattva allows all sentient beings to obtain and enjoy such colored palaces, such colored seats, such colored places every day, Sariputra! Such a Bodhisattva-Mahasattva is ultimately giving to all sentient beings, even to those who have just aroused the Bodhi-mind. Why? Sariputra! A Bodhisattva-Mahasattva is the supreme field of merit for all sentient beings. 'Sariputra! You now see those of noble lineage, greatly wealthy, and enjoying great happiness, namely: the great Kshatriya families (warrior class), the great Brahmin families (priest class), the great Elder families (wealthy merchants), the great Householder families (wealthy lay followers), as well as human kings, Wheel-Turning Sage Kings endowed with the seven treasures, the Four Heavenly Kings (first heaven in Buddhist cosmology), Shakra Devanam Indra (ruler of the Thirty-three Heavens), the Yama Heaven sons (lords of the Yama Heaven), the Tushita Heaven sons (lords of the Tushita Heaven), the Nirmanarati Heaven sons (lords of the Nirmanarati Heaven), as well as the Paranirmitavasavartin Heaven sons (lords of the Paranirmitavasavartin Heaven), Brahma Sahampati (Great Brahma King), and successively even sentient beings in the realms of form and formlessness. If people attain the first fruit (Srotapanna), the second fruit (Sakrdagamin), the third fruit (Anagamin), the fourth fruit (Arhat), and some attain the Pratyekabuddha path (Solitary Buddha vehicle), if people desire to awaken to Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi (Unsurpassed Perfect Enlightenment), Sariputra! Know that all these are born from Bodhisattvas and are transformed by Bodhisattvas. Why? Sariputra! A Bodhisattva-Mahasattva, having practiced the Bodhisattva path, successively attains Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi, awakens and turns the Dharma wheel. Having heard the Dharma from the Bodhisattva, they are able to enter the Srotapanna fruit, the Sakrdagamin fruit, the Anagamin fruit, the Arhat fruit, the Pratyekabuddha path, and successively even awaken to Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi; having heard of giving, they are able to give, and because of giving, they are born into great Kshatriya families, great Brahmin families, great Elder families, and are able to become human kings, Wheel-Turning Sage Kings; having heard of precepts, they are able to uphold precepts, and because of upholding precepts, they are born into the Four Heavenly Kings Heaven, the Thirty-three Heavens, the Yama Heaven, the Tushita Heaven, the Nirmanarati Heaven, the Paranirmitavasavartin Heaven; having heard of the Four Immeasurable Minds (loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity), they are able to cultivate them, and because of cultivation, they are born into the Brahma Heaven. Sariputra! This gate should be well understood in this way, all these Dharmas rely on Bodhisattvas and are transformed by Bodhisattvas.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
“舍利弗！譬如阿那婆达多龙王池处出四大河。何等为四？所谓：强伽、辛头、博叉、斯陀大河。彼四大河入四大海。何者为四？殑伽大河五百眷属流满东海；辛头大河五百眷属流满南海；博叉大河五百眷属流满西海；斯陀大河五百眷属流满北海。舍利弗！于意云何？此四大河流向四方，如彼次第入四大海。舍利弗！彼四大河流向四方，颇有众生随须用不？” 慧命舍利弗言：“无量众生受用得力，所谓：沙门及婆罗门、人非人等。世尊！彼四大河悉能遍满稻田、豆田，若摩沙田、大小麦田，异异种种诸谷、豆等，悉能充遍。彼谷、豆等多人受用，所谓：沙门及婆罗门、人非人等。” 佛言：“舍利弗！于意云何？彼四大海，颇有众生随须用不？” 慧命舍利弗白佛言：“世尊！无量众生受用得力，谓：胜众生、陆地众生、水中众生，所谓：鱼、龟、摩伽罗鱼、坻𩸹、宜罗、虾蟆、鹅、鸭及鱼师等。复是无量大众生处，所谓：诸龙、乾闼婆、阿修罗、迦楼罗等。无量众生、人与非人受用得力，谓：珠、真珠及毗琉璃、珂与、珊瑚、因陀尼罗大青宝珠、牟娑罗宝、迦罗婆宝、马瑙宝等。复有大价异大宝珠，在大海中为人受用。” 佛言：“舍利弗！于意云何，彼四大海以何因缘有如是力 现代汉语译本 ‘舍利弗（Śāriputra，佛陀十大弟子之一，以智慧著称）！譬如阿那婆达多龙王池（Anavatapta，意为无热恼池，传说位于雪山，是四大河流的源头）流出四大河。是哪四大河呢？就是：强伽河（Gaṅgā，即恒河）、辛头河（Sindhu，即印度河）、博叉河（Vakṣu，即阿姆河）、斯陀河（Sītā，一般认为是塔里木河或雅鲁藏布江）。这四大河流入四大海。哪四大海呢？殑伽河带着五百眷属流满东海；辛头河带着五百眷属流满南海；博叉河带着五百眷属流满西海；斯陀河带着五百眷属流满北海。舍利弗！你认为怎么样？这四大河流向四方，像这样依次流入四大海。舍利弗！这四大河流向四方，有没有众生根据需要取用它们呢？’ 慧命舍利弗回答说：‘有无量众生受用并从中获得力量，包括沙门（Śrāmaṇa，出家修道者）和婆罗门（Brāhmaṇa，印度教祭司）、人和非人等等。世尊！这四大河能够遍及稻田、豆田，以及摩沙田、大小麦田，各种各样的谷物、豆类等，都能充分灌溉。这些谷物、豆类等被很多人受用，包括沙门和婆罗门、人和非人等等。’ 佛说：‘舍利弗！你认为怎么样？这四大海，有没有众生根据需要取用它们呢？’ 慧命舍利弗禀告佛说：‘世尊！无量众生受用并从中获得力量，包括胜众生、陆地众生、水中众生，比如：鱼、龟、摩伽罗鱼（Makara，一种海兽）、坻𩸹（一种水生动物）、宜罗（一种鱼）、虾蟆、鹅、鸭以及渔民等等。而且是无量大众生的住所，包括：诸龙（Nāga）、乾闼婆（Gandharva，天上的乐神）、阿修罗（Asura，好战的神）、迦楼罗（Garuda，金翅鸟）等等。无量众生、人和非人受用并从中获得力量，包括：珠、真珠以及毗琉璃（Vaiḍūrya，琉璃）、珂与（海贝）、珊瑚、因陀尼罗大青宝珠（Indranīla，靛蓝色宝石）、牟娑罗宝（Musāragalva，猫眼石）、迦罗婆宝（Kālabaka，黑玉）、马瑙宝等等。还有价值连城的大宝珠，在大海中供人取用。’ 佛说：‘舍利弗！你认为怎么样，这四大海因为什么因缘有这样的力量？’
English
English version ‘Śāriputra! Suppose from the Anavatapta Dragon King's pool, four great rivers flow forth. What are the four? They are: the Gaṅgā River, the Sindhu River, the Vakṣu River, and the Sītā River. These four great rivers enter the four great seas. What are the four? The Gaṅgā River, with five hundred attendants, flows and fills the Eastern Sea; the Sindhu River, with five hundred attendants, flows and fills the Southern Sea; the Vakṣu River, with five hundred attendants, flows and fills the Western Sea; the Sītā River, with five hundred attendants, flows and fills the Northern Sea. Śāriputra! What do you think? These four great rivers flow towards the four directions, and in that order, enter the four great seas. Śāriputra! These four great rivers flow towards the four directions, do any beings use them according to their needs?’ The Venerable Śāriputra said: ‘Countless beings benefit and gain strength from them, including Śrāmaṇas (ascetics) and Brāhmaṇas (priests), humans and non-humans, and so on. World-Honored One! These four great rivers are able to spread across rice fields, bean fields, as well as Masa fields, fields of wheat and barley, and various kinds of grains and beans, fully irrigating them. These grains and beans are used by many, including Śrāmaṇas and Brāhmaṇas, humans and non-humans, and so on.’ The Buddha said: ‘Śāriputra! What do you think? Do any beings use these four great seas according to their needs?’ The Venerable Śāriputra said to the Buddha: ‘World-Honored One! Countless beings benefit and gain strength from them, including superior beings, land beings, and water beings, such as: fish, turtles, Makara fish (a sea creature), 坻𩸹 (an aquatic animal), 宜罗 (a type of fish), frogs, geese, ducks, and fishermen, and so on. Moreover, they are the dwelling places of countless great beings, including: Nāgas (dragons), Gandharvas (celestial musicians), Asuras (warring deities), Garudas (golden-winged birds), and so on. Countless beings, humans and non-humans, benefit and gain strength from them, including: pearls, genuine pearls, as well as Vaiḍūrya (lapis lazuli), shells, coral, Indranīla (sapphire), Musāragalva (cat's eye gem), Kālabaka (black jade), agate, and so on. Furthermore, there are priceless great jewels in the great sea for people to use.’ The Buddha said: ‘Śāriputra! What do you think, by what cause and condition do these four great seas have such power?’ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ？”