The Past of Bhaiṣajyarāja
藥王菩薩的過去
22.1Then the bodhisattva mahāsattva Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña said to the Bhagavān, “Bhagavān, through what cause is the bodhisattva mahāsattva Bhaiṣajyarāja active in this Sahā world realm? Bhagavān, he must have undergone many hundred thousands of quintillions of hardships. I request the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha to speak of just a fraction of what the bodhisattva mahāsattva Bhaiṣajyarāja has practiced, so that those who have heard the Bhagavān—the devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and nonhumans, and the bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have arrived here from other world realms and these great śrāvakas—will all be pleased, delighted, and happy.”
22.1那時，菩薩摩訶薩星宿王花冠菩薩對薄伽梵說：「薄伽梵，菩薩摩訶薩藥王菩薩以什麼因緣在這娑婆世界中活動？薄伽梵，他一定經歷了許多百千億兆的困苦。我請如來、阿羅漢、正等覺佛陀，講說菩薩摩訶薩藥王菩薩所實踐修行的一小部分，使得聽聞薄伽梵的人——天眾、龍眾、藥叉眾、乾闥婆眾、阿修羅眾、迦樓羅眾、緊那羅眾、摩睺羅伽眾、人和非人，以及從其他世界來到這裡的菩薩摩訶薩和這些大聲聞眾——都能得到歡喜、喜悅和快樂。」
22.2The Bhagavān, knowing the request made by the bodhisattva mahāsattva Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, then said to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, “Noble one, in the past, in a time gone by, as many eons ago as there are grains of sand in the Ganges River, at that time there appeared in the world the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha, the one with perfect wisdom and conduct, the sugata, the knower of the world, the unsurpassable guide who tamed beings, the teacher of gods and humans, the buddha, the bhagavān named Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī.
22.2薄伽梵，了知菩薩摩訶薩星宿王花冠菩薩所作的請求，就對菩薩摩訶薩星宿王花冠菩薩說道：「善男子，過去世中，時間久遠，距今恆河沙數那麼多劫以前，那時候世間出現了一位如來、阿羅漢、正等覺佛、明行足、善逝、世間解、無上士調御丈夫、天人師、佛、薄伽梵，名叫日月燈明佛。」
22.3“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the tathāgata, the arhat [F.150.a], perfectly enlightened buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī had a great following of eighty million bodhisattvas. He had a following of as many śrāvakas as there are grains of sand in seventy-two Ganges Rivers. In the time of his teaching there were no women, there were no beings in hell, there were no births as animals, there were no pretas, and no asuras. His buddha realm was delightful, as flat as the palm of a hand, its ground made of divine beryl, which was adorned by precious sandalwood trees. It was beautified by nets of jewels, hung with silk streamers, and perfumed by incense from precious censers. At an arrow-shot distance from the foot of all the precious trees there were precious high platforms. Upon each of those precious high platforms there were billions of devas playing musical instruments and cymbals, and singing songs in order to make offerings to the bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī.
22.3「星宿王花冠菩薩，日月燈明佛如來、阿羅漢、正等覺有八千萬位菩薩摩訶薩的眷屬。他有如七十二條恆河沙數那麼多的聲聞眾。在他的教法時代，沒有女人，沒有地獄眾生，沒有畜生，沒有餓鬼，也沒有阿修羅。他的佛國土非常美妙，平坦得如同手掌，地面由神聖的琉璃組成，由寶貴的檀香樹裝飾著。它被珠寶網絡美化，懸掛著絲綢旌幡，由珍貴的香爐中散發出來的香氣所芬芳。在所有寶樹樹根下的箭射之遠處，有珍貴的高台。在每一個珍貴的高台上，有數十億位天眾演奏音樂和鐃鈸，唱著歌曲來禮敬薄伽梵、如來、阿羅漢、正等覺日月燈明佛。」
22.4“The Bhagavān taught those śrāvakas and bodhisattva mahāsattvas extensively this Dharma teaching, The White Lotus of the Good Dharma, commencing with the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana.
22.4「薄伽梵為那些聲聞眾和菩薩摩訶薩們廣泛地教授這部法教——妙法蓮華經，從菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩開始。」
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī’s lifespan was forty-two thousand eons. The lifespans of those bodhisattva mahāsattvas and those śrāvakas were the same. The bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana was dedicated to hardship in following the teaching of that Bhagavān. For twelve thousand years he progressed [F.150.b] with great diligence in his practice. After twelve thousand years had passed he attained the samādhi called manifestation of all forms. As soon as he attained that samādhi, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana was pleased and delighted, joyous and happy.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，日月燈明佛的壽命是四萬二千劫。那些菩薩摩訶薩和那些聲聞眾的壽命也是相同的。菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩致力於追隨那位薄伽梵的教法而付出艱辛。在十二千年中，他以大精進在他的修行中不斷進步。十二千年過去後，他證得了名叫一切形象顯現的三昧。菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩一旦證得那個三昧，就感到歡喜、愉悅、充滿喜樂和快樂。」
22.5“At that time, he thought, ‘I have attained the samādhi called manifestation of all forms through this Dharma teaching, The White Lotus of the Good Dharma.’ Also at that time, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana thought, ‘In this way, I shall make an offering to the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī and to this Dharma teaching, The White Lotus of the Good Dharma.’
22.5「那時，他想著：『我通過這部法教《妙法蓮華經》而獲得了名為一切形相現示的三昧。』同時，菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩想著：『我將以這種方式向如來、阿羅漢、正等覺佛日月燈明佛作供養，並向這部法教《妙法蓮華經》作供養。』」
22.6“He then entered that samādhi, and as soon as the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana entered that samādhi, at that moment, there fell from the sky above a great rain of divine coral tree flowers and great coral tree flowers. Clouds of benzoin resin and sandalwood formed, and there fell a great rain of uragasāra sandalwood.
22.6「他隨即進入那個三昧，當菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩進入那個三昧的時刻，此時從上空降下大量的天界珊瑚樹花和珊瑚樹花。安息香樹脂和檀香形成了雲層，並降下大量的沈香木雨。」
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, this entire Sahā world realm would not be enough for the price of two karṣa of that kind of perfume.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，這整個娑婆世界都不足以換取那種香料的兩迦羅的價格。
22.7“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, then the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana mindfully and knowingly arose from that samādhi. After arising from that samādhi, he thought, ‘This manifestation of miraculous events cannot serve as an offering to the Bhagavān in the way that giving my own body would be.’ [F.151.a]
22.7星宿王花冠菩薩，那時菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩從那個三昧中，正念正知地起來。從那個三昧起來以後，他心想，「這種神奇奇蹟的顯現，不如用自己的身體來供養薄伽梵那樣的方式來得適當。」
“Then at that time, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana ate agarwood, frankincense, and mastic resin, and drank magnolia oil.
「那時星宿王花冠菩薩，菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩食沉香、乳香、乾漆，飲木蘭花油。」
22.8“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, in this way the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana continually ate incenses and drank magnolia oil for twelve years.
22.8「星宿王花冠菩薩，普賢菩薩摩訶薩就這樣連續十二年，不斷地食用香料，飲用木蘭花油。
“Then, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, after twelve years had passed, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana wrapped his body in divine cotton and soaked it with sesame oil, and, having made his firm resolve, he burned his own body as an offering to the Tathāgata and to this Dharma teaching, The White Lotus of the Good Dharma.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，十二年後，普賢菩薩摩訶薩用天上的棉布裹住自己的身體，將它浸泡在芝麻油中，發起堅固的誓願，將自己的身體燃燒作為對如來和這部法教《妙法蓮華經》的供養。」
22.9“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the light from the burning body of the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana shone throughout as many world realms as there are grains of sand in eighty Ganges Rivers. The buddha bhagavāns, as numerous as the grains of sand in eighty Ganges Rivers, who were in those world realms exclaimed, ‘Excellent, noble one! Excellent! This is the true application of the diligence of the bodhisattva mahāsattvas. This is the true offering to a tathāgata and to the Dharma. The offering of flowers, incense, perfume, garlands, ointments, powders, clothing, parasols, banners, and divine flags, and the offering of other material gifts, and the offering of uragasāra sandalwood does not compare. Noble one, this is the supreme gift. [F.151.b] Giving away one’s kingdom does not compare. Giving away one’s beloved children and spouses does not compare. Noble one, this Dharma offering of giving away your own body is the preeminent, the highest offering—the best, the most excellent offering.’
22.9「星宿王花冠菩薩，普賢菩薩摩訶薩燃燒身體所放出的光芒照耀了八十條恆河沙數量那麼多的世界。那些世界中的佛薄伽梵，數量也如八十條恆河的沙粒一樣眾多，他們都讚歎說：『善哉，善士！善哉！這才是菩薩摩訶薩真正的精進修行。這才是對如來和法教的真正供養。花朵、香、香料、花環、油膏、香粉、衣服、陽傘、旗幟和天神旗幟的供養，以及其他物質禮物的供養，還有沈香木檀香的供養，都不能相比。善士，這是至高無上的布施。放棄自己的王國也不能相比。放棄自己心愛的兒女和配偶也不能相比。善士，這種用自己的身體進行的法教供養是最殊勝的、最高的供養——最好、最優異的供養。』」
22.10“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, those buddha bhagavāns spoke those words and then were silent.
22.10「星宿王花冠菩薩，那些佛薄伽梵說完了這些話之後就安靜了。
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana’s body burned without going out for twelve years. Afterward, when twelve years had passed, the fire went out.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩的身體燃燒了十二年而沒有熄滅。之後，十二年過去了，火才熄滅。」
22.11“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana made that kind of offering to the Tathāgata and to the Dharma. Then after he had died, during the time of the teaching of the bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī, he was reborn into the family of King Vimaladatta. He was miraculously born sitting cross-legged on his mother’s lap. As soon as the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana was born, at that time he recited this verse to his parents:
22.11「星宿王花冠菩薩，普賢菩薩摩訶薩就這樣向如來和法進行了供養。之後當他圓寂時，在薄伽梵、如來、阿羅漢、正遍知佛日月燈明佛的教法時代，他投生到淨德王的家族中。他以神奇的方式誕生，盤腿坐在他母親的懷裡。普賢菩薩摩訶薩一誕生，當時他就向他的雙親誦出了這個偈頌：
22.13“After the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana had recited that verse, he said to his parents, ‘Father and Mother, the bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī is now alive, present, and continues to remain in this world. He is the Bhagavān to whom I made this offering and attained the power of retention that is skill in all words. He is the Bhagavān from whom I heard this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma [F.152.a] taught in eighty times a hundred thousand quintillion verses, a thousand trillion verses, a hundred thousand trillion verses, and ten quintillion verses. Therefore, Father, Mother, it would be excellent for me to go before the Bhagavān. Then when I am there I will make offerings to the Bhagavān.’
22.13「菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩誦完那個偈頌之後，對他的父母說：『父親和母親，薄伽梵、如來、阿羅漢、正遍知佛日月燈明佛現在活著，就在這裡，繼續住在這個世界上。他就是我向他作供養並獲得了詞句智慧陀羅尼力的薄伽梵。他就是我聽受《妙法蓮華經》法教的薄伽梵，這部法教以八十倍的百千俱胝倍，千萬倍，十萬俱胝倍，以及十倍俱胝的偈頌來宣說。因此，父親、母親，我現在去到薄伽梵面前是最好的。到那裡之後，我將向薄伽梵作供養。』」
22.14“Then, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, at that time the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana rose into the air to the height of seven palm trees and, sitting cross-legged in a kūṭāgāra made of the seven precious materials, he went into the presence of the Bhagavān. Having arrived there he bowed his head to the Bhagavān’s feet, circumambulated the Bhagavān seven times, and with his hands together in homage he bowed toward the Bhagavān and, paying homage to the Bhagavān, he praised him by reciting this verse:
22.14「星宿王花冠菩薩，當時菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩騰身虛空，高至七棵棕櫚樹的高度，坐在由七寶製成的樓閣中，前往薄伽梵的面前。抵達後，他向薄伽梵的雙足頂禮，繞行薄伽梵七次，雙手合掌向薄伽梵恭敬頂禮，並讚歎薄伽梵，誦此偈頌：
22.16“Then he said to the bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī, ‘Bhagavān, will you continue to remain?’
22.16「那時他對薄伽梵、如來、阿羅漢、正遍知佛日月燈明佛說：『薄伽梵，您還要繼續住世嗎？』」
“Then, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī [F.152.b] replied to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana, ‘Noble one, the time for me to pass into nirvāṇa has come. Noble one, the time when my life is to end has come. Noble one, go and prepare my dais, for I will pass into nirvāṇa.’
「那時，星宿王花冠菩薩薄伽梵、如來、阿羅漢、正等覺日月燈明佛回答菩薩摩訶薩一切眾生喜見者說：『善男子，我進入涅槃的時候到了。善男子，我的壽命將要終結了。善男子，你去為我準備法座，我將進入涅槃。』」
22.17“Then, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī said to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana, ‘Noble one, I entrust this teaching to you. I entrust to you these bodhisattva mahāsattvas, these great śrāvakas, this enlightenment of buddhahood, this world realm, these precious platforms, these precious trees, and these devas who are honoring me. Noble one, I also entrust to you whatever relics there will be from my passing into nirvāṇa. Noble one, make vast offerings to my relics, distribute my relics widely, and construct many thousands of stūpas.’
22.17那時，星宿王花冠菩薩，薄伽梵、如來、阿羅漢、正遍知佛日月燈明佛對菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩說：「善男子，我將此教法託付於你。我託付給你這些菩薩摩訶薩、這些大聲聞、這菩提、這世界、這些寶座、這些寶樹，以及這些恭敬承侍我的天眾。善男子，我也託付給你從我涅槃之後所有的舍利。善男子，要對我的舍利做廣大的供養，要廣泛地分布我的舍利，並建造許多千座塔廟。」
22.18“Then, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī having thus instructed the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana, in the last division of that night he passed into nirvāṇa, into the realm of nirvāṇa that has no remainder.
22.18「那時，星宿王花冠菩薩，薄伽梵、如來、阿羅漢、正遍知佛日月燈明佛如此教誡菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩之後，在那個夜晚的最後時段，他進入了涅槃，進入了無餘涅槃的境界。」
“Then, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, when the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana saw that the bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī had passed into nirvāṇa, [F.153.a] he made a heap of uragasāra sandalwood and cremated the body of the Tathāgata. When he saw that the cremation fire of the Tathāgata had gone out, he collected the relics, weeping, wailing, and lamenting.
「那時，星宿王花冠菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩看到薄伽梵、如來、阿羅漢、正遍知佛日月燈明佛已經進入涅槃，他就堆積沈香木檀香，用火焚燒如來的身體。當他看到如來的焚燒之火熄滅了，他就收集舍利，邊哭邊號啕大慟。」
22.19“Then, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana, weeping, wailing, and lamenting, had eighty-four thousand vases made of the seven precious materials, and he placed the relics of the Tathāgata inside them. He had eighty-four thousand stūpas constructed that were also made of the seven precious materials and were so high they reached the realm of Brahmā. They were adorned by a tier of parasols and were hung with streamers and bells. Having had these stūpas constructed he thought, ‘I have made an offering to the relics of Bhagavān Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī, of the Tathāgata, but I shall make a far greater and higher offering than that to the relics of the Tathāgata.’
22.19「那時，星宿王花冠菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩哭泣、哀號、悲歎，命人製作八萬四千個由七寶所成的寶瓶，並將如來的舍利放入其中。他又命人建造了八萬四千座同樣由七寶所成的塔廟，這些塔廟高聳入雲，直達梵天之界。塔廟頂端裝飾著傘蓋，懸掛著繒幡和鐘鈴。建造完這些塔廟後，他心想：『我已經對薄伽梵日月燈明佛、如來的舍利做出了供養，但我將對如來的舍利做出遠遠更加廣大和更加殊勝的供養。』」
22.20“Then, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana said to the all-inclusive assembly of bodhisattvas, and the assembly of the great śrāvakas, and the devas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans, and nonhumans, ‘Noble ones, think of making offerings to the relics of the Bhagavān!’
22.20「那時，星宿王花冠菩薩，菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩對所有菩薩的集合大眾、聲聞眾的集合大眾、天眾、藥叉眾、乾闥婆眾、阿修羅眾、迦樓羅眾、緊那羅眾、摩睺羅伽眾、人及非人說道：『各位尊者，請思考向薄伽梵的舍利作供養吧！』」
“Then, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, at that time the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana, in front of the eighty-four thousand stūpas, burned his arm that was adorned by a hundred merits. Burning his arm, he made an offering to those stūpas of the Tathāgata for seventy-two thousand years. [F.153.b] Through making that offering, he guided countless hundred thousands of quintillions of śrāvakas. Also all the bodhisattvas attained the samādhi called manifestation of all forms.
「那時，星宿王花冠菩薩，菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩在八萬四千座塔前，燒燃自己的臂膀，這臂膀具有百種功德。他燒燃臂膀，向如來的那些塔廟供養了七萬二千年。通過這樣的供養，他引導了數不盡的百千億兆的聲聞眾。同時所有的菩薩都獲得了名叫『一切形相顯現』的三昧。」
22.21“Then, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the all-inclusive assembly of bodhisattvas, and the great śrāvakas, seeing that the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana had lost a limb, wept, wailed, lamented, and cried out to each other, ‘Our master and teacher, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana, does not now have all his limbs; he has lost an arm!’
22.21那時星宿王花冠菩薩、菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩失去了一隻手臂，所有的菩薩們和偉大的聲聞眾看到這一幕，都哭泣、哭喊、悲嘆，互相呼喊著說：「我們的主人和導師，菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩，現在不再擁有完整的身體了；他失去了一隻手臂！」
“Then, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana said to those bodhisattva mahāsattvas, great śrāvakas, and devas, ‘Noble ones, do not weep on seeing that I have lost a limb. Do not wail! Do not lament! Noble ones, I take as my witness all the buddha bhagavāns that live, are present, and remain in the endless infinite world realms in the ten directions, and before them I make this resolution of the truth. Through the truth, through true words, through having given up my arm as an offering to the Tathāgata, may my body become golden. Through the truth, the true words of that, may my arm be restored as it was before. May this great earth shake six times, and may a great rain of flowers be cast down by the devas who dwell in the sky.’ [F.154.a]
「那時，星宿王花冠菩薩，菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩對那些菩薩摩訶薩、大聲聞眾和天眾說道：『諸位大德，看到我失去了一條手臂，不要哭泣。不要哀號！不要悲嘆！諸位大德，我以見證人的身份召喚十方無邊無際世界中活著、現在存在、安住的一切佛薄伽梵，在他們面前我發此真實誓願。通過真實，通過真實的言語，通過將我的手臂作為供養獻給如來，願我的身體變成金色。通過那真實的真實言語，願我的手臂恢復如初。願大地震動六次，願居住在空中的天眾降下大雨花。』」
22.22“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, as soon as the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana had made that resolution of the truth, the world realm of a thousand million worlds shook in six ways, a rain of flowers fell from the sky, and the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana’s arm was restored as it was before, which was due to the bodhisattva mahāsattva’s having gained the power of wisdom and having gained the power of merit.
22.22「星宿王花冠菩薩，普賢菩薩摩訶薩一發出誠實的誓言，那千百億世界立刻六種震動，天上降下花雨，普賢菩薩摩訶薩的手臂恢復如初。這是因為菩薩摩訶薩得到了智慧的力量和功德的力量。」
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, are you uncertain, unsure, undecided, thinking that the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana at that time, on that occasion, was anyone else? Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, do not have that view. Why is that? Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, this bodhisattva mahāsattva Bhaiṣajyarāja was at that time, on that occasion, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，你是否心存疑慮、不確定、拿不定主意，認為當時那個場合的菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩是別人呢？星宿王花冠菩薩，不要有這樣的看法。為什麼呢？星宿王花冠菩薩，這位菩薩摩訶薩藥王菩薩，就是當時那個場合的菩薩摩訶薩普賢菩薩。」
22.23“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Bhaiṣajyarāja accomplished those hundred thousand quintillion hardships, and he gave up his body.
22.23「星宿王花冠菩薩，菩薩摩訶薩藥王菩薩成就了那百千億兆的苦行，並且他捨棄了自己的身體。
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the noble man or noble woman who enters the Bodhisattvayāna, through wishing for this highest, complete enlightenment, should burn the big toe of a foot for the caityas of the Tathāgata—they should burn a finger or a toe or a limb or an arm. That noble man or noble woman who has entered the Bodhisattvayāna [F.154.b] will thus create a much greater amount of merit. Giving up a kingdom is not comparable. Giving up a beloved spouse, son, or daughter is not comparable. Giving up a world realm of a billion worlds with its forests, oceans, mountains, rivers, lakes, ponds, wells, and parks is not comparable.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，進入菩薩乘的善男子或善女人，為了追求無上正等正覺，應當為如來的支提燃燒腳的大腳趾——他們應當燃燒手指或腳趾或身體的某個肢體或手臂。進入菩薩乘的那位善男子或善女人將由此獲得更加殊勝的功德。放棄一個王國無法相比。放棄親愛的配偶、兒子或女兒無法相比。放棄一個擁有森林、海洋、山脈、河流、湖泊、池塘、井和公園的千億世界無法相比。」
22.24“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, if a noble man or noble woman who has entered the Bodhisattvayāna were to give this world realm of a billion worlds filled with the seven precious materials to all the buddhas, bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, and pratyekabuddhas, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, that noble man or noble woman would not create as much merit as that created by the noble man or noble woman who possesses just one four-line verse from this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma. It is taught that their merit would be much greater. Giving this world realm of a billion worlds filled with the seven precious materials to all the buddhas, bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, and pratyekabuddhas is not comparable.
22.24「星宿王花冠菩薩，假如有進入菩薩乘的善男子或善女人，將充滿七寶的千億世界供養給所有的諸佛、菩薩、聲聞眾和辟支佛，星宿王花冠菩薩，那位善男子或善女人所獲得的功德，還不如擁有《妙法蓮華經》這部法教中僅僅四句偈頌的善男子或善女人所獲得的功德。教法說他們的功德會大得多。將充滿七寶的千億世界供養給所有的諸佛、菩薩、聲聞眾和辟支佛是無法相比的。」
22.25“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, it is like the way that the ocean is supreme over all rivers, lakes, and ponds.
22.25「星宿王花冠菩薩，就像大海在所有河流、湖泊和池塘中最為殊勝一樣。
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, in that same way, this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma is supreme over all the sūtras taught by all the tathāgatas.
星宿王花冠菩薩，這部《妙法蓮華經》的法教也是如此，在一切如來眾所說的經典中最為殊勝。
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, [F.155.a] it is like the way that Sumeru, the king of mountains, is supreme over the Kāla , Cakravāla, and Mahācakravāla mountains.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，就像須彌山是眾山之王，超越過迦羅山、鐵圍山和大鐵圍山一樣。
22.26“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, in that same way, this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma is supreme over all the sūtras taught by all the tathāgatas.
22.26「星宿王花冠菩薩，同樣的道理，這部妙法蓮華經的法教勝於一切如來眾所宣說的所有經典。」
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, it is like the way that the moon is supreme in brightness over the stars.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，就像月亮在光明上勝過眾星一樣。
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, in that same way, the bright light of this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma is supreme over that of a hundred thousand quintillion moons.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，就像這樣，妙法蓮華經這個法教的光明，勝過百千萬億月亮的光明。」
22.27“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, it is like the way that the disk of the sun eliminates all darkness.
22.27「星宿王花冠菩薩，就像太陽的圓盤消除一切黑暗一樣。
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, in that same way, this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma eliminates all the darkness of bad actions.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，就像這樣，妙法蓮華的法教消除一切惡業的黑暗。」
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, it is like the way that Śakra is the lord of devas among the devas of Trāyastriṃśa.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，就像釋提桓因是三十三天天眾中的天主一樣。」
22.28“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, in that same way, this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma is the lord of all the sūtras taught by the tathāgatas.
22.28「星宿王花冠菩薩，這部妙法蓮華經的法教，就像這樣，是如來眾所宣說的一切經典之中的主人。」
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, it is like the way that Brahmā, lord of Sahā, is the king over all the Brahmakāyika devas and acts as their father in the Brahmā paradise.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，就像梵天是娑婆世界的主宰，統領所有梵眾天，在梵天天宮中作為他們的父親一樣。」
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, in that same way, this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma is the father of all beings, both those in training and those who have transcended training, and all who have entered the Śrāvakayāna, Pratyekabuddhayāna, or Bodhisattvayāna. [F.155.b]
「星宿王花冠菩薩，就像須陀洹、斯陀含、阿那含、阿羅漢和辟支佛超越了一切凡夫愚癡的眾生一樣，這部《妙法蓮華經》的法教是一切眾生的父親，包括那些仍在修行中的眾生和已經超越修行的眾生，以及所有進入聲聞乘、辟支佛乘或菩薩乘的人。」
22.29“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, it is like the way that the stream entrants, the once-returners, the nonreturners, the arhats, and pratyekabuddhas have transcended all ordinary, foolish beings.
22.29「星宿王花冠菩薩，就像須陀洹、斯陀含、阿那含、阿羅漢和辟支佛超越了所有凡夫愚人一樣。
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, in that same way, this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma has transcended all the other sūtras taught by the tathāgatas, is superior to them, and is supreme among them.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，同樣地，這部妙法蓮華經的法教已經超越了如來眾所宣說的所有其他經典，勝於它們，在它們之中最為殊勝。」
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, know that those who possess this king of the sūtras are supreme among all beings.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，要知道，具有這部經中之王的人，在一切眾生中是最尊勝的。」
22.30“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, it is like the way that the bodhisattva is supreme over all the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas.
22.30「星宿王花冠菩薩，菩薩超越所有聲聞眾和辟支佛，就如同這個道理一樣。」
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, in that same way, this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma is supreme over all the sūtras taught by the tathāgatas.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，同樣地，這部妙法蓮華的法教在如來眾所教說的一切經典中是最殊勝的。」
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, it is like the way that the Tathāgata is crowned King of the Dharma among all the śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, and bodhisattvas.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，譬如如來在所有聲聞眾、辟支佛和菩薩們中被尊為法王，擁有最高的地位。」
22.31“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, in the same way, this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma is like the Tathāgata for all those who have entered the Bodhisattvayāna.
22.31「星宿王花冠菩薩，同樣地，這部《妙法蓮華經》的法教就像如來一樣，對於所有進入菩薩乘的眾生而言。
22.32“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma protects beings from all fear, and frees them from all suffering. It is like a pond for those who are thirsty. It is like clothing for the naked. [F.156.a] It is like a caravan leader for merchants. It is like a mother for children. It is like a boat for those crossing to the opposite shore. It is like medicine for the sick. It is like a lamp for those in the obscuration of darkness. It is like jewels for those wishing for wealth. It is like a cakravartin for all minor kings. It is like the ocean for rivers. It is like a torch for dispelling all darkness.
22.32「星宿王花冠菩薩，這妙法蓮華經的法教保護眾生免於一切恐懼，解脫他們所有的苦。對於口渴的人，它像一個水池。對於赤身的人，它像衣服。對於商人，它像商隊的領隊。對於孩童，它像母親。對於渡向彼岸的人，它像船隻。對於患病的人，它像藥物。對於處在黑暗障蔽中的人，它像燈火。對於渴望財富的人，它像寶石。對於所有小王，它像轉輪聖王。對於河流，它像海洋。對於驅散一切黑暗，它像火炬。」
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, in the same way, this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma frees from all suffering. It ends all illness. It frees from all the distress of the bondage of saṃsāra.
星宿王花冠菩薩，同樣地，這部《妙法蓮華經》的法教解脫一切苦難，終結一切疾病，從輪迴的束縛痛苦中獲得解脫。
22.33“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, for the person who hears this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma, writes it down, or has someone write it, and who, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, possesses this Dharma teaching, or teaches it, hears it, writes it down or has someone write it, makes a volume of it, honors it, venerates it, worships it, and makes offerings to it—makes many kinds of offerings to it, such as flowers, incense, perfume, garlands, ointments, powders, cloth, parasols, banners, flags, music, clothing, the act of placing hands together in homage, lamps of ghee, lamps of sesame oil, lamps of perfumed sesame oil, lamps of magnolia oil, and lamps of royal jasmine, bignonia, gardenia , and shrubby jasmine oils—even the wisdom of the buddhas is unable to know the limits of the merit created by such honoring, venerating, worshiping, and offering. [F.156.b]
22.33「星宿王花冠菩薩，對於聽聞《妙法蓮華經》這部法教、抄寫它或請人抄寫的人，星宿王花冠菩薩啊，對於那些受持這部法教、或宣講它、聽聞它、抄寫它或請人抄寫它、製作經卷、尊重它、恭敬它、禮拜它，以及供養它的人——對它進行多種供養，例如花、香、香水、花環、膏油、粉末、布料、傘蓋、幡、旗、音樂、衣服、合掌禮敬、酥油燈、芝麻油燈、香芝麻油燈、木蘭花油燈，以及茉莉花、凌霄花、梔子花和灌木茉莉花油燈等——即使是諸佛的智慧也無法知道這樣的尊重、恭敬、禮拜和供養所生起的功德的邊際。」
22.34“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, the noble man or noble woman who has entered the Bodhisattvayāna and possesses this chapter, ‘The Past of Bhaiṣajyarāja,’ teaches it, or listens to it will generate much merit. If a woman hears and possesses this Dharma teaching, that will be her last life as a woman.
22.34「星宿王花冠菩薩，進入菩薩乘的善男子或善女人，若持有《藥王菩薩本事品》這一品，為他人講說或聽聞它，將生起大量功德。若有女人聽聞並持有此法教，那將是她最後一次以女身出生。
22.35“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, a woman who, in the final five hundred years, hears and practices this chapter, ‘The Past of Bhaiṣajyarāja,’ when she dies will be reborn in the world realm Sukhāvatī. There he will be born upon a lion throne in the center of a lotus where the bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Amitāyus, encircled by an assembly of bodhisattvas, lives, is present, and remains. There he will not be afflicted by desire, anger, ignorance, pride, envy, rage, or malice. As soon as he is born there he will possess the five higher knowledges. He will also attain receptivity to the birthlessness of phenomena.
22.35「星宿王花冠菩薩，一個女人在末法五百年期間，若聽聞並修習這一章《藥王菩薩本事》，當她死後將轉生到極樂世界。在那裡，她將出生在獅子座上，位於一朵蓮華的中央，薄伽梵、如來、阿羅漢、正遍知佛無量壽佛就住在那裡，由許多菩薩們的集會所圍繞。在那裡，他將不會被貪欲、瞋、無明、驕慢、嫉妒、憤怒或惡意所困擾。他一出生在那裡就會具有五通。他也將獲得法無生忍。」
22.36“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, that bodhisattva mahāsattva, having attained receptivity to the birthlessness of phenomena, will see tathāgatas as numerous as the grains of sand in seventy-two Ganges Rivers. With his purified eyes he will see those buddha bhagavāns. In that way the faculty of his eyes will be purified. Also those buddha bhagavāns will congratulate him, saying, ‘Noble one, it is excellent that you have heard this Dharma teaching of The White Lotus of the Good Dharma, [F.157.a] and had bestowed upon you, recited, meditated on, and contemplated the words of Buddha Śākyamuni. Noble one, the merit you have created cannot be burned by fire or swept away by water. Noble one, the merit you have created cannot be described even by a hundred thousand buddhas. Noble one, you have defeated the opposing forces of the māras, you have crossed the ocean of existence, you have crushed the assault of the enemy. You have been empowered by a hundred thousand buddhas. Noble one, there is no one like you in the world with its devas. Other than the Tathāgata, no śrāvaka, pratyekabuddha, or bodhisattva can outshine your merit, knowledge, wisdom, or samādhi.’
22.36星宿王花冠菩薩，那位菩薩摩訶薩已經獲得法無生忍，將會看到如來眾多，如同七十二條恆河中的沙粒那樣多。用他清淨的眼睛，他將看到那些佛薄伽梵。這樣他眼根就會得到清淨。那些佛薄伽梵也將稱讚他，說：「善男子，你聽聞《妙法蓮華經》的法教，並且將釋迦牟尼佛的教言付與你、誦讀、思惟、觀察，這真是太好了。善男子，你所創造的功德火燒不了，水沖不走。善男子，就算有百千萬佛也說不完你所創造的功德。善男子，你已經戰勝了魔眾的對抗力量，你已經渡過了輪迴之海，你已經粉碎了敵人的攻擊。你已經得到百千萬佛的賦予力量。善男子，在有天眾的世界裡，沒有人像你這樣。除了如來以外，沒有聲聞、辟支佛或菩薩能夠超越你的功德、知識、智慧和三昧。」
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, that bodhisattva mahāsattva will attain that kind of development of knowledge.
「星宿王花冠菩薩，那位菩薩摩訶薩將證得那樣的智慧發展。
22.37“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, if someone hears the teaching of this chapter, ‘The Past of Bhaiṣajyarāja,’ and says, ‘It is excellent! Excellent!’ the scent of the blue lotus will come from their mouth, and their body will have the aroma of sandalwood. One who, when this Dharma teaching is being taught, says, ‘This is excellent!’ gains these kinds of evident qualities that I have taught.
22.37星宿王花冠菩薩，若有人聞到這一章《藥王菩薩本事》的法教，說「太好了！太好了！」，青蓮華的香氣就會從他們的嘴裡散發出來，他們的身體會有檀香的芬芳。當這個法教被傳授時，說「這是很好的！」的人就會獲得我所教導的這些明顯的功德。
22.38“Therefore, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, I entrust you with this chapter on the history of the bodhisattva mahāsattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana so that in the future, in the later times, during the final five hundred years, it will be practiced in Jambudvīpa and will not vanish; so that Māra, the evil one, will find no opportunity to attack it; and so that the devas, nāgas, [F.157.b] yakṣas, gandharvas, and mahoragas who belong to the class of māras will find no opportunity to attack it.
22.38「因此，星宿王花冠菩薩，我將普賢菩薩的菩薩摩訶薩的歷史這一章託付給你，使得在未來，在末法時代，在最後五百年間，它將在閻浮提得以修行並不會消滅；使得魔邪惡者找不到機會來攻擊它；並使得屬於魔眾之類的天眾、龍眾、藥叉眾、乾闥婆眾和摩睺羅伽眾找不到機會來攻擊它。」
22.39“Therefore, Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, this Dharma teaching is blessed to be like medicine for those beings in Jambudvīpa who are sick, who are afflicted by illness. When one has heard this Dharma teaching, the body will not be afflicted by illness, and there will no aging or premature death.
22.39「因此，星宿王花冠菩薩，這個法教被祝福如同藥物，對於閻浮提中那些生病、被疾病所困擾的眾生。當一個人聽到這個法教時，身體將不會被疾病所困擾，也將不會有衰老或早死。」
22.40“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, if someone who has entered the Bodhisattvayāna sees a bhikṣu who possesses this sūtra, they should sprinkle him with sandalwood powder and with blue lotuses. And having scattered those, they should have the thought, ‘This noble man is going to the Bodhimaṇḍa, he will obtain grass, he will lay out the grass at the Bodhimaṇḍa, he will defeat the māras, he will blow the conch of the Dharma, he will beat the drum of the Dharma, and he will cross the ocean of saṃsāra.’
22.40「星宿王花冠菩薩，若有人進入菩薩乘者，見到持有此經的比丘，應當用檀香粉和青蓮華來灑淨他。灑淨之後，應當這樣思想：『這位善男子將前往菩提座，他將獲得吉祥草，他將在菩提座處鋪設吉祥草，他將擊敗魔眾，他將吹響法的螺號，他將敲響法的戰鼓，他將渡過輪迴的大海。』」
“Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, a noble man or noble woman who has entered the Bodhisattvayāna should develop that thought when they see a bhikṣu who possesses this kind of sūtra. In that way there will be those qualities that are the qualities that have been described by the Tathāgata.”
「星宿王花冠菩薩，已進入菩薩乘的善男子或善女人，當見到具有這樣經典的比丘時，應該生起這樣的念頭。以這樣的方式，就會具有那些如來所說過的功德。」
22.41When the chapter “The Past of Bhaiṣajyarāja” was taught, eighty-four thousand bodhisattvas attained the power of retention that possesses skill in words.
22.41當宣說《藥王菩薩本事品》時，八萬四千位菩薩們獲得了具有言辭善巧的持力。
The bhagavān, the tathāgata, the arhat, the perfectly enlightened buddha Prabhūtaratna also commended Nakṣatrarājasaṃkusumitābhijña, saying, “It is excellent, excellent that you have asked the Tathāgata about the Dharma that has inconceivable qualities.” [F.158.a]
薄伽梵、如來、阿羅漢、正遍知佛多寶佛也讚歎星宿王花冠菩薩，說道：「善哉，善哉，你能夠請問如來關於具有不可思議功德的法。」
22.42This concludes “The Past of Bhaiṣajyarāja,” the twenty-second chapter of the Dharma teaching of “The White Lotus of the Good Dharma.”
22.42（結尾）