Wúnéngshèng dàmíng tuóluóní jīng 無能勝大明陀羅尼經
Sūtra of the Invincible Great Vidyā-Dhāraṇī by 法天 (Fǎtiān, Dharmadeva, 譯)
About the work
A one-fascicle dhāraṇī-sūtra translated by Fǎtiān (法天) at the early Sòng Institute for Sūtra Translation (譯經院) in Kāifēng. The text is the second of a small Aparājita cluster (KR6j0461–KR6j0464, T1233–T1236), all rendered by Fǎtiān; the first three (T1233–T1235) appear to be variant renderings of related Aparājitavidyā (無能勝明) mantra-material. The alternate title is 無能勝陀羅尼經.
Abstract
The framing is again Mahāyāna evaṃ mayā śrutam: the Buddha expounds the Aparājita Mahāvidyā Dhāraṇī, declaring its power to overcome all obstacles and any opposing magical force. The protective and apotropaic functions catalogued are largely the same as in KR6j0461 (T1233): defence against hostile mantra and curse, protection on the road and in armed conflict, exorcism, illness-healing, and the granting of worldly siddhi. Differences from T1233 are chiefly: (a) a slightly different mantra-form (the Sanskrit transliteration varies in detail); (b) some shifts in the anuśaṃsā catalogue; (c) a shorter overall length. The two are best read as parallel renderings of related Indian textual material, both retained because of their differences in mantra-form. Korean Tripiṭaka K… (per canwww). Date: Fǎtiān’s Kāifēng activity, 980–1001.
Translations and research
- See KR6j0461.