The Root Manual of the Rites of Mañjuśrī
Chapter 1

[F.88.a] [F.105.a]8

Oṁ, homage to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas!

Thus did I hear at one time. Lord Śākyamuni dwelt above the Pure Abode, in an inconceivable, wondrous pavilion, circular in shape, with a congregation of bodhisattvas9 distributed all around, located in the canopy of the sky. There the Lord addressed the gods of the Pure Abode: {1.1}

“Honored gods! Listen as I tell of the inconceivable, wondrous miracles of Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, bodhisattva, and great being‍—listen as I tell of his conduct, different types of samādhi, and magical power; his liberation, maṇḍala, and his miraculous bodhisattva manifestations; and how he is the sustenance for all beings and brings them life, health, and sovereignty! I will explain, for the benefit of all beings, the mantra subjects that completely fulfill one’s wishes. Listen well and duly reflect upon it‍—I will now tell you about him.” {1.2}

Thereupon the gods of the Pure Abode, folding their hands, said:10

“Then tell us, Lord, about the conduct of the bodhisattvas; their different samādhis and their attainment of the bodhisattva levels; their sitting upon the vajra throne, overpowering of Māra, and turning of the wheel of Dharma; their liberating of all śrāvakas and pratyeka­buddhas; their ensuring for all beings rebirth as a god or a human and the pacification of all suffering; their removal of diseases of the poor, sick, and wealthy alike; their invulnerability to the use of all mundane and supramundane mantras; and their fulfilling of all wishes that thus makes the speech of all the tathāgatas fruitful.11 Lord, speak with a mind full of love and concern for our welfare, [F.88.b] [F.105.b] and out of pity for all sentient beings.” {1.3}

Then Lord Śākyamuni, casting a glance with his buddha eye over the entire realm of the Pure Abode, entered the samādhi called the spreading and diffusing of the light of the pure sphere.12 As soon as the Lord entered this samādhi, out of his ūrṇā came an array of light rays called arouser of the bodhisattva Saṃkusumita;13 he was surrounded by many hundreds of thousands of millions of rays. The light circumambulated the Buddha three times and, having passed through billions of trichiliocosms and crossed as many worlds in the northeastern direction as there are grains of sand in one hundred thousand Gaṅgā rivers, it came to the world sphere called Kusumāvatī, where the tathāgata Saṃkusumita Rājendra was staying. Due to the power of his previous aspirations, Mañjuśrī was also staying there together with other bodhisattvas, great beings engaged in bodhisattva activity. Seeing this effulgence of light, he gently smiled and addressed the multitude of bodhisattvas: {1.4}

“This arousing ray of light, O sons of the victorious ones, has come here to wake me up. Do pay attention!” {1.5}

Then Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, the bodhisattva, the great being, with his eyes wide and unblinking, sat facing the radiance of the ray. And this arousing ray, illuminating the Kusumāvatī world sphere with great radiance, circumambulated the thus-gone lord Saṃkusumita Rājendra clockwise three times and dissolved into the head of the great being, the bodhisattva Mañjuśrī. {1.6}

The divine youth Mañjuśrī then got up from his seat [F.89.a] [F.106.a] and circumambulated the thus-gone lord Saṃkusumita Rājendra three times. Then, bowing his head and placing his right knee on the ground, he spoke to Lord Saṃkusumita Rājendra: {1.7}

“May Lord Śākyamuni, the tathāgata, the arhat, the completely awakened one, think of me. Let me go, O lord, from here to the Sahā world sphere to see Lord Śākyamuni, to honor him and serve him. Let me go so that he may instruct me in the mantra practice, the sādhana practice, and the procedure of constructing the right maṇḍala; the secrets of the ritual and the procedure of drawing the picture; and the secret mudrā empowerment into the heart of all the tathāgatas, so that all the wishes of all beings are fulfilled.” {1.8}14

Being so addressed, the thus-gone lord Saṃkusumita Rājendra said this to Mañjuśrī, the divine youth:

“You may go, divine youth Mañjuśrī, if you think that this is the right time. And please ask Lord Śākyamuni, on my behalf, if he is without pain and without worry, if his efforts come easily to him, and if his life is comfortable.” {1.9}

Then, the thus-gone lord Saṃkusumita Rājendra [F.90.a] [F.107.a]15 further said this to Mañjuśrī, the divine youth:

“Also, O divine youth, the tathāgatas, the arhats, the completely awakened ones, numerous as grains of sand in one hundred thousand Gaṅgā rivers, have taught and will teach again of your proficiency in mantra practice, maṇḍala ritual, the secret empowerment, the mudrās, the picture drawing procedure, the homa rite, the mantra recitation, and the regular observations, all of which fulfill every wish and bring joy to every being. They will teach of your proficiency in the vast fields of astrology and gemology; of your knowledge of the past, present, and future; and of your ability to govern and make predictions. They will teach of your mantra repetition, your ability to travel to the ends of the earth and to become invisible, and your vast knowledge of the right time and occasion for anything. They will teach how to traverse all the stages of the buddhas, bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, and pratyeka­buddhas, and all the mundane and supramundane stages without exception. They will teach the way in which you are established in the practice of all of these. So that I too may rejoice, please go Mañjuśrī, O divine youth, if you think that the time is right. You will hear these teachings in the presence of Śākyamuni, face to face with him, and you will later give them yourself. The mantra for this is as follows: {1.10}

“Homage to all the tathāgatas whose instructions are inconceivable and perfect!

“This was, O divine youth Mañjuśrī, the root mantra. It is the heart essence of all the tathāgatas, and it was and will be17 recited by them. You will also now recite this, the all-accomplishing mantra, together with all its parts, having arrived in the Sahā world. This has been sanctioned by Śākyamuni. Here, the ultimate heart mantra is:

“The subsidiary heart mantra in this set is:

Lord Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, being thus granted leave by Saṃkusumita Rājendra, [F.90.b] [F.107.b] the tathāgata, entered the samādhi called the ornament of all supernal manifestations that brings the attainment of the essence of awakening which is a product of the conduct of a bodhisattva. As soon as Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, entered this samādhi, the world sphere with all its directions‍—above, below, and across‍—up to its farthest reaches, became filled with lord buddhas. Saṃkusumita Rājendra then said: {1.14}

“Good, good it is, O son of the Victorious One, that you have entered this particular samādhi! No śrāvakas, pratyeka­buddhas, or bodhisattvas who are established in the perfect conduct, not even those on the tenth bodhisattva level, are able to enter this samādhi.” {1.15}

Then Saṃkusumita Rājendra, having conferred with the lord buddhas, the tathāgatas, taught the following mantra of Mañjuśrī, the divine youth‍—his ultimately secret, innermost heart essence that accomplishes all purposes. This most secret, divine mantra, called One Syllable,20 [F.89.b] [F.106.b] which serves the interests of all beings, is also fit to accomplish the special mantra practice.21 {1.16}

Lord Saṃkusumita Rājendra, the tathāgata, became quiet for a moment. Looking with his buddha eye over all the world spheres, he considered all the lord buddhas dwelling there, and with a mind filled with love, pronounced the mantra:22

“Homage to all the buddhas!

“This mantra is the ultimate heart essence of Mañjuśrī, which accomplishes all endeavors.” {1.17}

Then Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, arose from the aforementioned samādhi and performed, in the time that it takes a strong person to bend or to extend their arm, or to snap their fingers, or to close and open their eyes, the miraculous, special samādhi called the intellect with the force of magical power, and went to the Sahā world. Having arrived there, he established himself in the palace of the gods of the Pure Abode founded upon fine jewels and gems in the canopy of the sky. Illuminating this entire realm of the Pure Abode with powerful rays of light, he entered the samādhi called the illuminator adorned with brilliant jewels. {1.18}

As soon as Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, entered this samādhi, he manifested through the power of bodhisattva transformation, for the worship of Lord Śākyamuni, a divinely created palace sumptuously studded with many gems and adorned with jeweled parasols spanning many hundred of thousands of leagues; bedecked with divinely beautiful great bundles of silk streamers; decorated with celestial flowers, banners, flags, garlands, and jewels; and pleasant with the sweet sound of draperies of latticed wind-chimes. Also, in the act of worshiping Lord Śākyamuni, he manifested a copious rain of perfume, garlands, ointments, wreaths, and scented powders. {1.19}

Seeing this extraordinary and marvelous display‍—a miracle of a bodhisattva‍—the hair of the gods of the Pure Abode stood on end in excitement. When, however, they saw their abodes trembling, their hearts became tormented and pained. They immediately began to wail loudly, with a sense of great urgency, “Oh, what can this be? Could it be that we are being deprived of our divine powers?” And they implored, “Please protect us, Lord! Please protect us, Śākyamuni!” {1.20}

Lord Śākyamuni then addressed the entire assembly of the gods of the Pure Abode:

“Do not be afraid, friends! Do not be afraid! Mañjuśrī, the divine youth present here, the bodhisattva, the great being, has come here from the presence of the tathāgata Saṃkusumita Rājendra in the buddhafield Saṃkusumita, in order to see, worship, and serve me. He has come to teach the conduct of great purpose, the mantra subjects, and the vast and amazing Dharma subjects.” {1.21}

The divine youth Mañjuśrī, in turn, circumambulated Lord Śākyamuni three times and, looking at him with unblinking eyes, bowed down to his feet and praised him with these succinct words: {1.22}

“Homage to the omniscient one who is established, and is establishing others, in nirvāṇa and in the path of the three vehicles that encompasses all consciousnesses and all knowable objects, both conditioned and unconditioned!” {1.29}

Having praised Lord Śākyamuni in his presence with these words, Mañjuśrī said:

“There is, O lord, in the eastern direction beyond world spheres as numerous as the grains of sand in one hundred thousand Gaṅgā rivers, a buddhafield called Saṃkusumita. There is a world sphere there called Kusumāvatī where the tathāgata Lord Saṃkusumita Rājendra dwells. An arhat, one perfectly awakened, perfected in wisdom and conduct, the bliss-gone one, the supreme knower of the world, the guide of people who need to be tamed, the preceptor of gods and men, he expounds the Dharma that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end. He presented an account of the buddha activity25 that is profoundly meaningful, full of beautiful figures of speech, original, complete, perfectly pure, and highly polished. He is presently living and teaching all sentient beings the Dharma, the bodhisattva basket26 that pertains to the mantra practice, [F.91.b] [F.108.b] the path that conforms to the practice of the threefold path, the protection, the place of rest, the refuge, the highest aim, the well-being, and the ultimate and final cessation. It is by his command that I have arrived here in your presence, to be at your feet. Lord Saṃkusumita Rājendra, the tathāgata, asks if you are without pain and without worry, if your efforts come easily to you, and if your life is comfortable. He also said this: {1.30}

“ ‘It is indeed wonderful that in this time of the five degenerations Lord Śākyamuni, the awakened one, has appeared and is giving complete Dharma teachings with nothing missing27‍—the Dharma that consists of the threefold path and that brings about rebirth as a god or a human and final emancipation. Wonderful indeed is Lord Śākyamuni’s courage, that in this world of helpless beings he establishes them on the path that leads to escape from the three realms, and he also establishes them in the state of nirvāṇa, which is complete with boundless spiritual accomplishment and happiness.28 Is it not true that only the awakened ones can know the minds of the lord buddhas? How could I know how to perform the magical feats29 of the lord buddhas, whose miracles stem from an inconceivable, wondrous, superhuman power? How could I know of their engagement in the mental and physical conduct that constitutes their potential for the accomplishment of tasks?30 Would I be able to even summarize these things in hundreds of thousands of millions of eons? The accomplishments of the tathāgatas, and all their forms without exception, whether separate and distinct or altogether, should be seen in terms of unconditioned dharmas. Only you, O Lord, the tathāgata, can explain the conduct and the qualities related to the elimination of traits eliminable through the path of seeing.31 I cannot do that.’ ” {1.31}

Seated on a great jeweled lotus miraculously created through his own magical power, Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, [F.92.a] [F.109.a] watched Lord Śākyamuni with anticipation. The latter, following the usual practice of a tathāgata, first gave by way of introduction the customary manifold preamble preceded by questions from the audience, and then he spoke to Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, the bodhisattva, the great being, with a voice as sweet as Brahmā’s, a voice that resembled the call of a cuckoo or the resounding of thunder or a drum, a voice that is fitting to a Dharma discourse and causes the bodhisattva to be accomplished: {1.32}

“Welcome to you, Mañjuśrī! The extensive tract of this great manual will now be explained; it has been approved by me and taught by all the buddhas. It is the manual that effects the accomplishment of the conduct of great beings; that is blessed by the buddhas; that achieves the aims of bodhisattvas; that contains the mantra topics together with the secret empowerments, mudrās, maṇḍalas, and empowerment rituals; that brings about long life, lack of illness, and dominion and fulfills all wishes; that contains all the tantras on sādhana rites; that causes one to know all minds and mental objects, the occurrences in all times, all hidden phenomena, and the kingdoms and realms in the past, present, and future‍—in short, the fulfillment of all the wishes of all beings. This is a mantra practice that facilitates the generation of good qualities and is the cause of the joy of beings. This manual contains instructions on becoming invisible; traveling through space; fast walking; increasing intelligence; the magic of summoning; the ability to visit subterranean paradises; the rites of assault; the obtainment of every sensual pleasure; the power to summon the multitudes of yakṣas and yakṣiṇīs, kiṃkaras, piśācas, and bhūtas; and the power to become a child, an old person, or a youth, as required by circumstances. {1.33}

“In short, this teaching has the power to perform all actions; it fulfills the heart’s every wish, magically manifesting itself in the magic of assault, of enriching, and of pacifying. It will be accomplished exactly according to how it is applied. Please teach now this ornament of the bodhisattva basket, this great, jewel-like, extensive manual, [F.92.b] [F.109.b] this treasury of teachings on the mantra practice of pure beings that was sanctioned by me and taught by all the buddhas. Teach it for the benefit and happiness of many beings, gods and humans, with all sentient beings in mind.” {1.34}

Upon hearing this, Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, entered the bodhisattva samādhi called arousing with an array of light rays the blessing power of all the buddhas.32 As soon as he, the pure being, entered this samādhi, the light primarily illuminated the world spheres that were as numerous as the grains of sand in many Gaṅgā rivers, as well as all the buddhafields from the Akaniṣṭha heaven to the Avīci hell. Any beings that were experiencing pain attained a peaceful state with their suffering pacified. Having aroused all the śrāvakas, pratyeka­buddhas, bodhisattvas, and lord buddhas, the light again disappeared into the bodhisattva Mañjuśrī’s forehead. Immediately, all the lord buddhas who inhabited the buddhafields in the eastern direction were impelled by the display of the light sphere illuminating everything around. These buddhas were: {1.35}

The tathāgata Jyotis­saumya­gandhāvabhāsa­śrī, the tathāgata Bhaiṣajya­guru­vaiḍūrya­prabha­rāja, the tathāgata Samantāvabhāsa­śrī, the tathāgata Samudgata­rāja, the tathāgata Śālendra­rāja, the tathāgata Lokendra­rāja, the tathāgata Amitāyurjñāna­viniścaya­rāja, the tathāgata Anantāvabhāsa­rājendra, and the tathāgata Jyoti­raśmirājendra. {1.36}

The lord buddhas headed by those just mentioned, [F.93.a] [F.110.a] surrounded by multitudes of bodhisattvas and residing in numberless and infinite world spheres‍—the tathāgatas, the arhats, the fully awakened ones‍—all congregated in the Sahā world in the realm of the Pure Abode where Śākyamuni, the tathāgata, the arhat, the fully awakened one, was staying together with Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, and expounding the vast topic of mantras and bodhisattva conduct. {1.37}

So it was also in the southern, western, and northern directions, and in the intermediate directions. The light illuminated there all the buddhafields that lie above, below, and across, and it obscured all the abodes of the māras. All the tathāgatas who were surrounded by multitudes of bodhisattvas and accompanied by congregations of śrāvakas, desiring to see the Pure Abode, the miraculous power of the buddhas, and the greatness of bodhisattvas, and desiring to make the instructions of the tathāgatas‍—the vast topics of the different types of samādhi produced by the mantra practice‍—shine unimpeded throughout the world, took their places. They were: {1.38}

Subāhu, Suratna, Suvrata, Sunetra, Surata, Sudharma, Sarvārtha­siddhi, Sarvodgata, Dharmodgata, Ratnodgata, Ratnaśrī, Meruśrī, Acintyaśrī, Prabhākaraśrī, Prabhaśrī, Jyotiśrī,33 Sarvārthaśrī, Sarvaratnapāṇi, Cūḍāmaṇi,34 Merudhvajapāṇi, Vairocana­garbha, Ratnagarbha, Jñānagarbha, Sacintyārtha­garbha,35 Acintyārtha­garbha, [F.93.b] [F.110.b] Dharmodgata­garbha, Dhvajaketu, Suketu, Anantaketu, Raśmiketu, Vimalaketu, Aśeṣaketu, Gaganaketu, Ratnaketu, Garjita­ghoṣa­dundubhi­svara­rāja, Anantāvabhāsa­jñāna­rāja, Sarva­tamāndha­kāra­vidhamana­rāja, Sarva­vikiraṇa­bodhi­vidhvaṃsana­rāja,36 Sarva­caryātiśaya­jñāna­rāja,37 Lokendra­rāja, Atiśayendra­rāja,38 Vidhamanarāja, Nirdhūtarāja, Ādityarāja, Abhāva­samudgata­rāja, Svabhāva­samudgata­rāja,39 Abhāva­svabhāva­samudgata­rāja, Avipakṣitarāja, Svabhāvabha, Puṇyābha, Lokābha, Amitābha,40 Anantābha, Sunetrābha, Susambhavābha,41 Arthabhāvābha, Adhṛṣya, Amṛṣya, Akarma, Akaniṣṭha, Amala, Anala, Dyuti, Pati,42 Mati, Sukha, Sukhanemi, Nimiketu, Ṛkṣa, Divideva, Divya,43 Nābhi, Bharata, Lokaśānti, Umāriṣṭa, Dundubhi, Siddha, Sita, Ākhyadivya, Duḥprasaha, Durgharṣa,44 Durālabha,45 Dūraṅgama, Durāla, Dūrasthita, Ucca, Uccatama, Khadyota, Samantadyota, Adyota, Ṛṣabha, Ābha, Sumanāpa, Sumanas, Mahādeva, Sunirmala, Malānta, Dānta, Sami, [F.94.a] [F.111.a] Sūci, Cihna,46 Śvetadhvaja, Imi, Kimi, Kaniṣṭha, Nikarṣa, Jīva, Sujāta, Dhūmaketu, Dhvajaketu,47 Śvetaketu, Suketu,48 Vasuketu, Vasava, Pitāmaha, Pitā, Niṣkakuru, Lokākhya, Sahākhya, Mahākhya, Śreyās, Tejās, Jyotis, Kiṃkara, Samaṃkara, Lokaṃkara, Divaṃkara,49 Dīpaṃkara, Bhūtāntakara, Sarvārthaṃkara, Siddhaṃkara, Jyotiṃkara, Avabhāsaṃkara, Dundubhisvara, Rutasvara, Susvara, Anantasvara, Ketusvara, Bhūtamuni,50 Kanakamuni, Krakucchanda, Kāśyapa, Śikhin, Viśvabhuk, Vipaśyin, and Śākyamuni. {1.39}

These and many other lord buddhas, having illuminated the realm of the Pure Abode, sat on their lotus seats. There was also a multitude of bodhisattvas there who arrived in a similar way. They were: {1.40}

Ratnapāṇi, Vajrapāṇi, Supāṇi, Gagaṇapāṇi, Anantapāṇi, Kṣitipāṇi, Ālokapāṇi, Sunirmala, Sukūpa,51 Prabhūtakūṭa, Maṇikūṭa, Ratnakūṭa, Ratnahastin, Samantahastin, Gandhahastin, Sugati, Vimalagati, Lokagati, Cārugati, Anantagati, Anantakīrti, Sukīrti, Vimalakīrti, Gatikīrti, Amalakīrti, Kīrtikīrti,52 Nātha, [F.94.b] [F.111.b] Anātha,53 Nāthabhūta, Lokanātha,54 Samantanātha, Ātreya, Anantatreya, Samantatreya, Maitreya, Sunetreya, Namantreya,55 Tṛdhatreya, Saphalātreya, Triratnātreya, Triśaraṇātreya, Triyāṇātreya, Visphūrja, Sumanojña, Valgusvara, Dharmeśvara, Abhāveśvara, Samanteśvara,56 Lokeśvara, Avalokiteśvara, Sulokeśvara, Vilokiteśvara, Lokamaha, Sumaha, Garjiteśvara, Dundubhīśvara,57 Vitateśvara, Vidhvasteśvara, Suvakṣa, Sumūrti, Sumahat,58 Yaśovat, Ādityaprabhāva, Prabhaviṣṇu,59 Someśvara,60 Soma, Saumya, Anantaśrī, Lokaśrī, Gagana, Gaganāḍhya, Gaganagañja, Kṣiteśvara, Maheśvara, Kṣiti, Kṣitigarbha, Nīvaraṇa, Sarvāvaraṇa, Sarvāvaraṇa­viṣkambhin, Sarva­nīvaraṇa­viṣkambhin, Samanta­nirmathana, Samantabhadra, Bhadrapāṇi, Sudhana, Susaṃhata, Supuṣya, Sunala,61 Ākāśa, Ākāśagarbha, Sarvārtha­garbha, Sarvodbhava, Anivartin,62 Anivartita,63 Apāyajaha, Avivartita, Avaivarttika,64 and Sarva­dharmopaccheda.65 {1.41}

Lord Śākyamuni dwelt with these and other bodhisattvas in the realm of the Pure Abode. There were also other bodhisattva great beings. Some, with female forms, fulfill the purpose of bodhisattva conduct throughout the infinite universe.66 Some embody the inconceivable magical formulae of mantras and dhāraṇīs with the power to establish the minds of all beings on the path of no return. Some take on the forms of medicinal herbs. Some emulate the ways of different types of beings, entering flocks of birds, yakṣas, rākṣasas, or entities not designated as sentient beings (asattva­saṁkhyāta), such as jewels, mantras, or wish-fulfilling kings of gems. [F.95.a] [F.112.a] They act in a manner suitable for taming beings according to their individual capacities and take on the forms most suited to this purpose. The Lord dwelt there with uṣṇīṣa kings who67 grant proficiency in the Dharma based on perfect realization in accordance with the instructions pertaining to vidyārāja.68 They cause beings to enter the Tathāgata, Lotus, and Vajra families and all the worldly and supramundane families. They prevent beings from breaking their samaya vows, establish them on the path of the teachings, and keep the lineages of the Three Jewels from breaking up. They were: {1.42}

Uṣṇīṣa, Atyadbhuta, Atyunnata, Sitātapatra, Anantapatra, Śatapatra, Jayoṣṇīṣa, Lokottara, Vijayoṣṇīṣa, Abhyudgatoṣṇīṣa, Kamalaraśmi,69 Kanakaraśmi,70 Sitaraśmi, Vyūḍhoṣṇīṣa, Kanakarāśi, Sitarāśi, Tejorāśi, Maṇirāśi, Samanantarāśi, Vikhyātarāśi, Bhūtarāśi, Satyarāśi, Abhāva­svabhāva­rāśi, and Avitatharāśi. {1.43}

Lord Śākyamuni dwelt with these and other uṣṇīṣa kings, who abide in the sphere of phenomena fulfilling the heart aspirations of beings and pursuing the heart essence of all the victorious ones, in the realm of the Pure Abode. It would be impossible to list all of these uṣṇīṣa kings71 down to the last one, or to describe their greatness, with their inconceivable might and powers, even in hundreds of thousands of millions of eons. Therefore, they are described here only briefly in an abbreviated form. {1.44}

The gathering of vidyārājñīs will now be enumerated:

Ūrṇā, Bhrū, Locanā, Pakṣmā, [F.95.b] [F.112.b] Śravaṇā, Grīvā, Abhayā, Karuṇā, Maitrī, Kṛpā, Prajñā, Raśmi, Cetanā, Prabhā, Nirmalā, and Dhavalā.72 {1.45}

Along with the vidyārājñīs, emitted from the infinite and unbounded form73 of the tathāgatas, there were others, namely:

Tathāgata’s Bowl, Tathāgata’s Dharma Wheel, Tathāgata’s Couch, Tathāgata’s Splendor, Tathāgata’s Speech, Tathāgata’s Lip, Tathāgata’s Thigh, Tathāgata’s Purity, Tathāgata’s Banner, Tathāgata’s Ensign, and Tathāgata’s Sign. {1.46}

Lord Śākyamuni dwelt with these and with other beings‍—the vidyārājas and vidyārājñīs, the ceṭas and ceṭīs, the dūtas and dūtīs, the yakṣas and yakṣiṇīs, and other sentient and non-sentient beings‍—uttering tathāgata mantras, created out of the Cloud of Dharma, and distinguishable by their adornments. They were themselves a product of special samādhis, surrounded by enormous retinues of hundreds of thousands of millions, vidyārājas ranking at the top of all the groups of vidyā beings. They also dwelt in the realm of the Pure Abode. Among the vidyārājas belonging to the Lotus family, there were: {1.47}

The lords, Dvādaśabhuja, Ṣaḍbhuja, Caturbhuja, Halāhala, Amoghapāśa, White Hayagrīva, Anantagrīva, Nīlagrīva, Sugrīva, Sukarṇa,74 Śvetakarṇa,75 Nīlakaṇṭha, Lokakaṇṭha, Vilokita,76 Avalokita, Īśvara, Sahasraraśmi, Manas, Manasa, Vikhyātamanasa, [F.96.a] [F.113.a] Kamala, Kamalapāṇi, Manoratha, Āśvāsaka, Prahasita, Sukeśa, Keśānta, Nakṣatra, Nakṣatrarāja, Saumya, Sugata,77 and Damaka. {1.48}

He dwelt with these and with other vidyārājas, headed by Abjoṣṇīṣa, who had attained the samādhis arising from the infinite accomplishment, the Cloud of Dharma, and who were surrounded by many hundreds of thousands of millions of vidyās and many vidyārājñīs created through the form-samādhi of the lord of the world. These vidyārājñīs were: {1.49}

Tārā, Sutārā, Naṭī, Bhṛkuṭī, Anantaṭī, Lokaṭī, Bhūmiprāpaṭī, Vimalaṭī, Sitā, Śvetā, Mahāśvetā, Pāṇḍaravāsinī, Lokavāsinī, Vimalavāsinī,78 Abjavāsinī, Daśabalavāsinī, Yaśovatī, Bhogavatī, Mahābhogavatī, Ulūkā, Alūkā,79 Amalāntakarī, Vimalāntakarī,80 Samantāntakarī, Duḥkhāntakarī, Bhūtāntakarī, Śriyā, Mahāśriyā, Stupaśriyā,81 Anantaśriyā, Lokaśriyā, Vikhyātaśriyā, Lokamātā, Samantamātā, Buddhamātā, Bhaginī,82 Bhāgīrathī, Surathī,83 Rathavatī, Nāgadantā,84 Damanī, Bhūtavatī, Amitā,85 Āvalī, Bhogāvalī, Ākarṣaṇī, Adbhutā, Raśmī, Surasā, Suravatī, Pramodā, Dyutivatī, [F.96.b] [F.113.b] Taṭī, Samantataṭī, Jyotsnā, Somā, Somāvatī, Māyūrī, Mahāmāyūrī, Dhanavatī, Dhanandadā, Suravatī,86 Lokavatī, Arciṣmatī, Bṛhannalā,87 Bṛhantā, Sughoṣā, Sunandā, Vasudā, Lakṣmī, Lakṣmīvatī, Rogāntikā, Sarva­vyādhi­cikitsanī, Asamā, Devī, Khyātikarī, Vaśakarī, Kṣiprakarī, Kṣemadā, Maṅgalā, Maṅgalāvahā, Candrā, Sucandrā, and Candrāvatī. {1.50}

These and other vidyārājñīs, headed by Parṇaśavarī, Jāṅgulī, and Mānasī, whose accomplishment is limitless, who have the nature of the space of the sphere of phenomena, and whose mental states arise due to the presence of the bodhisattva conduct and marvels‍—the dūtas and dūtīs, ceṭas and ceṭīs, kiṃkaras and kiṃkarīs, yakṣas and yakṣiṇīs, rākṣasas and rākṣasīs, and piśācas and piśācīs who have taken the samaya vows of the Lotus family and perform the mantra practice‍—also dwelt in the gods’ realm of the Pure Abode inhabited by pure beings. Staying there, they remained wholly preoccupied with acts of worship of Lord Śākyamuni. {1.51}

In Lord Śākyamuni’s presence, the bodhisattva Vajrapāṇi then summoned his own retinue of vidyās, saying, “Please gather here, venerable friends‍—hosts of vidyās of my retinue‍—krodharājas,88 vidyārājas and vidyārājñīs, and great dūtīs!” Then, merely by the power of thought, all the multitudes of vidyā beings were gathered. The male vidyā beings were: {1.52}

Vidyottama, Suvidya, [F.97.a] [F.114.a] Susiddha, Subāhu, Suṣeṇa, Surāntaka, Surada, Supūrṇa, Vajrasena, Vajrāntaka, Vajrākara, Vajrabāhu, Vajrahasta, Vajradhvaja, Vajrapatāka, Vajraśikhara, Vajraśikha,89 Vajradaṃṣṭra, Śuddhavajra, Vajraroman, Vajrasaṃhata, Vajrānana, Vajrakavaca, Vajragrīva, Vajravakṣas, Vajranābhi, Vajrānta, Vajrapañjara, Vajraprākāra, Vajrāstra, Vajradhanuḥ, Vajraśara, Vajranārāca,90 Vajrāṅka, Vajrasphoṭa,91 Vajrapāṭāla, Vajrabhairava, Vajranetra, Vajrakrodha, Jalānantaścara, Bhūtāntaścara, Bandhanānantaś­cara, Mahā­vajra­krodhāntaś­cara, Maheśvarāntaś­cara, Dānavendrāntaś­cara, Sarva­vidyāntaś­cara, Ghora, Sughora, Kṣepa, Upakṣepa, Padavikṣepa, Vināya­kānta­kṣepa, Suvinyāsakṣepa, Utkṛṣṭakṣepa, Bala, Mahābala, Sumbha,92 Bhramara,93 Bhṛṅgiriṭi, Krodha, Mahākrodha, Sarvakrodha, Ajara, Ajagara, Jvara, Śoṣa, Nāgānta, Daṇḍa, Nīladaṇḍa, Aṅgada, Raktāṅga, Vajradaṇḍa, Megha, Mahāmegha, Kāla, Kālakūṭa, Śvitraroga, Sarva­bhūta­saṃkṣayaka, Śūla, Mahāśūla, Ārti, Mahārti, Yama, Vaivasvata, Yugāntakara, Kṛṣṇapakṣa, Ghora,94 Ghorarūpin, Paṭṭisa, Tomara, Gada, Pramathana, [F.97.b] [F.114.b] Grasana, Saṃhāra, Arka,95 Yugāntārka, Prāṇahara, Śakraghna, Dveṣa, Āmarṣa, Kuṇḍalin, Sukuṇḍalin, Amṛtakuṇḍalin, Anantakuṇḍalin, Ratnakuṇḍalin, Bāhu, Mahābāhu, Mahoraga, Duṣṭasarpa,96 Visarpa, Kuṣṭha, Upadrava, Vidrava,97 Vidrāpaka, Bhakṣaka, Atṛṣṇa, and Ucchuṣma. {1.53}

These and other vidyārājas and mahākrodhas98 who completely tame all beings; who perform the activities of banishing, dispersing, killing, and destroying; who are generous toward worshipers; and who engage in the awakened activities of pacifying, enrichment, and assault, themselves surrounded by their own retinues of hundreds of thousands of millions of vidyārājas, bowed, in anticipation of orders, to their vidyārāja Vajrapāṇi, who, for his part, was intently observing Lord Śākyamuni and the divine youth Mañjuśrī.99 All these vidyārājas sat down on their seats in the places assigned to them according to their buddha family affiliation. {1.54}

Also the great dūtīs, the messengers of Lord Vajrapāṇi, together with their retinues of thousands of millions of vidyārājñīs, abiding nonconceptually in their own sphere of phenomena that has the nature of the sky, gathered in that place. They were: {1.55}

Mekhalā, Sumekhalā, Śṛṅkhalā, Vajrārṇā,100 Vajrajihvā, Vajrabhrū,101 Vajralocanā, Vajrāṃsā, Vajrabhṛkuṭī, Vajraśravaṇā, Vajralekhā, Vajrasūcī, Vajramuṣṭī, Vajrāṅkuśī, Vajraśāṭī,102 Vajrāsanī,103 Vajraśṛṅkhalā, Vajraśālavatī,104 Śālā,105 [F.98.a] [F.115.a] Viraṭī, Kāminī, Vajrakāminī, Kāmavajriṇī, Paśyikā, Paśyinī, Mahāpaśyinī, Śikharavāsinī, Guhilā,106 Guhamatī, Guhavāsī, Dvāravāsinī, Kāmavajriṇī,107 Manojavā, Atijavā, Śīghrajavā, Sulocanā, Surasavatī, Bhramarī, Bhrāmarī, Yātrā, Siddhā, Anilā, Pūrā, Keśinī,108 Sukeśā, Hiṇḍinī, Tarjanī, Dūtī, Sudūtī, Māmakī, Vāmakī, Rūpiṇī, Rūpavatī, Jayā, Vijayā, Ajitā, Aparājitā, Śreyasī, Hāsinī, Hāsavajriṇī, Lokavatī, Yaśavatī, Kuliśavatī, Adāntā, Trailokya­vaśaṅkarī, Daṇḍā, Mahādaṇḍā, Priyavādinī, Saubhāgyavatī, Arthavatī, Mahānarthā,109 Tittarī, Dhavalatittarī, Dhavalā, Sunirmitā, Sunirmalā, Ghaṇṭā, Khaḍgapaṭṭiśā,110 Sūcī,111 Jayantī, Ambarā,112 Nirmitā,113 Nāyikā,114 Guhyakī,115 Viśrambhikā, Musalā,116 and Sarva­bhūta­vaśaṅkarī. {1.56}

These and other great dūtīs, surrounded by retinues of many other dūtīs, were all gathered in that great assembly. There were also many dhāraṇī goddesses who arise in the mind absorbed in samādhi, and who let their chastising sticks fall upon wicked beings to control them. They were: {1.57}

Vajrānala­pramohanī­dhāraṇī, Meru­śikhara­kūṭāgārādhāraṇī, [F.98.b] [F.115.b] Ratna­śikhara­kūṭāgāra­dharaṇiṃdharā, Sukūṭā, Bahukūṭā, Puṣpakūṭā, Daṇḍadhāriṇī, Nigrahadhāraṇī, Ākarṣaṇa­dhāriṇī, Keyūrā, Keyūravatī, Dhvajāgra­keyūrā, Ratnā,117 Ratnāgrakeyūrā, Lokāgrakeyūrā, Patāgrakeyūrā, Triparivartā, Lokāvartā, Sahasrāvartā, Vivasvatāvartā, Sarva­bhūtāvartā, Ketuvatī, Ratnavatī, Maṇiratnacūḍā, Bodhyaṅgā, Balavatī,118 Anantaketu, Samantaketu, Ratnaketu, Vikhyātaketu, Sarvabhūtaketu, Ajiravatī,119 Asvarā,120 Sunirmalā,121 Ṣaṇmukhā, Vimalā, and Lokākhyā. {1.58}

These and other dhāraṇī goddesses, surrounded by retinues of many hundreds of thousands of millions of such dhāraṇīs, all gathered in this great assembly. Through the infinite blessing of the buddhas, and the great blessing of the samādhi of the bodhisattvas, there assembled in this great gathering also venerable pratyeka­buddhas from other buddhafields where there are no tathāgatas122 present. Among them were both the solitary, rhinoceros-like ones and those who move among people, working for the benefit of beings. They demonstrate the way of the Dharma that involves habituation to silence. However, as their mindstreams are devoid of great compassion, they circle in saṃsāra with their minds ever weary. Their minds brim over with habitual thought patterns, and thus their previously generated bodhicitta is also tainted by habitual thinking. Their minds thus stall in progress when they reach the first, second, third … or any bodhisattva level up to the eighth, and they are fearful of saṃsāra, with minds ever weary. [F.99.a] [F.116.a] They were: {1.59}

Gandhamādana, Samantāyatana, Samantaprabha, Candana,123 Kāla, Upakāla, Nemi, Upanemi, Riṣṭa,124 Upariṣṭa,125 Upāriṣṭa,126 Pārśva,127 Supārśva, Dundubhi, Upadundubhi,128 Lokākhya,129 Lokaprabha,130 Jayanta,131 Areṇu, Reṇu, Upareṇu, Aṃśa, Upāṃśa, Cihna, Sucihna, Dinakara, Sukara, Prabhāvanta,132 Prabhākara, Lokakara, Viśruta, Suśruta,133 Sukānta, Sudhānta,134 Sudānta, Anantānta, Bhavānta, Sitaketu, Cihnaketu, Ketu, Upaketu, Tiṣya, Padmottara,135 Padmasambhava, Svayambhu, Adbhuta, Manojña, Manasa, Mahendra, Kūṭākhya, Kumbhaka,136 Saṃlākṣa, Śaṅkara, Upakara, Śānta, Śāntamānasa, Dharma, Upadharma, Vairocana, Kusuma, Sunīla, Śreyasa, Svabandhu­dūrāntaka, Duḥprasaha, Kanaka, Vimalaketu, Soma, Susoma, Suṣeṇa, Sucīrṇa, Śukra, Kratu, Iṣṭa, Upendra, and Vasu.137 {1.60}

Lord Śākyamuni dwelt with these and other hundreds of thousands of millions of pratyeka­buddhas who had entered and were established in what is taught as the “middling vehicle,”138 which, unconditioned and free from mental elaboration, corresponds in nature to the sky-like sphere of phenomena, which is inconceivable, unmatched, and free of aim139‍—the pratyeka­buddhas who are basically free from attachment and anger. There was also a great congregation of śrāvakas who, in turn, [F.99.b] [F.116.b] were accompanied by many hundreds of thousands of millions of śrāvakas. They were: {1.61}

Kāśyapa,140 Mahākāśyapa, Nadīkāśyapa, Gayākāśyapa,141 Uru­bilvā­kāśyapa,142 Bharadvāja, Piṇḍola,143 Maudgalyāyana, Mahā­maudgalyāyana, Śāriputra, Mahāśāriputra, Subhūti, Mahāsubhūti, Gavāmpati, Kātyāyana, Mahākātyāyana, Upāli, Bhadrika, Kaphiṇa, Nanda, Ānanda, Sunanda,144 Upananda, Sundarananda,145 Lokabhūta, Anantabhūta,146 Varṇaka, Upavarṇaka, Nandika, Upanandika, Aniruddha, Pūrṇa, Saṃpūrṇa, Upapūrṇa, Tiṣya, Punarvasu, Aruru,147 Raudraka, Raurava, Kuru, Pañcika, Upapañcika, Kāla, Sukāla, Devala, Rāhula, Harita, Upaharita, Dhyāyanandi, Dhyāyika, Udāyin, Upodāyika, Śreyasaka, Dravya, Mallaputra, Upadravya, Upeta,148 Khaṇḍa, Tiṣya,149 Mahātiṣya, Samantatiṣya, Āhvayana, Yaśoda, Yaśika, Dhanika, Dhanārṇava,150 Upadhanika, Pilindavatsa,151 Pippala, Kimphala,152 Upaphala, Anantaphala, Saphala, Kumāra, Kumārakāśyapa, Mahodaya,153 Ṣoḍaśavargika, Nandana,154 Upanandana, Jihva, Jihma, Jitapāśa, Maheśvāsa, Vātsīka, Kurukulla, Upakurukulla, Śroṇakoṭīkarṇa, Śravaṇa,155 Śroṇaparāntaka,156 Gāṅgeyaka, Girikarṇika, Koṭikarṇika,157 Vārṣika, Jeta,158 Sujeta,159 Śrīgupta, Lokagupta, [F.100.a] [F.117.a] Gurugupta, Guruka, Dyotīrasa, Śamaka, Ḍimbhaka, Upaḍimbhaka, Viṃśachoṭika,160 Anāthada, Upavartana, Nivartana, Unmattaka, Dyota, Samanta, Bhaddāli,161 Suprabuddha, Svāgata,162 Upāgata, Lokāgata, Duḥkhānta, Bhadrakalpika, Mahābhadrika, Arthacara, Pitāmaha, Gatika, Puṣpa, Pālaka, Puṣpapālaka, Puṣpakāśika, Upakāśika, Mahauṣadha, Mahojaska, Mahojas, Anurādha, Rādhaka, Rāśika, Subrahma, Suśobhana, Suloka, Samāta, and Susmita.163 {1.62}

Lord Śākyamuni dwelt with these and many other śrāvakas who knew the taste of infinite freedom in the sphere of phenomena. Out of the collection of the three vehicles, they had reached the lesser one. Fleeing saṃsāra,164 they had immersed themselves in the contemplation of the triple liberation. They were endowed with the deportment of the four immeasurable thoughts. They focused single-mindedly, became properly ordained, and followed the correct conduct. Having adopted the right system (sunaya),165 they attained the state of nirvāṇa with its mental tranquility and freedom from mental elaboration. They too were seated in this great assembly along with Lord Śākyamuni and the others, established on the tenth level, who constitute the Three Jewels. {1.63}

Together with them there were many female śrāvakas. Relying on the path of the unconditioned, they abided in the state of nirvāṇa‍—the attainment of śrāvakas. Pure and free from desire, they developed halos of light. They were all objects worthy of veneration, being repositories of good qualities who facilitate purification. The best among the multitude of beings, they were the foremost leaders of the world. [F.100.b] [F.117.b] They were objects of worship of gods and humans and were their fields of merit. They were the supreme leaders of two-legged, four-legged, multi-legged, and legless beings. They were: {1.64}

Yaśodharā, Yaśodā, Mahāprajāpatī, Prajāpatī,166 Sujātā, Nandā, Sthūlanandā, Sunandā, Dhyāyinī, Sundarī, Anantā, Viśākhā,167 Manorathā, Jayavatī, Vīrā,168 Upavīrā,169 Devatā, Sudevatā, Āśritā, Śriyā, Pravarā, Pramuditā, Priyaṃvadā, Rohiṇī, Dhṛtarāṣṭrā, Dhṛtā,170 Svāmikā, Sampadā, Vapuṣā, Śrāddhā, Premā, Jaṭā, Upajaṭā, Samantajaṭā, Bhavāntikā,171 Bhāvatī,172 Manojavā, Keśavā, Viṣṇulā, Viṣṇuvatī, Sumanā, Bahumatā, Śreyasī, Duḥkhāntā, Karmadā, Karmaphalā, Vijayavatī, Jayavatī, Vāsavā,173 Vasudā, Dharmadā, Narmadā, Nāmrā, Sunāmrā, Kīrtivatī, Manovatī, Prahasitā, Tribhavāntā, Trimalāntā, Duḥkhaśāmikā,174 Nirviṇṇā, Trivarṇā, Padmavarṇā, Padmāvatī, Padmaprabhā, Padumā, Padumāvatī,175 Triparṇā, Saptaparṇā, and Utpalaparṇā. {1.65}

These and other of the most senior of the great female śrāvakas approached in order to salute the Lord’s feet. Desiring to swell the ranks176 of this great gathering, which was a great miraculous feat of the bodhisattvas, they congregated and took their seats. They were eager to hear the Lord’s teaching and to become a shining example to demonstrate the accomplishment of mantra practice. {1.66} [F.101.a] [F.118.a]

Lord Śākyamuni then looked at this entire gathering and, knowing with his pure heart that the realm of beings177 extends beyond the three times and is sky-like in nature, without independent existence, he addressed Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, as follows: {1.67}

“Please focus your attention, Mañjuśrī, on the acts that serve the interests of beings! Enter now the bodhisattva samādhi that will delight them according to their wishes, that is accompanied by faith in karmic results, and that will fulfill the purpose of their mantra practice; the samādhi that is the seat of the Dharma, the seat of right action, and the seat of tranquility and liberation; the samādhi that accomplishes ritual procedures and brings a state of equipoise free of all conceptuality; the bodhisattva samādhi that is endowed with the complete power of the ten powers of the tathāgatas and overwhelms the power of Māra.” {1.68}

Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, then entered the samādhi that was just described by the Lord. As soon as he entered it, he illuminated with a great light and caused to shake great trichiliocosms equal in number to the minute dust particles in many hundreds of thousands of world spheres, similar to this trichiliocosm of ours. He also displayed the use of magical powers, and then pronounced the words of his own mantra: {1.69}

“Homage to all the buddhas who arise out of the nature of nonexistence of individual entities! Homage to the pratyeka­buddhas and the noble śrāvakas! Homage to the bodhisattvas, the lords established on the ten levels, the great beings! This is the mantra proper: {1.70}

This mantra of Lord Mañjuśrī, called Yamāntaka, Great Lord of Wrath, will crush or summon even the king Yama, not to mention ordinary beings. As soon as the Great Lord of Wrath is pronounced, all beings will come into Lord Mañjuśrī’s presence, unhappy, frightened, and terrified, their minds disturbed and their spirits broken, without any other refuge, no other protection or recourse apart from Lord Buddha and the divine youth Mañjuśrī. {1.72}

Any beings that live on dry land, or in water, or fly in the sky, the mobile and the immobile, those enumerated as born from a womb, from an egg, from moisture, or as born spontaneously, those that are situated in the infinite world spheres up to their farthest reaches, and those that are hidden in the cardinal and intermediate directions, above, across, and below will be removed at that very moment from those places by the Great Lord of Wrath himself and brought into the presence of Mañjuśrī. The Lord of Wrath must not be pronounced in the presence of those whose desires have not been extinguished, for they also would wither and die. It should be recited by those who keep their samaya pledges, in front of a buddha image, or a caitya containing relics, or a book containing a genuine Dharma teaching, or in front of Mañjuśrī, the divine youth. It must not be recited for the sake of performing other acts in just any place, otherwise terrible omens and great ruin will come to the reciter. {1.73} [F.102.a] [F.119.a]

For the lord buddhas are indeed filled with utmost compassion, and the bodhisattvas, the great beings, exclusively strive to establish beings in the practice of the insight of omniscient knowledge; enthralling all beings, they establish them in the way of the Dharma. They deliver into nirvāṇa the entire realm of sentient beings; they give instructions and establish beings on the triple path; they prevent breaks in the lineages of the Three Jewels; they illuminate the mantra practice. With minds born of the power of great compassion, they obliterate the power of Māra. They destroy obstacle makers and keep the lords of evil in check. They increase180 their own power and hold back the power of opponents. They perform the acts of paralyzing, killing, destroying, chastising, burning, and gratifying. They teach the practice of their own mantra. They cause the lifespan, health, and power of beings to increase. They swiftly accomplish all tasks. They readily assume the modes of181 great love, great compassion, great equanimity, and great sympathetic joy. That is why the Yamāntaka mantra was now recited with a mind free from all doubt and deliberation. Summoned by the mantra were: {1.74}

Nāgas, great nāgas, yakṣas, great yakṣas, rākṣasas, great rākṣasas, piśācas, great piśācas, pūtanas, great pūtanas, kaṭapūtanas, great kaṭapūtanas, mārutas, great mārutas,182 kuṣmāṇḍas, great kuṣmāṇḍas, vyāḍas, great vyāḍas, vetāḍas, great vetāḍas, kambojas, great kambojas, bhaginīs, great bhaginīs, ḍākinīs, great ḍākinīs, cūṣakas, great cūṣakas, utsārakas, great utsārakas, ḍimphikas, great ḍimphikas, kimpakas, great kimpakas, rogas, [F.102.b] [F.119.b] great rogas, apasmāras, great apasmāras, grahas, great grahas, ākāśamātṛs, great ākāśamātṛs, rūpiṇīs, great rūpiṇīs, virūpiṇīs,183 great virūpiṇīs,184 krandanās, great krandanās, chāyās, great chāyās, preṣakās, great preṣakās, kiṅkarās,185 great kiṅkarās,186 yakṣiṇīs, great yakṣiṇīs, piśācīs, great piśācīs, jvarās, great jvarās, cāturthakās, great cāturthakās, nityajvarās, viṣamajvarās, sātatikās, mauhūrtikās, vātikās, paittikās, śleṣmikās, sānnipātikās,187 vidyās,188 great vidyās,189 siddhas, great siddhas, yogins, great yogins, ṛṣis, great ṛṣis, kinnaras, great kinnaras, mahoragas, great mahoragas, gandharvas, great gandharvas, gods, great gods, humans, great humans, country people, great country people, oceans, great oceans, rivers, great rivers, mountains, great mountains, treasures, great treasures, lands, great lands, trees, great trees, birds, great birds, kings, great kings, Śakras, Mahendras, Vāsavas, Kratis, Īśāna the Lord of Beings, Yama, Brahmā, Great Brahmā, Vaivasvata, Dhanada, Dhṛtarāṣṭra,190 Virūpākṣa, Kubera, Pūrṇabhadra, Maṇibhadra, Pañcika, Jambhala, Stambhala, Kūṣmala,191 Hārīta, Harikeśa, Hari, Hārīti, Piṅgalā, Priyaṅkara, Arthaṅkara, [F.103.a] [F.120.a] Jalendra, Lokendra, Upendra, Guhyaka, Great Guhyaka, Cala, Capala, Jalacara, Sātatagiri, Hemagiri, Mahāgiri, Kūtākṣa, and Triśiras. {1.75}

These and other great yakṣa generals, surrounded by many hundreds of thousands of millions of yakṣas, gathered together through the blessing and magical power of the bodhisattva, in that great assembly in the realm of the Pure Abode. Having assembled, they took their seats in order to listen to the Dharma. Also, the great kings of the rākṣasas, with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of millions of rākṣasas, had been brought by the Great Lord of Wrath. They were: {1.76}

Rāvaṇa, Draviṇa, Vidrāvaṇa, Śaṅkukarṇa, Kumbha,192 Kumbhakarṇa, Samantakarṇa, Yama, Vibhīṣaṇa, Bhīṣaṇa, Ghora, Sughora,193 Akṣayamati,194 Saṃghaṭṭa,195 Indrajit, Lokajit,196 Yodhana, Suyodhana, Śūla, Triśūla, Triśiras, and Anantaśiras. {1.77}

They all gathered to hear the Dharma. Also the great piśācas with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of millions of piśācas gathered there. They were: {1.78}

Pīlu, Upapīlu, Supīlu, Anantapīlu, Manoratha, Amanoratha,197 Sutāpa, Grasana, Supāna,198 Ghora, and Ghorarūpin. {1.79}

They all gathered to hear the Dharma. Also, the great nāga kings, with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of millions of nāgas, were brought by the Lord of Wrath through his display of the power of the bodhisattva. They were: {1.80}

Nanda, Upananda, Kambala, Upakambala, Vāsuki, Ananta, Takṣaka, Padma, Mahāpadma,199 Śaṅkha, Śaṅkhapāla, Karkoṭaka, Kulika, [F.103.b] [F.120.b] Akulika, Māṇa, Kalaśoda, Kuliśika, Cāṃpeya, Maṇināga, Mānabhañja, Dukura, Upadukura, Lakuṭa, Mahālakuṭa, Śveta, Śvetabhadra, Nīla, Nīlāmbuda, Kṣīroda, Apalāla, Sāgara, and Upasāgara. {1.81}

These and other nāgas, with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of millions of nāgas, gathered together in this great assembly and took their seats to hear the Dharma. Also, the sages and the great sages gathered there. They were: {1.82}

Ātreya, Vasiṣṭha, Gautama, Bhagīratha, Jahnu, Aṅgirasa, Agasti,200 Pulasti,201 Vyāsa, Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇagautama, Agni, Agnirasa, Jāmadagni, Āstika, Muni,202 Munivara, Ambara, Vaiśampāyana, Parāśara,203 Paraśu, Yogeśvara, Pippala, Pippalāda, Vālmīki, and Mārkaṇḍa. {1.83}

These along with other great sages, with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of other great sages, entered this great gathering. Having saluted Lord Śākyamuni, they sat down in order to hear and rejoice at this basket of bodhisattva teachings explaining the purpose of mantra practice. Also, the great kings of the mahoragas entered this great gathering and took their seats. They were: {1.84}

Bheraṇḍa,204 Bheruṇḍa,205 Maruṇḍa,206 Marīca, Mārīca, Dīpta, and Sudīpta.207 {1.85}

Also, the garuḍa kings came together in this great assembly, with retinues of many of hundreds of thousands of garuḍas. They were: {1.86}

Suparṇa,208 Śvetaparṇa, Pannaga, Parṇaga, [F.104.a] [F.121.a] Sujātapakṣa, Ajātapakṣa, Manojava, Pannaganāśana, Dhenateya,209 Vainateya, Bharadvāja, Śakuna, Mahāśakuna, and Pakṣirāja.210 {1.87}

They too joined this great assembly. Also, the kinnara kings, with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of kinnaras, came to this great gathering. They were: {1.88}

Druma, Upadruma, Sudruma, Anantadruma, Lokadruma, Ledruma, Ghanoraska, Mahoraska, Mahojaska, Mahoja,211 Maharddhika, Viruta, Susvara, Manojña, Citton­mādakara,212 Unmāda,213 Unnata,214 Upekṣaka, Karuṇa, and Aruṇa.215 {1.89}

These and other great kinnara kings, with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of kinnaras, came all together for the purpose of hearing the Dharma. So did come: {1.90}

The Sahāmpati Brahmās, the Great Brahmās, the gods from the heavens of Ābhāsvara,216 Prabhāsvara, Śuddhābha, Puṇyābha, Avṛha, Atapas, Akaniṣṭha, Sukaniṣṭha, Lokaniṣṭha,217 Ākiñcanya, Naivakiñcanya, Ākāśānantya, Naivākāśānantya,218 Sudṛśa, Sudarśana, Sunirmita, Paranirmita, Śuddhāvāsa, Tuṣita, and Yāma; the gods from the realm of the Thirty-Three and from the realm of the four great kings; the gods from the heavens of Sadāmatta, Mālādhāra, Karoṭapāṇi, and Vīṇātṛtīyaka; the gods who dwell in mountains, on mountaintops, and on mountain peaks; those dwelling in Alaka, those who dwell in palaces and mansions, those who dwell in the sky, those who dwell on the earth, those who dwell in trees, and those who dwell in houses. {1.91}

Also came the kings of the dānavas, headed by Prahlāda, Balin, Rāhu,219 Vemacitri, Sucitri, Kṣemacitri, Devacitri,220 Rāhu,221 and Bāhu. {1.92}

They had retinues of many hundreds of thousands of asuras‍—titans with [F.104.b] [F.121.b] extravagant habits, great and varied wealth, and a predilection to engage the gods in battle. Because of the bodhisattva’s blessing, they also joined this great assembly in order to witness, pay respect to, and attend this miraculous bodhisattvic event. In addition, there were also the grahas and the great grahas who work for the benefit of mankind and who dwell in the sky. They were: {1.93}

Āditya, Soma, Aṅgāraka, Budha, Bṛhaspati, Śukra, Śanaiścara, Rāhu, Kampa, Ketu, Aśani, Nirghāta, Tāra, Dhvaja, Ghora, Dhūmra, Dhūma, Vajra, Ṛkṣa,222 Vṛṣṭi, Upavṛṣṭi, Naṣṭārka,223 Nirnaṣṭa, Hasānta, Yāṣṭi,224 Ṛṣṭi,225 Duṣṭi, Lokānta, Kṣaya,226 Vinipāta, Āpāta,227 Tarka, Mastaka, Yugānta, Śmaśāna, Piśita, Raudra,228 Śveta, Abhija, Abhijata, Maitra, Śaṅku, Triśaṅku, Lubdha, Raudraka,229 Dhruva, Nāśana, Balavān, Ghora, Aruṇa, Vihasita, Mārṣṭi,230 Skanda, Sanat, Upasanat, Kumāra, Krīḍana, Hasana, Prahasana, Nartāpaka,231 Nartaka, Khaja, and Virūpa. {1.94}

These great grahas too, along with retinues of many of hundreds of thousands of grahas, were in this great assembly. They gathered together in the great assembly in the realm of the Pure Abode by the blessing of the Buddha and took their seats. Also, the nakṣatras, who move across the sky in the manner of birds, along with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of nakṣatras, were present there.232 They were: {1.95}

Aśvinī, Bharaṇī, Kṛttikā, Rohiṇī, Mṛgaśirā, Ārdrā, both Punarvasus,233 Puṣya, Āśleṣā, Maghā, both Phalgunī,234 Hastā, Citrā, Svāti, Viśākhā, Anurādhā, Jyeṣṭhā, Mūlā, both Āṣāḍhās,235 Śravaṇā, Dhaniṣṭhā, Śatabhiṣā, both Bhadrapadās,236 Revatī, Devatī, Abhijā, Punarnavā,237 Jyotī, Aṅgirasī, Nakṣatrikā, both Phalgu and Phalguvatī, Lokapravarā, Pravarāṇikā, Śreyasī, [F.105.a] [F.122.a] Lokamātā,238 Īrā,239 Ūhā,240 Vahā,241 Arthavatī, and Surārthā. {1.96}

These nakṣatra queens, with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of nakṣatras, gathered together in this great assembly in the realm of the Pure Abode through the blessing of the Buddha and took their seats. Present were also the following thirty-six signs of the zodiac: {1.97}

Meṣa, Vṛṣabha, Mithuna, Karkaṭaka, Siṃha, Kanyā, Tula, Vṛścika, Dhanus, Makara, Kumbha, Mīna, Vānara,242 Upakumbha, Bhṛṅgāra, Khaḍga, Kuñjara, Mahiṣa, Deva, Manuṣya, Śakuna, Gandharva, Loka, Sarvajita,243 Ugratejas, Jyotsna, Chāya,244 Pṛthivī, Tama, Raja, Uparaja, Duḥkha, Sukha, Mokṣa,245 Bodhi,246 Pratyeka, Śrāvaka, Naraka, Vidyādhara,247 Mahoja, Mahojaska, Tiryak, Preta, Asura, Piśita, Piśāca, Yakṣa, Rākṣasa, Sarvabhūtika, Bhūtika, Nimnaga,248 Ūrdhvaga, Tiryaga, Vikasita, Dhyānaga, Yogapratiṣṭha,249 Uttama, Madhyama, and Adhama. {1.98}

These great rāśis, with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of rāśis, came to this great gathering in the realm of the Pure Abode. Having arrived, they bowed to the Lord’s feet and sat down in their respective seats. Also, the great yakṣiṇīs, with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of yakṣiṇīs, were present there. They were: {1.99}

Sulocanā, Subhrū, Sukeśā, Susvarā, Sumatī, Vasumatī, Citrākṣī, [F.105.b] [F.122.b] Pūrāṃśā, Guhyakā, Suguhyakā,250 Mekhalā,251 Sumekhalā, Padmoccā, Abhayā,252 Abhayadā, Jayā, Vijayā, Revatikā, Keśinī, Keśāntā, Anilā, Manoharā, Manovatī, Kusumā,253 Kusumāvatī, Kusuma­pura­vāsinī, Piṅgalā, Hārītī, Vīramatī, Vīrā, Suvīrā, Sughorā, Ghoravatī, Surasundarī, Surasā, Guhyottarī, Vaṭavāsinī, Aśokā, Andhārasundarī, Ālokasundarī, Prabhāvatī, Atiśayavatī, Rūpavatī, Surūpā, Asitā, Saumyā, Kāṇā,254 Menā,255 Nandinī, Upanandinī, and Lokottarā. {1.100}

These great yakṣiṇīs, with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of yakṣiṇīs, bowing to Lord Śākyamuni from a distance, were present in this great gathering. Also the great piśācīs, with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of piśācīs, joined in, paying respects to Lord Śākyamuni. They were: {1.101}

Maṇḍitikā, Pāṃsupiśācī, Raudrapiśācī, Ulkāpiśācī, Jvālāpiśācī, Bhasmodgirā, Piśitāśinī, Durdharā, Bhrāmarī, Mohanī, Tarjanī, Rohiṇikā, Govāhiṇikā, Lokāntikā, Bhasmāntikā, Pīluvatī, Bahulavatī, Bahulā, Durdāntā, Elā, Cihnitikā, Dhūmāntikā,256 Dhūmā, and Sudhūmā.257 {1.102}

These great piśācīs, with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of piśācīs, also entered this great gathering. Also, the mātṛs and the great mātṛs, [F.106.a] [F.123.a] who wander throughout the world harming living beings and seizing oblatory offerings of food and garlands, joined in. They were: {1.103}

Brahmāṇī, Māheśvarī, Vaiṣṇavī, Kaumārī, Cāmuṇḍā, Vārāhī, Aindrī, Yāmyā, Āgneyā, Vaivasvatī, Lokāntakarī, Vāruṇī, Aiśānī, Vāyavyā, Paraprāṇaharā, Mukhamaṇḍitikā, Śakunī, Mahāśakunī, Pūtanā, Kaṭapūtanā, and Skandā. {1.104}

These great mātṛs, with retinues of many hundreds of thousands of mātṛs, were present in this great assembly, calling out, “Homage to the Buddha!” {1.105}

Similarly, the entire expanse of space with its many hundreds of thousands of beings, both human and nonhuman, sentient and non-sentient, from the great hell of Avīci to the pinnacle of saṃsāra, became open and accessible to sight. Within the totality of beings there was not a single one who would be in disharmony with another. By the blessing of the Buddha enriched with the magical power of the bodhisattvas, all these beings then saw Lord Buddha and the divine youth Mañjuśrī seated on the crowns of their heads. {1.106}

Now, Lord Śākyamuni, having looked over this entire assembly with his buddha eye, said to Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, “Please speak, O pure being! Give a full presentation of the section on samādhi that explains the meaning of mantra practice. Present this basket of bodhisattva teachings if you think that the moment is right.” {1.107}

Then Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, with the approval of Lord Śākyamuni, entered the samādhi called the ornament of a contiguous formation [F.106.b] [F.123.b] solid as fused vajras, adorned with miraculous displays258 of the space-like nature. As soon as Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, entered this samādhi, he blessed the realm of the Pure Abode, which extended over many hundreds of thousands of leagues, so that it became made of vajras. All the many yakṣas, rākṣasas, gandharvas, mārutas, and piśācas‍—in short, the entire universe inhabited by living beings‍—became situated by the blessing of the bodhisattvas in this great palace that resembled diamond jewels and gems, and there took their seats together, without any mutual enmity. {1.108}

Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, seeing that this great assembly had gathered, said to Yamāntaka, the Lord of Wrath, “Ho, ho, Great Lord of Wrath, who emanates from all the buddhas and bodhisattvas! Please protect this great gathering! Protect and enthrall it! Tame the wicked ones! Awaken the gentle ones into realization! Placate the implacable ones! As long as I am teaching this bodhisattva basket that accords with my own mantra practice and contains the extensive instructions on mantra practice and the maṇḍala, please go outside and guard this gathering.” {1.109}

Thus addressed, the Great Lord of Wrath, of extremely ugly, misshapen appearance,259 acknowledged the command and went outside in order to protect all the beings and to train the assembled audience in every respect. Letting out a terrible roar into the four directions, above, below, and across, he took up his position in the form of Yamāntaka Lord of Wrath, with a retinue of many hundreds of thousands of wrathful deities. Thus all beings, having become peaceful and content, did not transgress his orders. They also heard these words: “Those who would disobey this injunction, their heads will split into one hundred parts [F.107.a] [F.124.a] like a garland made of basil plants. For such is the power of the bodhisattvic blessing. {1.110}

Mañjuśrī then gave a Dharma teaching on the practice of his mantra.

“When a bodhisattva, a great being, possesses a single quality, his mantras become effective. What is this single quality? It is the mind that beholds all phenomena without mentally elaborating upon them. {1.111}

“When a bodhisattva, a great being, possesses two qualities, his mantras become effective. What are these two? They are (1) never abandoning bodhicitta, and (2) having equanimity toward all sentient beings. {1.112}

“With three qualities, his exposition of the meaning of mantra practice will be perfect. What are these three? They are (1) never abandoning any sentient being, (2) guarding the vows of the bodhisattva’s discipline, and (3) never abandoning his mantra. {1.113}

“When a bodhisattva, who has made the initial resolution of a bodhisattva, possesses four qualities, his mantras become effective. What are these four? They are (1) never abandoning his mantra, (2) not neutralizing the mantras of others,260 (3) generating loving kindness for all sentient beings, and (4) suffusing his mindstream with compassion. The mantras of a bodhisattva who has made an initial resolution and possesses these four qualities become effective. {1.114}

“Five qualities will bring the bodhisattva’s mastery of his mantra practice and his engagement in the basket of teachings to perfection. What are these five? They are (1) frequenting solitary places, (2) frequenting remote, peaceful places, (3) not hating others, (4) not considering employing mundane mantras, and (5) establishing others in discipline, learning, and good character. These five qualities [F.107.b] [F.124.b] will completely fulfill the purpose of his mantra practice. {1.115}

“Six qualities will completely fulfill the purpose of mantra practice. What are these six? They are (1) not giving up faith in the Three Jewels, (2) not giving up faith in the bodhisattvas, (3) praising both mundane and supramundane mantras, (4) perceiving the sphere of phenomena that is free of elaboration, (5) not rejecting the sūtras of the Great Vehicle that contain profound words and meaning, (6) never losing heart, (7) pursuing the mantra practice, and (8) not letting virtue decline.261 These six qualities will bring complete success in the practice of mantra and the knowledge of vidyās. {1.116}

“There are seven qualities that lead to the taking up of mantra practice that are helpful at the time of the actual application of magical vidyās. What are these seven? They are (1) taking up the profound path by cultivating the perfection of wisdom; (2) resolving upon the bodhisattva conduct that consists in reciting, teaching, studying, and writing; (3) taking up the right demeanor, thoughts, recollections, and the holding on to insight, without being impeded by time, place, ritual injunctions, mantra recitation, homa offerings, vows of silence, or the practice of austerities;262 (4) entering the way of the deep teachings of the Great Vehicle through the two accumulations of a bodhisattva; (5) skill in the procedures of summoning the mantra deities of one’s own lineage263 or in effecting protection;264 (6) cultivating great compassion, great loving kindness, great equanimity, and great sympathetic joy, as well as the six perfections;265 (7) pursuing the two types of omniscient wisdom by bringing together the sphere of sentient beings, the sphere of phenomena, and ‘suchness’ through nonconceptuality; (8) never abandoning any sentient being; and (9) not seeking the Lesser Vehicle.266 These seven qualities lead to the perfect mastery of mantras and magical knowledge. {1.117} [F.108.a] [F.125.a]

“Eight qualities will completely fulfill the purpose of the practice of mantra and magical vidyās.267 What are these eight? They are (1) faith in karmic results, both seen and unseen; (2) refraining from investigating anything out of mere curiosity or the desire to know;268 (3) displaying magical powers made effective through the grace of a bodhisattva;269 (4) out of respect for the teacher, learning from him the undistorted mantras;270 (5) taking to heart the master’s instructions on the buddhas and bodhisattvas’ own mantra system; (6) keeping one’s word;271 (7) renouncing all of one’s possessions; (8) being able to skillfully explain the signs received in one’s sleep about suitable and unsuitable places for gaining accomplishment;272 (9) freeing oneself from all stains of stinginess, sleepiness, and dullness, and constantly practicing diligence; and (11) always offering oneself to the buddhas and bodhisattvas.273 In short, never being complacent about accumulating the roots of virtue, donning great armor, or desiring to remove all obstacles, one will ascend the seat of awakening and experience great bliss as anticipated. One will be known as a great being and will also fall in with other great beings. One will never be separated from a spiritual friend and will be accompanied by Mañjuśrī, the divine youth, the bodhisattva. The aforementioned eight qualities will completely fulfill the purpose of mantra practice. {1.118}

“Friends! To sum up, a person who is not separated from bodhicitta, who is devoted to the Three Jewels, who continually exerts himself with unwearied mind even if he were of extremely bad disposition, will succeed in the infinite and marvelous mantra practice of a bodhisattva as taught in the detailed chapter on my mantra, and will develop the mind that arises from this practice. It should not be known to be otherwise. Once someone has become free from dualistic thinking, he will succeed even if his original motive was mere curiosity.” {1.119} [F.108.b] [F.125.b]

Then, the entire gathering, graced with the presence of buddhas, bodhisattvas, pratyeka­buddhas, and venerable śrāvakas, said these words: {1.120}

“Good! It is good, O son of the victorious ones! This Dharma discourse, which leads beings to enter an illustrious Dharma path whose special purpose is mantra practice, has been well presented for the benefit of all beings. O divine youth Mañjuśrī, this talk that is in accord with mantra practice and complies with the requirements of a fine Dharma discourse has been eloquently presented. If any king has this chapter, which records the coming together of the audience, retold, or causes it to be memorized or reflected upon, or if, before a battle, he has it mounted on an elephant and worshiped with various flowers, incense, scents, and ointments, there we will also be present. We will bring his opponents and enemies under control, and we will destroy the armies that oppose him. Or, if anyone keeps it in their house written in the form of a book, we will grant to that son or daughter of the Buddha family‍—be they a king or a queen, a monk or a nun, or a male or female lay practitioner‍—protection, prosperity, long life, life free from disease, and the continuous increase of good fortune.” {1.121}

Having said this, the great assembly fell silent. {1.122}