Shurangama Mantra with Verses and Commentary

by Venerable Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua

542. BÁT RA TỲ ĐÀ

般囉毗陀

 

 

Trí huệ Chú lực phược chúng ma

Phật mẫu giác đạo hóa Sa Bà

Liên Hoa Pháp bộ thí pháp lệnh

Kinh vân tử giả biến thành hoạt.

 

智慧咒力縛眾魔

佛母覺道化娑婆

蓮華法部施法令

經云死者變成活

English Translated by the International Translation Institute

Revised by Bhikshu Heng Shun

 

542. Buo La Pi Tuo

 

Verse:

 

The wisdom that comes from the Mantra’s power can bind up the multitudes of demons.

The Mother of the Buddhas is enlightened to the Path and transforms those in the Saha World.

The Host of the Lotus Flower Division issues proclamations of Dharma.

The Sutra says that those who are already dead can come back to life.

 

Commentary:

 

The wisdom that comes from the Mantra’s power can bind up the multitudes of demons.

 

This line of Mantra indicates that you should have wisdom. People who use this Dharma should have wisdom. This Mantra as well as the spirit of this Mantra has wisdom. Thus, the verse says, “The wisdom that comes from the Mantra’s power can bind up the multitudes of demons.” It can capture the many demons.

 

The Mother of the Buddhas is enlightened to the Path and transforms those in the Saha World.

 

This line of Mantra also refers to the Mother of the Buddhas. And it is also speaking about the Mother of the Buddhas with respect to the Cundī Mantra. Both are enlightened to the Path. They use the method for enlightening to the Path to teach and guide all living beings in the Saha World.

 

The Host of the Lotus Flower Division issues proclamations of Dharma.

 

 The Host of the Lotus Flower Division acts as a Dharma Host here.

 

The Sutra says that those who are already dead can come back to life.

 

In the Dharma Flower (Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma) Sutra it says that it enables those who had died to be able to come back to life. Therefore, the Dharma door of the Shurangama Mantra is inconceivable! It is not something that can be totally understood by common ordinary people. Although my explanation can’t explain how the power of the mantra comes about, I can just describe a little bit of the power of the mantra, nothing more. This Dharma is layer upon layer without end and infinitely multi-layered.