Translated by the Tripiṭaka Śramaṇa Śikṣānanda from Khotan Country of the Great Zhou Dynasty
Thus have I heard.
At one time, the Buddha was in the Jeta Grove of Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in the country of Śrāvastī, surrounded by the great bhikṣu Sangha and other immeasurable assemblies.
At that time, the venerable Śāriputra rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt upon his right knee, joined his palms toward the Buddha, and with verses made a request, saying:
“World-Honored One of great majesty and virtue, we beg you to teach for us
the retribution and fruits obtained from circumambulating the Buddha stūpa to the right.”
Then the World-Honored One replied in verses, saying:
“The various merits and virtues obtained by circumambulating the Buddha stūpa to the right,
I now speak of only a small portion. All of you should listen well.
All devas, nāgas, yakṣas, spirits, and the like will draw near and make offerings,
this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Wherever one is born, one will be far removed from the eight difficulties,
always born in places without difficulty, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
In every place of birth, mindfulness and wisdom will never be lost,
and one will possess wondrous and excellent form, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Going back and forth among devas and humans, blessings and lifespan will be long,
and one will constantly gain great renown, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Within Jambudvīpa, one will always be born among the most noble and pure lineages,
this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
One’s appearance will always be upright, wealthy and possessing many treasures,
constantly holding great estates, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Treasures will always accumulate, yet there will be no stinginess of mind,
courageous and widely practicing generosity, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Form and appearance will be pure and subtle, all who see will admire and rejoice,
wherever one dwells there will always be peace and happiness, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Or one may become a kṣatriya king, with wife and household complete,
mastery over power and authority, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Or one may become a brāhmaṇa, upholding precepts and skilled in understanding,
mantras and the Vedas all fully mastered, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Or one may become a great elder, noble and possessing abundant wealth,
granaries always full, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Or one may become a righteous Dharma king, ruling freely within Jambudvīpa,
all small kingdoms submitting and transforming, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Or one may become a great Wheel-Turning King of mighty power, fully endowed with the seven treasures,
guiding beings through the ten wholesome deeds, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
From this life one ascends to the heavens, constantly possessing great majesty and virtue,
and giving rise to pure faith in the Buddha Dharma, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
After pure faith is swiftly accomplished, one will no longer be confused about the Dharma,
and will see all conditioned things as empty, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
From the heavens, when one relinquishes life, descending again among humans,
entering the womb without confusion, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Within the mother’s womb, defilement cannot stain,
like a pure maṇi jewel, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
While in the womb and at the time of birth, the mother will always be at ease and joyful,
and even while nursing it is likewise, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Parents and relatives, all together will raise and nurture,
and the nurse will never depart, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Family and retinue will cherish and love, surpassing even one’s parents,
and wealth will increase of itself, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Yakṣas and all evil spirits cannot frighten or terrify,
what is needed will naturally be obtained, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Through hundreds of thousands of kalpas, the body will turn ever more pure,
and wondrous marks will become complete, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
The eyes will be pure and long, like blue lotus flowers,
and one will obtain the pure divine eye, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Wondrous form will always be complete, all marks naturally adorned,
accomplishing great power and strength, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Or one may be born in Śakra’s palace, possessing great majesty,
supreme in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Or one may be born in the palaces of Suyāma, Tuṣita, Joy Emanation,
and Mastery over Others’ Emanations, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Or again one may be born in the Brahmā heavens, mastery over the entire Brahmā world,
constantly worshiped by the devas, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Through koṭis of nayutas of kalpas, one will always be respected and offered to by wise beings,
this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Body and clothing, through countless kalpas without defilement,
fully endowed with purity and whiteness, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Possessing great power of diligence, practicing various deeds with effort,
never once becoming weary or lax, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Courageous and constantly diligent, firm and unbreakable,
what one undertakes is swiftly accomplished, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
With deep and subtle wondrous voice, all who hear rejoice,
peaceful and always without illness, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Just as I have proclaimed, abhorring and abandoning the suffering of the three existences,
one accomplishes the wisdom beyond the world, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Constantly abiding in the four foundations of mindfulness, and the four right efforts,
the four bases of supernormal power, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Understanding the four noble truths, the roots, the powers, the seven factors of awakening,
the right path and the noble fruits, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Extinguishing all afflictions, possessing great majesty and virtue,
one attains the stainless six supernormal powers, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Forever departing from greed, anger, and delusion, and from all obstacles,
one realizes the awakening of the Pratyekabuddha, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
Attaining wondrous purple-golden color, with marks and excellences adorning the body,
manifesting as the teacher of devas and humans, this comes from circumambulating the stūpa to the right.
All of this is obtained through bodily action, through verbal action of praise,
and through circumambulating the Buddha stūpa to the right, and gaining these great benefits.
The various merits and virtues obtained by circumambulating the Buddha stūpa to the right, I have now briefly answered what you asked.
If one wished to explain them in detail, who could ever exhaust them?”
At that time, after the World-Honored One had spoken these verses, Śāriputra and the entire great assembly who attended all greatly rejoiced, faithfully received and practiced them.
Dharma Torch 