[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Buddhist Sanskrit literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit) › [Mahāyāna sūtras](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra) › [Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika) › [妙法蓮華經](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva) › 2.4 # The Lotus Sūtra 2.4 妙法蓮華經 2.4 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva.2.4) 爾時舍利弗欲重宣此義，而說偈言： > this Dharma from the Bhagavat, my heart is full of joy for I have experienced something unprecedented. What is the reason for this? In the past when I heard this Dharma from the Buddha and saw the bodhisattvas receive their predictions, I was not included. I grieved because I thought I had been deprived of the immeasurable wisdom and insight of the Tathāgata. > > “O Bhagavat! While I was dwelling alone under forest trees, whether sitting or walking, I was constantly thinking this: ‘Since we have also realized the true nature of the Dharma, why has the Tathāgata tried to save us with the teachings of the inferior vehicle?’ > > “The fault is ours, not the Bhagavat’s. Why is this? If we had waited for your explanation about the way to achieve highest, complete enlightenment, we certainly would have been able to save ourselves by means of the Mahayana. However, we did not understand that you were teaching with skillful means, according to what is appropriate to us. When we first heard the Buddha’s teaching, we immediately accepted, contemplated, and understood it. > > “O Bhagavat! Since long ago I have reproached myself incessantly day and night. But now from the Buddha we have heard the unprecedented Dharma that we have never heard before, and it has removed all our doubts. > > “I have obtained peace and tranquility in body and mind. Today I have finally realized that I am truly the heir of the Buddha, born from the mouth of the Buddha, incarnated from the Dharma, and that I have inherited a part of the Buddha-Dharma.” > > Then Śāriputra, wanting to elaborate this meaning, spoke again in verse: > > When I heard the words of this Dharma, > > Experiencing something unprecedented, > > My heart overflowed with joy, And I was rid of all my doubts. From long ago, ever since I heard The teaching of the Buddha, I have not lost the Mahayana. The words of the buddhas are extremely rare And are capable of ridding sentient beings Of their suffering. Although I had already attained Freedom from corruption, By hearing the Buddha’s voice, I have also been rid of my anxiety. Whether I was dwelling In mountain valleys or under forest trees, Whether I was sitting or walking, Grieving and blaming myself deeply, I thought incessantly: > > How have I deceived myself! > > I am also the heir of the buddhas, Having entered the same incorruptible Dharma. Nevertheless, in the future, I shall not be able to explain the highest path. The golden color, the thirty-two marks, The ten powers, and the liberations Are all in the same Dharma; And yet I have not attained any of these. Moreover, such qualities as The eighty excellent and eighteen special characteristics Are completely lost to me. > > When I was wandering alone, I saw the Buddha in the great assembly Filling the ten directions with his fame And greatly benefiting sentient beings. I then thought: > > I have lost all these benefits > > Because I have been deceiving myself. > > I thought about this constantly day and night And wanted to ask the Bhagavat: > > Have I or have I not lost these? > > I always saw the Bhagavat Praising the bodhisattvas. That is why I pondered over such matters As these both day and night. Now I have heard the words of the Buddha, Explaining to sentient beings The incorruptible Dharma, Which is difficult to comprehend, And making them enter The terrace of enlightenment. Formerly, I was attached to false views And was a teacher of brahmans. The Bhagavat, knowing my mind, Removed the false views and taught nirvana. I got rid of false views completely And attained the teaching of emptiness. At that time I considered myself To have attained nirvana. But now I have become aware That this was not the real nirvana. When I become a buddha I shall be endowed with the thirty-two marks, And be honored by devas, humans, yakṣas, and nāgas. Only then can it be said that I have Permanently attained nirvana without residue. Before the great assembly The Buddha has proclaimed That I will become a buddha. > > After hearing these words of the Dharma, > > I was immediately rid of all my doubts. > > When I first heard this teaching of the Buddha’s, > > I was greatly startled and thought: > > I wonder if Māra, acting like the Buddha, > > Is confusing me! > > But the Buddha, who teaches skillfully > > By means of various explanations and illustrations, > > Has made my mind tranquil like the ocean. > > While listening to him > > I was freed from the web of my doubts. > > The Buddha has said that immeasurable buddhas > > Who have attained parinirvāṇa in the past, > > Established in the use of skillful means, > > Have also taught this Dharma. > > Immeasurable buddhas in the present and future > > Will also teach this Dharma > > With various skillful means. > > The present Bhagavat, > > From the time he was born > > And renounced household life > > Until he obtained the path > > And turned the wheel of the Dharma, > > Has also taught through skillful means. > — Tsugunari Kubo & Akira Yuyama 2007, The Lotus Sutra - [Previous: 2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva.2.3) - [Next: 2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva.2.5) - [Up: 2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva.2) ## Translations (2) - [The Lotus Sutra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva~en-bdk.2.4) — Tsugunari Kubo & Akira Yuyama 2007, English - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva~en-mt.2.4) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.saddharmapundarika*zh-kumarajiva.2.4) · Pramāṇa