Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 21.djvu/436

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388
SADDHARMA-PUNDARÎKA.
xxii.

bhia, the Dharmaparyâya of the Lotus of the True Law must be held to excel and surpass all Sûtrântas spoken by the Tathigata; and such as shall keep this king of Stitras, Nakshatrarâgasaṅkusumitâbhia, must be held to surpass others (who do not). As a Bodhisattva is accounted superior to all disciples and Pratyekabuddhas, so, Nakshatrarâgasaṅkusumitâbhia, this Dharmapary&ya of the Lotus of the True Law is accounted superior to all Stitrintas spoken by the Tath&gata. Even as the TathSgata is the crowned king of the law l of all disciples, Pratyekabuddhas, and Bodhisattvas, so, Nakshatrarâgasaṅkusumitâbhia, this Dharmapary&ya is a TathSgata in respect to those who in the vehicle of Bodhisattvas are striving to reach the goal. This Dharmaparyiya of the Lotus of the True Law, Nakshatrarâgasaṅkusumitâbhia, saves all beings from all fear, delivers them from all pains. It is like a tank for the thirsty, like a fire for those who suffer from cold, like a garment for the naked, like the caravan leader for the merchants, like a mother for her children, like a boat for those who ferry over, like a leech for the sick, like a lamp for those who are wrapt in darkness, like a jewel for those who want wealth, like the ocean for the rivers, like a torch for the dispelling of darkness. So, Nakshatrarâgasaṅkusumitâbhia, this Dharmapary&ya of the Lotus of the True Law delivers from all evils, extirpates all diseases, releases from the narrow bonds of the mundane whirl 2 . And he who shall hear this Dharmapary&ya of the Lotus of the True

Dharmar&^a^ pa//abaddhah, i.e. properly the legitimate crowned king.

In other words, this Dharmaparyfya is Death or Nirv&ia.