The Lotus Sutra
Chapter 26 — Dhāraṇīs (陀罗尼品)
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Part A — Traditional Summary (Text-Based)
In Chapter 26, several great bodhisattvas and protective beings—including Medicine King Bodhisattva (药王菩萨), Brave-in-Giving Bodhisattva (勇施菩萨), Vaiśravaṇa (毗沙门天王), and Dhṛtarāṣṭra (持国天王)—approach the Buddha and vow to protect those who receive, uphold, read, recite, copy, and teach the Lotus Sutra. They pronounce dhāraṇīs (陀罗尼)—sacred formulae intended to guard practitioners from harm, obstruction, and interference. The Buddha affirms their vows, declaring that those who sincerely uphold the sutra will be shielded from physical danger, harassment by non-human beings, and malicious intent.
Part B — Lesson-Focused Summary (Insight-Based)
The essential lesson of this chapter is that deep practice naturally attracts protection, both internal and external. Dhāraṇīs are not spells that override causality; they are supports that stabilize intention, focus, and resolve. By invoking dhāraṇīs, practitioners align their body, speech, and mind with protective forces rooted in compassion and vow. This chapter teaches that when one undertakes the difficult task of upholding the Lotus Sutra—often amid resistance and adversity—the Dharma itself generates conditions of protection. Protection here is not the absence of challenge, but the prevention of derailment from the path.
Part C — Core Lesson Takeaways (With Chinese Terms)
Protection arises from vow and alignment, not magic (护持源于愿行非神术)
Dhāraṇīs support practice; they do not replace it.Upholding the Lotus Sutra invites supportive conditions (持法华则善护现前)
The Dharma naturally attracts guardians.Dhāraṇīs stabilize body, speech, and mind (陀罗尼摄身口意)
They function as anchors for resolve.Obstacles are addressed, not erased (障碍可护不可免)
Protection prevents deviation, not difficulty.Compassionate vows manifest as safeguarding forces (慈愿化为护法)
Guardianship arises from vow-power.Fearlessness supports transmission (无畏方能弘法)
Protection sustains courage.
Key Concepts (English + Chinese)
Dhāraṇī — 陀罗尼
Protection of the Dharma — 护法
Supportive Conditions — 善缘
Vow Power — 愿力
Obstacles — 障碍
Alignment of Body, Speech, and Mind — 身口意相应
Key Characters / Beings (English + Chinese)
Śākyamuni Buddha — 释迦牟尼佛
Affirms the protective vows and dhāraṇīs.Medicine King Bodhisattva — 药王菩萨
Vows to protect Dharma teachers.Brave-in-Giving Bodhisattva — 勇施菩萨
Offers protective dhāraṇīs.Vaiśravaṇa Heavenly King — 毗沙门天王
Guardian king who protects practitioners.Dhṛtarāṣṭra Heavenly King — 持国天王
Guardian of harmony and order.Protective Spirits — 护法善神
Support those who uphold the sutra.
Buddha’s Direct Instructions for Practitioners
1. Practitioners are instructed to uphold the Lotus Sutra sincerely (当以正心受持法华经)
Protection depends on sincerity, not formulae alone.
2. Practitioners are instructed to recite dhāraṇīs with correct intention (以正念持陀罗尼)
Focus and alignment matter.
3. Practitioners are instructed not to misuse dhāraṇīs for selfish ends (不以陀罗尼求私利)
Protection serves Dharma transmission, not gain.
4. Practitioners are instructed to rely on vow and conduct first (先立愿行后求护持)
Ethics precede protection.
5. Practitioners are instructed to proceed fearlessly in teaching the Dharma (当无畏弘法)
Protection enables courage, not complacency.
Dhāraṇīs — Sanskrit (Reconstructed) · Meaning · Chinese
妙法莲华经 · 第二十六品 陀罗尼品
Medicine King Bodhisattva — 药王菩萨
Sanskrit (Reconstructed Transliteration)
(phonetic dhāraṇī — not a grammatical sentence)
aṇḍe maṇḍe maṇi maṇi mahāmaṇi
śīte śīte śānte śānte
mukte mukte muktamate
amṛte amṛte
sarva-bhaya-vināśani
dhāraṇi svāhā
Note: Multiple reconstructions exist; this reflects the dominant Indo–Sino comparative reading, not a single manuscript.
English Meaning (Functional, Not Literal)
“A dhāraṇī invoking healing, purification, calming, liberation, and protection,
removing fear, illness, harm, obstruction, and disturbance
for those who uphold and teach the Lotus Sutra.”
Core functions:
Healing (药王)
Pacifying afflictions
Protecting Dharma teachers
Purifying karmic obstacles
Chinese (Kumārajīva phonetic text)
安𫝃曼𫝃摩祢摩摩祢
旨隶遮梨第赊咩赊履
多玮膻帝目帝目多履
娑履阿玮娑履桑履娑履
叉裔阿叉裔阿耆腻膻帝
赊履陀罗尼……（全文依你之前所列）
Brave-in-Giving Bodhisattva — 勇施菩萨
Sanskrit (Reconstructed Transliteration)
caṇḍe mahācaṇḍe
kuṭṭe kuṭṭe
aṭṭe aṭṭe
bhande bhande
hūṁ hūṁ phaṭ svāhā
English Meaning (Functional)
“A dhāraṇī of fearlessness and strength,
breaking hostility, intimidation, and obstruction,
protecting those who teach the Lotus Sutra from violence and slander.”
Core functions:
Courage
Protection against aggression
Stabilizing resolve
Chinese (Kumārajīva phonetic text)
痤隶摩诃痤隶
郁枳目枳阿隶阿罗婆第
涅隶第涅隶多婆第……
Vaiśravaṇa Heavenly King — 毗沙门天王
Sanskrit (Reconstructed Transliteration)
anale anale
viśāle viśāle
rakṣa rakṣa svāhā
English Meaning (Functional)
“A protective dhāraṇī invoking guardian power,
repelling non-human interference, hostile spirits,
and external dangers to Dharma practitioners.”
Core functions:
Guardian protection
Defense against non-human obstruction
Chinese (Kumārajīva phonetic text)
阿梨那梨䨲那梨
阿那卢那履拘那履
Dhṛtarāṣṭra Heavenly King — 持国天王
Sanskrit (Reconstructed Transliteration)
agate gate
gauri gāndhāri
cāṇḍāli mātangi
rakṣa rakṣa svāhā
English Meaning (Functional)
“A dhāraṇī for maintaining harmony and order,
preventing chaos, discord, and disruption
among those who uphold the Dharma.”
Core functions:
Social harmony
Protection of communities and sangha
Chinese (Kumārajīva phonetic text)
阿伽祢伽祢
瞿利乾陀利旃陀利
摩蹬耆常求利……
Ten Rākṣasī Women — 十罗刹女
Sanskrit (Reconstructed Transliteration)
iti miti
tili mili
kṣili kṣili
hūṁ hūṁ phaṭ
English Meaning (Functional)
“A fierce protective dhāraṇī swearing bodily protection
for Dharma teachers, preventing possession, harm, illness,
and malicious supernatural interference.”
They also vow explicitly:
“Rather than harm the Dharma teacher,
we would accept harm ourselves.”
Chinese (Kumārajīva phonetic text)
伊提履伊提泯
伊提履阿提履
伊提履泥履泥履……
And the explicit vow line:
宁上我头上，莫恼于法师。
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