སྟག་རྣའ་རྟགས་པ་བརྗད་པ 4

4

As the venerable Ānanda stood there, the Blessed One said to him, “Take up this six-syllable formula, Ānanda, and retain, recite, and master it for the benefit and welfare of yourself, and for the benefit and welfare of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen. Ānanda, this six-syllable formula has been spoken by the six tathāgata, arhat, perfectly awakened ones of the past, as well as by the Four Great Kings, by Śakra, lord of the gods, and by Brahmā, lord of this Sahā world. And now it is spoken by me, Śākyamuni,⁴⁰ the Perfectly Awakened One. You should therefore retain, recite, and master it. It is as follows:

Aṇḍare paṇḍare keyūre ’dhihaste saragrīve bandhumati dhara viṣa cili mili sātinimne yathāsaṃbhakte golapati kaṇḍavilāya || ⁴¹

“Ānanda, this six-syllable formula offers protection and blessing, such that if one is to be executed, one will be released with the strike of a rod; if one is to be struck with a rod, one will be released with the blow of a fist; and if one is to be struck with the fist, one will be released with a reprimand.”⁴²

“Ānanda, I do not see anything in this world with its gods, its Māra, and its Brahmā, among the multitudes with their ascetics and brahmins, with their groups of gods, humans, and asuras,⁴³ that can overpower when one is protected by this six-syllable formula, when one is blessed with a protective thread tied around one’s arm—except for the maturation of past karma.”

With the passing of that night, the outcaste girl Prakṛti washed herself,⁴⁴ put on new clothes, and adorned herself with a pearl necklace.