The World-Lords Speak, Descending from Maheśvara
Fascicle two opens the same assembly from a different angle. Each class of world-lord named in fascicle one now speaks: first, every king in the class is named again, each paired with a distinct "liberation gateway" (解脫門) — a specific facet of realization unique to that king alone — and then one king, on behalf of the whole class, speaks a verse in praise of the Buddha, each stanza of it naming another king from the same class in turn. The sequence runs in the opposite direction from fascicle one's roster: not ascending from the earthly awakening site, but descending from Maheśvara at the summit of the form realm. This installment covers the first six classes, down through the threshold of the desire realm.
The Assembly Gathers
爾時，如來道場眾海，悉已雲集；無邊品類，周匝遍滿；形色部從，各各差別；隨所來方，親近世尊，一心瞻仰。此諸眾會，已離一切煩惱心垢及其餘習，摧重障山，見佛無礙。如是皆以毘盧遮那如來往昔之時，於劫海中修菩薩行，以四攝事而曾攝受；一一佛所種善根時，皆已善攝種種方便，教化成熟，令其安立一切智道；種無量善，獲眾大福，悉已入於方便願海；所行之行，具足清淨；於出離道，已能善出；常見於佛，分明照了；以勝解力入於如來功德大海，得於諸佛解脫之門遊戲神通。所謂：
At that time, the ocean of assemblies at the Tathāgata's awakening site had all gathered like clouds; beings of boundless kinds filled every quarter completely; their forms, colors, and companies were each distinct from every other, and, coming from whatever direction they had come, they drew near to the World-Honored One, gazing up at him with a single mind. This whole assembly had already left behind every defiling affliction of the mind and its remaining traces, had crushed the mountain of heavy obstruction, and beheld the Buddha without any hindrance. All of them, in ages past, had been gathered in by the Tathāgata Vairocana through the four means of attraction as he cultivated the bodhisattva practice across an ocean of kalpas; at the place of each and every buddha where they had planted wholesome roots, they had already skillfully mastered every kind of skillful means, and, taught and matured by it, had been established upon the path of omniscience; they had planted immeasurable virtue and obtained a multitude of great blessings, and had already entered the very ocean of the vow of skillful means; the practices they carried out were fully endowed with purity; with respect to the path of release, they were already well able to go forth upon it; they constantly beheld the Buddha, seeing him with total clarity; and, through the power of their resolute understanding, they had entered the great ocean of the Tathāgata's merit, attaining playful mastery of spiritual powers at the very gateways of every buddha's liberation. And these gateways were as follows:
The phrase "liberation gateway" (解脫門) recurs throughout this fascicle as a fixed technical term: it names not liberation itself but one particular door into it, a single facet of realization proper to one being alone even as every being in the assembly shares the same underlying freedom. This is the structural key to everything that follows — thirty-nine classes, each with roughly ten kings, each king holding one gateway that belongs to no one else, before one king from each class turns the class's whole realization into a hymn of praise.
The Devas of Maheśvara's Heaven
妙焰海大自在天王，得法界、虛空界寂靜方便力解脫門；自在名稱光天王，得普觀一切法悉自在解脫門；清淨功德眼天王，得知一切法不生、不滅、不來、不去、無功用行解脫門；可愛樂大慧天王，得現見一切法真實相智慧海解脫門；不動光自在天王，得與眾生無邊安樂大方便定解脫門；妙莊嚴眼天王，得令觀寂靜法滅諸癡暗怖解脫門；善思惟光明天王，得善入無邊境界不起一切諸有思惟業解脫門；可愛樂大智天王，得普往十方說法而不動無所依解脫門；普音莊嚴幢天王，得入佛寂靜境界普現光明解脫門；名稱光善精進天王，得住自所悟處而以無邊廣大境界為所緣解脫門。
The Deva King of the Ocean of Wondrous Flame attained the liberation gateway of the tranquil, skillful power of the Dharma-realm and the realm of space. The Deva King of Sovereign Renown's Light attained the liberation gateway of universally beholding every dharma with total sovereignty. The Deva King of the Pure, Meritorious Eye attained the liberation gateway of knowing that every dharma neither arises nor ceases, neither comes nor goes — a conduct that requires no effort. The Deva King of Delightful, Great Wisdom attained the liberation gateway of the ocean of wisdom that directly beholds the true mark of every dharma. The Deva King of the Unmoving, Sovereign Light attained the liberation gateway of the great, skillful samādhi that bestows boundless peace and joy upon living beings. The Deva King of the Wondrously Adorned Eye attained the liberation gateway of causing beings to behold the tranquil Dharma and extinguish every dark terror of delusion. The Deva King of Wholesome Reflection's Light attained the liberation gateway of skillfully entering the boundless domain without giving rise to any deliberative act regarding any state of existence. The Deva King of Delightful, Great Understanding attained the liberation gateway of going universally to the ten directions to teach the Dharma while remaining unmoving and without any support. The Deva King of the Universal Voice's Adorned Banner attained the liberation gateway of entering the Buddha's tranquil domain and universally manifesting light. And the Deva King of Renowned Light, Wholesomely Diligent, attained the liberation gateway of abiding in the very place of his own realization while taking the boundless, vast domain as the object of his contemplation.
爾時，妙焰海天王，承佛威力，普觀一切自在天眾而說頌言：
「佛身普遍諸大會，充滿法界無窮盡，
寂滅無性不可取，為救世間而出現。
如來法王出世間，能然照世妙法燈，
境界無邊亦無盡，此自在名之所證。
佛不思議離分別，了相十方無所有，
為世廣開清淨道，如是淨眼能觀見。
如來智慧無邊際，一切世間莫能測，
永滅眾生癡暗心，大慧入此深安住。
如來功德不思議，眾生見者煩惱滅，
普使世間獲安樂，不動自在天能見。
眾生癡暗常迷覆，如來為說寂靜法，
是則照世智慧燈，妙眼能知此方便。
如來清淨妙色身，普現十方無有比，
此身無性無依處，善思惟天所觀察。
如來音聲無限礙，堪受化者靡不聞，
而佛寂然恒不動，此樂智天之解脫。
寂靜解脫天人主，十方無處不現前，
光明照耀滿世間，此無礙法嚴幢見。
佛於無邊大劫海，為眾生故求菩提，
種種神通化一切，名稱光天悟斯法。」
At that time, the Deva King of the Ocean of Wondrous Flame, sustained by the Buddha's majestic power, universally beheld the whole assembly of Maheśvara devas, and spoke a verse, saying:
"The Buddha's body pervades every great assembly, filling the Dharma-realm without limit;
still and without any nature, it cannot be grasped, yet he appears in it to save the world.
The Tathāgata, the Dharma-King, comes forth in the world, kindling the wondrous lamp of the Dharma that lights it;
his domain is boundless and inexhaustible — this is what the Deva King of Sovereign Renown has realized.
The Buddha, inconceivable, is free of all discrimination, understanding every mark of the ten directions to be nothing at all;
for the world's sake he opens wide the path of purity — thus does the Deva King of the Pure Eye behold it.
The Tathāgata's wisdom is without any bound, and not one being in the whole world can fathom it;
forever extinguishing the deluded, darkened mind of every living being — the Deva King of Great Wisdom abides deeply within this.
The Tathāgata's merit is inconceivable, and every living being who beholds it has their afflictions extinguished,
causing the whole world universally to attain peace and joy — the Deva King of Unmoving Sovereignty beholds this.
Living beings, forever covered by the delusion that confuses them, are taught by the Tathāgata the tranquil Dharma,
which is the very lamp of wisdom that illumines the world — the Deva King of the Wondrous Eye is able to know this skillful means.
The Tathāgata's pure and wondrous form of light appears universally in the ten directions, incomparable;
this body has no fixed nature and rests upon nothing — the Deva King of Wholesome Reflection's Light contemplates this.
The Tathāgata's voice knows no bound or hindrance, and none fit to be transformed by it fails to hear it,
while the Buddha himself remains still, forever unmoving — this is the liberation of the Deva King of Delightful Wisdom.
The Sovereign Lord of Devas and Humans, tranquil and liberated, appears in every quarter of the ten directions without exception,
his light shining forth, filling the whole world — this the Deva King of the Unobstructed Dharma's Adorned Banner beholds.
The Buddha, across an ocean of boundless kalpas, sought awakening for every living being's sake,
transforming all through every kind of spiritual power — the Deva King of Renowned Light awakens to this Dharma."
Each stanza above sets a couplet in the Buddha's own voice against a couplet naming which king has realized it: the very first couplet belongs implicitly to the speaker himself, the Deva King of the Ocean of Wondrous Flame, and each couplet after names one of the nine kings who follow him in the roster above, in exact order — a structure that repeats in every verse throughout this fascicle. Maheśvara ("Great Sovereign," 大自在天) is traditionally placed at or just above the summit of the form realm, which is why the whole descent through fascicle two's roster of world-lords begins here, at the very top, working downward to where fascicle one's roster had worked its way up.
The Devas of the Vast Fruit Heavens
復次，可愛樂法光明幢天王，得普觀一切眾生根為說法斷疑解脫門；淨莊嚴海天王，得隨憶念令見佛解脫門；最勝慧光明天王，得法性平等無所依莊嚴身解脫門；自在智慧幢天王，得了知一切世間法一念中安立不思議莊嚴海解脫門；樂寂靜天王，得於一毛孔現不思議佛剎無障礙解脫門；普智眼天王，得入普門觀察法界解脫門；樂旋慧天王，得為一切眾生種種出現無邊劫常現前解脫門；善種慧光明天王，得觀一切世間境界入不思議法解脫門；無垢寂靜光天王，得示一切眾生出要法解脫門；廣大清淨光天王，得觀察一切應化眾生令入佛法解脫門。
Furthermore, the Deva King Delighting in the Dharma's Banner of Light attained the liberation gateway of universally observing the capacities of every living being, teaching them the Dharma, and severing their doubts. The Deva King of the Pure, Adorned Ocean attained the liberation gateway of causing beings, according to their recollection, to behold the Buddha. The Deva King of Supreme Wisdom's Light attained the liberation gateway of the body adorned by the equality of the Dharma-nature, which relies on nothing. The Deva King of Sovereign Wisdom's Banner attained the liberation gateway of understanding every worldly dharma and, within a single thought, establishing the inconceivable ocean of adornment. The Deva King Delighting in Tranquility attained the liberation gateway of manifesting inconceivable buddha-lands within a single pore, without any obstruction. The Deva King of the Universal Wisdom-Eye attained the liberation gateway of entering the universal gate and contemplating the Dharma-realm. The Deva King Delighting in Revolving Wisdom attained the liberation gateway of appearing before every living being in every kind of way, constantly manifest across boundless kalpas. The Deva King of the Wholesome Seed of Wisdom's Light attained the liberation gateway of contemplating every worldly domain and entering the inconceivable Dharma. The Deva King of Stainless, Tranquil Light attained the liberation gateway of showing every living being the essential Dharma of release. And the Deva King of Vast, Pure Light attained the liberation gateway of contemplating every living being ready to be transformed and causing them to enter the Buddha's Dharma.
爾時，可愛樂法光明幢天王，承佛威力，普觀一切少廣天、無量廣天、廣果天眾而說頌言：
「諸佛境界不思議，一切眾生莫能測，
普令其心生信解，廣大意樂無窮盡。
若有眾生堪受法，佛威神力開導彼，
令其恒覩佛現前，嚴海天王如是見。
一切法性無所依，佛現世間亦如是，
普於諸有無依處，此義勝智能觀察。
隨諸眾生心所欲，佛神通力皆能現，
各各差別不思議，此智幢王解脫海。
過去所有諸國土，一毛孔中皆示現，
此是諸佛大神通，愛樂寂靜能宣說。
一切法門無盡海，同會一法道場中，
如是法性佛所說，智眼能明此方便。
十方所有諸國土，悉在其中而說法，
佛身無去亦無來，愛樂慧旋之境界。
佛觀世法如光影，入彼甚深幽奧處，
說諸法性常寂然，善種思惟能見此。
佛善了知諸境界，隨眾生根雨法雨，
為啟難思出要門，此寂靜天能悟入。
世尊恒以大慈悲，利益眾生而出現，
等雨法雨充其器，清淨光天能演說。」
At that time, the Deva King Delighting in the Dharma's Banner of Light, sustained by the Buddha's majestic power, universally beheld the whole assembly of the Lesser Vastness, Immeasurable Vastness, and Vast Fruit Heavens, and spoke a verse, saying:
"The domain of every buddha is inconceivable; not one living being can fathom it,
yet he causes their minds to give rise to faith and understanding, their vast, joyful intent never exhausted.
For any living being fit to receive the Dharma, the Buddha's majestic spiritual power opens and guides them,
causing them to behold the Buddha forever present before them — thus the Deva King of the Adorned Ocean beholds it.
The nature of every dharma relies on nothing at all, and the Buddha appears in the world in just this way,
relying on nothing anywhere among the many realms of being — this meaning the Deva King of Supreme Wisdom is able to contemplate.
According to whatever each living being's mind desires, the Buddha's power of spiritual transmutation is able to manifest it,
each one distinct and inconceivable — this is the ocean of liberation of the Deva King of Wisdom's Banner.
Every land that has ever existed in the past, he manifests within a single pore —
this is the great spiritual transmutation of every buddha, which the Deva King Delighting in Tranquility is able to proclaim.
The inexhaustible ocean of every Dharma-gateway gathers together within a single awakening site —
the Dharma-nature taught by the Buddha in just this way, the Deva King of the Wisdom-Eye is able to make clear.
Every land of the ten directions, he teaches the Dharma within all of them at once,
the Buddha's body neither going anywhere nor coming from anywhere — this is the domain of the Deva King Delighting in Revolving Wisdom.
The Buddha beholds worldly dharmas as light and shadow, entering their most profound and hidden depths,
teaching that the nature of every dharma is forever still — the Deva King of Wholesome Seed and Reflection is able to see this.
The Buddha skillfully understands every domain, and, according to the capacities of living beings, rains down the rain of the Dharma,
opening the hard-to-conceive gateway of essential release — the Deva King of Tranquil Light is able to awaken and enter this.
The World-Honored One forever appears through great compassion, benefiting living beings,
raining the rain of the Dharma equally to fill every vessel — the Deva King of Pure Light is able to proclaim this."
The Devas of the Universal Purity Heavens
復次，清淨慧名稱天王，得了達一切眾生解脫道方便解脫門；最勝見天王，得隨一切諸天眾所樂如光影普示現解脫門；寂靜德天王，得普嚴淨一切佛境界大方便解脫門；須彌音天王，得隨諸眾生永流轉生死海解脫門；淨念眼天王，得憶念如來調伏眾生行解脫門；可愛樂普照天王，得普門陀羅尼海所流出解脫門；世間自在主天王，得能令眾生值佛生信藏解脫門；光焰自在天王，得能令一切眾生聞法信喜而出離解脫門；樂思惟法變化天王，得入一切菩薩調伏行如虛空無邊無盡解脫門；變化幢天王，得觀眾生無量煩惱普悲智解脫門；星宿音妙莊嚴天王，得放光現佛三輪攝化解脫門。
Furthermore, the Deva King of Pure Wisdom's Renown attained the liberation gateway of thoroughly understanding the skillful means of the path of liberation for every living being. The Deva King of Supreme Vision attained the liberation gateway of universally manifesting, like light and shadow, according to whatever the whole host of devas delights in. The Deva King of Tranquil Virtue attained the liberation gateway of the great skillful means that universally adorns and purifies every buddha's domain. The Deva King of Sumeru's Voice attained the liberation gateway of accompanying every living being through the ocean of birth-and-death in which they forever turn and flow. The Deva King of the Pure, Mindful Eye attained the liberation gateway of recollecting the Tathāgata's conduct in taming living beings. The Deva King of Universal Illumination attained the liberation gateway that flows forth from the ocean of the universal-gateway dhāraṇī. The Sovereign Lord of the World attained the liberation gateway of enabling living beings to encounter the Buddha and give rise to the treasury of faith. The Deva King of the Sovereign Light-Flame attained the liberation gateway of enabling every living being, upon hearing the Dharma, to believe in it joyfully and thereby go forth from suffering. The Deva King Delighting in Reflecting on the Dharma's Transformation attained the liberation gateway of entering the taming conduct of every bodhisattva, boundless and inexhaustible like space itself. The Deva King of the Transformation's Banner attained the liberation gateway of the universal wisdom of compassion that beholds the immeasurable afflictions of living beings. And the Deva King of the Constellation's Voice and Wondrous Adornment attained the liberation gateway of emitting light to manifest the Buddha's three wheels that gather and transform beings.
爾時，清淨慧名稱天王，承佛威力，普觀一切少淨天、無量淨天、遍淨天眾而說頌言：
「了知法性無礙者，普現十方無量剎，
說佛境界不思議，令眾同歸解脫海。
如來處世無所依，譬如光影現眾國，
法性究竟無生起，此勝見王所入門。
無量劫海修方便，普淨十方諸國土，
法界如如常不動，寂靜德天之所悟。
眾生愚癡所覆障，盲暗恒居生死中，
如來示以清淨道，此須彌音之解脫。
諸佛所行無上道，一切眾生莫能測，
示以種種方便門，淨眼諦觀能悉了。
如來恒以總持門，譬如剎海微塵數，
示教眾生遍一切，普照天王此能入。
如來出世甚難值，無量劫海時一遇，
能令眾生生信解，此自在天之所得。
佛說法性皆無性，甚深廣大不思議，
普使眾生生淨信，光焰天王能善了。
三世如來功德滿，化眾生界不思議，
於彼思惟生慶悅，如是樂法能開演。
眾生沒在煩惱海，愚癡見濁甚可怖，
大師哀愍令永離，此化幢王所觀境。
如來恒放大光明，一一光中無量佛，
各各現化眾生事，此妙音天所入門。」
At that time, the Deva King of Pure Wisdom's Renown, sustained by the Buddha's majestic power, universally beheld the whole assembly of the Lesser Purity, Immeasurable Purity, and Universal Purity Heavens, and spoke a verse, saying:
"He who understands that the Dharma-nature is unobstructed manifests universally in immeasurable lands of the ten directions,
teaching the inconceivable domain of the Buddha, and causing the whole assembly to return together to the ocean of liberation.
The Tathāgata dwells in the world relying on nothing at all, appearing in every land just as light and shadow do;
the Dharma-nature, ultimately, never arises at all — this is the gateway the Deva King of Supreme Vision has entered.
Across an ocean of immeasurable kalpas he cultivates skillful means, universally purifying every land of the ten directions;
the Dharma-realm, thus-suchness itself, is forever unmoving — this is what the Deva King of Tranquil Virtue has awakened to.
Living beings, covered and obstructed by ignorance, dwell forever blind and benighted amid birth and death;
the Tathāgata shows them the path of purity — this is the liberation of the Deva King of Sumeru's Voice.
The unsurpassed path every buddha practices, not one living being is able to fathom;
he shows it through every kind of skillful gateway, which the Deva King of the Pure, Mindful Eye truly beholds and fully comprehends.
The Tathāgata forever employs the gateway of total retention, as numerous as the fine motes of dust in an ocean of buddha-lands,
showing and teaching living beings everywhere without exception — this the Deva King of Universal Illumination is able to enter.
How rare it is to encounter the Tathāgata's appearance in the world — once in an ocean of immeasurable kalpas does the moment come —
and he is able to cause living beings to give rise to faith and understanding: this is what the Sovereign Lord of the World has attained.
The Buddha teaches that the nature of every dharma has no nature at all, profound, vast, and inconceivable,
and causes living beings everywhere to give rise to pure faith — the Deva King of the Light-Flame is able to fully understand this.
The merit of the Tathāgatas of the three periods of time is complete and full, transforming the realm of living beings inconceivably;
reflecting upon this gives rise to joy and delight — this the Deva King Delighting in the Dharma's Transformation is able to expound.
Living beings, sunk in the ocean of affliction, are utterly dreadful in the turbidity of their ignorant views;
the Great Teacher, taking pity on them, causes them to forever depart from it — this is the very domain the Deva King of the Transformation's Banner beholds.
The Tathāgata forever emits great light, and within each and every ray are immeasurable buddhas,
each one manifesting the work of transforming living beings — this is the gateway the Deva King of the Wondrous Voice has entered."
Notice the Deva King of Sumeru's Voice's gateway above: not a description of a serene attainment but of "accompanying every living being through the ocean of birth-and-death in which they forever turn and flow" — realization here is not escape from saṃsāra viewed from outside it, but a liberated way of remaining within it alongside those still bound. This is worth pausing on precisely because it cuts against the more common image of a heavenly being as simply enjoying the fruits of past merit; even at these lofty heights, the text keeps returning liberation to a relationship with suffering beings still caught below.
The Devas of the Ābhāsvara Heavens
復次，可愛樂光明天王，得恒受寂靜樂而能降現消滅世間苦解脫門；清淨妙光天王，得大悲心相應海一切眾生喜樂藏解脫門；自在音天王，得一念中普現無邊劫一切眾生福德力解脫門；最勝念智天王，得普使成住壞一切世間皆悉如虛空清淨解脫門；可愛樂淨妙音天王，得愛樂信受一切聖人法解脫門；善思惟音天王，得能經劫住演說一切地義及方便解脫門；演莊嚴音天王，得一切菩薩從兜率天宮沒下生時大供養方便解脫門；甚深光音天王，得觀察無盡神通智慧海解脫門；廣大名稱天王，得一切佛功德海滿足出現世間方便力解脫門；最勝淨光天王，得如來往昔誓願力發生深信愛樂藏解脫門。
Furthermore, the Deva King of Light Delightful to Behold attained the liberation gateway of forever abiding in tranquil joy while yet descending to manifest and extinguish the suffering of the world. The Deva King of Pure, Wondrous Light attained the liberation gateway of the treasury of joy for every living being, arising from the ocean joined with the mind of great compassion. The Deva King of the Sovereign Voice attained the liberation gateway of universally manifesting, within a single thought, the power of merit of every living being across boundless kalpas. The Deva King of Supreme Mindful Wisdom attained the liberation gateway of causing every world, in its arising, abiding, and destruction, to become as pure as space itself. The Deva King of the Delightful, Pure, Wondrous Voice attained the liberation gateway of delighting in and faithfully accepting the Dharma of every sage. The Deva King of the Voice of Wholesome Reflection attained the liberation gateway of being able to abide for kalpas expounding the meaning and skillful means of every ground. The Deva King of the Voice Expounding Adornment attained the liberation gateway of the skillful means of great offering made when every bodhisattva passes from the Tuṣita palace to be born below. The Deva King of the Profound Light-Voice attained the liberation gateway of contemplating the inexhaustible ocean of wisdom and spiritual transmutation. The Deva King of Vast Renown attained the liberation gateway of the skillful power by which the whole, complete ocean of merit of every buddha appears in the world. And the Deva King of Supreme, Pure Light attained the liberation gateway of the treasury of profound faith and delight born from the power of the Tathāgata's vow made in ages past.
爾時，可愛樂光明天王，承佛威力，普觀一切少光天、無量光天、極光天眾而說頌言：
「我念如來昔所行，承事供養無邊佛，
如本信心清淨業，以佛威神今悉見。
佛身無相離眾垢，恒住慈悲哀愍地，
世間憂患悉使除，此是妙光之解脫。
佛法廣大無涯際，一切剎海於中現，
如其成壞各不同，自在音天解脫力。
佛神通力無與等，普現十方廣大剎，
悉令嚴淨常現前，勝念解脫之方便。
如諸剎海微塵數，所有如來咸敬奉，
聞法離染不唐捐，此妙音天法門用。
佛於無量大劫海，說地方便無倫匹，
所說無邊無有窮，善思音天知此義。
如來神變無量門，一念現於一切處，
降神成道大方便，此莊嚴音之解脫。
威力所持能演說，及現諸佛神通事，
隨其根欲悉令淨，此光音天解脫門。
如來智慧無邊際，世中無等無所著，
慈心應物普現前，廣大名天悟斯道。
佛昔修習菩提行，供養十方一切佛，
一一佛所發誓心，最勝光聞大歡喜。」
At that time, the Deva King of Light Delightful to Behold, sustained by the Buddha's majestic power, universally beheld the whole assembly of the Lesser Light, Immeasurable Light, and Utmost Light Heavens, and spoke a verse, saying:
"I recall how the Tathāgata practiced in ages past, serving and making offerings to boundless buddhas;
just as his faith and pure deeds were then, so now, through the Buddha's majestic spiritual power, we behold them all.
The Buddha's body is without mark, free of every defilement, forever abiding in the ground of compassion that takes pity on all;
every sorrow and care of the world he causes to be dispelled — this is the liberation of the Deva King of Wondrous Light.
The Buddha's Dharma is vast and boundless, without limit, and every ocean of buddha-lands appears within it,
each arising and passing away in its own distinct way — this is the power of liberation of the Deva King of the Sovereign Voice.
The Buddha's power of spiritual transmutation has no equal, manifesting universally in the vast lands of the ten directions,
causing them all to be adorned and purified, constantly present — this is the skillful means of liberation of the Deva King of Supreme Mindfulness.
As numerous as the fine motes of dust in every ocean of buddha-lands, he reveres and serves every single Tathāgata there,
hearing the Dharma and departing from defilement without any of it going to waste — this is the Dharma-gateway employed by the Deva King of the Wondrous Voice.
Across an ocean of immeasurable great kalpas, the Buddha teaches the skillful means of every ground without compare,
what he teaches boundless and without end — the Deva King of the Voice of Wholesome Reflection understands this meaning.
The Tathāgata's spiritual transformations open immeasurable gateways, manifesting in every place within a single thought —
the great skillful means of descending in spirit and accomplishing the path: this is the liberation of the Deva King of the Adorning Voice.
Sustained by his majestic power, he is able to expound the Dharma and manifest the spiritual transmutations of every buddha,
causing all to become pure according to their own capacity and desire — this is the liberation gateway of the Deva King of the Profound Light-Voice.
The Tathāgata's wisdom is without any bound, unequaled in all the world and attached to nothing,
his mind of loving-kindness responding to all things and appearing universally before them — the Deva King of Vast Renown has awakened to this path.
The Buddha, in ages past, cultivated the practice of awakening, making offerings to every buddha of the ten directions;
at the place of each and every buddha he gave rise to his vow — the Deva King of Supreme Light, hearing this, rejoices greatly."
The Devas of the Brahmā Heavens
復次，尸棄梵王，得普住十方道場中說法而所行清淨無染著解脫門；慧光梵王，得使一切眾生入禪三昧住解脫門；善思慧光明梵王，得普入一切不思議法解脫門；普雲音梵王，得入諸佛一切音聲海解脫門；觀世言音自在梵王，得能憶念菩薩教化一切眾生方便解脫門；寂靜光明眼梵王，得現一切世間業報相各差別解脫門；普光明梵王，得隨一切眾生品類差別皆現前調伏解脫門；變化音梵王，得住一切法清淨相寂滅行境界解脫門；光耀眼梵王，得於一切有無所著、無邊際、無依止、常勤出現解脫門；悅意海音梵王，得常思惟觀察無盡法解脫門。
Furthermore, the Brahmā King Śikhin attained the liberation gateway of universally abiding in the awakening sites of the ten directions to teach the Dharma, his conduct pure and unattached. The Brahmā King of Wisdom's Light attained the liberation gateway of causing every living being to enter and abide in dhyāna and samādhi. The Brahmā King of Wholesome Reflection's Wisdom-Light attained the liberation gateway of universally entering every inconceivable dharma. The Brahmā King of the Universal Cloud-Voice attained the liberation gateway of entering the whole ocean of the voices of every buddha. The Brahmā King Sovereign over the World's Speech, Beholding It, attained the liberation gateway of being able to recollect the skillful means by which bodhisattvas teach and transform every living being. The Brahmā King of the Tranquil, Bright Eye attained the liberation gateway of manifesting the distinct marks of karmic retribution of every world. The Brahmā King of Universal Light attained the liberation gateway of appearing before every kind and class of living being, taming each accordingly. The Brahmā King of the Transforming Voice attained the liberation gateway of abiding in the domain of the tranquil, extinguished conduct that is the pure mark of every dharma. The Brahmā King of the Radiant Eye attained the liberation gateway of appearing constantly and diligently within every state of existence, attached to nothing, without bound, without any support. And the Brahmā King of the Delightful Ocean-Voice attained the liberation gateway of constantly reflecting on and contemplating the inexhaustible Dharma.
爾時，尸棄大梵王，承佛神力，普觀一切梵身天、梵輔天、梵眾天、大梵天眾而說頌言：
「佛身清淨常寂滅，光明照耀遍世間，
無相無行無影像，譬如空雲如是見。
佛身如是定境界，一切眾生莫能測，
示彼難思方便門，此慧光王之所悟。
佛剎微塵法門海，一言演說盡無餘，
如是劫海演不窮，善思慧光之解脫。
諸佛圓音等世間，眾生隨類各得解，
而於音聲不分別，普音梵天如是悟。
三世所有諸如來，趣入菩提方便行，
一切皆於佛身現，自在音天之解脫。
一切眾生業差別，隨其因感種種殊，
世間如是佛皆現，寂靜光天能悟入。
無量法門皆自在，調伏眾生遍十方，
亦不於中起分別，此是普光之境界。
佛身如空不可盡，無相無礙遍十方，
所有應現皆如化，變化音王悟斯道。
如來身相無有邊，智慧音聲亦如是，
處世現形無所著，光耀天王入此門。
法王安處妙法宮，法身光明無不照，
法性無比無諸相，此海音王之解脫。」
At that time, the Great Brahmā King Śikhin, sustained by the Buddha's spiritual power, universally beheld the whole assembly of the Brahmā-Body, Brahmā-Attendant, Brahmā-Multitude, and Great Brahmā Heavens, and spoke a verse, saying:
"The Buddha's body is pure and forever still, its light shining everywhere throughout the world,
without mark, without activity, without any image — it is to be seen just as an empty cloud is seen.
The Buddha's body, being such a state of samādhi, not one living being is able to fathom it;
he shows them this hard-to-conceive gateway of skillful means — this is what the Deva King of Wisdom's Light has awakened to.
The ocean of Dharma-gateways, as numerous as the fine motes of dust in every buddha-land, he expounds in a single word, leaving nothing out;
expounding thus across an ocean of kalpas, he is never exhausted — this is the liberation of the Deva King of Wholesome Reflection's Wisdom-Light.
The perfect voice of every buddha is equal throughout the world, and living beings, each according to their kind, attain understanding from it,
and yet with respect to that very voice he makes no discrimination at all — the Brahmā Deva King of the Universal Cloud-Voice awakens to this.
Every Tathāgata of the three periods of time, in the skillful conduct by which he entered awakening —
all of it appears within the Buddha's body alone: this is the liberation of the Deva King Sovereign over the World's Speech.
Every living being's karma is distinct, each bringing about its own particular result according to its causes;
and the Buddha manifests throughout the world in just this way — the Deva King of the Tranquil, Bright Eye is able to awaken and enter this.
Sovereign over immeasurable Dharma-gateways, he tames living beings throughout the ten directions,
and yet gives rise to no discrimination in the midst of it at all — this is the domain of the Deva King of Universal Light.
The Buddha's body is like space, never exhausted, without mark, without obstruction, pervading the ten directions;
every manifestation he makes is like a conjured form — the Deva King of the Transforming Voice awakens to this path.
The Tathāgata's bodily form is without any bound, and his wisdom and voice are likewise so;
dwelling in the world, manifesting form yet attached to nothing — the Deva King of the Radiant Eye enters this gateway.
The Dharma-King dwells at ease within the wondrous palace of the Dharma, the light of his Dharma-body illuminating everything without exception,
the Dharma-nature beyond compare, without any mark at all — this is the liberation of the Deva King of the Ocean-Voice."
The Devas of the Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven
復次，自在天王，得現前成熟無量眾生自在藏解脫門；善目主天王，得觀察一切眾生樂令入聖境界樂解脫門；妙寶幢冠天王，得隨諸眾生種種欲解令起行解脫門；勇猛慧天王，得普攝為一切眾生所說義解脫門；妙音句天王，得憶念如來廣大慈增進自所行解脫門；妙光幢天王，得示現大悲門摧滅一切憍慢幢解脫門；寂靜境天王，得調伏一切世間瞋害心解脫門；妙輪莊嚴幢天王，得十方無邊佛隨憶念悉來赴解脫門；華光慧天王，得隨眾生心念普現成正覺解脫門；因陀羅妙光天王，得普入一切世間大威力自在法解脫門。
Furthermore, the Sovereign Deva King attained the liberation gateway of the treasury of sovereign mastery that ripens immeasurable living beings, manifest before them. The Deva King, Lord of the Good Eye, attained the liberation gateway of contemplating the joys of every living being and causing them to enter the joy of the noble domain. The Deva King of the Wondrous Jeweled Crown-Banner attained the liberation gateway of causing every living being to arise in conduct according to their every kind of desire and understanding. The Deva King of Valiant Wisdom attained the liberation gateway of universally gathering in the meaning taught for the sake of every living being. The Deva King of the Wondrous Voice's Phrase attained the liberation gateway of recollecting the Tathāgata's vast compassion and thereby advancing in his own practice. The Deva King of the Wondrous Light-Banner attained the liberation gateway of manifesting the gate of great compassion, thereby crushing and extinguishing every banner of pride. The Deva King of the Tranquil Domain attained the liberation gateway of taming the mind of anger and harm throughout the whole world. The Deva King of the Wondrous Wheel's Adorned Banner attained the liberation gateway by which the boundless buddhas of the ten directions all come at the moment they are recollected. The Deva King of the Flower's Wisdom-Light attained the liberation gateway of universally manifesting the accomplishment of true awakening according to the very thoughts of living beings. And the Deva King of Indra's Wondrous Light attained the liberation gateway of universally entering the great, majestic, and sovereign Dharma of every world.
爾時，自在天王，承佛威神，遍觀一切自在天眾而說頌言：
「佛身周遍等法界，普應眾生悉現前，
種種教門常化誘，於法自在能開悟。
世間所有種種樂，聖寂滅樂為最勝，
住於廣大法性中，妙眼天王觀見此。
如來出現遍十方，普應群心而說法，
一切疑念皆除斷，此妙幢冠解脫門。
諸佛遍世演妙音，無量劫中所說法，
能以一言咸說盡，勇猛慧大之解脫。
世間所有廣大慈，不及如來一毫分，
佛慈如空不可盡，此妙音天之所得。
一切眾生慢高山，十力摧殄悉無餘，
此是如來大悲用，妙光幢王所行道。
慧光清淨滿世間，若有見者除癡暗，
令其遠離諸惡道，寂靜天王悟斯法。
毛孔光明能演說，等眾生數諸佛名，
隨其所樂悉得聞，此妙輪幢之解脫。
如來自在不可量，法界虛空悉充滿，
一切眾會皆明覩，此解脫門華慧入。
無量無邊大劫海，普現十方而說法，
未曾見佛有去來，此主光天之所悟。」
At that time, the Sovereign Deva King, sustained by the Buddha's majestic spirit, beheld the whole assembly of the Paranirmitavaśavartin devas everywhere, and spoke a verse, saying:
"The Buddha's body pervades everywhere, equal to the whole Dharma-realm, responding universally to living beings and appearing before every one of them;
through every kind of teaching-gateway he constantly guides and transforms them, awakening them to sovereignty within the Dharma.
Of every kind of joy that exists in the world, the noble joy of extinction is supreme;
abiding within the vast Dharma-nature — the Deva King of the Good Eye beholds this.
The Tathāgata appears throughout the ten directions, responding universally to the minds of the multitude to teach the Dharma,
severing and dispelling every doubtful thought — this is the liberation gateway of the Deva King of the Wondrous Jeweled Crown-Banner.
Every buddha, throughout the world, expounds his wondrous voice, and the Dharma he has taught across immeasurable kalpas
he is able to utter completely in a single word — this is the great liberation of the Deva King of Valiant Wisdom.
Of every vast compassion that exists in the world, none compares to a single hair's portion of the Tathāgata's own;
the Buddha's compassion is like space, never exhausted — this is what the Deva King of the Wondrous Voice's Phrase has attained.
The lofty mountain of pride in every living being, the ten powers crush and destroy entirely, without remainder —
this is the very working of the Tathāgata's great compassion, the path the Deva King of the Wondrous Light-Banner walks.
The light of wisdom, pure, fills the whole world; whoever beholds it has their delusion and darkness removed,
and is caused to depart forever from every evil destiny — the Deva King of the Tranquil Domain awakens to this Dharma.
From the light of every pore he is able to proclaim the names of every buddha, as numerous as living beings themselves,
and each, according to their own delight, is able to hear them all — this is the liberation of the Deva King of the Wondrous Wheel's Banner.
The Tathāgata's sovereign mastery cannot be measured, filling the Dharma-realm and the realm of space entirely;
every assembly beholds it with total clarity — this liberation gateway the Deva King of the Flower's Wisdom-Light has entered.
Across an immeasurable, boundless ocean of great kalpas, he manifests universally in the ten directions to teach the Dharma,
and yet none has ever seen the Buddha come or go — this is what the Sovereign Lord of Light has awakened to."
This closes the sixth class and, with it, the entire form realm and the highest heaven of the desire realm. Fazang's exegetical tradition reads the fixed pairing in each verse above — one couplet describing the Buddha, the next naming which king has realized it — as itself an enactment of 事事無礙: the Buddha's single, undivided reality and each king's own distinct gateway are shown as neither identical nor separate, each couplet complete in itself while remaining inseparable from the whole hymn. Part 5 continues this same descent through the remaining heavens of the desire realm — Nirmāṇarati, Tuṣita, Yāma, and the Heaven of the Thirty-Three — down to the devas of the sun and the moon, completing the verse-sequence begun here.
Part 4 Complete
This closes Part 4: the assembly's gathering, and the liberation gateways and verses of the deva kings of Maheśvara's heaven, the Vast Fruit heavens, the Universal Purity heavens, the Ābhāsvara heavens, the Brahmā heavens, and the Paranirmitavaśavartin heaven — six classes down from the summit of the form realm to the top of the desire realm. Part 5 continues the descent through Nirmāṇarati, Tuṣita, Yāma, the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, and the devas of the sun and moon, completing fascicle two's verse-sequence in full.