Shurangama Mantra with Verses and Commentary

by Venerable Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua

20. ĐỂ BA ĐA NA NẨM

底波多那喃

 

Chư Thiên thần tướng hộ pháp thành

Ngã kim kỳ thỉnh nguyện lai lâm

Thưởng thiện phạt ác tra công quá

Cẩn thận tu hành mạc hồ vân.

諸天神將護法城 

我今祈請願降臨

賞善懲惡查功過 

謹慎修行莫胡云

DI BWO DWO NWO NAN

 

TO THE GODS AND HEAVENLY GENERALS WHO PROTECT THE DHARMA CITY,

I BESEECH YOU TO LET FALL YOUR BLESSINGS,

REWARD THE GOOD, PUNISH THE EVIL, EXAMINE MERIT AND OFFENSES,

SO THAT WE WILL CAUTIOUSLY CULTIVATE AND NOT CHATTER CONFUSEDLY.

 

COMMENTARY:

 

DI BWO refers to the "heavenly beings." DWO NWO refers to "not coming." This refers to those who do not have to come into the Triple Realm to undergo birth and death--all the heavenly beings, which include the heavenly soldiers, the heavenly generals, and the heavenly spirits.

 

To the gods and heavenly generals who protect the Dharma City,/ They protect all those who hold and maintain mantras in their cultivation. I beseech you to let fall your blessings/ Now, when one cultivates this mantra, all the Dharma protecting gods and spirits will protect one. Reward the good, punish the evil, examine merit and offenses,/ They reward all the wholesome people. They correct and punish people who have committed evil offenses. They look into those beings who have done meritorious things and reward them, and they punish those who have created offenses.

 

So that we will cautiously cultivate and not chatter confusedly/. So those of us who cultivate the Way can't talk recklessly. You can't spread rumors or say anything you feel like. In your cultivation, you have to be very watchful of and attentive to your body, mouth, and mind. And at all times, these three karmas of body, mouth, and mind should be pure. You can't at your own convenience talk about anything you like.