The Translation
[F.222.b]
Homage to the Three Jewels.
敬禮三寶。
Homage to the venerable lady Tārā.
敬禮尊貴的度母。
Homage to the Blessed Śākyamuni.
禮敬大覺者釋迦牟尼。
1.2Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was dwelling in the realm of gods atop Mount Meru. At that time, the goddess Tārā, who was in the assembly, spoke the following words:
1.2如是我聞。一時，世尊住在須彌山頂的諸天境界中。當時，集會中的度母女神說出了以下的話語：
“Now that you have reached this jewel-like higher realm,
「既然你已經到達這宛如寶石般的更高境界，
You should understand actions and their results:
你應當了解業行及其果報：
Adhere to the good and abandon the bad,
遵循善業，捨棄惡業，
For those who engage in evil actions [F.223.a]
對於從事惡業的人來說
Will plunge downward when they pass from this world.
當他們離開這個世界時，將會墮落。
“Animals, dull and mute, devour one another.
"畜生道眾生，愚鈍而無言，互相吞食。
They climb and descend, up and down, on an abysmal path of toil.
他們在深淵的勞苦之路上上下起伏。
Terrified and afraid, they tremble in panic,
他們驚恐害怕，在驚慌中顫抖，
As their dreadful suffering defies imagination.
因為他們可怕的痛苦超越了想像。
“ Pretas suffer from hunger and thirst, their bodies deformed.
「餓鬼被飢餓和口渴所折磨，他們的身體形狀扭曲。
If food and drink should appear, it is guarded by others,
如果食物和飲水出現，卻被他人守護著。
And even if they consume a little, it turns into fire and swords.
即使他們吃進一點東西，也會變成火焰和刀劍。
Their suffering from hunger and thirst defies imagination.
他們所經歷的飢渴之苦難以言喻。
“Those beings who are born in the hell realms
「那些生在地獄道的眾生
Are powerlessly led by Yama’s henchmen.
被閻羅王的手下無力地驅趕著。
Burned and boiled, they are sliced asunder by swords;
他們被烈火燒、被沸水煮，還被刀劍切割成碎片；
Their suffering from heat and cold is unbearable.
他們所受的熱和冷的痛苦是無法承受的。
“Thus, those who commit evil deeds in this life
「因此，那些在今世造作惡業的人
Are committing a great injury to themselves.
是在對自己造成巨大的傷害。
They will be tormented by intense suffering for many eons,
他們將在許多劫中被強烈的痛苦所折磨，
With no chance to escape and no means of enduring it.
沒有逃脫的機會，也沒有辦法去承受它。
“Keep this clearly in mind, and understand the results of actions.
「要牢牢記住這一點，並要明白行為的果報。
Otherwise you will sow your own unbearable suffering and lament.
否則你將播種自己難以忍受的苦難和悲歎。
Even others will be frightened by the terrible din of your agonized screams,
連別人都會被你痛苦尖叫那可怕的聲響嚇到，
For these kinds of sufferings are beyond imagination!
因為這類苦難是無法想像的！
“Whoever understands such grave faults
「凡是了解這些嚴重過失的人
Will abandon the causes of the three lower realms.
將會捨棄三惡道的因。
Wherever evil manifests, subtle or coarse,
無論邪惡以何種微細或粗重的方式顯現，
Act swiftly by way of body, speech, and mind.
以身、語、意迅速而行。
“You will then be happy and offer help to all beings.
「你將因此感到喜樂，並為一切眾生提供幫助。
You will give up attachment, aversion, and ignorance and strengthen the root of compassion.
你將放棄執著、厭惡和無明，並增強慈悲的根本。
You will practice virtue, striving avidly with body, speech, and mind,
你將會修習戒德，以身語意精勤努力，
And endeavor in this most profound quintessence.
並在這最深奧的精要中精進努力。
“The fruit of a flower overcome by frost,
「被霜凍所摧的花的果實，
Although cultivated, will produce no sprouts.
縱然已經培養，也不會生出芽苗。
Likewise, those who transgress their vows and entertain doubts
同樣地，那些違犯誓言和心存疑慮的人
May practice the most profound of vidyāmantras ,
可能會修持最深奧的明咒，
Thinking, ‘Blessings will come,’ but this is impossible—
心想著「福報將會到來」，但這是不可能的——
Their efforts amount to meaningless hardship.
他們的努力只是徒勞無益的辛苦。
“Their vidyāmantra becomes like the prattle of common folk,
「他們的明咒就像普通人的閒話。」
And their absorption resembles the musings of a child.
他們的禪定就像小孩子的胡思亂想。
But if people without fault practice vidyāmantras, [F.223.b]
但若無過失的人修習明咒，
They shall swiftly accomplish whatever they desire.
他們會迅速成就他們所渴望的一切。
“Minute though it is, the seed of the banyan tree
"極其微小的榕樹種子
Well moistened with water and manure
經過水和肥料充分滋潤
In seven months can grow as much as a league.
在七個月內就能長到一聯那麼大。
If there can be so much change in outer matter,
既然外在的物質能夠產生這麼大的變化，
What need to speak of accomplishing knowledge with knowledge?
何須言說用知識成就知識呢？
The inner change of luminosity is beyond all measure.
內在光明的轉變是無法衡量的。
“If one relies on a merchant who knows the way
「倘若依靠懂得路線的商人
And sets out to sea in an excellent ship,
並乘著優良的船隻出海，
One will find whatever riches are desired
就能找到所有想要的財富
And sail smoothly back to one’s home.
平安順利地航行回到自己的家鄉。
“If one relies on love, compassion, joy, and equanimity
「如果一個人依靠慈愛、悲憫、喜樂和平等心
And practices virtue endowed with the mind of awakening,
並修持具足菩提心的功德，
One will set out on a truly perfect path
人們將踏上一條真正圓滿的道路
And be sure to reach the land of wisdom.
並且必定到達智波羅蜜的淨土。
“When an arrow is released from a person’s fingers,
「當箭從人的手指放出時，
It has certainly been shot, even if one thinks otherwise.
這支箭肯定已經被射出去了，即使有人認為事實並非如此。
When a person fully comprehends the meaning of reality,
當一個人完全理解了現實的意義，
The other shore has been reached, even if one thinks otherwise.
彼岸已經到達，即使人們心中另有所想。
“Once the aspects of conduct are naturally perfected,
「一旦行為的各個方面自然圓滿，
The fruit of buddhahood will undoubtedly be attained.
佛陀的果位必定會被證得。
When the pristine nature of reality is realized,
當現實的本純本質被證悟時，
There is no self, no life force, and also no termination of life force.
沒有自我，沒有生命力，也沒有生命力的終止。
There is no action and no ripening of action.
沒有行為，也沒有行為的成熟果報。
The extremes are abandoned, and one is liberated.
極端被捨棄，人就獲得解脫。
“In order for you to realize that goal,
「為了讓你實現那個目標，
Devotedly recite this quintessence as I proclaim it.
虔誠地念誦我所宣說的這精髓之法。
If you do, the evil deeds of three incalculable eons will be eradicated,
如果你這樣做，三個不可計量的時劫中的惡業將被消除，
The three lower realms and all the suffering of saṃsāra will be purified,
三惡道和輪迴的一切苦難都將被淨化，
And the obscurations will be cleared away.
而且障礙會被清除。
The meaningful quintessence is as follows:
其核心意義如下：
1.19oṁ, bodhisattva great lady, goddess, please protect us!
1.19（咒語不翻）
oṁ nama āryāvalokiteśvarāya bodhisattvāya mahāsattvāya mahākāruṇikāya | tadyathā |
（咒語不翻）
oṁ tāre tuttāre ture sarvaduṣṭān praduṣṭān mama kṛte jambhaya stambhaya mohaya bandhaya hūṁ hūṁ hūṁ phaṭ phaṭ phaṭ svāhā |
（咒語不翻）
nama āryāvalobhayā narā bodhisattvā mahāsattvāni adhiṣṭhānādhiṣṭhite mama sarvakarmāvaraṇa svabhāvaśuddhe [F.224.a] viśuddhe śodhaya viśodhaya hūṁ phaṭ svāhā |
（咒語不翻）
“Then the goddess, who is herself
「然後這位女神，她本身是
The embodiment of buddhahood, is praised:
佛陀境界的化身，受到讚頌。
“ ‘Lady who acts with immense compassion for the good of beings—
「具有無量悲心為眾生利益而行動的女性尊者——
You have all the major and minor marks and are bedecked with precious substances.
你具足一切大小相好，並以珍寶裝飾莊嚴。
Your smile is ravishing, your countenance is joyful,
你的微笑令人傾倒，你的容貌充滿喜悅，
And your eyes are like flax blossoms.
你的眼睛像亞麻花一樣。
“ ‘Your ears are like blossoming trumpet flowers.
「你的耳朵如同盛開的喇叭花。
Your nose is like a lotus bud.
你的鼻子像一個蓮花蓓蕾。
Your mouth is like a mallow in full bloom.
你的嘴像盛開的錦葵。
You have a sparkling body and the figure of a young maiden.
你的身體閃閃發光，具有年輕少女的姿態。
“ ‘Your speech is like a kalaviṅka bird, proclaiming the Dharma.
「你的言語如迦陵頻伽鳥一般，宣說著法。
Your compassionate mind guards all beings with love.
你的慈悲心以愛心守護所有眾生。
Your left hand holds a lotus, for you are unstained by saṃsāra’s flaws.
你的左手拿著蓮花，因為你不受輪迴缺陷的污染。
Your right hand grants protection to all beings to fulfill their aims.
你的右手給予所有眾生保護，以成就他們的願望。
“ ‘You are seated on the sun and moon of method and wisdom.
「你安住在方便波羅蜜與智波羅蜜的日月之上。
Venerable lady Tārā, we take refuge in you!
尊敬的度母，我們皈依您！
Protect us from the great abyss of saṃsāra!
請保護我們免於輪迴的深淵！
“ ‘As we circle within the six transmigrations,
「當我們在六道輪迴中流轉時，
May you secure us with your noose of great compassion.
願您用偉大慈悲的繩索保護我們。
As we go astray into the three lower realms,
當我們走入三惡道時，
May you place us on a path free from straying.
願您將我們安置在不迷失的道路上。
“ ‘As we are born into families with wrong views,
「當我們出生在邪見的家庭中時，
Please introduce us to teachers who possess the mind of awakening,
請引領我們親近具有菩提心的善知識，
Lest we encounter unwholesome teachers.
免得我們遇到不善的老師。
“ ‘You protect from the eight dangers—
「你保護我們免受八難的傷害—
Lions, elephants, fire, snakes,
獅子、大象、火焰、毒蛇，
Robbers, waters, infectious diseases, and demons.
盜匪、洪水、傳染病和惡魔。
We pay homage to you!
我們向您頂禮！
In this world and in others as well,
在這個世界和其他世界裡，
Protect us from these eight dangers!
請保護我們免於這八難！
“ ‘Until we have reached our goal, the other shore,
「直到我們到達目標、彼岸之前，
May we make the ten perfections of generosity, moral conduct,
願我們圓滿布施波羅蜜、持戒波羅蜜，
Patience, diligence, concentration, insight,
忍辱波羅蜜、精進波羅蜜、禪定波羅蜜、般若波羅蜜、
Method, aspiration, strength, and wisdom
方便波羅蜜、願波羅蜜、力波羅蜜，以及智波羅蜜
Our inseparable allies!’
我們不可分離的盟友！
1.29“Sons and daughters of noble family should write down this teaching, read it, recite it, understand it, contemplate it correctly, and explain it extensively to others.” [F.224.b]
1.29「善男子、善女人應當書寫此法門、讀誦、受持、正確地思惟、並將此法廣泛為他人講說。」
At her words, the whole assembly rejoiced and offered praise.
聽到她的話語，整個集會都感到歡喜，並獻上讚頌。
1.30This completes the sūtra “Venerable Lady Tārā Who Protects from the Eight Dangers.”
1.30（結尾）