妙法蓮華經 3.39

3.39

jñānābhibhū on the terrace of enlightenment, sitting on the lion seat under

the bodhi tree. He was respectfully surrounded by humans and such non-

humans as devas, nāga kings, gandharvas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas. They

also saw the sixteen princes requesting the Buddha to turn the wheel of the

Dharma. Then the great Brahmas bowed until their foreheads touched the

Buddha’s feet and then circled around him one hundred thousand times.

They scattered heavenly flowers on the Buddha, and the flowers they scat-

tered were piled as high as Mount Sumeru. They also paid homage to the

Buddha’s bodhi tree, which was ten yojanas in height. Having reverently

offered him flowers, they presented their palaces to the Buddha, saying:

Please accept the palaces we now offer you, and benefit us through

your compassion!

“Then the great Brahmas spoke these verses wholeheartedly and in uni-

son before the Buddha:

The Bhagavat, who is truly extraordinary,

Is extremely difficult to meet.

He is endowed with immeasurable qualities

And seeks to protect all.

The Great Teacher of Devas and Humans

Feels compassion for the world

And causes all sentient beings

In the ten directions

To be universally benefited.

All of us, who have come from

Five hundreds of myriads of koṭis of worlds,

Have given up the pleasure of deep meditation

In order to pay homage to the Buddha.

To the Bhagavat we now present our palaces,

Which the merits of our previous lives

Have caused to be completely adorned.

Please accept them through your compassion!

“Thereupon, having praised the Buddha in verse, the great Brahmas each said this:

O Bhagavat! We entreat you to turn the wheel of the Dharma, open

the path to nirvana, and guide sentient beings to it.

“Then the great Brahmas attentively spoke these verses in unison:

O Hero of the World, the most honored among two-legged

beings!

We entreat you to expound the Dharma

And bring the suffering beings to the path

Through the power of your great compassion.

“Then the Tathāgata Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū silently consented.

“Furthermore, O monks, the great Brahmas in the five hundred myriads of koṭis of worlds in the southeast saw their palaces illuminated with a ray of light that had never occurred before. Joyful and ecstatic, they were struck with wonder. They assembled to discuss this matter. At that time there was a great Brahma called Adhimātrakāruṇika. He spoke to the assembly of Brahmas in verse saying:

What is the reason

That this phenomenon has appeared?

Even since the olden times,

This illumination of all of our palaces

Is without precedent.

Has a deva of great merit been born,

Or has a buddha appeared in the world?