金光明最勝王經疏 5.666

5.666

下釋得益，有六：初一頌得名稱普聞益；次一頌得為天子益；次一頌當得生天益；次一頌半諸天喜護益；次二頌護國益，於中復四：半頌星辰依度益、半頌風調雨順益、半頌人民豐樂益、半頌能護諸天益，能令天眾常充滿故。問：王能行善得諸天護，云何能護諸天益？答：王行正法即廣流佛教，國泰人安常令修善，故多生天。又弘佛法，天聞得益。故《薩遮經》云「行法行王無量天護，云何護天？由法行王能與諸天正法淨食，所謂為說如來正教甘露法門，禪定解脫十善道等，令其得離諸惡道苦，以是為護。」故法行王即身能集無量功德資益現在，未來復能集諸善果。此下亦云「是故汝人王，忘身弘正法，應尊重法寶，由斯眾安樂。」〈四王護國品〉亦廣明之。

Next, the explanation of obtaining benefits has six [parts]: first, one verse on the benefit of obtaining a renown widely heard; next, one verse on the benefit of becoming a son of heaven; next, one verse on the benefit of being born in heaven; next, one and a half verses on the benefit of the devas rejoicing and protecting; next, two verses on the benefit of protecting the state, within which there are again four: half a verse on the benefit of stars and constellations following their courses, half a verse on the benefit of regulated winds and timely rains, half a verse on the benefit of the people's abundance and joy, and half a verse on the benefit of being able to protect the devas, because it causes the heavenly hosts to always be abundant. Question: When the king is able to practice goodness he obtains the protection of the devas; why is it said that he is able to benefit by protecting the devas? Answer: When the king practices the saddharma, the Buddha's teachings then spread broadly, the state is peaceful and the people are secure, and he constantly causes them to cultivate goodness, hence many are born in heaven. Furthermore, in propagating the Buddhadharma, the devas hear it and gain benefit. Therefore the Satyaka-sūtra says: 'A king who practices Dharma is protected by measureless devas. How does he protect the devas? Because a king who practices Dharma is able to provide the devas with the pure food of the saddharma—namely, expounding for them the Tathāgata's correct teaching of the ambrosial Dharma-gate, dhyāna-contemplation, liberation, the ten paths of good action, and so on, causing them to be freed from the sufferings of the bad realms—this is regarded as protecting [them].' Therefore a king who practices Dharma is able in this very life to amass measureless merit to enrich the present, and in the future he can also amass all good fruits. Below it also says: 'Therefore, O human king, forget your body and propagate the saddharma; you should respect and value the Dharma-jewel, for by this all will have peace and joy.' The 'Chapter on the Four Kings Protecting the State' also clarifies this extensively.