金光明經文句 5.9

5.9

Next, the Buddha confirms and approves; the text has two [parts]: first, jointly confirming the praise of the sūtra; second, confirming their ability to protect the state. The four kings' initial praise of the sūtra conformed with principle, so the Buddha confirmed and approved it. He approved their three praises above regarding substance, principle, and function; therefore it is said that the Buddha jointly confirmed them with "Excellent, excellent!" Above, they generally praised the single teaching; the Buddha confirmed it as universally praising hundreds of thousands of Buddhas. Because all Buddhas are born from this Dharma, by citing many praises he completed the single one. From "in the presence of the Buddhas" onward, he confirms their ability to protect the state. This also has two [parts]: first, confirming their protecting the state by means of the Dharma; second, confirming their protecting the state by means of the eye of wisdom. Protecting the state by the Dharma has four [aspects], and the Buddha confirms all of them. Above, the reason for protecting the state was explained as obtaining benefit through hearing the sūtra. The Buddha confirms that the present benefit is truly due to former seeds: "The initial aspiration and the ultimate [attainment] are not two; between these two minds, the prior mind is the more difficult, therefore I pay homage to the first aspiration of the mind." This cites the prior to complete the subsequent, and recounts the subsequent to make manifest the prior. From "expounding the correct Dharma" onward, he confirms their protecting the world by means of the Dharma. Above it was said that being able to expound and practice is why they are called world-protectors; the Buddha also confirms that being able to expound and practice earns the name of world-protectors (and so on). From "you today" onward, he leaps ahead to confirm their protecting the state with the divine eye; although slightly out of sequence, there is no loss in meaning. Above it was said that with the pure divine eye exceeding the human eye, the Buddha confirms benefit throughout the long night. Now, the divine eye illuminates at night without relying on the light of the sun, hence it is called "the long night." From "you four kings and your retinues" onward, he looks back to confirm their protecting the state with the heavenly retinue. Above it simply spoke of protecting the state; now the Buddha further praises it as protecting the correct Dharma of the Buddhas of the three periods. From "you four kings and the rest of the heavenly host" onward, he confirms their protecting the state through the harmony of the eye of wisdom. Above it was said that inviting the Dharma master into the territory averts evil, and this merit belongs to oneself, being able to repel the armies of the asuras. You urge the king to listen to the sūtra and provide for the fourfold assembly; the Buddha confirms that his internal wisdom and external blessings truly eliminate all suffering and bring about peace and happiness. As in the text (and so on).