經律異相 9.8

9.8

普賢菩薩。以自在神通威德名聞。與大菩薩不可稱數從東方來。所經諸國普皆震動。雨寶蓮華作眾伎樂。又與無數八部鬼神等大眾圍繞。禮釋迦牟尼佛。白佛言。我於寶威德上王佛國。遙聞此娑婆世界說法華經共來聽受。唯願世尊當為說之。佛告普賢。若有善男子女人。成就四法。於如來滅後當得是法華經。普賢菩薩言。若有行立懃誦此經思惟此經。若人於此經有所忘失一句一偈。大菩薩眾俱詣其所。而自現身供養守護安慰其心。亦為供養法華經故還令通利。見者歡喜轉復精進。以見我故即得三昧及陀羅尼。若後惡世中四眾來求索者。受持者。讀誦者。書寫者。欲修習是法華經。於三七日中應一心精進。滿三七日亦當現其人前而為說法（出妙法蓮華經第七卷）。

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, renowned for his sovereign supernatural powers and majestic virtue, came from the east together with innumerably many great bodhisattvas. The lands he passed through all quaked, and they rained down precious lotus blossoms and played various kinds of music. He was also surrounded by a great assembly of countless gods, spirits, and other members of the eight classes. Paying homage to Śākyamuni Buddha, he said to the Buddha: "In the land of the Buddha Sovereign King of Precious Majestic Virtue, I heard from afar that the Lotus Sūtra was being preached in this Sahā world, and we have come together to listen to it and receive it. We only pray that the Bhagavat will preach it for us." The Buddha told Samantabhadra: "If good men or good women fulfill four conditions, they will obtain this Lotus Sūtra after the Tathāgata has entered extinction." Samantabhadra Bodhisattva said: "If there are those who walk or stand, diligently reciting this sūtra and meditating upon it; if someone should forget a single phrase or verse of this sūtra, the host of great bodhisattvas will all go to where that person is, manifesting their forms to make offerings, protect, and comfort their minds, and also to ensure it flows fluently once more for the sake of making offerings to the Lotus Sūtra. Those who see them will rejoice and become even more vigorous. Because they see me, they will instantly obtain samādhis and dhāraṇīs. If in the evil age to come anyone among the four assemblies comes seeking, upholding, reading, reciting, or copying this Lotus Sūtra with a desire to practice it, they should be single-mindedly vigorous for three times seven days. When the three times seven days are fulfilled, I will also appear before them and preach the Dharma for them." (Extracted from the seventh fascicle of the Lotus of the True Dharma Sūtra.)