英語訳
【Upper section of right page】
Fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh months. These four months travel behind the sun. This is proper movement according to dharma. If different from this, it loses course and is not good. The sword star is also the full star. It takes two and a half years to traverse one position. If in the rabbit position, it is highest; if in the rooster position, it is lowest. If high, there are many weapons and warfare, and sentient beings suffer from hunger and disease. If low, weapons and warfare are few. The Southern and Northern Dippers are not lunar mansions but luminaries. The five cardinal great stars are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. For all sovereign stars, three minister stars, and hundred official stars: if benefic stars enter these four star positions, there is great peace, stability, and prosperity. If malefic stars enter, there is great suffering. Following the various stars traveling together, not depending on the regular path, therefore called "each manifesting changes."
Great fires burn the country, burning up all people, or ghost fires, dragon fires, celestial fires, human fires, tree fires, bandit fires - when such strange transformations occur, reciting and expounding this sutra constitutes the third disaster. The third fire disaster has two parts. First clarifying the seven types of fire. Second, from "also reading this sutra" below, clarifying that sutra power can extinguish fire. The seven types of fire are: ghost fire - because ghosts become angry at sentient beings and create evil fires at night, also causing people to have fever. Dragon fire - dragons become angry and rain poisonous fire, causing people to have swelling. This is reward-body supernatural fire. Celestial fire is thunderbolt fire, named in relation to heaven. Divine fire is transformation. There are two types of divine fire: when immortals become angry, fire arises from anger; second, immortals recite spells making demons and spirits burn people's homes. Human fire gets its name in relation to humans. Tree fire is understandable. Bandit fire - when bandits throw fire, it is immediately called bandit fire.
Great waters flood and submerge the people, seasons reverse with winter rain and summer snow, winter thunder and lightning with thunderbolts, sixth month raining ice, frost and hail, raining red water, black water, blue water, raining earth-mountains and stone-mountains, raining sand, gravel and stones, rivers
【Lower section of right page】
and streams flowing backward, floating mountains and flowing stones - when such transformations occur, also reciting and expounding this sutra constitutes the fourth disaster. The fourth water disaster. Where water is needed there is none, and where not needed there is much. Frost, hail, etc. all belong to water disasters. Raining red water brings much warfare. Raining black water causes disease. Raining blue water brings much famine. Raining earth and stones is due to the anger of immortals and rakshasas. Rivers flowing backward and sea water overflowing indicates bandits.
Great winds blow and kill all people, causing countries, mountains, rivers and trees to be destroyed all at once, untimely great winds, black winds, red winds, blue winds, heavenly winds, earthly winds, fire winds, water winds - when such transformations occur, also reciting and expounding this sutra constitutes the fifth disaster. The fifth wind disaster. Black wind is seaside wind blowing black sand. Red wind is red sand. Blue wind is blue sand. Heavenly and earthly winds - heaven is yang, earth is yin. Fire wind is hot wind. Consider this.
Heaven, earth, and countries suffer from scorching yang and blazing fires, all grasses wither from drought, the five grains do not ripen, the earth burns red-hot, all people perish - when such transformations occur, also reciting and expounding this sutra constitutes the sixth disaster. The sixth drought disaster. The textual meaning is clear. Consider this.
Bandits from the four directions come to invade the country, internal and external bandits arise, fire bandits, water bandits, wind bandits, ghost bandits, the people fall into chaos, weapons and warfare arise - during such strange times, also reciting and expounding this sutra constitutes the seventh disaster. This is the seventh bandit disaster. The textual meaning can be seen.
Great King, this Prajñāpāramitā is the spiritual foundation of the mind-consciousness of all buddhas, bodhisattvas, and sentient beings, and the father and mother of all kings. The commentary says: From "Great King, this Prajñā" below. Fourth, praising the virtue of Prajñā's
【Upper section of left page】
ability to extinguish the seven disasters. The text has two parts. First praising the inconceivable nature of Prajñā. Next, from "Buddha told the Great King" below. Second, clarifying that Prajñā extinguishes the seven disasters and encouraging people to make offerings. In the first part praising Prajñā there are eight phrases. First clarifying that Prajñā can serve as the spiritual foundation of mind-consciousness for all buddhas and bodhisattvas: Prajñā is non-attainment. Because all buddhas awaken to non-attainment through Prajñā, Prajñā is the mother of buddhas. Therefore it is called the foundation of buddhas. The spiritual foundation of mind-consciousness of all sentient beings is non-attainment. Through delusory causes and conditions there are distinctions of the six realms. If one can know that delusion is ultimately without existence, one returns to Prajñā. Therefore it is called the spiritual foundation of mind-consciousness of all sentient beings. Mind, consciousness, and spirit are one in essence but different in name. Father and mother of all kings means Prajñā can protect countries, therefore compared to father and mother.
Also called divine talisman, also called demon-dispelling jewel, also called wish-fulfilling jewel, also called country-protecting jewel, also called heaven-earth mirror, also called dragon-treasure divine king. The commentary says: "Also called divine talisman" means able to penetrate and comprehend the realm of true reality, able to subdue heavenly demons and non-Buddhists. Because it completely protects worldly and transcendent good roots, it is compared to a divine talisman. Demon-dispelling jewel means able to eliminate disasters from ghosts and spirits. Wish-fulfilling jewel means Prajñā fulfills one's wishes and brings attainment. Country-protecting jewel means Prajñā's power can ensure complete peace and stability for the country. Heaven-earth mirror means Prajñā illuminates the non-existence of the world. Dragon-treasure divine king means Prajñā can produce various beneficial spirits, therefore called dragon-treasure divine king.
Buddha told the Great King: "You should make nine-colored banners nine fathoms long, nine-colored flowers two fathoms high, thousand-branched lamps five fathoms high, nine jade boxes, nine jade cloths." Also make a seven-jewel altar. The commentary says: From "Buddha told the Great King" below. Second,
【Lower section of left page】
clarifying encouragement for people to make offerings has two parts. First, specific matters. From "daily offerings" below, next, generally making offerings with incense and flowers. In the first part on specific matters there are two sections. First listing six types of offering items. Second, bringing out Prajñā and making offerings to it. The first six items are: first banners, second flowers, third lamps, fourth jade boxes, fifth jade cloths, sixth seven-jewel altar. Consider this.
Place the sutra scrolls on top. When the king travels, always keep them one hundred steps in front. This sutra constantly emits a thousand light rays, causing the seven disasters not to arise within a thousand li and sins not to be generated. When the king resides, make a seven-jewel canopy with a seven-jewel high seat inside the canopy, and place the sutra scrolls on top. The commentary says: The second section on offering methods has five phrases. First, bringing out Prajñā and placing it on the altar. Second, when the king travels, having Prajñā in front. Third, the king traveling one hundred steps. Prajñā emits light for a thousand li. Fourth, causing no seven disasters within a thousand li and obtaining benefits. Fifth, when the king resides, making a seven-jewel seat and placing Prajñā on top.
Daily offerings, scattering flowers and burning incense, like serving father and mother, like serving Indra. Second, generally clarifying offerings. The dharma analogy can be understood. Consider this.
Great King, I now clearly see with my five eyes all kings of the three times - they all obtained their position as imperial rulers by serving five hundred buddhas in past lives. The commentary says: From "Great King, I now with five eyes" below. Fifth, clarifying benefits of the three times to make people believe and uphold. The text has three parts. First, clarifying that with the five eyes one sees all kings serving five hundred buddhas and others. Clarifying that through long service to many sages they now occupy royal positions.
These all become holy persons and arhats, coming to be reborn in those countries to create great benefit.