Indian Antiquary Vol 43

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 43

MARCH, 1914.]
DHARANI OR INDIAN BUDDHIST SPELLS
39
capture the heart of the Nâgas to disperse their thunderbolts so that the malignant Nâgas may not destroy the harvest, with manifold despoilation, Turn them aside, the wind and hail of the clouds, that they do not destroy everything, that the flowers and fruits and the harvests be preserved from injury. We beseech you to utter the spell called “The Iron Thunderbolt-Beak of the Sky." We beseech The Blessed One for the welfare of all beings to bestow upon us this gift!
The Blessed One (then] spoke thus to Brahma, Vishņu and Indra, and the Four Great Kings of the Quarters). Honourable Sirs ! for the welfare of all beings I shall utter it as a blessing (like one ?] of the noble truths. Then Brahmâ, Vishņu, and Indra and the four great kings heard the mantras of the dharani [as follows ):
Salutation to the Three Holy Ones ! Salutation to Buddha Sakya-muni, to all the completely perfect Tathagata Arhants.
Salutation to all the great Magical powerslo for compelling the calm of the glorious hereafter. 11
Salutation to the highest in the three worlds.
Matha matha pramatha (twice). jvalita bhikrita vajra jvaya jvaya ; Mahavaya viryaparakrama. kotara jaya, pramabhavavuma, pramasare! Bho bho nâga dipa dipa! Bhiswaramadha pramadhane namur bhanan sphotayana huit hun pha! phar!... dc. dec. Hantu sarvadushtana bhasvodaya hridaya mahyesare jiladitri sudaradura hanahana hūsi phat ...&c.
This what you have just now heard is “The glowing12 Iron Thunderbolt-Beak of the Sky.” It will break all the malignant Nâgas, and convert evil things into sweet perfumes. It will madden and destroy (evil] ... &c.
At the same time, he called forth by name (the following spirits to receive his commands: The Nâga-king of the ocean Mâtaiga, the Naga-king [known as the Hooded One' (Ch'atra), the great Enchanter.'13 Ten billions, one thousand millions and one hundred thousand saluted the feet of the Bhagavân who, after those Nagas had formed an outer assembly [said unto them] "Guard ye all the beings of the world (Jambudvipa) the flowers and fruit and harvests, the trees, leaves and branches ! Free them from wind, hail and excessive drought! Make timely rain to fall! By your own vow, by the vow to your tutelaries and to the Tathagata, guard these for ever henceforth! Each of you becoming entirely perfect in mind do no injury to man." . . &., &c.
2. The Red-copper Beak. [India Office. Tibetan text (Waddell Colln.) No. K. 17. Vol. Z. (18):
No. 265 in my List]. In the Indian speech (this) is called Árya ghadsa pratai bhanda-ghata kada britachakhadhayt; in the Tibetan speech 'p'age-pa zais-gi moh'u dmar-pos gdug-pai phyoga t'ams-chad gnon par byed-pa ses-bya-bai gzuis [i.e. “The Dhâra i of the noble Red Beak of Copper, who expels the mischief in all the directions."]
Salutation to the Buddhas and Bedhisattvas! Salutation to all the noble ones (aryas) ! Salutation to all the Buddhas of the directions, to all the Bodhisattvas and hearers ! Salutation to the Blessed One. Tathagatha Arhanta, the completely perfect Buddha, Sugata the fearless one whose words discipline humanity, the most high one, the leader of gods and men !
Or spirit, 'heart,' or 'cesence, Tib. skin-po. Secondarily it moans vajra or thunderbolt, also the bluejewel of Indra—Indranfla
11 Literally "the other side" (of life)-pa-rol zib-gyis gnon-pai mtu-po. The word which I have translated 'compelling,' namely non-pa, literally means to suppress to 'overoome by force,' and is frequently used in magical operations (cf. Jaeschke, Tib. Dict., 307.) 12. Bar-ba.
13 Mt'u-ch'e-wa.
10 Mtw-po.