樂邦遺稿 1.17

1.17

The Śrīmālādevī-siṃhanāda-sūtra says that in the state of Śrāvastī there was a daughter of King Prasenajit and Lady Mallikā named Śrīmālā, who was married to the king of the state of Ayodhyā. Mallikā said: "My daughter is intelligent and possesses sharp faculties; if she sees the Buddha, she will surely understand the Dharma swiftly." She immediately sent an envoy with a letter. Upon receiving the letter, Śrīmālā immediately spoke a verse: "Looking up in reflection to the Buddha, the World-Honoured One, / Who appeared universally for the sake of the world, / May you also deign to extend compassion / And surely allow me to behold you!" No sooner had she spoken this verse than Śākyamuni manifested in the sky. Śrīmālā praised him further, saying: "The Tathāgata's marvelous physical body / Is peerless in the world, / Incomparable and inconceivable; / Therefore, I now pay homage. / The Tathāgata's physical form is inexhaustible, / And his wisdom is likewise so; / All phenomena are eternally abiding, / Therefore, I take refuge." Śrīmālā spoke verses expressing her original wish, and the Buddha immediately bestowed a prophecy upon her, bestowing the name Tathāgata Universal Light, and so on. The Tianzhu Smaller Fourfold Holy Repentance uses this verse to praise the Buddha; from "Great wisdom, great power of vows" onward, it was composed by the Master of the Repentance.