The Translation

[F.161.b]

1.1Homage to all buddhas and bodhisattvas!

1.2Thus did I hear at one time. The Bhagavān was staying in Rājagṛha’s Bamboo Grove, in the Habitat of Kalandaka Birds. At that time, a certain monk was residing on the banks of Rājagṛha’s hot springs. When night had fallen, a deity with a brilliant golden complexion appeared before the monk and illuminated the entire bank of the hot springs with a vast radiance.

1.3The deity asked, “Monk, do you know the teaching of Auspicious Night?”

The monk replied, “Deva, I am ignorant of the teaching of Auspicious Night. Now, are you, Deva, aware of the teaching of Auspicious Night, or are you unaware of it?

“Monk, I too do not know the teaching of Auspicious Night.”

1.4In turn, the monk asked, “Deva, who then exists who knows the teaching of Auspicious Night?”

The deity said, “The Bhagavān is staying nearby in Rājagṛha’s Bamboo Grove, in the Habitat of Kalandaka Birds. Go straight to the Bhagavān and ask him! Retain the Bhagavān’s instruction exactly as it is given to you, and apply yourself to it!” He then disappeared suddenly.

1.5The next morning, the monk went to the Bhagavān. On arriving, he bowed his head to the Bhagavān’s feet and remained to one side. Sitting to the side of the Bhagavān, the monk asked the Bhagavān, “Venerable sir, last night, after dusk, a deity with a brilliant golden complexion [F.162.a] appeared before me and illuminated the entire bank of the hot springs with a vast radiance. The deity said to me, ‘Monk, do you know the teaching of Auspicious Night?’ I replied, ‘Deva, I am ignorant of the teaching of Auspicious Night. Now, are you, Deva, aware of the teaching of Auspicious Night, or are you unaware of it?’ ‘Monk, I too do not know the teaching of Auspicious Night,’ the deity responded. ‘Deva, who then exists who knows the teaching of Auspicious Night?’ The deity then said, ‘The Bhagavān is staying in Rājagṛha’s Bamboo Grove, in the Habitat of Kalandaka Birds. Go straight to the Bhagavān and ask him! Retain the Bhagavān’s instruction exactly as it is given to you, and apply yourself to it!’ He then disappeared suddenly. Therefore, Venerable Bhagavān, I have come to ask you the meaning of this.”

1.6The Bhagavān asked, “Monk, do you know that deity?”

“Sir, I do not know that deity,” the monk replied.

1.7“This deity is a general of the gods of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. His name is Candana.”

“Sir, I wish to hear the teaching of Auspicious Night,” the monk entreated.

1.8The Bhagavān replied, “Then, monk, listen well and carefully, and pay attention! I will teach you. Monk, when monks are endowed with three special qualities, they are called those who abide by the teaching of Auspicious Night. Which three? They are as follows: By possessing the three special qualities of (1) not following after the past, (2) not hoping for the future, and (3) remaining uncaptivated by presently arisen states, a monk is known as someone who follows the teaching of Auspicious Night.”

1.9This is what the Bhagavān said. [F.162.b] After the Sugata had thus spoken, he furthermore stated the following:

1.15Then the Bhagavān, for the safeguarding of all sentient beings, offered this teaching of Auspicious Night and taught the following Dravidian mantras:

1.16tadyathā| bi nā bi ni| bi na pūraṇi| buddha-martaṇḍe| mānini mānini| ṇi ṇi ṇi ṇi| ṭi ṭi ṭi ṭi| vīrati| gauri| gāndhāri| caṇḍāli| mātaṃgi| pukkasi| brāhmaṇi| drāviḍi| drāmiḍi| śavari| sadālambha| hīna­madhyama­dhāriṇi| maholani| dalabhani| dalābhadre| mahādalini| calini| muṣṭe| cakravarti| mahācakravarti| śavari śavari| mahāśavari| bhu tsing gi| bhu tsi ring gi ni| ni mi ni ming gi ni| nimiṃdhari bhu ta ni svāhā

1.17tadyathā| e ṭu ṭu ṭu ṭu| na ṭu mi rṇi| ki rṇi| eṁ ku| sid da ta ri| tsa la lu| rni rtu| nirma llu| gallu| a ba tra no ne| śe ku nir ba ra da sa le| ta ra ke| ta re| ta rod tu| nod tu| ti la la lu| bhūtapataye| ba ta yi ye svāhā

1.18tadyathā| arakāte | narakāte| pāṃśuka| pāyiye| kapotaka pāyiye| tapodhane svāhā

1.19“Monk, when, with the intention of safeguarding all sentient beings, sons of good family or daughters of good family [F.163.a] keep the meaning of Auspicious Night’s teachings, together with its prose, its stanzas, and its Dravidian mantras, in their mind, or when they remember it, read it, concentrate on it, master it, or correctly teach it in detail to others, their body will be indestructible by fire, indestructible by poison, and unharmed by punishment inflicted by authorities or assault from thieves; furthermore, they will not die prematurely and will certainly reach nirvāṇa.

1.26“Homage to the completely perfect buddhas, the tathāgatas, the arhats of the past, present, and future!

1.27“Having thus paid homage, one should recite the following incantations:

1.28“Through this incantation, may I become prosperous!

1.29tadyathā| nimi nimiṃdhare| timi timiṅgali| trailokya-avalokini| [F.163.b] triśūladharaṇi| a ku phi ni| kṛmīkṛti | ki li ki li| kud to kud to| kud to kud si| kurti ku pi ti

1.30“May I and all sentient beings, accompanied by Vajrapāṇi, be protected everywhere from all dangers, illnesses, poisons, fevers, evil spirits, bites from venomous creatures, thieves, all humans and nonhumans, all dangers, injuries, infectious disease, fighting, troubles, wrongdoing, discord, quarrels, and disputes, as well as from all evil deeds committed with body, speech, and mind, and from all fears! Protect!

1.31tadyathā| hi li mi li| tsi li| i li| mi li| piśācini parṇaśavari tsi li tsi li svāhā

1.32When the Bhagavān had spoken these words, the monks and all the assemblies, together with the world and its deities, humans, asuras, garuḍas, gandharvas, kinnaras, mahoragas, great yakṣas, rākṣasas, pretas, and piśācas, delighted and rejoiced in the Bhagavān’s words.

1.33This completes the noble sūtra “Auspicious Night.”