诸天赞
（寺庙用）
陈健民瑜伽士
敬礼 本师释迦牟尼佛
敬礼 护持佛法诸天尊
本师文佛亲口宣 自兜率天生阎浮 出家降魔转法轮 诸天赞助无厌倦
希有世尊难逢遇 最初劝请降诞者 无上大恩是天尊 伎乐八万四千音
声声劝请佛降生 勿忘我等可悯众 捧钵四天请降生 佛闻此音乃受请
无上大恩是诸天 佛生一十二年前 净居天尊先佛来 示婆罗门宣预言
谓有佛祖当降生 胜族选择卅二德 智幢天尊所请问 如白象形下阎浮
胜光天尊所建议 下时诸天皆会集 四天及释提桓因 夜摩天兜率陀天
乐变化天他化天 娑婆界主梵天王 梵众天与梵辅天 妙光天与少光天
光严天与净居天 以及阿迦尼吒天 摩醯首罗及余天 舍弃诸禅三昧乐
从诞乃至于涅槃 常持净心以侍佛 末世福薄圣贤少 具愿菩萨应化者
愿如请佛之故事 速请多请我启请 末世纵有圣贤生 染污缘多难清净
愿如侍佛之故事 密密将护我启请
佛既入胎净居天 于佛父王现半身 说偈为报希有事 夜摩天等现妙宫
以为圣后之所居 佛既诞已诸天女 各捧妙油浴圣母 供佛天衣与宝具
梵王帝释乃变化 极端正摩那婆身 演吉祥微妙赞词 摩醯首罗与净居
设大供养来庆贺 佛由生处入宫中 天女或持孔雀伞 或洒香水道路中
或执宝花或璎珞 各类各五十万女 色界诸天持宝幡 欲界诸天持宝盖
如云布满于虚空 佛配妃后处深宫 诸天说偈劝出家 兜率天名应出家
飞至殿上诵妙偈 赞叹出家胜功德 并感宫中诸乐器 不奏自鸣劝出家
佛游四门以观察 净居天尊于东门 化作老人以感佛 于南化作多病人
于西化作已死人 于北化作大比丘 为佛正说出家法 佛乃告父求出家
父王简练勇猛士 昼夜戒备于内外 重门一响惊十里 无天之助何能越
药叉大将二十八 毗沙门宫共候命 净慧天尊施神力 令诸勇士悉昏睡
庄严游戏天尊者 令诸象马皆寂眠 严慧天尊施神力 于虚空界布宝路
法行天尊施神力 令彼宫女变坏相 开发天尊施神力 令佛中夜忽独醒
释提桓因示道路 弗沙星与月合时 佛于中夜果醒起 安详而出合掌立
正念十方一切佛 四天各领天众来 释提桓因立虚空 诸天同时大声请
此正是时速出家 车匿既牵干陟到 升虚而行六震动 宫内外众皆不知
夜里经行六由旬 既至仙人苦行林 别车匿与干陟后 孤身远离华贵地
空林唯天最可亲 当时谁人解事佛 替人事佛谢诸天 知佛嫌衣骄奢耶
净居天尊供袈裟 佛乃自称真出家 末世善根难培养 贪着五欲难出离
或以浅根希深行 冒充菩萨不出离 或虽出家入于庙 统众大早不修行
入已如教守戒者 双重出离胜妙器 愿诸天尊嘿护佑 如护文佛真出家
佛六年苦修禅定 日食一米一麻耳 常为天众所护持 波旬伺过不可得
善生女欲供梵志 净居天遮梵志身 善生唯见文佛在 供吉祥相之乳糜
赴菩提场金刚座 十六天尊守此场 其名曰转进天尊 无胜天尊施与天
爱敬天尊勇力天 善住天尊持地天 作光天尊无垢天 法自在天法幢天
行吉祥天无碍天 大庄严天净戒天 莲花光明十六天 皆曾得不退转位
常时竭诚护道场 帝释复化作刈人 供吉祥草为佛垫 大梵天王广陈供
珍宝无量遍虚空 佛既入座发宏誓 六欲诸天东南住 防护障难恭而谨
四维上下皆有天 围绕恭敬以防护 波旬统率魔男女 威迫媚诱逞所能
净居天尊申警诫 无数诸天散天花 赞叹佛不为魔动 既成正觉现瑞相
诸天欢喜献众宝 天女各唱赞美词 净居赞后遍光赞 梵天赞后他化赞
化乐赞后兜率赞 帝释赞后四天赞 并申无量广大供 末世修行障难多
行者多欲魔得便 邪说王难攻其外 苦病疑心攻其内 五阴炽盛不易除
证量渊微不易达 修者如毛成如角 诸天见之宁不悯 如护文佛圆满果
愿诸天尊勤将护 令诸行者能安住 如教如法疾证成 六通十力皆具足
显著菩提道果德
佛证果后嘿然住 波旬竟敢劝涅槃 螺髻梵王娑婆主 为我苦众劝请佛
三劝三请转法轮 当日懵懂之人类 谁解如天王劝请 于今人间有佛法
饮水思源谢天恩 佛既许可转法轮 菩提树守者四天 受法光明与乐法
法行四天复请问 当于何处初转轮 欲色二界诸天众 各将宝幢与宝盖
为佛严净鹿野苑 八万四千宝狮座 佛合为一坐传法 佛度比丘五尊已
为度迦叶十八变 帝释听经显光明 佛受供已欲澡洗 帝释指地而成池
佛欲浣衣帝释知 为取四方大好石 佛欲晒衣帝释知 复取六方石备用
其后各处转法轮 或上于天或下海 乃至涅槃于双林 诸天无时无方所
不为文佛之侍卫 末世魔军势力强 处处道场多障碍 国王宰官多邪见
博学之士偶得信 亦少如法而修行 所有已开之寺宇 欲建无上大法幢
财力人力每不足 愿天回忆文佛事 曾费几多维护力 如今缕缕一线法
如是法脉极珍贵 当超护持文佛力 倍加努力咸拥护 令具大愿弘法者
寿长福多权威大 得续文佛大事业 重兴广大佛法幢 密密将护我启请
密密将护我启请
癸巳秋陈健民撰于西竺茅蓬，初稿为行者，今改为寺用。癸亥夏。
Free Verses on Praising All the Devas
Written in Chinese by the Buddhist Yogi C. M. Chen
Under the guidance of the author,
translated by Yutang Lin
Forward
Yogi Chen composed the first version of this hymn in Chinese for Buddhist practitioners in 1953 during his 25-year retreat in India. In 1983 he gave the second version in Chinese for monasteries. The second version differs from the first one in only six lines. Hence, we shall present our translation of the first version with each one of the six lines followed by that of the second version enclosed in brackets.
Yogi Chen himself translated the first version into English years ago and presented it to his readers as booklet 59 "A Praising to All the Gods." His translation was rhymed. The present translation tries to be literal, and hence not rhymed. We hope that with two translations the readers would appreciate more our gratitudes to the Dharma Protector Gods.
Yutang Lin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Free Verses on Praising All the Devas
Salute
The original teacher Sakyamuni Buddha
Salute
The venerable devas who protect the Dharma
The original teacher Sakyamuni personally announced
That he had come from the Tusita Heaven to Jambu,
And that his pravraj, subjugation of demons and turning the harma Wheel
Had been tirelessly helped by the Devas;
The precious World-honored One is, rarest to meet.
The first ones to plead for his birth in this world
Are the Devas whose great benevolence is unsurpassable;
The Devas played Eighty-four thousand musical tones,
Tone after tone they pleaded the incarnation of Buddha:
Please forget not us, the pitiful ones.
Holding a bowl the Four Caturmaharajas pleaded for His incarnation,
Only upon hearing this did Buddha accept the plea;
Thanks to the Devas for their unsurpassable great benevolence!
A decade and two years before Buddha's birth,
Venerable Suddhavasadeva came in advance.
He appeared as a Brahman and spread the prophecy:
Buddha's incarnation will soon be here!
The Holy family chosen had had thirty-two virtues,
This was revealed upon the Deva JnanaDhvaja's request;
To descend into Jambu in the form of a white elephant,
It was suggested by the Deva Superior Light;
The following Devas gathered upon Buddha's descent:
The four Caturmaharajas and Sakrodevanamindra,
Yamadevas, Tusitadevas,
Sunirmitas, Paranirmita-vasavartins,
The Lord of Saha-world--Brahma,
Brahmaparisadyas and Brahmapurohitas,
Abhasvaras and Parittabhas,
Apramanabhas and Suddhavasadeva,
Together with Akanistha,
Mahesvara and the other Devas,
Forsaking the pleasure of Dhyana-samadhi,
From Buddha's birth till his Nirvana,
They constantly served Buddha with pure intentions.
The Kali Age with little merits has only few Saints,
The incarnations of Bodhisattvas with Great Vows,
Just as the Devas pleaded for Buddha's incarnation,
I pray that you Devas plead more of them to come soon.
Even though Saints may be born in the Kali Age,
It is difficult for them to remain free from pollutions,
Just as the Devas served the Buddha,
I pray that you Devas protect them well and tight.
After Buddha had entered the womb, Suddhavasadeva
Showed half of his body to Buddha's King-father,
Reporting this rare event in stanzas.
The Yamadevas presented a wonderful palace,
For the Holy Queen to dwell in.
After Buddha's birth the devakanyas
Held wonderful oil to bath the Holy Mother,
They offered Buddha Heavenly clothings and jewelry.
Brahma Sakra then transformed himself into a very fine Monapokaya,
Praising with wonderful and auspicious phrases.
Mahesvara and Suddhavasadeva
Presented huge offerings to celebrate.
Buddha was brought to the Palace from where he was born,
The Devakanyas held fans made of peacock feathers,
Sprinkled perfume along the way,
Or held jeweled flowers or jeweled necklaces,
Each kind has five hundred thousand Devakanyas,
The Devas of Rupadhatu held jeweled banners,
The Devas of Kamadhatu held jeweled canopies,
Like clouds they filled the whole sky.
After Buddha had married his wife they lived in the secluded palace.
With stanzas the Devas persuaded him to leave home and become a monk.
The Tusita-Deva named Should-Leave-Home
Flew to the palace hall and recited wonderful stanzas,
Praising the superior merits of pravraj.
He also affected the musical instruments in the palace
To sound without being played the pleadings for pravraj.
Buddha toured the four gates of the city to observe.
The Venerable Suddhavasadeva appeared
At the east gate as an old man to affect the Buddha.
At the south gate a man with various diseases,
At the west gate a dead man,
At the north gate a Mahabhiksu
Preaching to Buddha the Dharma of Pravraj.
Buddha then requested his father to let him leave home.
The King father picked brave and fierce soldiers,
Night and day they guarded the palace in and out,
The double gates would sound and disturb ten Lis,
Without help from the Devas, how could one escape?
The Yaksas generals, twenty-eight in number,
All waited for orders at the palace of Vaisravana.
Venerable Pure Wisdom Deva granted his spiritual power
To make all the brave soldiers sound asleep;
Venerable Adornment Play Deva
Made all elephants and horses sleep in silence;
Venerable Glorious Wisdom Deva granted his spiritual power
To pave a jeweled path in the sky;
Venerable Dharma Activities Deva granted his spiritual power
To make those palace maids look ugly;
Venerable Development Deva granted his spiritual power
To make Buddha alone suddenly awake at midnight;
Sakro-devanamindra showed the path
When the Pusya star met the moon,
At midnight Buddha indeed awoke and got up,
Calmly he came out and stood with folded palms,
Rightfully thinking of all the Buddhas in the ten directions;
The four Caturmaharajas came with their Deva followers,
Sakro-devanamindra stood in the sky.
All the Devas simultaneously made loud pleas:
This is just the right time! Please leave home soon!
After Chandaka had brought Chantze to Buddha,
They walked through the sky and the earth quaked in six manners.
All the people inside or outside the palace did not know this.
During the night they walked for six yojanas;
Having arrived the Uruvilva-kasyapa forest,
And bad farewell to Chandaka and Chantze,
Alone and far away from the majestic place,
In the forest only the Devas were so dear!
Who would know to serve Buddha then?
Thanks to the Devas for having served Buddha for men.
Knowing that Buddha disliked his luxurious clothings,
Venerable Suddhavasadeva offered him kasaya;
Only then did Buddha proclaim that his pravraj was complete.
During the Kali Age it is difficult to cultivate Nice Roots,
Being greedily attached to the five desires it is difficult for people to renounce the worldly things,
Some people are of shallow root yet aspire to the profound path,
Pretending to be Bodhisattvas they don't drop out from the society,
Or although they have left home and entered the monastic life,
They have led the multitude too early to practice on their own.
Those who have left home and monastery both,
[Those who have entered the monastery and kept silas as Buddha taught,]
Are the superior wonderful Dharma instruments,
May the venerable Devas secretly protect them,
As you protected Buddha's genuine pravraj.
For six years Buddha diligently practiced dhyana,
Daily he ate only one grain of rice and same of sesame,
He was constantly protected by the Devas,
Papiyan watched for his mistakes but could not find any.
A sujata girl wanted to make offerings to a Brahmacarin,
Suddhavasadeva hid the body of the Brahmacarin,
The sujata girl saw only the Buddha's presence,
She offered him the milk porridge of auspicious sign.
Buddha went to the Vajra Seat of Bodhimandala,
Sixteen venerable Devas protected this place,
Their names are, respectively, Turn-to-progress Deva,
Venerable Ajita Deva, Dana Deva,
Venerable Respectful Love Deva, Brave-Power Deva,
Venerable Sugata Deva, Dharanimdhara Deva,
Venerable Light-emitting Deva, Vimala Deva,
Dharmasvara Deva, Dharmadhvaja Deva,
Auspicious Activities Deva, Apratihata Deva,
Maha-alamkaraka Deva, Vimala-Sila Deva,
Pundarika-Prabha Deva, all sixteen of them
Had attained the stage of avaivartika,
Constantly and devotedly they protected the Bodhimandala.
Sakra then transformed into a grass cutter
Who offered the auspicious Kusa grass as Buddha's cushion.
Mahabrahma presented huge offerings
Of countless jewels that filled the sky.
After Buddha had sat on the Vajra Seat he made the Great Vow.
The Devas of the six devalokas stayed in the south-east,
Respectfully and Carefully they were guarding against hindrances.
The Devas surrounded Buddha in four directions, above and below,
They respectfully protected the Buddha.
Papiyan led the male and female devils,
Did their best to threaten with force or entice with charms.
Venerable Suddhavasadeva gave them warnings and admonitions.
Countless Devas threw heavenly flowers,
Praising the fact that Buddha was unaffected by the devils.
Upon Buddha's Ful1 Enlightenment he showed auspicious signs. The Devas were happy and offered many treasures,
The Devakanyas sang hymns in praise of Buddha:
After Suddhavasadeva had praised, so did Apramanabha,
After Brahmadeva had praised, so did Paranirmita-vasavartin,
After Sunirmita had praised, so did Tusitadevas,
After Sakra had praised, so did the four Caturmaharajas.
They also presented countless huge offerings.
During the Kali Age a practitioner may encounter many obstacles,
The practitioners have many desires and thus become accessible to the devils,
The perverted views and governmental harassments attack him from outside,
The hardships, sicknesses and doubts attack him from within,
The five skandhas are vehemently active and difficult to get rid of,
The essence of realization is profound, subtle and difficult to achieve,
So many are the practitioners yet so few are the accomplished ones,
Don't you Devas feel pitiful seeing this?
Just as you protected Sakyamuni Buddha's perfect accomplishment,
May you venerable Devas diligently guard the practitioners
So that they are free from the hindrances of devils,
[So that they may peacefully stay in the monastery,]
They soon accomplish the Evolution and the Perfect Yogas,
[They, adhering to the teachings of Buddha, soon become accomplished,]
They fully possess the six supernatural abilities and the ten powers,
And they exemplify the fruitful merits of Vajrayana.
[And they exemplify the fruitful merits of Bodhi-path.]
After Buddha had achieved Enlightenment he remained in silence.
Papiyan did dare to plead for Buddha's Nirvana.
The conch-tuft Brahma, Lord of the Saha-world,
Pleaded to Buddha on behalf of us, the suffering multitude.
Time and again he pleaded Buddha thrice to turn the Wheel of Dharma.
How could the then muddle-headed mankind
Know to plead as Brahma did?
Now that Buddha Dharma is spreading among human beings,
Thanks to the Brahma who originated the spreading of Dharmas!
After Buddha had granted his permission to turn the Dharma Wheel,
The four Devas who guarded the Bodhi-tree:
Dharma-receiver, Rasmiprobhasa, Dharma-enjoyment
And Dharma-activities again asked:
Where should Buddha turn the Dharma Wheel for the very first time?
The Devas of devalokas or rupalokas
Held jeweled banners or jeweled canopies
To adorn and sanctify Mrgadava.
Eighty-four thousand jeweled Lion-Seats
Were merged into one by Buddha to sit while preaching.
After Buddha had converted the five venerable Bhiksus,
He manifested eighteen transformations to convert Kasyapa.
Sakra exhibited his brightness while listening to the Dharma.
After Buddha had received offerings he wanted to take a bath,
Sakra pointed to the ground and there a pond became.
Sakra knew that Buddha wanted to wash his robe,
So he brought a huge fine square rock.
Sakra knew that Buddha wanted to dry his robe in the Sun,
Again he brought a hexagonal rock to be used.
Afterwards Buddha turned the Dharma Wheel at various locations,
Up to the heavens or down into the ocean,
Until his Nirvana under the Sala-trees,
No time and no where were the Devas not
The guardian protectors of Sakyamuni Buddha.
In the Kali Age the devil's army has strong power,
The Bodhi-place everywhere has many obstacles,
Kings and government officials mostly are of perverted views,
Well-learned scholars occasionally obtain the faith,
Yet they seldom practice according to the Dharma.
Sometimes there are virtuous men with noble aspirations who
[All the monasteries that are well-established]
Would like to establish the unsurpassable great Dharma banner,
But the financial as well as man power are often insufficient.
May the Devas remember the activities of Sakyamuni Buddha.
How strenuous did you guard Buddha?
Now Dharma is like a delicate thread,
Such a Dharma vein is most precious!
You Devas should exert more protection power than you did for Buddha.
Multiply your efforts and all come to support
So that the virtuous men with great aspirations,
[So that the Dharma propagators with great aspirations,]
Possess longevity, good luck and superb authority,
Become capable of continuing the Holy Karma of Sakyamuni Buddha,
And revive the great banner of Buddha Dharma.
I pray that you Devas do protect us well and tight!
I pray that you Devas do protect us well and tight!
-----------------------------------------------------------
In the autumn of 1953, Chen Chien Ming composed this hymn in his hermitage in India.
The first version was written for the practitioners; now it is amended to be used by the monasteries in the summer of 1983.
[Home][Back to list][Praise to Sakyamuni Buddha]