XXVI
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Soothill, William Edward and Kumārajīva
The Bodhisattva, King of Healing, is now represented offering spells to guard and protect the preachers of the Lotus Sutra. One such spell begins:
“Anye manye mane mamane citte carite same samitavi sante mukte muktanesame avishame sama same jaye khshaye akshaye akshine sante samite dharani alokabhashe-pratyavekshani nidhini abhyantaranivishte ...” and so on.
This is a spell, he says, which has been used by Buddhas numerous as the sands of sixty-two kotis of Ganges, and if any one does violence to the teachers of the Lotus Sutra, they will be doing violence to all these Buddhas. Śakyamuni extols the King of Healing for his wonderful spell.
Another Bodhisattva, Courageous-Giver, then offers another spell against all demons, commencing, “Jvale mahajvale ukke tukku mukku ude ...” &c.
A deva-king also offers a spell potent in his realm: “Atte tatte natte vanatte anade nadi kumadi avaha ...” Another deva-king offers yet another.
Rakshasas, that is non-human “furies” or witches, named Binder, Unbinder, Crooked-teeth, Coloured-teeth, Black-teeth, Dishevelled-locks, Insatiable, Skull- or Necklace-holder, Kunti and Spirit-snatcher: these ten creatures, together with the Mother-of-Demon-Sons, with her children and followers, now approach, offering their spells.
“If any spy for the shortcomings of these teachers of the Law, we will prevent their obtaining their wish.” The spell they give is:
“Iti me, iti me, iti me, iti me, iti me; ni me, ni me, ni me, ni me, ni me; ruhe, ruhe, ruhe, ruhe, ruhe; stuhe, stuhe, stuhe, stuhe, stuhe, svaha.
“Let troubles come on our heads rather than on theirs.”
Neither yakshas nor hungry ghosts, nor the long list of malevolent creatures, whose names are given, nor fevers of any kind shall cause the preacher of the Lotus Sutra distress. They add:
“Whoever dares defy our spell
And harass any preacher,
May his head be split in seven,
Like unto an arjaka sprout.
His doom be that of a parricide,
Or of a swindling oil-presser,
Or of a cheat with measure and weight,
Or of Devadatta the first schismatic.
He who dares offend these Preachers,
Such shall be his certain doom.”
The Buddha replies to these witches, that great shall be their reward if they protect those who only keep the name of this Sutra in mind; how much greater those who pay homage to it
“with flowers, incense, necklaces, sandal-powder, perfumes, incense, flags, canopies, and music; burning various kinds of lamps—ghee lamps, oil lamps, lamps of scented oil, lamps of oil of Campaka-flowers, lamps of oil of Varshika-flowers, and lamps of oil of Udumbara-flowers; such hundreds thousands kinds of offerings as these. Kunti! You and your followers ought to protect such teachers of the Law.”
“While this chapter of Dharanis was preached, thirty-eight thousand people attained to the Assurance of No-Rebirth.”