the smaller sukhavati vyuha

g$itzrNH

The Smaller

Sukhavati-Yyuha

t<-H ffi #,f : 4b*=y!ft i*ffi [email protected]

Translated into Chinese from Sanskrit

by

KUMARAJIVA

Htrt{z}Ai,TF : 1:{',14 AfiniH.ihTranslated into English from Sanskrit MSS

by

F. MAX MULLER

T

14- tN fL !9

Bb#=ffi)*tiltFEffi'ftE+

H ' 4tlt E iE ' +- H fr-f^'fF. '

FZ,EfrJfr" H;=rJ E @S' H;=nIiu9!' ;,'uf

*!fibG. E;'J'f.466'ifl'W#-t, ' Flttj4€F.c{ltt ' f{b

F'c . FI#p'g . $EftF#E.'ffittilIft ' ?telTffiHti: :ijit

. fuEll*c4 . H;4*/!ri#5 . F$fohb . [01€t$it' : '

i[##ffitr;*Jffi:

At^HXtfrJE{+' iuE'& 4 :\fu-' 4illtii"i'' i+i

E . ft;f-ffig#ffi . 44inE^$ ' ;lIt*FE "e.f++fttEtrs' tr_affixj(*{Jl'

THE SMALLER

SUKHAVATI.VYUHA.

ADORATION TO THE OMNISCIENT!

Thus it was heard by me: At one time theBlessed (Bhagauat, i.e. Buddha) dwelt at Sraaasti,in the f etu-grove, in the garden of Anathabindaka,together with a large company of Bhiksus (mendicant friars), viz. with twelve hundred and fiftyBhiksus, all of them acquainted with the fivekinds of knowledge, elders, great disciples, andArhats, such as Sariputra, the elder, Maha-maudgalyayana, Malcakasyapa, Mahakapphina,Mahakatyaydna, Mahakausthila, Reuata, S udd hi-fanthaka, Nanda, Anarcda, Rahula, Gauampati,Bharadaaia Kaloda yin, V ahkula, and Anirurtd ha.IIe dwelt together with these and many othergteat disciples, and together with many noble-mindedBodhisattuas, such as Manjusri, the prince, theBod hisattua Ajita, the Bod hisattua G and hahastin,fu Bodhisattua Nityodyakta, the BodhisattuaAniksiptadhura.He dwelt together with them anduany other noble-minded Bodhzsattuas, and with$akra, the Indra or King of the Devas, and withrhahrnan Sahampatt. With these and many otherhdred thousand nayutas of sons of the gods,

T1

Ff t.n il'a 3.E

mF' ffiEfu*,#trllf' :

f'lreftWfr ' ffitHffiilfr+., Hftfr-f,-r t fffi#J . X't^Elfr" Ah TF ItffiPEJ , +4,tr'#*

f EfriJfr- "4fr.Ltilt1l.€tr [ffi*-l ?

r+E*4. ' ffiH#c#i'4tr8#* 'fi\f,'$Lfto

trn.'AfIJ4 '16#E*. ' {€tmfr6' +:,8

ffifE , 1.6.ftt6J ' Eftv!ffi,' ,Etr'Elffi "fftfi\t&W' &ffiFn# "

trn. . af,|J4 ' &b#F5 L'H-bH.W' ^Dr

ffi7k, fiffiStr, flLEffiD-,{ #'tD,ffifr. "

trEiBkr?iE' S . SE . yfr44 . I&ffi ' /ir't" o

JcH&FA'$D)#. $R. rdH . tJiH . trStr4. ,fi

*. ffir# 'ffiffi6fi2.fie+lE+ , xin€fft 'fl;{&fr'Jt,ffib.fr

THE SMALLER SUKHAVATI.VYUHA

Bhagauat drvelt at Srauasti.Then Bhagauat addressed the honoured Sa-

ripatra and said, "O Sariputra, after you have

gnssed from here over a hundred thousand kotis of

Buddha countries there is in the Western part aBuddha country, a world called Sukhauati (the

bappy country). And there a, Tathagata, called

Amitayus, an Arhat, fully enlightened, drn'ells

npWr and remains, and supports himself, and

teaches the Law."Now what do you think, Saripulra, for what

resson is that world called Sukhauati (the happy)?

In tlrat world Sukhaaati, O Sariputra, there is

oeither bodily nor mental pain for living beings.

The sources of happiness are innumerable there.For that reason is that world called Sukhauati(the happy).

"And again, O Sariputra, that world Sukhauatiis adorned with seven terraces, with seven rows ofpalm-trees, and with string:s of bells. It is enclosedm every side, beautiful, brilliant with the fourgems, viz. gold, silver, beryl, and crystal. With&rch arrays of excellerrces peculiar to a Buddha@untry is that Buddha country adorned.

"Ard again, O Sariputra, in that worldSukhauati there are lotus-lakes, adorned with theSeven gems, viz. gold, silver, beryl, crystal, redpearls, diamonds, and corals as the seventh. Theyare full of water which possesses the eight goodQlulities, their waters rise as high as the fords

Ir

rtT tisf il's 3.s

Jt ' fr&liJt ' A&,aJt ' ifufu)fl#. "

EAfiJfr' ffilFE+. ' pLffifrur_ '4tE#,#friilo

trn.. #f,tjffi ' :tEIfrW:h ' 'H"ffX*. !t:1>

€fiX, " g&xffi ' FFXtr[t#b# "

r+*.*4. , HUffiE ' &v)&$fr., r#ftlD

, 'iFA. f$fi o

F#tlj't' ffi*E:h, r&ffi.;lnft ' r'19'111iiiti

I


arrd bathing-places, m that even crows may drinkthere; tirey' are strewn with golden srnd. And inthese lotus-lrkes there are all around crn the foursides four stairs, beautiful and brilliant with thefour gems, viz. gold, silver, beryl, cry'stai. And on

every side of these lotus-lakes gem-trees are growing,

beautiful and brilliant with the seven gems, viz.gold, silver, beryl, crystal, red pearls, diamonds, andcorals as the seventh. And in those lofus-lakeslotus-flowers are growing, blue, bluecoloured, of bluesplendour, blue to behold; yellow, yellow-coloured,of yellow splendour, yellow to behold; red, red-coloured, of red splendour, red to behold; white,whitecoloured, of white splendour, white to behold;beautiful, beauiifully-colourod, of beautiful splendour,beautiful to behold, and in circumference as largeas the wheel of a chariot.

"And again, O Sari\utra, in that Buddhacountry there are heavenly musical instnrmentsalways played on, and the earth is lovely and ofgolden colour. And in that Buddha country a flower-rain of heavenly Mandaraaa blossoms pours downthree times every day, and three times everynlght. And the beings rvho are born there w-orshipbefore their morling meal and a hundred thousandhotts of Budclhas by going to other rporlds; andhaving shon.ered a hundred thousand kotis offlowers upon each Tathagata, rhey return to theirown world in time for the afternoon rest. Withsttch arrays of excellences peculiar to a Buddhaoountry is that Buddha countrv adorned.

ItI lf, E 3.E

f '6t^'&+1Jll' ;I&WHE , t4tq6:Bl' , Nr.

&2,* : H&B . 4L&. *$dS. #f,tj . lsFAffi{lR .

Jtftz,c " .ftffi*.,*' g&xffi ' HfFlHE. fitrifrW: lifR ' friJ. -bg{*A. A4rEf ' fn€+.i:i* " &l[R.#.' FilEEE, tr#ft0p . AE. f,{B.

rEfrilfr' ' tkn#tt,* , HE#wFfr&" rflU-HfiI?'4LlfrW* ' *S=SFits " #f,tj# '*{#H:t' ' f"lf$,Ei&z&' rqn6H? E#*,s' ff€F'lffit['d'f# ' ffi+i*FHifi; ' ft,lLffi|F "

f AfU4 ,'r&lfrWt-''MWvkWJ, #F.tiffi' .&"H$EfiH ' trtMWE ' E*sHAf€#.., FIF+tr

rLr o

f /ifiJtfr,' 4dtE-h , ffiffi,flnft, Dtl.*,tiLffi

I

THE SMALLER SUKHAVATI-VYUHA

"And again, O Sariputra, there are in thatBuddha country s\,.ans, c.rle's, and peacocks. Threetinres every night, and three ti^u* lu"r, day, thevcome together and.perfolm a concert, each utteringhis own note. And from them tnus utiering proceedsa sound proclaiming the five virtues, the fivepowers, and the shighes*,no*reas"lHtj'?i: f::'H"::lT,.,fi;sound, remeinbrance of Buddha, remembrance ofthe Larv, remembrance of the CfrrrJ, rises in theirmind.

"Now, do yor think, O Sariputra, that thereare beings rvho ha-ye entered, into the nature ofanimals (birds, 6zc.)? This is not to U. ttooght of.The very name of hells is ,.rk roou., in ti,ut Buddha6untry, and likewise that of ldescent into) animalbodies and of the realm of yama lthe fourapayas). No, these tribes of birds tarl" Ueun **aeor puryose by the T,athagata Amitayus,and theyutter the scund of the Larv. Witn sucfr arrays ofe<cellences, &c., "And again, O Sariputra, whenthose rows of.Dalm-trees and strings sf betts in ttrat Buddha''"Oountry are moved by the wind, a sweet and

ff-i:^r":t* sound proceeds from them. yes, o'$artputra, as from a heavenly musical instrument{$nsisting of a hundred thousand hotis of sound.s,

ffi:: olaved b.y Aryas, a sweet and enrapturingproceeds, a sweet and crapturing soundls fnym those ro-ws of palm_trees anJ strings

{-l

t

I

il

I

I

il

li

rl

I

rl

tsr

itr i6 fe ?.s

f ffltlt , ,'\it,t(-t 17 ttlfrf,{frI ' lrE i-|t,'idftIl'',c_l 7

r{r4'u 4lt , 'ty**rltjltt+i ' y,{iffihfl ' .tfltjit

F+'fiFt' ft /'ti.ttfl"9Fuljf,lffl? "

trZ . /';{.U ilt '1tLIil::*!;6F , iL+t-A;q ' {nti,i

{it$ , Il'iif,i'riltli ' ff7tf,gu[ffiftl o

fifr{.rj,Jlr , F,lrT{jFci4 , Fr"IlllL)X-, fr\4-;,1.!J: .

trr. . ftfrj 41\ ,4r11411+t J,qEr_fit€ , Hfiillt-:-

' 'E?lt,t;il:tr': , )FiLlTXs., ZfltiiEj,u " ;ff',,+i-#4* ,

,Jr't[-krt#. "

iift.f|j il\' 4rlll'i,v\_L--, rj\rlhfrn E, qst*f1:frtr

!

tr-Z . frftjiij ' t'lriry:Ei L, î/+-hft

' f!),',:

HW\' Hiii\IttZ' tllr'ItJftiili:1$.€ , Fri{g[l[# ,

r{riltf, 'xt&_ti+l'H ' trt'{i{*.w I rw44t,i

THE SMALLER SUKHAVATI.VYTIHA

of bells moved by_ the w_ind. And when the menhear that sound, reflection o., graJlru arises in them,reflection on the Law, refle.ri*'ôn the Church.With such arrays of excellen.u., &.."Now what do you think, 't;

ariiutra, forwhat reason is that Tathasaio ."ttua Amitayus?The lensth of life .(ayus),-O Si';p"tra, of thatTathagata and of those men there i= l_m".u.aUte

( amita ). 'I'herefr,,re is tnat ia'inagata calledAmitayus. And ten kalpos fruu" Ou.*, O Sari_putra, since that Tathagata uriof." to perfectknow-ledge.

"And u,hat clo you think, O Sariputra, forwhat reason is that -Ta,hagata ."ff"O Amitabha?The. splendour (abha), d irr;i)rrr, of thatTathogala is unimpeded over uff gudOt" countries.Therefcr-e is that Tathogata ,rii2*;tabha.

"Arrd there is, O Sariputra,-an innirmerableassenrbly of clisciiiles r,r.iih that ilti'oeo a, purifiedand venerahlc persr:,ns, u hose number it is ,rot ea"yto count. Wirh such arrar.s "f ;;;.11";ces, &c."And again, O saiiTrutra,--or'-irro." beingsalso who are h;rn in the Lluddha ioLrntry of theTâthogtta tlnzrtayus as purified Bodhisattuas,never to rctunr asain and uo,_J b; ; bir.th only,of thcse Borlhisaltuas also, O S-arfputra, the[umber is not easy to count, except they arereckoned as infinite in number-

' -----!"Then again all beirrgs, O Sariputra, oaght to

il

I

(i fl iii r:Z li

El_l " ftiy)-#4|\7 1'.l.r.-n4i'iL'l{-h#A ' 'fR€*1ft

o ltttJtl\ ' 4:pID)4',Y+lll . 1iiti'ji . 18ffi- ' '4v:I{1U

F{ " f;.i'ljilL , )\.8 {i5i1' , }i;AA ' tiiJllF'lffi{pt

ffi' , #I.+:i'f il[,: /i-H ' )l;---H ' +;=fl t f1vL1

H , Iill-g t )t;iitr '*;-tE , -,[.sffil.4/\Fjififfti:i, ' It'l,ttjllt{4 , th!,,#4*. ' glfr+dji. *&

;rtr$+ ' ,1.6F$1{itJ ' llt'4.},il-A' ['ltffi['cffitfi*Pd

:1 "fi{,rilll '+trJ"ft.{,rj , rllrlfbii': I+iHRL|-

' tiij-ErJl# ' ffi:'H ff lfttl ' 1tlilV{l:-J "

Fftfudlr ! fi|tr\,+-yi , ,iit$ifli'Iffi$pffi t l: tJ

,j'J,.;i)rth-tf.Z41J " lih lrl{1,'i ii\j i:iTn #*{ EB- If iA

Wl.EJlll: , xif\ltflfi: ' 7\lhTtJtl|l, ' IbEIfr ' frn#.:"*

, 'lEin]i4$;fi[fr: " 6r\+m ' SiHEfrttA ' thitft

=+;lt+trn, #EfrFE' flh+*+. l Hf;;ft


grake fervent prayer for that Buddha country. Andwhy? Because they come t<_rgether there with suchexcellent nten. Fieings ar-e not trorn in that Buddhacourrtry of the Talhagata Amitayus as a rewardand result of good works performed in this presentfife. No, whatever son or daughter of a family shallhear the name of the blessed Amitayus, theTathagata, and having heard it, shall keep it inmind, and with thoughts rrndisturbed shall keep itin mind for one, two, three, fou.r, five, six or sevennights,--u.hen that .son or daughter of a familygomes to die, then that Amitayus, tlne Tathagata,surrounded by an assembly of disciples and follcnvedby a host of Bodhisaltuas, will stand before themat their hour of death, and they will depart thislife vrith tranquil minds. After their death theywill be born in the rvorld Sukhauati, in the Boddhacountr-y of the same Amitayus, the Talhagata.Therefore, then, O Saripzrtra, having perceivedthis cause and effect, I with reverence say thus.Every son and every daughter of a family oqhtwith their whole mind to make fervent prayer forthat Buddha country.

"And now, O Sariputra, as I here at presentSlorify that rvorld, thus in the East, O Sariputra,other blessed Buddhas, led by the TathagataAksobhya, ttie Tathagata Merudhuaja, the Ta-th aga t a M a h ame r u, the T a t h a ga ! a Me r u pr abh a s a,and the Tathagata Manjudhuaia, equal in numberto the sand of the river Ganga, comprehend their9wn Buddha countries in their speech, and then

r''j- tih f'a 1{l

trrri#t, 6 nT,rJlil\rl tf,., -+:X iftiilt, fr?-;-H:fi#A -),

v',tttJll' ! t+tu l{ }fl ' tl n n t#.ifr ' €l'il ;[lfr ' ).'/i+,frtqff' ' t'liiill,lf!',;f{dfi ' J,iti,iA,Ifii$tlq' fttft^,]., fti/"Jir'4i{,;{il)lt " ?t}ijtF{ , iLiLliFafrfH ' fiulit

-T'](T-i[r*' ;/l;]tlrt ;';' : [-ik1i.*11' H'fr,ijtf+i;t\ ' ,6 d,r&l.;*r7-r t[. ' -t]lil\Bl' ' Fn;#fr.ff]\ '

rft itiil\ I wilifrry, fr fit;i#ffi . ffi-Ei .irl

,f4: . Iiti,]ifftilfr: ' *tYlfr. tFx{lF . fifH{# . iTi tr

ffi ' hn-Eo!j. , frii,IiD4*.ifiw " &r'lJ!F{ ' $iffi ri,ri+ll ' lhlj|A---+).{'fi 'll ' ; ffi'l{'..;. , [it1i *

#ig:f$ I a

f frfUrlr I )Llii].rl' ' h?if.fr:4fr ' FB 'tl#. HfiH{dlr .. n lL{4 . flElFIl4F 'hnz* , IEf,li'D'}t{

;#lll " 6r\lr.Fq' Si Eittfi :tfl, lfiE;=+lt{' frl:

JT ' #iil,?"r; : lrrx^!f*.4: '??f-*effif*6nl,'J,l#9:1*., -tr;&ll\Ffi,iLft#,$ ) o

f tnJlfl: ! Th^ltrR 'ftiflh*tfr. Ali+1lll 'fi'tlft',. iEBr{di: ' Ery,t{f,r ' +.1:E{4 , fnrelf , 'lEi,IiDW;;ft {ll' " 6li\+tF,!tr' ifl Ifi tafr tH, IFrtffi--'. T

x+ttr?, ;Ail'it;? : I tkt#*t+' HFftfrii,fr


teveal them. Accept this repetition of the Law,3g.lled the "Favour of all Buddhas," which magnifiestheir inconceivable excellences.

"Thus also in the South do other blessedBuddhas, led by the Tathagata I{andrasuryapra_diia, the Tatltagata Yasahprabha, the TathagataMahar hi s kand It a, tlne T o t h a gat a M e r u pr a tl i pa, theTathagata Anantauirya, equal in nurnber to thesand of the river Ganga, cca:nprehend their ownBuddha countries in their speech, and then revealthem. Accept, &c.

"Thus also in the West do other blessedBuddhas, led by the Tothagata Amitayus, theTathagata Amitaskand ha, the T athagata Amitart_hoaia, the Tathagata Mahaprablza, the TathagataMaharatnaketu, tlne T athagata SurI cI harasrnip, o-bha, eqtal in number to the sand of the r.iverGanga, comprehend, &c,

"Thus aiso in the North do other blesseclBuddhas, led by the Tathagata Maharhiskandlm,the Tathagata tr/aisaanaranirghosa, the Tatha-gata Dunduhhisaaranirghosa, the Tatlzogata Du-s/radharsa, the Tatltagata Adityasambltauo, thelathasata Jaleniprobha (Jualtnapratthar'1, thet'athagala Prabhahara, equal in number to thesand, &c.

_ "Thus also in the Narlir do olirer- blessedBuddhas, led by the Tathagata ,\imha, ther-athagato Y asas, the Tothagata y asohprabhaua,the Tathasata Dharma, tne Tathagata Dlzat.ma-Ghara, the Tathagata Dharmaclhiogu, equai irr

ilil'

{

l f''t lli iL lt

, 64',tu.';'+Tr)t1:ta' -YJJ;frlll:' F)t,iils:t:$ I "f #Flil'! -Ui turl ' tiJ..f;'sll$. iii-l,frl; .

-tr Lffi.' {i'tfll:' );'i#.}t1l}f,' i#{!f{+ fiftt} lir,'WfuTt1t4'ltr,, Hii,:i":ldfi . tJ.-LlJidUl: , hnii\it,iilrgfr,, rtn$^!;; , +8.inJiDffi}friJit. ?fr!{tfli ' l}lr;',,.;.

6.fFl ' rlil&i-+X+lttri ' ##lit;' : lik', '.Iil

#f's-t'$ | a

rft.f-lj4|} , r$fr,_IT:]'1i4' I'ilfrkfiIl-+; [-rr. fi

Ifr , Dt&i,t\X ) 7 #ttlrf" )';+i'f'r4i-' *? A /r' Eij€ft$ , *+:i* ' F.llil"ftl$'N.,* 'ftr#tfi\', f. #t , br?Fu-t)J,fill\:;Zf.fr&,t: , !e?4,}^ jii i,4.

fi\V,I *Fi 4 iii. i{ft _^,. iti +ti. "

f €S{fr frU,tr" W !+H'F*trP+t;#' 7r-,,1','''fr'

FIr#" frf[4$ ')!iH^ ' EdFl,ffi , +&F'tr "i',;i',tffi : T&4.['ltffi|t'e{dijE{ _) 'E: 'E;r\.A'* ' 'E?il; f.

'#1.'*_, -/:"#t+-" #;ffLfttrUtf, , i#iltE-J' , i,

kL ' *tit;#" fgi'$lrrt,Fti : l4''illf-*] 1J


i number to the sand, &c."Thus also in the Zenith do other blessed

Duddhas, led by the Tathagata Braltmaghosa,gys Tathagala I'laksatraraja, the Tatltagrtta In-drahetud haajaraga, the T athagata Ganrl hottama,gys Tathagata Gandlzaprabhasa, the T atltagataItahar k i s k and h a, the T a t h a gat a R at na ku s u m a s a m.pushpitagatra, the T athagata Salendraraja, theTathagata Ratnotpalasri, the Tathagata Saruar-thadarsa, the Tathagata Sumerukalpa, equal innumber to the sand, &c.

"Now what do you think, O Sariputra, forwhat reason is that repetition (treatise) of theLaw called the Favour of all Buddhas? Every sonc daughter of a family who shall hear the nameof that repetition of the Law and retain in theirmemory the names of those blessed Buddhss, \^,illbe favoured by the Buddhas, and will never returnagain, being once in possession of the transcendenttrue knowledge. Therefore then, O Sariputra,believe, accept, and do not doubt of me aird thoseblessed Buddhas!

"Whatever sons or daqhters of a familyshall make mental prayer for the Buddha countryof that blessed Amitayus, the Tathagata, n, ur-making it now or have made it formerly, all thesewill never return again, being once in possessionof the transcendent true knowledge. They will beborn in that Buddha country, have been-bor.r. orare being born now. Therefore, then, O Sariputra,mental prayer is to be made for that Iiiddhacountry by faithful sons and daughters of a fanily.

fl

I H t'fi i1'r, ,.{s

f #fl1fr" frn#',1#' fi4'#;-&itf, ' 4FJ,t[\;j[

fitffi,"',&#iffr+ ,lrffi##,, 6 or,rg.;+9tt*" iri

TTftE:i-H*!+tr{tf, ' BSFEW' ffiHZ+ ' fiEi\

*4E* ' friii;i#it '*)st6i ' nl!fr' lt{fiijlFrr ' /tt

f €f'U# 'Hfffir\1i',6tr;lt ''frtLLW-J: '

'tsFqE*.W=6n= ##.' F-9]iE. Fo' "tttL'fii' 1 i

2*, EF€#J !

ffi-#rlhffiE ' #t1Jfr.. , k;-&Lt E- ' -tX iltiiil, x .

^' wl6ffi+' w1lfrFlffi ' ;Fi#fla yl'; ti1:

rtHm* "'{4-#F Iffi[tf;sr*


"And as I at present magnify here the incon-

ceivable excellences of those blessed Buddhas, thus,

O Saributra, do those blessed Buddhas magnify

rny own inconceivable excellences."A very difficult work has been done by

Sakyamuni, the sovereign of the Sahyas. Havingobtained. the transcendent true knou'ledge in thisworld Saha, he taugirt the Law which all the worldis reluctant to accept, during this corruption ofthe present kalpa,during this ccrruption of mankind,during this corruption of belief, during this corrup-tion of life, during this corruption of passions.

"This is even for me, O Sariputra, an extremelydifficult work that, having obtained the transcendenttnre knorvledge in this world Saha, I taught theLaw which all the world is reluctant to accept,during this comrption of mankind, of belief, ofpassion, o{ life, and of this present kalpa."

Thus spoke Bhagaual joful in his mind. Andthe honourable Sariputra, and the Bhiksus andBodhisattuas, and the whole world with the gods,men, evil spirits and genii, applauded the speech ofBhagauat.

This is the Mahayanastt,tracalled Suhhaua ttu yuha.

the smaller sukhavati vyuha

Spiritual