..续本文上一页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：『长者，我今为未来现在一切众生，承佛威力，略说是事。长者，未来现在诸众生等，临命终日，的闻一佛名、一菩萨名、一辟支佛名，不问有罪无罪，悉得解脱。若有男子女人，在生不修善因多造众罪。命终之後，眷属大小，为造福利一切圣事，七分之中而乃获一分，六分功德，生者自利。以是之故，未来现在善男女等，闻健自修，分分己获。
"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.
无常大鬼，不期而到，冥冥游神，未知罪福。七七日内，如痴如聋，或在诸司辩论业果。审定之後，据报受生。未测之间，千万愁苦，何况堕於诸恶趣等。』
"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."
『是命终人，未得受生，在七七日内，念念之间，望诸骨肉眷属，与造福力救拔。过是日後，随业受报。若市罪人，动经千百岁中，无解脱日。若是五无间罪，堕大地狱，千劫万劫，永受众苦。』
"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."
复次长者：『如是罪业众生，命终之後，眷属骨肉，为修营斋，资助道业未斋食竟，及营齐之次，米泔菜叶，不弃於地，乃至诸食为献佛僧，勿得先食。如有违食，及不精勤，是命终人，了不得力。如精勤护净奉献佛僧，是命终人，七分获一。是故长者，阎浮众生，若能为其父母乃至眷属，命终之後，设斋供养，志心勤恳。如是之人，存亡获利。』
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.
说是语时，忉利天宫，有千万亿那由他阎浮鬼神，悉发无量菩提之心，大辩长者作礼而退。
CHAPTER VIII
Praises of King Yama and His Followers
阎罗王众赞叹品第八
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
尔时铁围山内，有无量鬼王，与阎罗天子，俱诣忉利，来到佛前。所谓
the Ghost King Evil Poison, the Ghost King Many Evils,
the Ghost King Great Argument, the Ghost King White Tiger,
恶毒鬼王、 多恶鬼王、 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,
飞身鬼王、 电光鬼王、 狼牙鬼王、 千眼鬼王、
the Ghost King Lightning Flash, the Ghost King Wolf Tooth,
the Ghost…
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