..續本文上一頁h of any merit dedicated to them by relatives who do good deeds on their behalf. The other six-sevenths of the merit will return to the living relatives who did the good deeds.
It follows that men and women of the present and future who cultivate while they are strong and healthy will receive every portion of the benefit derived."
地藏答言：『長者，我今爲未來現在一切衆生，承佛威力，略說是事。長者，未來現在諸衆生等，臨命終日，的聞一佛名、一菩薩名、一辟支佛名，不問有罪無罪，悉得解脫。若有男子女人，在生不修善因多造衆罪。命終之後，眷屬大小，爲造福利一切聖事，七分之中而乃獲一分，六分功德，生者自利。以是之故，未來現在善男女等，聞健自修，分分己獲。
"The arrival of the Great Ghost of Impermanence is so unexpected that the deceased ones” consciousnesses first roam in darkness and obscurity, unaware of offenses and blessings.
For forty-nine days they are as if deluded or deaf, or as if in courts where their karmic retributions are being decided. Once judgment is fixed, rebirths are undergone according to their karma.
In the time before rebirths are determined, the deceased suffer thousands of myriads of concerns. How much more is that the case for those who are to fall into the bad destinies.
無常大鬼，不期而到，冥冥遊神，未知罪福。七七日內，如癡如聾，或在諸司辯論業果。審定之後，據報受生。未測之間，千萬愁苦，何況墮於諸惡趣等。』
"Throughout forty-nine days those whose lives have ended and who have not yet been reborn will be hoping every moment that their immediate relatives will earn blessings powerful enough to rescue them.
At the end of that time the deceased will undergo retribution according to their karma. If someone is an offender, he may pass through hundreds of thousands of years without even a day”s liberation.
If someone”s offenses deserve Fivefold Relentless Retribution, he will fall into the great hells and undergo incessant suffering throughout hundreds of thousands of eons."
『是命終人，未得受生，在七七日內，念念之間，望諸骨肉眷屬，與造福力救拔。過是日後，隨業受報。若市罪人，動經千百歲中，無解脫日。若是五無間罪，墮大地獄，千劫萬劫，永受衆苦。』
"Moreover, Elder, when beings who have committed karmic offenses die, their relatives may prepare vegetarian offerings to aid them on their karmic paths.
In the process of preparing the vegetarian meal and before it has been eaten, rice-washing water and vegetable leaves should not be thrown on the ground. Before the food is offered to the Buddhas and Sangha no one should eat it.
If there is laxness or transgression in this matter, then the deceased will receive no strength from it.
If purity is vigorously maintained in making the offering to the Buddhas and Sangha, the deceased will receive one-seventh of the merit.
Therefore, Elder, by performing vegetarian offerings on behalf of deceased fathers, mothers, and other relatives while making earnest supplication on their behalf, beings of Jambudvipa benefit both the living and the dead."
複次長者：『如是罪業衆生，命終之後，眷屬骨肉，爲修營齋，資助道業未齋食竟，及營齊之次，米泔菜葉，不棄於地，乃至諸食爲獻佛僧，勿得先食。如有違食，及不精勤，是命終人，了不得力。如精勤護淨奉獻佛僧，是命終人，七分獲一。是故長者，閻浮衆生，若能爲其父母乃至眷屬，命終之後，設齋供養，志心勤懇。如是之人，存亡獲利。』
After that was said, hundreds of thousands of millions of nayutas of ghosts and spirits of Jambudvipa who were in the palace of the Trayastrimsha Heaven, made the unlimited resolve to attain Bodhi.
The Elder Great Eloquence made obeisance and withdrew.
說是語時，忉利天宮，有千萬億那由他閻浮鬼神，悉發無量菩提之心，大辯長者作禮而退。
CHAPTER VIII
Praises of King Yama and His Followers
閻羅王衆贊歎品第八
At that time from within the Iron Ring Mountain, Lord Yama and his following of infinite ghost kings came before the Buddha in the Trayastrimsha Heaven. They were
爾時鐵圍山內，有無量鬼王，與閻羅天子，俱詣忉利，來到佛前。所謂
the Ghost King Evil Poison, the Ghost King Many Evils,
the Ghost King Great Argument, the Ghost King White Tiger,
惡毒鬼王、 多惡鬼王、 大诤鬼王、 白虎鬼王、
the Ghost King Blood Tiger, the Ghost King Crimson Tiger,
the Ghost King Spreading Disaster, the Ghost King Flying Body,
飛身鬼王、 電光鬼王、 狼牙鬼王、 千眼鬼王、
the Ghost King Lightning Flash, the Ghost King Wolf Tooth,
the Ghost…
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