Shurangama Mantra with Verses and Commentary

by Venerable Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua

545. ÁN

唵

 

 

Hiệp chưởng cung kính tổng trì vương

Dẫn sinh vô lượng thần diệu chương

Nhất thiết tà ma quy chánh giáo

Ly mỵ vọng lượng nan độn tàng.

 

合掌恭敬總持王

引生無量神妙章

一切邪魔歸正教

魑魅魍魎難遁藏

English Translated by the International Translation Institute

Revised by Bhikshu Heng Shun

 

545. Nan

 

Verse:

 

Joining our palms, we venerate the King of Dharanis.

It generates measureless wonderful spiritual phrases.

All evil demons return to the proper teaching.

Chih Mei and Wang Liang ghosts find it hard to escape or hide.

 

Commentary:

 

Joining our palms, we venerate the King of Dharanis.

 

“Nan” is the 545th line of the Mantra. Once you recite the Mantra, all the celestial dragons, the Eightfold Pantheon of Spiritual Beings, the good Dharma protecting spirits, as well as cow demons and snake spirits (evil entities), heavenly demons and those on heterodox paths all have to be obedient. Nan can also be recited as “An” or ”Om.” Once the Mantra is recited, everyone should join their palms together in reverence and veneration. Who are they venerating? They revere and venerate the King of Dharanis (Dharani literally means Uniting and Upholding). They venerate the Mantra which is a command for the Dharma Realm.

 

It generates measureless wonderful spiritual phrases.

 

Once Nan is recited, mantras are generated. “Nan” means to induce or generate. What is generated? Measureless and boundless numbers of wonderful spiritual phrases will be generated. Its meanings are without measure and so is its power and awe-inspiring spirit. Everything about it is measureless.

 

All evil demons return to the proper teaching.

 

 No matter what kind of evil demons they are, all of them must be very well behaved and take refuge in the proper teachings. They cannot tell lies, no longer create trouble or not abide by the rules.

 

Chih Mei and Wang Liang ghosts find it hard to escape or hide.

 

No matter how great their ghostly or demonic powers are, they will not be able to run away and escape. And they cannot hide away. It is like a radiant light that constantly shines on them. No matter where these Chih Mei ghosts or Wang Liang ghosts go, this light shines upon them so they cannot hide themselvess.