The Dharani Sutra of The Buddha on Longevity, The Extinction of Offences and The Protection of Young Children: 19 of 33

After listening to the verses of his daughters, the Heavenly Mara Bo-Xun renewed his plan and readjusted his retinue of relatives into new groupings. Besides he chose an efficient troop of intelligent soldiers and told them, “I will go with you all to the dwelling of The Buddha. We must pretend that we want to surrender. We must make use of different kinds of skills in-means so that The Buddha will believe in us.”

“If we are able to get his trust, then we can use the chance to do all kinds of evil deeds, in order to obstruct the propagation of this Sutra.” After saying that, he together with his retinue of Mara went to the dwelling of The Buddha. They circumambulated The Buddha for seven times. After that he said,

“World Honored One, are you tired after speaking The Dharma? I now bring my retinue of relatives along to listen to The Sutra of Longevity and The Extinction of Offences. We wish to become the disciples of The Buddha. I only hope that The World Honored One who is kind and compassionate will accept us. May I obtain what I have desired.”

The World Honored One scolded the King of Mara immediately. “You were already full of anger when you were at your palace. Your plan is to come here and pretend to walk about in my assembly, waiting for chances to commit all evil deeds. In the Buddha Dharma, we do not allow you to deceive others.”

Immediately the King of Mara Bo-Xun was ashamed of himself. He stopped putting on his deceitful appearance and said to The Buddha, “World Honored One! My stupid and deceitful plans can surely be unable to conceal from you. May The Buddha who is greatly kind and compassionate forgive my offences! Now as I have heard The Dharani Mantra on Longevity, The Extinction of Offences and The Protection of small children, I vow that,

“In the Dharma Ending Age, if there are living beings who accept, uphold, write down, read and recite this Sutra, wherever they may be, I will protect them so that no evils ghosts will have the chance to harm them.’”

“’If those people who have already fallen into the hells are to remember and be mindful of this sutra for just an instant, I will use my spiritual power to take the water of the great seas and pour on the offenders so that they will feel refresh with the moisture of water. I will transform the great Hells into lotus ponds too.’”