..續本文上一頁利益人，或損害人，各各不同。然是業報，使我眷屬遊行世界，多惡少善。

　　When we pass a household, a city, a town, a garden, a cottage or a hut where there are men or women who have cultivated as little as a hair”s worth of good deeds, who have hung but one banner or one canopy, who have used a little incense or a few flowers as offerings to images of Buddhas or Bodhisattvas, or who have recited the sacred Sutras or burned incense as an offering to even one sentence or gatha in them, we ghost kings will respect such people as we would the Buddhas of the past, present, and future.

　　過人家庭，或城邑聚落，莊園房舍。或有男子女人，修毛發善事，乃至懸一　一蓋，少香少華，供養佛像及菩薩像。或轉讀尊經，燒香供養一句一偈。

　　We will instruct the smaller ghosts, each of whom has great power, as well as the earth spirits, to protect such people. Bad situations, accidents, severe or unexpected illnesses, and all other unwelcome events will not even come near their residences or other places they may be, much less enter the door."

　　我等鬼王敬禮是人，如過去現在未來諸佛。敕諸小鬼，各有大力，及土地分，便令衛護，不令惡事橫事、惡病橫病，乃至不如意事，近於此舍等處，何況入門。』

　　The Buddha praised the ghost kings, "Excellent, excellent, that all of you ghost kings join Lord Yama in protecting good men and women in that way. I shall tell Lord Brahma and Lord Shakra to see that you are protected as well."

　　 佛贊歎鬼王：『善哉善哉。汝等及與閻羅，能如是擁護善男女等，吾亦告梵王帝釋，令衛護汝。』

　　When that was said, a ghost king in the assembly named Lord of Life said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, my karmic conditions are such that I have jurisdiction over the lifespans of people in Jambudvipa, governing both the time of their births and their deaths.

　　 說是語時，會中有一鬼王，名曰主命，白佛言：『世尊，我本業緣，主閻浮人命，生時死時，我皆主之。

　　My fundamental vows are based on a great desire to benefit them, but people do not understand my intent and go through birth and death in distress. Why is that

　　在我本願，甚欲利益。自是衆生不會我意，致令生死俱不得安。何以故。

　　"When women in Jambudvipa have just borne children, be they boys or girls, or when they are just about to give birth, good deeds should be done to increase the benefits of the household, thus causing the local earth spirits to be immeasurably pleased. The spirits will then protect the mother and child so that they experience peace and happiness; they will bring benefit to the entire family.

　　是閻浮提人初生之時，不問男女，或欲生時，但作善事，增益宅舍，自令土地無量歡喜，擁護子母，得大安樂，利益眷屬。

　　After the birth, all killing for the purpose of offering fresh meat to the mother should be carefully avoided, as should parties that involve consumption of alcohol, eating of meat, singing, and playing musical instruments. All those things can keep the mother and child from being peaceful and happy.

　　或已生下，慎勿殺害，取諸鮮味供給産母，及廣聚眷屬，飲酒食肉，歌樂弦管，能令子母不得安樂。』

　　Why is that

　　At the difficult time of birth, uncountable evil ghosts, including mountain sprites, goblins, and spirit-beings, desire to eat the strong-smelling blood. I quickly order the local earth spirits of that household to protect the mother and child, allowing them to be peaceful and happy and to receive other benefits.

　　『何以故。是産難時，有無數惡鬼及魍魉精魅，欲食腥血。是我早令舍宅土地靈只。荷護子母，使令安樂，而得利益。

　　When people in such households witness those benefits, they should do meritorious deeds to express their gratitude to the earth spirits. If instead, they harm and kill, and have big parties involving feasting and entertainment, then the retributions that result from such offenses will be born by they themselves and will bring harm to the mother and child as well.

　　如是之人，見安樂故，便合設福，答諸土地。翻爲殺害，聚集眷屬。以是之故，犯殃自受，子母俱損。』

　　"Moreover, when people of Jambudvipa are on the verge of death, I wish to keep them from falling into the Evil Paths, regardless of whether they have done good or evil.

　　But how much is this power of mine to help them increased when they have personally cultivated good roots!

　　 『又閻浮提臨命終人，不問善惡，我欲令是命終之人，不落惡道。何況自修善根增我力故。

　　When those who do good in Jambudvipa are about to die,…

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