Bāmíng pǔmì tuóluóní jīng 八名普密陀羅尼經
Sūtra of the Universal-Esoteric Dhāraṇī of the Eight Names by 玄奘 (Xuánzàng, 譯)
About the work
A one-fascicle Táng translation by 玄奘 Xuánzàng (602–664), the colophon “大唐三藏法師玄奘奉詔譯”. The Taishō editors mark the parallel “[No. 1366]” — i.e. paired with KR6j0596 Mìmì bāmíng tuóluóní jīng (T1366) by 法賢 Fǎxián in the Northern Sòng. Both are renderings of an Aṣṭa-nāma-pratisaṃvit / Aṣṭa-nāma-guhya-dhāraṇī-cluster Indic original. The dating bracket is Xuánzàng’s translation period.
Abstract
The Buddha at the Jeta-grove with the standard 1,250 bhikṣus and an immeasurable host of bodhisattvas, addresses Vajrapāṇi: the vidyā-spells he holds (shàngmíngzhòu 上明呪) are powerful but have a kinetic profile that makes them difficult to wield without ill effect — initial damage can occur even in successful practice. There is, however, an Aṣṭa-nāma pǔmì shénzhòu 八名普密神呪 — eight-named guhya-dhāraṇī — whose action is greater, more reliable, less hazardous. The eight names: (1) Gōngdé bǎozàng 功德寶藏 (“Treasure-house of merits”), (2) Zhuāngyán xiàng’ěr 莊嚴象耳 (“Adorned Elephant-Ear”), (3) Shàn yǒngměng 善勇猛 (“Excellent-of-valour”), (4) Shèngdìyún 勝諦雲 (“Cloud of supreme truth”), (5) Chéng chìrán 成熾然 (“Become-ablaze”), (6) Wēimiàosè 微妙色 (“Subtle Form”), (7) Yánshì 嚴飾 (“Adorned”), (8) Jīngāng 金剛 (“Vajra”). Hearing the eight names produces 7-koṭi-niyuta-100,000 great-kalpas of freedom from hell, animal and preta rebirth; at death the practitioner sees the Buddhas come, hears Mahāyāna teaching, and is reborn into the Tuṣita heaven to await Maitreya. The dhāraṇī follows.
A characteristic Xuánzàng dhāraṇī-translation: the doctrinal frame is foregrounded over the apotropaic, the spell is comparatively brief, the eight names are given in pithy Chinese rather than transcribed Sanskrit. Recorded in Kāiyuán shìjiào lù; Nanjio N0794.
Translations and research
No substantial secondary literature located.