co.

Table of Contents

s.

Summary

s.­1

The Sūtra of the Sublime Golden Light has held great importance in Buddhism for its instructions on the purification of karma. In particular, much of the sūtra is specifically addressed to monarchs and thus has been significant for rulers‍—not only in India but also in China, Japan, Mongolia, and elsewhere‍—who wished to ensure the well-being of their nations through such purification. Reciting and internalizing this sūtra is understood to be efficacious for personal purification and also for the welfare of a state and the world.

s.­2

In this sūtra, the bodhisattva Ruciraketu has a dream in which a prayer of confession emanates from a shining golden drum. He relates the prayer to the Buddha, and a number of deities then vow to protect it and its adherents. The ruler’s devotion to the sūtra is emphasized as important if the nation is to benefit. Toward the end of the sūtra are two well-known narratives of the Buddha’s previous lives: the account of the physician Jalavāhana, who saves and blesses numerous fish, and that of Prince Mahāsattva, who gives his body to a hungry tigress and her cubs.

ac.

Acknowledgements

ac.­1

This text was translated by Peter Alan Roberts, who translated the text from Tibetan into English and wrote the introduction. Ling Lung Chen and Wang Chipan were consultants for the Chinese versions of the sūtra. Emily Bower was the project manager and editor. Tracy Davis was the initial copyeditor. Thanks to Michael Radich for sharing his research on the sūtra.

ac.­2

The translation was completed under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha. Rory Lindsay edited the translation and the introduction, and Xiaolong Diao, Ting Lee Ling, and H. S. Sum Cheuk Shing checked the translation against the Chinese sources. Ven. Konchog Norbu copyedited the text, and Sameer Dhingra was in charge of the digital publication process.

ac.­3

The translation of this text has been made possible through the generous sponsorship of E E, May-E, Minda, and Chung-Da Ho.

Text Body

The Translation
The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra
The Lord King of Sūtras, The Sublime Golden Light
15.

Chapter 15: The Goddess Sarasvatī

15.­1

Then the great goddess Sarasvatī, with her robe over one shoulder, kneeling with her right knee on the ground and her palms together in homage, bowed toward the Bhagavat and said to the Bhagavat, “Venerable Bhagavat, I, the great goddess Sarasvatī, will bring eloquence to the words of those dharmabhāṇakas so that their words will be beautified. I will also bestow on them the power of mental retention. I will establish them in giving definitions. I will illuminate those dharmabhāṇakas with the great light of knowledge.297 If any line of verse or syllables of this Lord King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light is left out, or forgotten, [F.232.a] I will bring all definitions, lines of verse, and syllables to those dharmabhāṇaka bhikṣus.

15.­2

“So that298 this Lord King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light may remain for a long time in Jambudvīpa and not quickly vanish; so that beings can accomplish roots of merit with a hundred thousand buddha bhagavats; so that many beings on hearing this Lord King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light may develop inconceivably sharp wisdom; so that they may gain an inconceivable aggregation of wisdom;299 so that they may attain good fortune in this life; so that they may have benefit in life and possess an immeasurable aggregation of merit; so that they may seek a variety of methods;300 so that they may become learned301 in all treatises; and so that they may attain302 perfection303 in a variety of arts, I will bestow the power of retention so that they will not forget.304

15.­3

“I will teach the rite of cleansing with mantras and medicines for the benefit of the dharmabhāṇaka bhikṣus and the beings who listen to the Dharma, so that harm from the planets, lunar asterisms, birth, and death; all the harms from fighting, pollution, riots, chaos, nightmares, and misleaders; and the harms from all evil spirits and vetālas will cease.

15.­4

“These are the herbs and medicines through which the wise can cleanse themselves:

15.­8
“Combine equal amounts of each
During the Puṣya lunar house.
Recite these mantra words
A hundred times over the powder:
15.­9

tadyathā | sute kṛte308 kamatali nalejanakarate309 haṅkarate310 indrajalini311 śaṃkaradri312 paśaddre313 avartakaseke314 nakutra kukavilakavimalamati śīlamati315 sandhidhudhumamavati śiśiri satyasthite316 svāhā |317

15.­10
“Make a circle of cow dung
And scatter flower petals.
Pour sweetened water
Into a gold bowl and a silver bowl.
15.­11
“You should also place there
Four men dressed in armor,
And place there four maidens
Who are adorned and holding pots.
15.­12
“Perfume the air with bdellium
And play the five kinds of musical instruments.318
Adorn the goddess with
Banners, parasols, and flags.
15.­13
“In between, place mirrors
And arrange arrows and spears.
Then, after closing the boundary,
Commence what is to be done.
15.­14

syād yathedaṃ319 arake nayane hile mile gile khikhile svāhā |320

15.­15

“Engage in the peaceful activity of cleansing by reciting this mantra while washing the body of the Bhagavat:

15.­16

tadyathā | sugaṭe vigaṭe vigatāvati svāhā |321

15.­17
“May the lunar asterisms, wherever they are
In the four directions, protect lives.
May they bring to an end the dreadful terrors
Of the harms from the stars of one’s birth,
The fears that arise from a multitude of actions,
And the disturbances of the elements.
15.­18

tadyathā |322 śame viṣame svāhā | sagaṭe vigaṭe svāhā | sukhatinate svāhā | [F.233.a] sāgarasaṃbhūtāya svāhā | skandhamatāya svāhā | nīlakaṇṭhāya svāhā | aparājitavīryāya svāhā | himavatsaṃbhūtāya svāhā | animilavaktrāya svāhā | namo bhagavate brāhmaṇe | namaḥ sarasvatyai devyai sidhyantu mantrapadā daṃ brahma anumanyatu svāhā |323

15.­19

“I will be there, because of this washing ritual, in order to guard the dharmabhāṇaka bhikṣu and those who listen to the Dharma and those who write it out.

15.­20

“Together with a host of devas,324 I will end all illness in those villages, towns, marketplaces, and monasteries.

15.­21

“I will end harm from planetary afflictions, fighting, and pollution; harm from the stars of one’s birth; and all harm from nightmares, troublesome demons, and all evil spirits and vetālas for the bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, upāsakas, and upāsikās who possess this lord of sūtras, so that their lifespans will be benefited, they will abandon saṃsāra, they will progress irreversibly to the highest, most complete enlightenment, and they will quickly attain the highest, most complete enlightenment of buddhahood.”

15.­22

Then the Bhagavat congratulated the great goddess Sarasvatī, saying, “Well done, well done, great goddess Sarasvatī! You act to bring benefit to many beings, and happiness to many beings. It is excellent, excellent that you have given this teaching of mantras and medicines.”

15.­23

The great goddess Sarasvatī bowed down to the Bhagavat’s feet and sat to one side.

15.­24

Then the Kauṇḍinya brahmin, the Dharma master Vyākaraṇa, called upon the goddess Sarasvatī:

15.­25
“Great goddess Sarasvatī,
You are worthy of offering, a great ascetic;
You are renowned325 in all worlds; [F.233.b]
You give the best and have great qualities;326
15.­26
“You have the highest attainment, are beautiful,
And have put on a darbha grass robe‍—
You are wearing darbha grass clothing,327
And you stand on one leg.
15.­27
“All the devas have gathered,
And they all speak in one voice:
‘Loosen your tongue and speak
The words that will benefit beings.’ ”
15.­28

Sarasvatī spoke these mantra words:

15.­29

syād yathedaṃ328 mure cire avaje avajavate higule329 migule330 pigalavati331 maguśe332 marici samati daśamati agrimagri tara citara333 capati334 cicirī śirimiri marici praṇaye335 lokajyeṣṭhe336 lokapriye337 siddhiprite338 vimamukhiśucikharī339 apratihate340 apratehata buddhe341 namuci namuci mahādevī342 pratigṛhnanamaskaraṃ343 |344

15.­30

“May I345 have unimpeded understanding. May I accomplish the knowledge346 of treatises, verses, tantras,347 piṭakas, poetry, and so on.

15.­31

tadyathā | mahāprabhavā348 hili hili mili mili |349

15.­32

“May I be victorious through the power of the Bhagavatī, the goddess Sarasvatī.

15.­33

karaṭe keyūre keyūravati350 hili mili hili mili hili hili |351

15.­34

“I summon the great goddess through the truth of the Buddha, the truth of the Dharma, the truth of the Saṅgha, the truth of Indra, and the truth of Varuṇa. I invoke the great goddess through the truth and true words of all who speak truth in the world.

15.­35

tadyathā | hili hili352 hili mili hili mili |353 May I be victorious! I pay homage to the Bhagavatī, the great goddess Sarasvatī! May I accomplish the mantra words! svāhā |

15.­36

354Then Sarasvatī said to the Kauṇḍinya brahmin, [F.234.a] “Great being, it is excellent, excellent, that you give all beings excellent eloquence, miracles, higher cognitions, great wisdom, and so on, benefiting them and causing them to quickly attain enlightenment.”

15.­37

She then recited these verses in order to teach the rite of possessing this sūtra:

15.­38
“First, whoever recites this dhāraṇī
Should pay homage to the Three Jewels.
Then, by repeating it without error,
They will attain excellent accomplishments.
15.­39
“Pay homage to the buddhas,
The Dharma, the bodhisattvas,
The pratyekabuddhas, the śrāvakas,
And to Brahmā, Śakra, and the Four Mahārājas,
15.­40
“And imagine that you reverently serve
Those who continually practice celibacy.
15.­41
“In a place that is peaceful and solitary,
Recite audibly the dhāraṇīs and praises,
And set out a vast offering
To all the buddhas, devas, and nāgas.
15.­42
“Develop a motivation of compassion
Toward the many classes of beings.
Contemplate with a one-pointed mind
The Bhagavat’s golden color and his signs.
15.­43
“Contemplate well the words and meaning
Given specifically for individual capacities
Through the Dharma, the supreme speech of the Bhagavat,
And accomplish and remain in emptiness.
15.­44
“If you contemplate with a one-pointed mind
The direct presence of all the bhagavats,
Then you will obtain samādhi,
Wisdom, and the sublime dhāraṇī.
15.­45
“The Dharma speech from the glorious throat of the Bhagavat,
That sublime voice, guides his followers.
His tongue covers the trichiliocosm
And manifests various, individual wonders.
15.­46
“If you continually contemplate that excellent,
Supreme speech, you will attain fearlessness.
This inconceivable sign of his tongue
Was attained through the power of vast prayers.
15.­47
“Just as space has no impediment,
He teaches that phenomena are nonexistent.
Contemplate the speech of the feature that is the Buddha’s tongue,
And countless prayers will be fulfilled. [F.234.b]
15.­48
“If someone makes offerings to Sarasvatī
Or has a student who, according to instructions,
In accord with scripture, practices the Dharma,
They will obtain the most perfect honors.
15.­49
“Someone who practices for supreme wisdom
And single-mindedly possesses this Dharma
Will increase the accumulations of wisdom and merit
And have definite accomplishment; do not doubt it!
15.­50
“Those who practice for wealth will have wealth,
And gain and fame will likewise be accomplished.
Those who wish for deliverance will be liberated.
This will definitely be accomplished; do not doubt it!
15.­51
“Also numerous, countless good qualities
Will be accomplished, as wished for.
Someone who maintains this practice correctly
Will definitely accomplish them; do not doubt it!
15.­52
“Wear clean clothes in a solitary place,
And in a maṇḍala of whatever size you can make
Place four vases that are extensive.
At that time, offer flowers and incense.
15.­53
“Beautify355 it with flags, parasols, and streamers,
And adorn it extensively with ointments and powders.
Make offerings to the buddhas and Sarasvatī,
And if you wish to see that deity, you will see her.
15.­54
“In front of the goddess Sarasvatī
Recite and repeat this for three weeks.
If you still have not seen that deity,
Repeat with a stable mind for nine more days.
15.­55
“If she has not been seen in those nights,
Seek another auspicious place.
Draw a correct image of the goddess
And continuously offer, repeat, and recite.
15.­56
“Day and night make a continuous effort
For an immeasurable benefit to yourself and others.
Its result will be bestowed on others
And your wishes will be accomplished.
15.­57
“If in that way your wishes have not been accomplished,
Then for three months, or for six months, or nine,
Or with diligent mantra repetition for a year,
You will attain the six higher cognitions, and so on.”
15.­58

The Kauṇḍinya brahmin, on hearing that teaching, felt immeasurable joy and delight, and he said to that gathered assembly:

15.­59
“This entire assembly of devas, humans, and others, [F.235.a]
Listen to me with undistracted minds.
I will recite these verses
Based upon relative truth,
In order to praise the supreme goddess Sarasvatī.
15.­60
“I pay homage to the goddess with great power,
Who has attained power over this world realm.
I am going to praise you because
This has been taught by the ṛṣis of the past.
15.­61
“Your glorious mind possesses bliss and learning
And it is renowned for its beauty.
You are also the mother who gave birth to this world
And continuously acts with great diligence in glory.
15.­62
“You are always victorious on the battleground.
Through subjugation you give rise to compassion and patience,
You manifest the body of Yama’s sister,
And you always wear clothes of blue silk.
15.­63
“You manifest both beauty and ugliness.
Whoever sees your eyes will have trust in you.
Your immeasurable activity transcends the world.
Whoever comes to you for refuge, you take care of them.
15.­64
“Sometimes you dwell on mountains and rocks,
Sometimes in caves or on riverbanks,
Or also within forests of trees‍—
Those places are the dwellings of the goddess.
15.­65
“If you continually make offerings to the goddess,
Just as the humans in the borderlands do,
Who make parasols from peacock feathers,
Then she will protect the world at all times.
15.­66
“She is encircled by tigers and lions;
Birds and cattle also depend on her.
When the sound of her great bell resounds
It is heard even on the Vindhya mountains.
15.­67
“In her hands she holds a trident,
Or she holds the sun and moon as her standard.
On the eleventh day of the waning moon,
Or on the ninth, make offerings to her.
15.­68
“Because she looks upon the entire world,
When a battle is being waged, through her kindness,
She manifests as the goddess Vasu.
She is a supreme goddess beyond analogy.
15.­69
“She manifests the form of the gopi Rādhā,356
And even fighting devas, she is always victorious.
She dwells happily for a long time in the world,
Sometimes wrathful, and sometimes peaceful.
15.­70
“She is skilled in the four Dharmas357 that are taught
By the brahmins, and in all miracles and mantras.
She has attained the power of the ṛṣis and devas
And creates this great earth and its seeds. [F.235.b]
15.­71
“Also, when she gathers together goddesses,
They come and gather like ocean waves.358
She is chief among all the assemblies of many yakṣas, nāgas,
And so on, and she has the power to guide them.
15.­72
“She is supreme among all female celibates.
She has power like359 a lord of the world.
She is also like a lotus in a royal dwelling
Or like a boat or ship on a river.
15.­73
“Her wide face is like the full moon.
She is a support for scholars.
Her eloquence is as elevated as a mountain peak
And she reveals a continent of contemplation.
15.­74
“The devas, such as the asuras and so on,
All praise and extol her qualities.
Even thousand-eyed Śakra, the king of devas,
Gazes on her face with veneration.
15.­75
“Whatever it is that beings wish for,
She quickly fulfills all those wishes.
She has a swift mind, retains what she hears,
And is supreme over all on this great earth.
15.­76
“She is always like a great illuminating lamp.
In the world realms within the ten directions
She even fulfills all the wishes of all
Birds, carnivores, and herbivores.
15.­77
“She is like a mountain peak among females;
Like the ṛṣis of the past, she remains for a long time;360
Like a young goddess, she is free of desire,
And she speaks the truth like the Lord of Sahā.
15.­78
“You manifest a body that accords with the world.
You are the chief among goddesses.
Even in the paradises of the desire realm,
There is no being that is greater.
15.­79
“She will save from the dangers
Of battles and dangerous places,
From falling into a pit of fire,
And from rivers, crevasses, and savages.
15.­80
“Those who are bound in punishment by kings
Or are being killed by an enemy,
If their minds are one-pointed and unwavering,
They will be freed from that suffering.
15.­81
“You protect all, the good and the bad.
You are present before them with love and affection.
Therefore, in my mind I bow down
And I pay homage to the great goddess.”
15.­82

361Then the Kauṇḍinya brahmin, the Dharma master Vyākaraṇa, praised the goddess Sarasvatī with these verses: [F.236.a]

15.­83
“All hosts of spirits, listen to me!
I praise the perfectly beautiful face of the sublime goddess,
The sublime female, the highest of perfect goddesses
In the world with its devas, gandharvas, and lords of devas.
15.­84
“The one named Sarasvatī is endowed with vast eyes.
Her limbs are adorned by an accumulation of various qualities.
She shines with merit, a vastness of stainless wisdom and qualities.
She is like a vision of an accumulation of different jewels.
15.­85
“I praise her, who has the exceptional qualities of supreme speech.
She produces the supreme, sublime accomplishments.
She produces true praises and good qualities.
She is stainlessly supreme, a shining lotus.
15.­86
“She has supreme eyes, sublime eyes.
She is the basis for goodness, a vision of goodness.
She is adorned with inconceivable qualities.
She is like the moon, shining with pure light.
15.­87
“She is the source of wisdom and has sublime memory.
She is a supreme lion, the divine steed of humans.
She is adorned with eight arms362
And she shines like the full moon.
15.­88
She has a beautiful voice and lovely speech.
She is endowed with profound wisdom.
She is a sublime being who provides the highest needs.
Her abode is praised by all the hosts of deva and asura lords,
And she is continually offered to by the hosts of spirits: svāhā.363
15.­89
“I364 pay homage to this goddess.
May she bestow special qualities on me.
May she grant me the accomplishment of all that is needed.
May she constantly protect me365 in the midst of enemies.
15.­90
“In the morning, on arising, recite purely
These complete syllables, the full words,
And all wishes, wealth, and grain will be attained,
And vast accomplishment and goodness will also be obtained.” [F.236.b]
15.­91

The Bhagavat then congratulated the Kauṇḍinya brahmin, saying, “It is excellent, excellent, that you, for the sake of the benefit and happiness of beings, have recited this praise to the goddess Sarasvatī and received sublime accomplishment so that you will possess immeasurable merit.”

15.­92

[B8]

15.­93

Then the Kauṇḍinya brahmin, the Dharma master Vyākaraṇa, having prayed to the great goddess Sarasvatī with words of praise and eulogy, said to the assembly, “If you wish to invite the goddess Sarasvatī, be protected by her compassion, have unimpeded eloquence in this life, possess what you have heard, have great wisdom, be skilled in all treatises, and accomplish clear and unimpeded in the adornments of composition, then with a respectful motivation366 and a reverential mind recite these words in order to invite the goddess Sarasvatī:

15.­94
“I pay homage to the Buddha.
I pay homage to the Dharma.
I pay homage to the Saṅgha.
15.­95

“I pay homage to the bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, and all āryas of the past, future, and present.

15.­96

“I rejoice in the speech of the bhagavats in the ten directions who remain in valid true speech, who are without deception, and who speak the teaching of the truth in accord with individual capacities and correctly teach the truth constantly for countless millions of eons.

15.­97

“I bow my body and pay homage to all the bhagavats who, in speaking the truth, spread their vast, long tongues, so that they completely cover their faces, Jambudvīpa, the Four Mahārājas,367 a chiliocosm, a dichiliocosm, a trichiliocosm, and all the countless world realms in the ten directions, dispelling all affliction from the defilements. [F.237.a]

15.­98

“May I possess such a sublime sign of the tongue and limitless eloquence.

15.­99
“I pay homage to the supreme eloquence of the Bhagavat;
To the supreme eloquence of the great bodhisattvas;
To the supreme eloquence of the ārya pratyekabuddhas;
To the supreme eloquence of the four pairs and eight individuals;
15.­100
“To the supreme eloquence of the four truths;
To the supreme eloquence of the true vision;
To the supreme eloquence of the ṛṣis in Brahmā’s entourage;
To the supreme eloquence of Umādevī;
15.­101
“To the supreme eloquence of the deity Skanda;
To the supreme eloquence of the nāga Manasvin;
To the supreme eloquence of the goddess of the night;
To the supreme eloquence of the Four Mahārājas;
15.­102
“To the supreme eloquence of the devas in paradises;
To the supreme eloquence of Vajra­guhyakādhipati;
To the supreme eloquence of the deity Viṣṇu;
To the supreme eloquence of the goddess Padmā;368
15.­103
“To the supreme eloquence of the deity Ganeśa;
To the supreme eloquence of the goddess Śrī;
To the supreme eloquence of the goddess Śrīmatī;
To the supreme eloquence of Haridhara;369
15.­104
“To the supreme eloquence of all the mātṛkās;
To the supreme eloquence of Hārītī;
To the supreme eloquence of the yakṣas;
To the supreme eloquence of the buddhas;
And to the supreme eloquence of the jinas in the ten directions.
15.­105
“May I have power through all supreme actions
And attain supreme, infinite eloquence.
15.­106
“I pay homage to the one who is infallible.
I pay homage to the one who is completely liberated.
I pay homage to the one who is free of desire.
I pay homage to the one who has cut through bondage.
15.­107
“I pay homage to the one with a pure mind.
I pay homage to the one who shines with light.
I pay homage to the speaker of true words.
I pay homage to the one who is free of dust.
15.­108
“I pay homage to the one who dwells in the ultimate.
I pay homage to the lord of the great assembly.
I pay homage to the goddess Sarasvatī.
15.­109
“Cause my words to be unimpeded
And swiftly accomplish every one
Of all the aspirations that I have.
May I obtain health, constant happiness,
And also may my lifetime be long. [F.237.b]
15.­110
“Quickly fulfill every aspiration:
Bring skill in all the branches of knowledge,
Bring diligence on the path to enlightenment,
And bring many benefits to all beings.
15.­111
“I speak the genuine words of truth
And I speak infallible words.
May the supreme goddess Sarasvatī
Cause my goals to be accomplished!
15.­112
“I pray, goddess, that you come to this place
And make my words free of impediment.
Quickly enter my body and mouth
And quickly perfect my mind’s eloquence.
15.­113
“Make the faculty of my tongue
Have the eloquence of the tathāgatas.
Make me be a guide for beings
Through the brilliance and power of my words.
15.­114
“Whatever words there are that I speak,
May all their meanings be accomplished!
May everyone have reverence for my words,
And may all that I do not be wasted.
15.­115
“If when I wish for eloquence
That goal is not accomplished,
Then, goddess, your words of truth
Will all become nothing but lies.
15.­116
“Those who have created the bad karma with immediate result
Will become guided by the Buddha’s words.
The words of any arhat
And the words of Kṛtajña,
15.­117
“And the words of truth of those such as
Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana,
The leaders among the Bhagavat’s followers,
May they all be accomplished by me.
15.­118
“On this day I invite to this place
The Buddha and his assembly of disciples;
May they all quickly come to this place
So that my aspirations will be fulfilled.
15.­119
“When I supplicate with valid words of truth
May they all become infallible.
From the summit of existence down‍—
Everyone in the Śuddhāvāsa paradises,
15.­120
“In all of the Brahmakāyika, Brahmapurohita,
And Brahma­pariṣadya paradises,
Throughout the circle of the trichiliocosm‍—
The lord of the Sahā world
15.­121
“And all those in his entourage,
All of them I invite here today.
Look upon me with compassion
And completely take me into your loving care. [F.238.a]
15.­122
“The Paranirmita­vaśavartin devas
And also the Nirmāṇarati devas;
The devas in the sky in Tuṣita,
The dwelling of Maitreya who will be a buddha;
15.­123
“The devas of the Yāma paradise,
The devas of Trāyastriṃśa,
And the devas of the Four Mahārājas;
And also all the assemblies of other devas‍—
15.­124
“The devas of earth, water, fire, and air;
Those who dwell on Sumeru Mountain,
And devas of the mountains of the seven oceans,
All of them and their entourages;
15.­125
“Pañcaśikha and Vāsuki;
And the sun, moon, planets, and lunar asterisms‍—
Those and all other devas, and those who are
The source of happiness in the world;
15.­126
“Those and all other devas
Who do not aspire to bad actions;
The mother with reverence for the buddha
Who had love for her youngest son;370
15.­127
“And devas, nāgas, and yakṣas,
Gandharvas and asuras,
And also the kinnaras,
The mahoragas, and so on‍—
15.­128
“Today I invite them all of them here
Through the power of the Bhagavat.
By regarding me with love and compassion,
Develop unimpeded eloquence within me.
15.­129
“May those who know the minds of others,
Those of all the devas and humans,
Through all their power of blessing
Bestow supreme eloquence upon me.
15.­130
“All of those beings that there are
As far as the end of the element of space,
The limits of the realm of phenomena,
May they bestow upon me supreme eloquence!”
15.­131

After the Kauṇḍinya brahmin said those words to the goddess Sarasvatī, the goddess said to that great being, “Well done! Any noble man or noble woman who praises with those verses and possesses and keeps those mantra words, and goes for refuge to the Three Jewels, and with a focused, aspiring mind practices in accordance with the rite for their desired goal, [F.238.b] this will not be a waste. Moreover, if they possess, keep, read, and recite this extremely subtle and profound Sublime Golden Light, the king that is the lord of sūtras, then all their aspirations will be quickly accomplished, unless this is done with a distracted mind.”

15.­132

At that time, the brahmin, his mind filled with admiration and overjoyed, placed his palms together in acceptance.

15.­133

Then the Bhagavat congratulated the goddess Sarasvatī, saying, “Goddess, it is excellent, excellent, that you protect and spread this sublime Dharma and that you teach this kind of Dharma to all the beings who possess this sūtra, so that happiness, merit, and limitless eloquence increase, and that you cause those who have developed the aspiration to quickly attain the highest, most complete enlightenment.”

15.­134

This concludes “The Goddess Sarasvatī,” the fifteenth chapter of “The Lord King of Sūtras, the Sublime Golden Light.”

c.

Colophon

c.­1

Translated and revised by the Paṇḍitas Jinamitra and Nelendrabodhi, and by the Lotsawa Yeshe Dé, the chief editor, and definitively revised according to the new language reform.550

ab.

Abbreviations

BG Translation by Bao Gui 寶貴, titled 合部金光明經 (Taishō 664).
TWC Translation by Dharmakṣema, a.k.a. Tan Wuchen 曇無讖, titled 金光明經 (Taishō 663).
YJ Translation by Yijing 義淨, titled 金光明最勝王經 (Taishō 665).
b.

Bibliography

Primary Sources in Tibetan and Chinese

gser ’od dam pa’i mdo. Toh 555, Degé Kangyur vol. 89 (rgyud ’bum, pa), folios 19.a–151a. English translation The Sūtra of the Sublime Golden Light (1) 2023.

gser ’od dam pa mdo sde’i dbang po’i rgyal po zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo (Suvarṇa­prabhāsottama­sūtrendra­rājanāma­mahāyāna­sūtra). Toh 556, Degé Kangyur vol. 89 (rgyud ’bum, pa), folios 151.b–273.a.

gser ’od dam pa mdo sde’i dbang po’i rgyal po zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo (Suvarṇa­prabhāsottama­sūtrendra­rāja­nāma­mahāyāna­sūtra). Toh 557, Degé Kangyur vol. 90 (rgyud ’bum, pha), folios 1.a–62.a. English translation The Sūtra of the Sublime Golden Light (3) 2024.

Hebu jin guangming 合部金光明經. Taishō 664 (CBETA, SAT). (Translation of Suvarṇa­prabhāsottama­sūtra by Bao Gui 寶貴).

Jin guangming jin 金光明經. Taishō 663 (CBETA, SAT). (Translation of Suvarṇa­prabhāsottama­sūtra by Dharmakṣema, a.k.a. Tan Wuchen 曇無讖).

Jin guangming zuisheng wang jin 金光明最勝王經. Taishō 665 (CBETA, SAT). (Translation of Suvarṇa­prabhāsottama­sūtra by Yijing 義淨).

Secondary References‍—Kangyur

dkyil ’khor thams cad kyi spyi’i cho ga gsang ba’i rgyud (Sarva­maṇḍala­sāmānyavidhi­guhya­tantra). Toh 806, Degé Kangyur vol. 96 (rgyud, wa), folios 141.a–167.b.

’jam dpal gyi rtsa ba’i rgyud (Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa). Toh 543, Degé Kangyur vol.88 (rgyud, na), folios 105.a–351.a. English translation The Root Manual of the Rites of Mañjuśrī 2020.

’od srung kyi le’u zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo (Kāśyapa­parivarta­nāma­mahāyāna­sūtra). Toh 87, Degé Kangyur vol. 44 (dkon brtsegs, cha), folios 119.b–151.b.

ral pa gyen brdzes kyi rtog pa chen po byang chub sems dpa’ chen po’i rnam par ’phrul pa le’u rab ’byams las bcom ldan ’das ma ’phags ma sgrol ma’i rtsa ba’i rtog pa zhes bya ba (Ūrdhvajaṭā­mahā­kalpa­mahā­bodhi­sattva­vikurvaṇa­paṭalavisarā bhāgavatī ārya­tārā­mūla­kalpa­nāma). Toh 724, Degé Kangyur vol. 93 (rgyud, tsa), folios 205.b–311.a, and vol. 94 (rgyud, tsha), folios 1.a–200.a.

blo gros mi zad pas zhus pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo (Akṣaya­mati­paripṛcchā­nāma­mahāyāna­sūtra). Toh 89, Degé Kangyur vol. 44 (dkon brtsegs, cha), folios 175.b–182.b.

lang kar gshegs pa’i theg pa chen po’i mdo (Laṅkāvatāra­mahāyāna­sūtra). Toh 107, Degé Kangyur vol. 49 (mdo sde, ca), folios 56.a–191.b.

las kyi sgrib pa gcod pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo (Karmā­varaṇa­prati­praśrabdhi­nāma­mahāyāna­sūtra). Toh 219, Degé Kangyur vol. 62 (mdo sde, tsha), folios 297.b–307.a. English translation Putting an End to Karmic Obscurations 2024.

Secondary References‍—Tengyur

Ajitaśrībhadra. dga’ ba’i bshes gnyen gyi rtogs pa (Nandamitrāvadāna). Toh 4146, Degé Tengyur vol. 269 (’dul ba, su), folios 240.a–244.b.

Ānandagarbha. rdo rje dbyings kyi dkyil ’khor chen po’i cho ga rdo rje thams cad ’byungs ba (Vajra­dhātu­mahā­maṇḍalopāyikā­sarva­vajrodaya). Toh 2516, Degé Tengyur vol. 62 (rgyud, ku), folios 1.a–50.a.

Anonymous. rgyal po gser gyi lag pa’i smon lam (Rāja­suvarṇa­bhuja­praṇidhāna). Toh 4380, Degé Tengyur vol. 309 (sna tshogs, nyo), folios 309b–310a.

Anonymous. ’jam pa’i rdo rje ’byung ba’i dkyil ’khor gyi cho ga sems can thams cad kyi bde ba bskyed pa (Mañju­vajrodaya­maṇḍalopāyikā­sarva­sattva­hitāvahā). Toh 2590, Degé Tengyur vol. 65 (rgyud, ngu), folios 225.a–274.a.

Anonymous. gser ’od dam pa mdo sde dbang po’i smon lam (Suvarṇa­prabhāsottama­sūtrendra­praṇidhāna). Toh 4379, Degé Tengyur vol. 309 (sna tshogs, nyo), folios 304.b–309.b.

Āryadeva. spyod pa bsdud pa’i sgron ma (Caryāmelāpaka­pradīpa). Toh 1803, Degé Tengyur vol. 65 (rgyud, ngi), folios 57.a–106.b.

Bhavya. dbu ma rin po che’i sgron ma (Madhyamaka­ratna­pradīpa). Toh 3854, Degé Tengyur vol. 199 (dbu ma, tsha), folios 259.b–289.a.

Bhavyakīrti. sgron ma gsal bar byed pa dgongs pa rab gsal zhes bya ba bshad pa’i ti ka (Pradīpoddyotanābhisaṁdhi­prakāśikā­nāma­vyākhyā­ṭīkā). Toh 1793, Degé Tengyur vols. 32–33 (rgyud, ki), folios 1.b–292.a, and (rgyud, khi), folios 1.b–155.a.

Bodhisattva. kun nas sgor ’jug pa’i ’od zer gtsug tor dri ma med par snang ba’i gzungs bklag cing chod rten brgya rtsa brgyad dam mchod rten lnga gdab pa’i cho ga mdo sde las btus pa (Samanta­mukha­praveśa­raśmi­vimaloṣṇīṣa­prabhāsa­dhāraṇī­vacana­sūtrāntoddhṛtāṣṭottara­śata­caityāntara­pañca­caitya­nirvapaṇa­vidhi). Toh 3068, Degé Tengyur vol. 74 (rgyud, pu), folios 140.a–153.a.

Buddhānandagarbha. de bzhin gshegs pa dgra bcom pa yang dag par rdzogs pa’i sangs rgyas ngan song thams cad yongs su sbyong ba gzi brjid kyi rgyal po zhes bya ba’i bshad pa (Sarva­durgati­pariśodhana­tejorāja­tathāgatārhat­samyaksaṃbuddha­nāma­kalpa­ṭīkā). Toh 2628, Degé Tengyur vol. 68 (rgyud, ju), folios 1.a–97.a.

Dharmakīrtiśrī. shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa’i man ngag gi bstan bcos mngon par rtogs pa’i rgyan zhes bya ba’i ’grel pa rtogs par dka’ ba’i snang ba zhes bya ba’i ’grel bshad (Abhisamayālaṃkāra­nāma­prajñā­pāramitopadeśa­śāstra­vṛtti­durbodhāloka­nāma­ṭīkā). Toh 3794, Degé Tengyur vol. 86 (sher phyin, ja), folios 140.b–254.a.

Dharmamitra. shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa’i man ngag gi bstan bcos mngon par rtogs pa’i rgyan gyi tshig le’ur byas pa’i ’grel bshad tshig rab tu gsal ba (Abhisamayālaṃkāra­kārikā­prajñā­pāramitopadeśa­śāstra­ṭīkāprasphuṭapadā). Toh 3796, Degé Tengyur vol. 87 (sher phyin, nya), folios 1.a–110.a.

Dīpaṁkaraśrījñāna. dbu ma’i man ngag rin po che’i za ma tog kha phye ba zhes bya ba (Ratna­karaṇḍodghāṭa­nāma­madhyamakopadeśa). Toh 3930, Degé Tengyur vol. 212 (dbu ma, ki), folios 96.b–116.b.

_______. byang chub lam gyi sgron ma’i dka’ ’grel (Bodhi­mārga­pradīpa­pañjikā). Toh 3948, Degé Tengyur vol. 213 (mdo ’grel, khi), folios 241.a–293.a.

_______. mngon par rtogs pa rnam par ’byed pa zhes bya ba (Abhisamaya­vibhaṅga­nāma). Toh 1490, Degé Tengyur vol. 22 (rgyud, zha), folios 186.a–202.b.

Ekādaśanirghoṣa. rdo rje ’chang chen po’i lam gyi rim pa’i man ngag bdud rtsi gsang ba (Mahā­vajra­dhara­patha­kramopadeśāmṛta­guhya). Toh 1823, Degé Tengyur vol. 35 (rgyud, ngi), folios 267.b–278.a.

Haribhadra. shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa brgyad stong pa’i bshad pa mngon par rtogs pa’i rgyan gyi snang ba (Aṣṭa­sāhasrikā­prajñā­pāramitā­vyākhyānābhi­samayālaṃkārāloka). Toh 3791, Degé Tengyur vol. 85 (sher phyin, cha), folios 1.a–341.a.

Kāmadhenu. ngan song thams cad yongs su sbyong ba gzi brjid kyi rgyal po zhes bya ba cho ga zhib mo’i rgyal po chen po’i rgya cher ’grel pa (Sarva­durgati­pariśodhana­tejorāja­nāma­mahā­kalpa­rāja­ṭīkā). Toh 2625, Degé Tengyur vol. 666 (rgyud, cu), folios 231.a–341.a.

Mañjuśrīkīrti. ’jam dpal gyi mtshan yang dag par brjod pa’i rgya cher bshad pa (Mañjuśrī­nāma­saṃgīti­ṭīkā). Toh 2534, Degé Tengyur vol. 63 (gyud, khu), folios 115.b–301.a.

Paltsek (dpal brtsegs). gsung rab rin po che’i gtam rgyud dang shA kya’i rabs rgyud. Toh 4357, Degé Tengyur vol. 306 (sna tshogs, co), folios 239.a–377.a.

_______. pho brang stod thang lhan dkar gyi chos ’gyur ro cog gi dkar chag. Toh 4364, Degé Tengyur vol. 308 (sna tshogs, jo), folios 294.b–310.a.

Pramuditākaravarman. gsang ba ’dus pa rgyud kyi rgyal po’i bshad pa zla ba’i ’od zer (Guhya­samāja­tantra­rāja­ṭīkā­candra­prabhā). Toh 1852, Degé Tengyur vol. 41 (rgyud, thi), folios 120.a–313.a.

Sahajalalita. kun nas sgor ’jug pa’i ’od zer gtsug tor dri ma med par snang ba de bzhin gshegs pa thams cad kyi snying po dang dam tshig la rnam par blta ba zhes bya ba’i gzungs kyi rnam par bshad pa (Samanta­mukha­praveśa­raśmi­vimaloṣṇīṣa­prabhāsa­sarva­tathāgata­hṛdaya­samayavilokita­nāma­dhāraṇī­vṛtti). Toh 2688, Degé Tengyur vol. 71 (rgyud, thu), folios 269.a–320.b.

Śāntideva. bslab pa kun las btus pa (Śikṣāsamuccaya). Toh 3940, Degé Tengyur vol. 111 (dbu ma, khi), folios 3.a–194.b.

Sthiramati. rgyan dam pa sna tshogs rim par phye ba bkod pa (Paramālaṃkāra­viśva­paṭala­vyūha). Toh 2661, Degé Tengyur vol. 68 (rgyud, ju), folios 317.a–339.a.

Vairocanarakṣita. bslab pa me tog snye ma (Śikṣā­kusuma­mañjarī). Toh 3943, Degé Tengyur vol. 213 (dbu ma, khi), folios 196.a–217.a.

Various authors. bye brag tu rtogs par byed pa [chen po] (Mahāvyutpatti*). Toh 4346, Degé Tengyur vol. 306 (sna tshogs, co), folios 1.a–131.a.

Various authors. sgra sbyor bam po gnyis pa. Toh 4347, Degé Tengyur vol. 306 (sna tshogs, co), folios 131.b–160.a.

Vinayadatta. sgyu ’phrul chen mo’i dkyil ’khor gyi cho ga bla ma’i zhal snga’i man ngag (Gurūpadeśa­nāma­mahā­māyā­maṇḍalopāyikā). Toh 1645, Degé Tengyur vol. 25 (rgyud, ya), folios 290.a–309.a.

Vitapāda. gsang ba ’dus pa’i dkyil ’khor gyi sgrub pa’i thabs rnam par bshad pa (Guhya­samāja­maṇḍalopāyikā­ṭīkā). Toh 1873, Degé Tengyur vol. 43 (rgyud, ni), folios 178.b–219.a.

Wönch’ük (Wen tsheg). dgongs pa zab mo nges par ’grel pa’i mdo rgya cher ’grel pa (Gambhīra­saṁdhi­nirmocana­sūtra­ṭīkā). Toh 4016, Degé Tengyur vol. 220 (mdo ’grel, ti), folios 1.b–291.a; vol. 221 (mdo ’grel, thi), folios 1.b–272.a; and vol. 222 (mdo ’grel, di), folios 1.b–175.a.

Yeshe Dé (ye shes sde). lang kar gshegs pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo’i ’grel pa de bzhin gshegs pa’i snying po’i rgyan (Laṅkāvatāra­nāma­mahā­yāna­sūtra­vṛtti­tathāgata­hṛdayālaṃkāra), Toh 4019, Degé Tengyur vol. 224 (mdo ’grel, pi), folios 1.a–310.a.

Other References in Tibetan

Kalzang Dolma (skal bzang sgrol ma). lo tsA ba ’gos chos grub dang khong gi ’gyur rtsom mdo mdzangs blun gyi lo tsA’i thabs rtsal skor la dpyad pa. In krung go’i bod kyi shes rig, vol. 77, pp. 31–53. Beijing: krung go’i bod kyi shes rig dus deb khang, 2007.

Lotsawa Gö Chödrup (lo tsā ba ’gos chos grub). In gangs ljongs skad gnyis smra ba du ma’i ’gyur byang blo gsal dga’ skyed, pp. 17–18. Xining: kan lho bod rigs rang skyong khul rtsom sgyur cu’u, 1983.

Ngawang Lobsang Choden (nga dbang blo bzang chos ldan). ’phags pa gser ’od dam pa mdo sde’i dbang po’i rgyal po’i ’don thabs cho ga (A Rite That Is a Method for Reciting the Noble Sūtra of the Sublime Golden Light), s.n. s.l. n.d.

Pema Karpo (pad ma dkar po). gser ’od dam pa nas gsungs pa’i bshags pa. In The Collected Works of Kun-mkhyen padma dkar po, vol. 9 (ta), pp. 519–24. Darjeeling: kargyu sungrab nyamso khang, 1973–74.

Other References in English and Other Languages

Bagchi, S., ed. Suvarṇa­prabhāsa­sūtram. Darbhanga: The Mithila Institute, 1967. Digital Sanskrit Buddhist Canon.

Banerjee, Radha. Suvarṇa­prabhāsottama­sūtra. London: British Library, 2006. http://idp.bl.uk/downloads/GoldenLight.pdf.

Buswell Jr., Robert E., and Donald Lopez Jr. The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press, 2014.

Di, Guan. “The Sanskrit Fragments Preserved in Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Peking University.” Annual Report of the Research Institute for Advanced Buddhology at Soka University for the Academic Year 2013, vol. XVII (Tokyo Soka University, 2014): 109–18.

Lewis, Todd T. “Contributions to the Study of Popular Buddhism: The Newar Buddhist Festival of Guṃlā Dharma.” Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies 16, no. 2 (Winter 1993): 309–54.

Nanjio Bunyiu, Idzumi Hokei. The Suvarṇaprabhāsa Sūtra: A Mahāyāna Text Called “The Golden Splendour.” Kyoto: The Eastern Buddhist Society, 1931.

Nobel, Johannes (1937). Suvarṇabhāsottama­sūtra. Das Goldglanz-Sūtra: ein Sanskrit text des Mahāyāna-Buddhismus. Nach den Handschriften und mit Hilfe der tibetischen und chinesischen Übertragungen. Leipzig: Harrassowitz.

_______ (1944). Suvarṇa­bhāsottama­sūtra. Das Goldglanz-Sūtra: ein Sanskrit text des Mahāyāna-Buddhismus. Die Tibetischen Überstzungen mit einem Wörterbuch. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

_______ (1944, 1950). Suvarṇabhāsottamasūtra. Das Goldglanz-Sūtra: ein Sanskrit text des Mahāyāna-Buddhismus. Die Tibetishcen Überstzungen mit einem Wörterbuch. 2 vols. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

Radich, Michael (2014). “On the Sources, Style and Authorship of Chapters of the Synoptic Suvarṇaprabhasa-sūtra T644 Ascribed to Paramārtha (Part 1).” Annual Report of the Research Institute for Advanced Buddhology at Soka University for the Academic Year 2013, vol. XVII (Tokyo Soka University, 2014): 207–44.

______ (2016). “Tibetan Evidence for the Sources of Chapters of the Synoptic Suvarṇa-prabhāsottama-sūtra T 664 A Ascribed to Paramārtha.” Buddhist Studies Review 32.2 (2015): 245–70. Sheffield, UK: Equinox Publishing.

Tanaka, Kimiaki. An Illustrated History of the Mandala From Its Genesis to the Kālacakratantra. Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications, 2018.

Tyomkin, E. N. “Unique Sanskrit Fragments of ‘The Sūtra of Golden Light’ in the Manuscript Collection of the St. Petersburg Branch of the Institute of Oriental Studies.” In Manuscripta Orientalia vol. 1, no. 1 (July 1995): 29–38. St. Petersburg: Russian Academy of Sciences.

Yuama, Akira. “The Golden Light in Central Asia.” In Annual Report of the International Research Institute for Advanced Buddhology at Soka University for the Academic Year 2003 (Tokyo: Soka University, 2004): 3–32.

Translations

Emmerick, R. E. The Sūtra of Golden Light. Oxford: The Pali Text Society, 2004.

Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). Sutra of Golden Light, 21-Chapter.

Nobel, Johannes. Suvarṇa­prabhāsottama­sūtra, Das Goldglanz-Sutra, ein Sanskrittext des Mahayana Buddhismus. I-Tsing’s chinesische Version und ihre Übersetzung. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1958.