法苑珠林 30.12

30.12

有真善剎利　供養於正法
三乘得熾盛　當獲功德海
具足七寶等　遍滿閻浮提
持用施諸佛　其福猶有限
乃至四天下　造僧房供養
彼雖得大福　不如護正法
假使為諸佛　滿中造塔廟
彼雖得大福　不如護正法
譬如五日出　能竭於大海
若護我法者　則竭煩惱結
譬如風災起　悉摧一切山
若護正法者　亦滅諸煩惱
譬如水災起　漂蕩壞大地
若護正法者　亦消諸煩惱

There are true and good kṣatriyas
Who make offerings to the saddharma;
The three vehicles flourish thereby,
And they will obtain an ocean of merit.
Even if with the seven treasures and the like,
Filling the entirety of Jambudvīpa,
One offers them to all Buddhas,
That merit still has a limit.
Even if across the four continents
One builds monasteries and makes offerings,
Though one gains great merit thereby,
It is not as good as protecting the saddharma.
Even if for all Buddhas
One builds stūpas filling the world,
Though one gains great merit thereby,
It is not as good as protecting the saddharma.
Just as the rising of five suns
Can dry up the great ocean,
If one protects my Dharma,
It dries up the fetters of affliction.
Just as when the wind calamity arises,
It utterly shatters all mountains,
If one protects the saddharma,
It also destroys all afflictions.
Just as when the flood calamity arises,
It sweeps away and destroys the great earth,
If one protects the saddharma,
It also dissolves all afflictions.