Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 21.djvu/261

Rh CHAPTER X.

THE PREACHER.

The Lord then addressed the eighty thousand Bodhisattvas Mah&sattvas by turning to Bhaisha- gyar&ga. as their representative. Seest thou, Bhai- sha/yarA^a, in this assembly the many gods, Ndgas, goblins, Gandharvas, demons, Garurfas, Kinnaras, great serpents, men, and beings not human, monks, nuns, male and female lay devotees, votaries of the vehicle of disciples, votaries of the vehicle of Pratye- kabuddhas, and those of the vehicle of Bodhi- sattvas, who have heard this Dharmaparyiya from the mouth of the TathAgata ? ' I do, Lord ; I do, Sugata.' The Lord proceeded : Well, Bhaisha- ^yar^a, all those Bodhisattvas MahAsattvas who in this assembly have heard, were it but a single stanza, a single verse (or word), or who even by a single rising thought have joyfully accepted this Sfttra, to all of them, Bhaisha^yar^a, among the four classes of my audience I predict their destiny to supreme and perfect enlightenment. And all whosoever, Bhai- sha^yar^a, who, after the complete extinction of the TatMgata, shall hear this Dharmapary&ya and after hearing, were it but a single stanza, joyfully accept it, even with a single rising thought, to those also, Bhaisha^yar^a, be they young men or young ladies of good family, I predict their destiny to supreme and perfect enlightenment. Those young men or ladies