Download a PDF copy of the chapter
The Period
Thereupon the Lord Śākyamuni, the Tathāgata, &c., rose from his pulpit, collected the Bodhisattvas, took their right hands with his own right hand, which had become strong by the exercise of magic, and spoke on that occasion as follows: Into your hands, young men of good family, I transfer and transmit, entrust and deposit this supreme and perfect enlightenment arrived at by me after hundred thousands of myriads of koṭis of incalculable Æons. Ye, young men of good family, do your best that it may grow and spread.
A second time, a third time the Lord spoke to the host of Bodhisattvas after taking them by the right hands: Into your hands, young men of good family, I transfer and transmit, entrust and deposit this supreme and perfect enlightenment arrived at by me after hundred thousands of myriads of koṭis of incalculable Æons. Receive it, young men of good family, keep, read, fathom, teach, promulgate, and preach it to all beings. I am not avaricious, young men of good family, nor narrow-minded; I am confident and willing to impart Buddha-knowledge, to impart the knowledge of the Tathāgata, the knowledge of the Self-born. I am a bountiful giver, young men of good family, and ye, young men of good family, follow my example; imitate me in liberally showing this knowledge of the Tathāgata, and in skillfulness, and preach this Dharmaparyāya to the young men and young ladies of good family who successively shall gather round you. And as to unbelieving persons, rouse them to accept this law. By so doing, young men of good family, you will acquit your debt to the Tathāgatas.
So addressed by the Lord Śākyamuni, the Tathāgata, &c., the Bodhisattvas filled with delight and joy, and with a feeling of great respect they lowered, bent, and bowed their body towards the Lord, and, the head inclined and the joined hands stretched out, they spoke in one voice to the Lord Śākyamuni, the Tathāgata, &c., the following words: We shall do, O Lord, what the Tathāgata commands; we shall fulfil the command of all Tathāgatas. Let the Lord be at ease as to this, and perfectly quiet. A second time, a third time the entire host of Bodhisattvas spoke in one voice the same words: Let the Lord be at ease as to this, and perfectly quiet. We shall do, O Lord, what the Tathāgata commands us; we shall fulfil the command of all Tathāgatas.
Thereupon the Lord Śākyamuni, the Tathāgata, &c., dismissed all those Tathāgatas, &c., who had come to the gathering from other worlds, and wished them a happy existence, with the words: May the Tathāgatas, &c., live happy. Then he restored the Stūpa of precious substances of the Lord Prabhūtaratna, the Tathāgata, &c., to its place, and wished him also a happy existence.
Thus spoke the Lord. The incalculable, innumerable Tathāgatas, &c., who had come from other worlds and were sitting on their thrones at the foot of jewel trees, as well as Prabhūtaratna, the Tathāgata, &c., and the whole host of Bodhisattvas headed by Viśiṣṭacāritra, the innumerable, incalculable Bodhisattvas Mahāsattvas who had issued from the gaps of the earth, the great disciples, the four classes, the world, including gods, men, demons, and Gandharvas, in ecstasy applauded the words of the Lord.
Chapter 26Chapter 27
Table of Contents