Fetching
One moment.
Fetching
One moment.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
129. Let thy voice be heard, O thou whose voice resounds like an egregious kettle-drum ! proclaim thy law such as it is. The legitimate sons of Gina here standing and gazing at the Gina, with joined hands ; 30. As well as the gods, Nagas, goblins, Titans, numbering thousands of kofis, like sand of the Ganges; and those that aspire to superior enlightenment, here standing, fully eighty thousand in number; 31. Further, the kings, rulers of provinces and paramount monarchs, who have flocked hither from thousands of ko/¢is of countries, are now standing with joined hands, and respectful, thinking: How are we to fulfil the course of duty ? II. SKILFULNESS, 37 The venerable Sériputra having spoken, the Lord said to him: Enough, Sfriputra; it is of no use explaining this matter. Why? Because, S4riputra, the world, including the gods, would be frightened if this matter were expounded. But the venerable S4riputra entreated the Lord a second time, saying: Let the Lord expound, let the Sugata expound this matter, for in this assembly, O Lord, there are many hundreds, many thousands, many hundred thousands, many hundred thousand myriads of ko¢is of living beings who have seen former Buddhas, who are intelligent, and will believe, value, and accept the words of the Lord. The venerable Sariputra addressed the Lord with this stanza : 32. Speak clearly, O most eminent of Ginas! in this assembly there are thousands of living beings trustful, affectionate, and respectful towards the Sugata; they will understand the law by thee expounded. And the Lord said a second time to the venerable Sariputra: Enough, S4riputra; it is of no use explaining this matter, for the world, including the gods, would be frightened, Sariputra, if this matter were expounded, and some monks might be proud and come to a heavy fall’. ' And on that occasion uttered the Lord the following stanza: 33. Speak no more of it that I should declare this law! This knowledge is too subtle, inscrutable, and there are so many unwise men who in their conceit and foolishness would scoff at the law revealed. ? Or, commit a great offence. 38 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. II. A third time the venerable S4riputra entreated the Lord, saying: Let the Lord expound, let the Sugata expound this matter. In this assembly, O Lord, there are many hundreds of living beings my equals, and many hundreds, many thousands, many hundred thousands, many hundred thousand myriads of ko¢is of other living beings more, who in former births have been brought by the Lord to full ripeness. They will believe, value, and accept what the Lord declares, which shall tend to their advantage, weal, and happiness in length of time. On that occasion the venerable S4riputra uttered the following stanzas : 34. Explain the law, O thou most high of men! I, thine eldest son, beseech thee. Here are thousands of ko¢is of beings who are to believe in the law by thee revealed.
2On that occasion the venerable S4riputra uttered the following stanzas : 34. Explain the law, O thou most high of men! I, thine eldest son, beseech thee. Here are thousands of ko¢is of beings who are to believe in the law by thee revealed. 35. And those beings that in former births so long and constantly have by thee been brought to full maturity and now are all standing here with joined hands, they, too, are to believe in this law. 36. Let the Sugata, seeing the twelve hundred, my equals, and those who are striving after superior enlightenment, speak to them and produce in them an extreme joy. When the Lord for the third time heard the entreaty of the venerable Sariputra, he spoke to him as follows: Now that thou entreatest the Tathagata a third time, Sariputra, I will answer thee. Listen then, S4riputra, take well and duly to heart what I am saying; I am going to speak. Now it happened that five thousand proud monks, nuns, and lay devotees of both sexes in the congregation rose from their seats and, after saluting with I. SKILFULNESS. 39 their heads the Lord’s feet, went to leave the assembly. Owing to the principle of good which there is in pride they imagined having attained what they had not, and having understood what they had not. Therefore, thinking themselves aggrieved, they went to leave the assembly, to which the Lord by his silence showed assent. Thereupon the Lord addressed the venerable Sariputra: My congregation, S4riputra, has been cleared from the chaff', freed from the trash; it is firmly established in the strength of faith. It is good, Sdriputra, that those proud ones are gone away. Now I am going to expound the matter, S4riputra. ‘Very well, Lord,’ replied the venerable Sariputra. The Lord then began and said : It is but now and then, S4riputra, that the Tath4gata preaches such a discourse on the law as this. Just as but now and then is seen the blossom of the glomerous fig-tree, Sdriputra, so does the Tathagata but now and then preach such a discourse on the law. Believe me, S4riputra; I speak what is real, I speak what is truthful, I speak what is right. It is difficult to understand the exposition of the mystery of the Tathagata, Sariputra; for in elucidating the law, S4riputra, I use hundred thousands of various skilful means, such as different interpretations, indi- . cations, explanations, illustrations. It is not by reasoning, S4riputra, that the law is to be found: _it is beyond the pale of reasoning, and must be * One of the MSS. has nishpralava, which ought to be nishpalava; another has nishpudgalava. Both imaginary words are no doubt the result of an unhappy attempt to Sanskritise a Pr4krit nippaldva by scribes unacquainted with the Sanskrit palava (Pali palapa). The right form occurs below, stanza 4o. 40 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. II.
3Both imaginary words are no doubt the result of an unhappy attempt to Sanskritise a Pr4krit nippaldva by scribes unacquainted with the Sanskrit palava (Pali palapa). The right form occurs below, stanza 4o. 40 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. II. learnt from the Tathd4gata. For, S4riputra, it is for a sole object, a sole aim, verily a lofty object, a lofty aim that the Buddha, the Tathagata, &c., appears in the world. And what is that sole object, that sole aim, that lofty object, that lofty aim of the Buddha, the Tathagata, &c., appearing in the world ? To show all creatures the sight of Tathdgata-knowledge! does the Buddha, the Tathagata, &c., appear in the world; to open the eyes of creatures for the sight of Tathagata-knowledge does the Buddha, the Tathagata, &c., appear in the world. This, O S4riputra, is the sole object, the sole aim, the sole purpose of his appearance in the world. Such then, S4riputra, is the sole object, the sole aim, the lofty object, the lofty aim of the Tathagata. And it is achieved by the Tathagata. For, Sariputra, I do show all creatures the sight of Tathagata-knowledge; I do open the eyes of creatures for the sight of Tath4gata-knowledge, S4riputra; I do firmly establish the teaching of Tath4gata-knowledge, Sariputra; I do lead the teaching of Tathagata-knowledge on the right path, S4riputra. By means of one sole vehicle?, to wit, the Buddha-vehicle, S4riputra, do I teach creatures the law; there is no second vehicle, nor a third. This is the nature of the law, S4riputra, universally in the world, in all directions. For, S4riputra, all the Tathagatas, &c., who in times past existed in countless, innumerable spheres in all directions for the weal of many, the happiness of many, out of pity to the world, for the benefit, weal, and happiness of the great body of creatures, ? Or,to rouse all creatures by the display of Tath4gata-knowledge. * Rather and properly, one sole course. IL. SKILFULNESS. 4! and who preached the law to gods and men with able means, such as several directions and indications, various arguments, reasons, illustrations, fundamental ideas, interpretations, paying regard to the dispositions of creatures whose inclinations and temperaments are so manifold, all those Buddhas and Lords, Sariputra, have preached the law to creatures by means of only one vehicle, the Buddhavehicle, which finally leads to omniscience; it is identical with showing all creatures the sight of Tath4gata-knowledge ; with opening the eyes of creatures for the sight of Tath4gata-knowledge ; with the awakening (or admonishing) by the display (or sight) of Tath4gata-knowledge?; with leading the teaching of Tathagata-knowledge on the right path. Such is the law they have preached to creatures. And those creatures, S4riputra, who have heard the law from the past Tath4gatas, &c., have all of them reached supreme, perfect enlightenment.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
129. Let thy voice be heard, O thou whose voice resounds like an egregious kettle-drum ! proclaim thy law such as it is. The legitimate sons of Gina here standing and gazing at the Gina, with joined hands ; 30. As well as the gods, Nagas, goblins, Titans, numbering thousands of kofis, like sand of the Ganges; and those that aspire to superior enlightenment, here standing, fully eighty thousand in number; 31. Further, the kings, rulers of provinces and paramount monarchs, who have flocked hither from thousands of ko/¢is of countries, are now standing with joined hands, and respectful, thinking: How are we to fulfil the course of duty ? II. SKILFULNESS, 37 The venerable Sériputra having spoken, the Lord said to him: Enough, Sfriputra; it is of no use explaining this matter. Why? Because, S4riputra, the world, including the gods, would be frightened if this matter were expounded. But the venerable S4riputra entreated the Lord a second time, saying: Let the Lord expound, let the Sugata expound this matter, for in this assembly, O Lord, there are many hundreds, many thousands, many hundred thousands, many hundred thousand myriads of ko¢is of living beings who have seen former Buddhas, who are intelligent, and will believe, value, and accept the words of the Lord. The venerable Sariputra addressed the Lord with this stanza : 32. Speak clearly, O most eminent of Ginas! in this assembly there are thousands of living beings trustful, affectionate, and respectful towards the Sugata; they will understand the law by thee expounded. And the Lord said a second time to the venerable Sariputra: Enough, S4riputra; it is of no use explaining this matter, for the world, including the gods, would be frightened, Sariputra, if this matter were expounded, and some monks might be proud and come to a heavy fall’. ' And on that occasion uttered the Lord the following stanza: 33. Speak no more of it that I should declare this law! This knowledge is too subtle, inscrutable, and there are so many unwise men who in their conceit and foolishness would scoff at the law revealed. ? Or, commit a great offence. 38 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. II. A third time the venerable S4riputra entreated the Lord, saying: Let the Lord expound, let the Sugata expound this matter. In this assembly, O Lord, there are many hundreds of living beings my equals, and many hundreds, many thousands, many hundred thousands, many hundred thousand myriads of ko¢is of other living beings more, who in former births have been brought by the Lord to full ripeness. They will believe, value, and accept what the Lord declares, which shall tend to their advantage, weal, and happiness in length of time. On that occasion the venerable S4riputra uttered the following stanzas : 34. Explain the law, O thou most high of men! I, thine eldest son, beseech thee. Here are thousands of ko¢is of beings who are to believe in the law by thee revealed.
2On that occasion the venerable S4riputra uttered the following stanzas : 34. Explain the law, O thou most high of men! I, thine eldest son, beseech thee. Here are thousands of ko¢is of beings who are to believe in the law by thee revealed. 35. And those beings that in former births so long and constantly have by thee been brought to full maturity and now are all standing here with joined hands, they, too, are to believe in this law. 36. Let the Sugata, seeing the twelve hundred, my equals, and those who are striving after superior enlightenment, speak to them and produce in them an extreme joy. When the Lord for the third time heard the entreaty of the venerable Sariputra, he spoke to him as follows: Now that thou entreatest the Tathagata a third time, Sariputra, I will answer thee. Listen then, S4riputra, take well and duly to heart what I am saying; I am going to speak. Now it happened that five thousand proud monks, nuns, and lay devotees of both sexes in the congregation rose from their seats and, after saluting with I. SKILFULNESS. 39 their heads the Lord’s feet, went to leave the assembly. Owing to the principle of good which there is in pride they imagined having attained what they had not, and having understood what they had not. Therefore, thinking themselves aggrieved, they went to leave the assembly, to which the Lord by his silence showed assent. Thereupon the Lord addressed the venerable Sariputra: My congregation, S4riputra, has been cleared from the chaff', freed from the trash; it is firmly established in the strength of faith. It is good, Sdriputra, that those proud ones are gone away. Now I am going to expound the matter, S4riputra. ‘Very well, Lord,’ replied the venerable Sariputra. The Lord then began and said : It is but now and then, S4riputra, that the Tath4gata preaches such a discourse on the law as this. Just as but now and then is seen the blossom of the glomerous fig-tree, Sdriputra, so does the Tathagata but now and then preach such a discourse on the law. Believe me, S4riputra; I speak what is real, I speak what is truthful, I speak what is right. It is difficult to understand the exposition of the mystery of the Tathagata, Sariputra; for in elucidating the law, S4riputra, I use hundred thousands of various skilful means, such as different interpretations, indi- . cations, explanations, illustrations. It is not by reasoning, S4riputra, that the law is to be found: _it is beyond the pale of reasoning, and must be * One of the MSS. has nishpralava, which ought to be nishpalava; another has nishpudgalava. Both imaginary words are no doubt the result of an unhappy attempt to Sanskritise a Pr4krit nippaldva by scribes unacquainted with the Sanskrit palava (Pali palapa). The right form occurs below, stanza 4o. 40 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. II.
3Both imaginary words are no doubt the result of an unhappy attempt to Sanskritise a Pr4krit nippaldva by scribes unacquainted with the Sanskrit palava (Pali palapa). The right form occurs below, stanza 4o. 40 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. II. learnt from the Tathd4gata. For, S4riputra, it is for a sole object, a sole aim, verily a lofty object, a lofty aim that the Buddha, the Tathagata, &c., appears in the world. And what is that sole object, that sole aim, that lofty object, that lofty aim of the Buddha, the Tathagata, &c., appearing in the world ? To show all creatures the sight of Tathdgata-knowledge! does the Buddha, the Tathagata, &c., appear in the world; to open the eyes of creatures for the sight of Tathagata-knowledge does the Buddha, the Tathagata, &c., appear in the world. This, O S4riputra, is the sole object, the sole aim, the sole purpose of his appearance in the world. Such then, S4riputra, is the sole object, the sole aim, the lofty object, the lofty aim of the Tathagata. And it is achieved by the Tathagata. For, Sariputra, I do show all creatures the sight of Tathagata-knowledge; I do open the eyes of creatures for the sight of Tath4gata-knowledge, S4riputra; I do firmly establish the teaching of Tath4gata-knowledge, Sariputra; I do lead the teaching of Tathagata-knowledge on the right path, S4riputra. By means of one sole vehicle?, to wit, the Buddha-vehicle, S4riputra, do I teach creatures the law; there is no second vehicle, nor a third. This is the nature of the law, S4riputra, universally in the world, in all directions. For, S4riputra, all the Tathagatas, &c., who in times past existed in countless, innumerable spheres in all directions for the weal of many, the happiness of many, out of pity to the world, for the benefit, weal, and happiness of the great body of creatures, ? Or,to rouse all creatures by the display of Tath4gata-knowledge. * Rather and properly, one sole course. IL. SKILFULNESS. 4! and who preached the law to gods and men with able means, such as several directions and indications, various arguments, reasons, illustrations, fundamental ideas, interpretations, paying regard to the dispositions of creatures whose inclinations and temperaments are so manifold, all those Buddhas and Lords, Sariputra, have preached the law to creatures by means of only one vehicle, the Buddhavehicle, which finally leads to omniscience; it is identical with showing all creatures the sight of Tath4gata-knowledge ; with opening the eyes of creatures for the sight of Tath4gata-knowledge ; with the awakening (or admonishing) by the display (or sight) of Tath4gata-knowledge?; with leading the teaching of Tathagata-knowledge on the right path. Such is the law they have preached to creatures. And those creatures, S4riputra, who have heard the law from the past Tath4gatas, &c., have all of them reached supreme, perfect enlightenment.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
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