法苑珠林 30.12

30.12

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.