OM. Adoration to the Three Treasures! Om. Adoration to all the glorious Buddhas and Bodhisattvas! Adoration to all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Āryas, Śrāvakas, and Pratyekabuddhas, past, present, and to come, who dwell in the unlimited and endless Lokādhatus of the ten quarters! Adoration to Amitābha! Adoration to him whose soul is endowed with incomprehensible virtues!

Adoration to Amitābha, to the Gina, to thee, O Muni!

I go to Sukhāvatī through thy compassion also;

To Sukhāvatī, with its groves, resplendent with gold,

The delightful, adorned with the sons of Sugata,—

I go to it, which is full of many jewels and treasures;

And the refuge of thee, the famous and wise.

§ 1. Thus it was heard by me. At one time the Bhagavat dwelt in Rājagṛha, on the mountain Gṛdhrakūṭa, with a large assembly of Bhikshus,

with thirty-two thousands of Bhikshus, all holy (arhat), free from frailties and cares, who had performed their religious duties, whose thoughts had been thoroughly freed through perfect knowledge, with inquiring thoughts, who had broken the fetters of existence, who had obtained their desires, who had conquered, who had achieved the highest self-restraint, whose thoughts and whose knowledge were unfettered, Mahānāgas (great heroes), possessed of the six kinds of knowledge, self-controlled, meditating on the eight kinds of salvation, possessed of the powers, wise in wisdom, elders, great disciples, viz.
1. Ājñātakauṇḍinya,2. Aśvajit,
3. Vāshpa,
4. Mahānāman,
5. Bhadrajit,
6.Yaśodeva,
7. Vimala,
8. Subāhu,
9. Pūrṇa Maitrāyaṇīputra,
10. Uruvilvā-kāśyapa,
11. Nadī-kāśyapa,
12. Gayā-kāśyapa,
13. Kumāra-kāśyapa,
14. Mahā-kāśyapa,
15. Śāriputra,
16. Mahāmaudgalyāyana,
17. Mahākaushṭhilya,
18. Mahākaphila,
19. Mahācunda,
20. Aniruddha,
21. Nandika,
22. Kampila,
23. Subhūti,
24. Revata,
25. Khadiravaṇika,
26. Vakula,
27. Svāgata,
28. Amogharâga,
29. Pārāyaṇika,
30. Patka,
31. Kullapatka,
32. Nanda,
33. Rāhula, and
34. the blessed Ānanda,
—with these and with other elders, and great disciples, who were wise in wisdom, with the exception of one person who had still to be advanced on the path of the disciples, viz. the blessed Ānanda;—and with many noble-minded Bodhisattvas, led by Maitreya.

§ 2. Then the blessed Ānanda, having risen from his seat, having put his cloak on one shoulder, and knelt on the earth with his right knee, making obeisance with folded hands in the direction of the Bhagavat, spoke thus to the Bhagavat: ‘Thy organs of sense, O Bhagavat, are serene, the colour of thy skin is clear, the colour of thy face bright and yellowish. As an autumn cloud is pale, clear, bright and yellowish, thus the organs of sense of the Bhagavat are serene, the colour of his face is clear, the colour of his skin bright and yellowish. And as, O Bhagavat, a piece of gold coming from the Gâmbû river, having been thrown into a furnace by a clever smith or by his apprentice, and well fashioned, when thrown on a pale cloth, looks extremely clear, bright and yellowish, thus the organs of sense of the Bhagavat are serene, the colour of his face is clear, and the colour of his skin bright and yellowish. Moreover, I do not know, O Bhagavat, that I have ever seen the organs of sense of the Tathāgata so serene, the colour of his face so clear, and the colour of his skin so bright and yellowish before now. This thought occurs to me, O Bhagavat: probably, the Tathāgata dwells today in the state of a Buddha, probably the Tathāgata dwells to-day in the state of a Gina, in the state of omniscience, in the state of a Mahānāga; and he contemplates the holy and fully enlightened Tathāgatas of the past, future, and present.’

After these words, the Bhagavat thus spoke to the blessed Ānanda: ‘Well said! well said! Ānanda. Did the gods suggest this matter to you? or the blessed Buddhas? Or do you know this through the philosophical knowledge which you possess?

After these words the blessed Ānanda spoke thus to the Bhagavat: ‘The gods, O Bhagavat, do not suggest this matter to me, nor the blessed Buddhas, but this thought occurs to me by my own philosophy alone, viz. that probably the Tathāgata dwells to-day in the state of a Buddha, probably the Tathāgata dwells to-day in the state of a Gina, in the state of omniscience, in the state of a Mahānāga ; or he contemplates the venerable Buddhas of the past, future, and present.’

After these words the Bhagavat spoke thus to the blessed Ānanda: ‘Well said! well said! Ānanda; excellent indeed is your question , good your philosophy, and beautiful your understanding! You, O Ānanda, have arrived for the benefit and happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the sake of the great body of men, for the benefit and happiness of gods and men, as you think it right to ask the Tathāgata this matter : Thus, indeed, Ānanda might pile up intellectual knowledge under immeasurable and innumerable blessed, holy, and fully enlightened Tathāgatas, and yet the knowledge of the Tathāgata would not be exceeded thereby. And why? Because, O Ānanda, one who possesses the knowledge of a Tathāgata possesses an intellectual knowledge of causes that cannot be exceeded . If the Tathāgata wished, O Ānanda, he could live for a whole kalpa (age) on one alms-gift, or for a hundred kalpas, or for a thousand kalpas, or for a hundred thousand kalpas, to a hundred thousand niyutas of koṭīs of kalpas , nay, he could live beyond, and yet the organs of nature of the Tathāgata would not perish, the colour of his face would not be altered, nor would the colour of his skin be injured. And why? Because, O Ānanda, the Tathāgata has so fully obtained the Pāramitās which arise from Samādhi . The appearance of fully enlightened Buddhas is very difficult to be obtained in this world, O Ānanda. As the appearance of Audumbara-flowers is very difficult to be obtained in this world; thus, O Ānanda, the appearance of Tathāgatas who desire welfare, wish for what is beneficial, are compassionate, and have arrived at the highest compassion, is very difficult to be obtained. But, O Ānanda, it is (owing to) the grace of the Tathāgata himself that you think that the Tathāgata should be asked this question, so that there may arise in this world beings who can be teachers of all the world, for the sake of noble-minded Bodhisattvas. Therefore, O Ānanda, listen, and take it well and rightly to heart! I shall tell you.’

‘Yes, O Bhagavat,’ so did the blessed Ānanda answer the Bhagavat.

§ 3. The Bhagavat then spoke to Ānanda: ‘At the time, O Ānanda, which was long ago in the past, in an innumerable and more than innumerable, enormous, immeasurable, and incomprehensible kalpa before now,—at that time, and at that moment, there arose in the world a holy and fully enlightened Tathāgata called
1. Dīpankara. Following after Dīpankara, O Ānanda, there was a Tathāgata
2. Pratāpavat, and after him,
3. Prabhākara,
4. Kandanagandha,
5. Sumerukalpa,
6. Kandana,
7. Vimalānana,
8. Anupalipta,
9. Vimalaprabha,
10. Nāgābhibhū,
11. Sūryodana,
12. Girirâgaghosha,
13. Merukūṭa,
14. Suvarṇaprabha,
15. Gyotishprabha,
16. Vaiḍūtryanirbhāsa,
17. Brahmaghosha,
18. Kandâbhibhû,
19. Tūryaghosha,
20. Muktakusumapratimaṇḍitaprabha,
21. Śrīkūṭa,
22. Sâgaravarabuddhivikrîditâbhigña,
23. Varaprabha,
24. Mahâgandharâganirbhâsa,
25. Vyapagatakhilamalapratighosha,
26. Śūrakūṭa,
27. Ranañgaha,
28. Mahâgunadharabuddhiprâptâbhigña,
29. Kandrasûryagihmîkarana,
30. Uttaptavaidûryanirbhâsa,
31. Kittadhârâbuddhisankusumitâbhyudgata,
32. Pushpâvatîvanarâgasankusumitâbhigña,
33. Pushpâkara,
34. Udakakandra,
35. Avidyândhakâravidhvamsanakara,
36. Lokendra,
37. Muktakkhatrapravâtasadrisa,
38. Tishya,
39. Dharmamativinanditarâga,
40. Simhasâgarakûtavinanditarâga,
41. Sâgaramerukandra,
42. Brahmasvaranâdâbhinandita,
43. Kusumasambhava,
44. Prâptasena,
45. Kandrabhânu,
46. Merukûta,
47. Kandraprabha,
48. Vimalanetra,
49. Girirâgaghoshesvara,
50. Kusumaprabha,
51. Kusumavrishtyabhiprakîrna,
52. Ratnakandra,
53. Padmabimbyupasobhita,

54. Kandanagandha,
55. Ratnâbhibhâsa,
56. Nimi,
57. Mahâvyûha,
58.Vyapagatakhiladosha,
59. Brahmaghosha,
60. Saptaratnâbhivrishta,
61. Mahâgunadhara,
62. Mahâtamâlapatrakandanakardama,
63. Kusumâbhigña,
64. Agñânavidhvamsana,
65. Kesarin,
66. Muktakkhatra,
67. Suvarnagarbha,
68. Vaidûryagarbha,
69. Mahâketu,
70. Dharmaketu,
71. Ratnaketu,
72. Ratnasrî,
73. Lokendra,
74. Narendra,
75. Kârunika,
76. Lokasundara,
77. Brahmaketu,
78. Dharmamati,
79. Simha,
80. Simhamati.
After Siṃhamati, a holy and fully enlightened Tathāgata arose in the world, Lokesvararâga by name, perfect in knowledge and conduct, a Sugata, knowing the world, without a superior, charioteer of men whose passions have to be tamed, teacher of gods and men, a Buddha, a Bhagavat. And again during the time of the preaching of this holy and fully enlightened Tathāgata Lokesvararâga, O Ānanda, there was a Bhikshu, Dharmākara by name, richly endowed with memory, with understanding, prudence, and wisdom,—richly endowed with vigour, and of noble character.

§ 4. ‘Then, O Ānanda, that Bhikshu Dharmākara, having risen from his seat, having put his cloak on one shoulder, and knelt on the earth with his right knee, stretching forth his folded hands to where the Bhagavat Tathāgata Lokesvararâga was, and, after worshipping the Bhagavat, he, at that very time, praised him in his presence with these Gāthās :

“O thou of immeasurable light, whose knowledge is endless and incomparable; not any other light can shine here (where thou art)! The rays of the moon of Śiva and of the jewel of the sun, were not bright here in the whole world. (1)

“The form also is infinite in the best of beings ; thus also the voice of Buddha is of infinite sound; his virtue likewise, with meditation, knowledge , strength; like unto thee there is no one in this world. (2)

“The Law (dharma) is deep, wide, and subtle; the best of Buddhas is incomprehensible, like the ocean; therefore there is no further exaltation of the teacher; having left all faults, he is gone to the other shore . (3)

“Then the best of Buddhas , of endless light, lights up all regions, he the king of kings; and I, having become Buddha, and a master of the Law, may I deliver mankind from old age and death! (4)

“And I, on the strength of generosity, equanimity, virtue, forbearance, power, meditation and absorption, undertake here the first and best duties, and shall become a Buddha, the saviour of all beings. (5)

“And I, seeking for the knowledge of the best of the Blessed Ones, shall always worship many hundred thousands of koṭīs of Buddhas, endless like the sand of the Gangā, the incomparable lords. (6)

“Whatever worlds there are, similar (in number) to the sand of the Gangā, and the endless countries which exist besides, there everywhere I shall send out light, because I have attained such power . (7)

“My land is (to be) noble, the first and the best; the Bodhi-tree excellent in this world . There is incomparable happiness arising from Nirvāṇa, and this also I shall explain as vain. (8)

“Beings come hither from the ten quarters; having arrived there they quickly show my happiness. May Buddha there teach me the truth,—I form a desire full of true strength and vigour. (9)

“I, knowing the worlds of the ten quarters, possessed of absolute knowledge they also always proclaim my thought! May I, gone to Aviki hell, always abide there, but I shall never cease to practise the power of prayer! [i.e. May I remain in hell, if I cease to pray.]” (10)

§ 5. ‘Then, O Ānanda, that Bhikshu Dharmākara, having praised the Bhagavat, the Tathâgata Lokesvararâga, in his presence, with those Gāthās, spoke thus: “O Bhagavat, I wish to know the highest perfect knowledge. Again and again I raise and incline my thoughts towards the highest perfect knowledge. May therefore the Bhagavat, as a teacher, thus teach me the Law, that I may quickly know the highest perfect knowledge. May I become in the world a Tathāgata, equal to the unequalled. And may the Bhagavat proclaim those signs by which I may comprehend the perfection of all good qualities of a Buddha country.”

‘After this, O Ānanda, the Bhagavat Lokesvararâga, the Tathāgata, thus spoke to that Bhikshu:

“Do you by yourself, O Bhikshu, know the perfection of all excellences and good qualities of a Buddha country?”

‘He said: “O Bhagavat, I could not do this, but the Bhagavat alone. Explain the perfection of the excellences and all the good qualities of Buddha countries of the other Tathāgatas, after hearing which we may fulfil every one of their signs.”

‘Then, O Ānanda, the Tathâgata Lokesvararâga, holy and fully enlightened, knowing the good disposition of that Bhikshu, taught for a full koṭī of years the perfection of all the excellences and good qualities of Buddha countries belonging to eighty-one hundred thousand niyutas of koṭīs of Buddhas, together with the signs, indication, and description, desiring welfare, wishing for benefits, compassionate, full of compassion, so that there might never be an end of Buddha countries, having conceived great pity for all beings. The measure of life of that Tathāgata was full forty kalpas.

§ 6. ‘Then, O Ānanda, that Bhikshu Dharmākara, taking the perfections of all the excellences and good qualities of those Buddha countries, of those eighty-one hundred thousand niyutas of koṭīs of Buddhas, and concentrating them all on one Buddha country, worshipped with his head the feet of the Bhagavat Lokesvararâga, the Tathāgata, turned respectfully round him to the right, and walked away from the presence of this Bhagavat. And afterwards, for the space of five kalpas, he thus concentrated the perfection of all the excellences and good qualities of the Buddha countries, such as had never been known before in the ten quarters of the whole world, more excellent, and more perfect than any, and composed the most excellent prayer.

§ 7. ‘Thus, O Ānanda, that Bhikshu concentrated in his mind a perfection of a Buddha country eighty-one times more immeasurable, noble, and excellent than the perfection of the eighty-one hundred thousand niyutas of koṭīs of Buddha countries that had been told him by the Bhagavat Lokesvararâga, the Tathāgata. And then, proceeding to where the Tathāgata was, he worshipped the feet of the Bhagavat with his head, and said: “O Bhagavat, the perfection of all the excellences and good qualities of the Buddha countries has been concentrated by me.”

‘After this, O Ānanda, the Tathâgata Lokesvararâga thus spoke to the Bhikshu: “Preach then,