Translated by Imperial Command by the Translation Tripiṭaka Master of the Western Heaven, Court Attendance Grand Master, Probationary Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, Doctrine Comprehension Master, His Majesty’s Servant Fa Xian
At that time, the Buddha said to Maitreya Bodhisattva: “You should listen attentively. There is a Dhāraṇī endowed with great awe-inspiring spiritual power and the highest merit and virtue. It can enable sentient beings to be liberated from the evil destinies, and in the next lives, they will obtain and enjoy sublime and wondrous happiness.” Maitreya Bodhisattva then said: “World-Honored One, I pray that you expound it.” At that time, the World-Honored One proclaimed the Dhāraṇī:
namo bhagavate śākyamunaye tathāgatāya arhate samyaksaṃbuddhāya | tadyathā | ajite | ajitaṃ jaya | bhara bhara | vitravalokite | kara kara | mahāsamayasiddhe | bhara bhara | bodhimaṇavije | smara smara | asmākaṃ samaya | bodhi bodhi mahābodhi svāhā |
After Maitreya Bodhisattva had heard the Buddha, the World-Honored One, proclaim the Dhāraṇī, he said: “World-Honored One, this Dhāraṇī brings great benefit and can enable sentient beings to be liberated from the evil destinies.”
Maitreya Bodhisattva then again made a vow, saying: “If, in the future age, during the time of Dharma decline, there are sentient beings who are able to read, recite, receive, and uphold this Dhāraṇī, then even if, because of karma from previous lives, they fall into the Avīci Hell, when I attain Buddhahood I shall, through the power of the Buddha, rescue them and bring them out of it. I shall further bestow upon them the prediction of Anuttarā-Samyak-Saṃbodhi.”
After Maitreya Bodhisattva had spoken these words, he bowed at the Buddha’s two feet and joyfully withdrew.
Dharma Torch 