At that time the Bodhisattva Who Regards the World’s Sounds, in the midst of the great assembly, secretly put forth spiritually penetrating bright light which brilliantly illuminated the fields of the ten directions and reached throughout three thousand great-thousand worlds, so that they were all colored gold.
All the heavenly palaces, dragon palaces, and all the venerable spirit palaces trembled. The large rivers, small rivers, and seas, Iron Mountain, Sumeru Mountain, Land Mountain, and Black Mountain also shook. The pearl fire of the sun and moon and the light of the constellations – all ceased to shine.
At the time Uniting and Holding King Bodhisattva, seeing this rare and unheard-of appearance, arose from his seat, joined his palms, and with a verse, asked the Buddha who is was who had put forth such an appearance of spiritual penetration.
The verse runs:
Who on this day has realized right enlightenment,
Putting forth such great brilliant light?
The fields of the ten directions are all colored gold,
And three thousand world systems are also shining,
Who on this day has attained comfort,
Diffusing spiritual powers, great and rare?
Boundless Buddhalands tremble and shake.
Dragon and spirit palaces are not a peace,
The entire assembly now holds doubts,
Not knowing whose power created these conditions.
Is it the Buddha, the Bodhisattvas, or the great Sound Hearers?
The Brahma gods, Mara gods, or Shakra perhaps?
We pray for the World Honored One’s great compassion,
To explain to us the cause of this spiritual penetration.
The Buddha told Uniting and Holding King Bodhisattva, “Good Man, you should all know that present in this assembly is a Bodhisattva, Mahasattva named The One Who Regards the World’s Sound in Comfort who, from the remotest past onwards has attained great kindness and compassion and who is fully able to practice the limitless Dharani-doors. Desiring to delight all beings and to make them peaceful, he secretly puts forth such great spiritual penetration power as this.”
