..续本文上一页 accord with their own fundamental natures.

　　 『地藏，是南阎浮提众生，志性无定，习恶者多。纵发善心，须臾即退。若遇恶缘，念念增长。以是之故，吾分是形，百千万亿化度，随其根性而度脱之。』

　　"Earth Store, I now earnestly entrust the multitudes of gods and people to you.

　　If in the future among gods and people there are good men or good women who plant a few good roots in the Buddhadharma, be they as few as a strand of hair, a mote of dust, a grain of sand, or a drop of water, then you should use your powers in the Way to protect them so that they gradually cultivate the Unsurpassed Way and do not get lost or retreat from it.

　　"Moreover, Earth Store, in the future, gods or people, according to the responses of their karmic retributions, may be due to fall into the evil destinies. They may be on the brink of falling or may already be at the very gates to those paths.

　　『地藏，吾今殷勤，以天人众，付嘱於汝。未来世中，若天若人，随业报应，落在恶趣。临堕恶趣中，或至门首，

　　But if they can recite the name of one Buddha or Bodhisattva or a single sentence or verse of a Great Vehicle Sutra, then you should use your spiritual powers to rescue them with expedient means.

　　Display a boundless body in the places where they are, smash the hells, and lead them to be born in the heavens and to experience supremely wonderful bliss."

　　 是诸众生，若能念得一佛名，一菩萨名，一句一偈大乘经典。是诸众生，汝以神力，方便救拔，於是人所，现无边身，为碎地狱，遣令生天，受胜妙乐。』

　　At that time the World Honored One spoke in verse, saying

　　I am entrusting to your care the multitudes

　　Of gods and people both now and in the future.

　　Use great spiritual powers and expedients to save them.

　　Do not allow them to fall into the evil destinies.

　　 尔时世尊而说偈言：现在未来天人众， 吾今殷勤付嘱汝， 以大神通方便度， 勿令堕在诸恶趣。

　　At that time Earth Store Bodhisattva, Mahasattva, knelt on one knee, placed his palms together, and said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, I beg the World Honored One not to be concerned.

　　In the future if good men and women have a single thought of respect toward the Buddhadharma, I shall use hundreds of thousands of expedients to take them across and free them. They will quickly be liberated from birth and death.

　　 尔时地藏菩萨摩诃萨胡跪合掌白佛言：『世尊，唯愿世尊不以为虑。未来世中，若有善男子善女人，於佛法中，一念恭敬，我亦百千方便，度脱是人，於生死中速得解脱。

　　How much more will that be the case for those who, having heard about all these good matters, are inspired to cultivate. They will naturally become irreversible from the Unsurpassed Way."

　　 何况闻诸善事，念念修行，自然於无上道永不退转。』

　　After he finished speaking, a Bodhisattva named Empty Space Treasury, who was in the assembly, spoke to the Buddha, "World Honored One, I personally have come to the Trayastrimsha Heaven and have heard the Thus Come One praise Earth Store Bodhisattva”s awesome spiritual strength, saying that it is inconceivable.

　　 说是语时，会中有一菩萨，名虚空藏，白佛言：『世尊，我自忉利天，闻於如来赞叹地藏菩萨，威神势力，不可思议。

　　If in the future, good men, good women, gods, and dragons hear this Sutra and the name of Earth Store Bodhisattva and if they behold and bow to his image, how many kinds of blessings and benefits will they obtain

　　Please, World Honored One, say a few words about this for the sake of beings of the present and future."

　　未来世中，若有善男子善女人，乃及一切天龙，闻此经典及地藏菩萨名字，或瞻礼形像，得几种福利，唯愿世尊，为未来现在一切众等，略而说之。』

　　The Buddha told Empty Space Treasury Bodhisattva, "Listen attentively, listen attentively, I shall enumerate them and describe them to you.

　　"Good men or women in the future may see images of Earth Store Bodhisattva and hear this Sutra or read or recite it. They may use incense, flowers, food and drink, clothing, and gems to give gifts and make offerings. They may praise, behold and bow to him. Such beings will benefit in twenty-eight ways:

　　 佛告虚空藏菩萨：『谛听谛听，吾当为汝分别说之。若未来世，有善男子善女人，见地藏形像，及闻此经，乃至读诵，香华饮食，衣服珍宝，布施供养，赞叹瞻礼者，得二十八种利益：

　　First, they will be protected by gods and dragons.

　　Second, their good roots will increase daily.

　　Third, t…

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