The Third Dedication Is Complete
The prose exposition of the third dedication closes with the bodhisattva entering deeply into the karmic activity of every Tathāgata and the profound Dharma-realm itself, entering the very lineage of the Buddha while manifesting a body born within the world — and yet clinging to nothing at all regarding any worldly dharma. Vajra Banner Bodhisattva then surveys the ten directions and prepares to gather this teaching into a closing verse.
Born in the World, Attached to Nothing in It
The closing lines describe what abiding in this dedication accomplishes — entering deeply into the Tathāgata's own karmic activity, the profound domain of wisdom, and the very lineage of the Buddha — before landing on a formula this sūtra returns to often: the bodhisattva manifests a body born within the world, and yet their mind clings to nothing at all regarding any worldly dharma. Being born in the world and remaining unattached to it are not presented as a tension to resolve, but as the exact shape this dedication takes.
「佛子！是為菩薩摩訶薩第三等一切佛迴向。菩薩摩訶薩住此迴向，深入一切諸如來業，趣向如來勝妙功德；入深清淨智慧境界，不離一切諸菩薩業，善能分別巧妙方便；入深法界，善知菩薩修行次第；入佛種性，以巧方便分別了知無量無邊一切諸法；雖復現身於世中生，而於世法心無所著。」
"Child of the Buddha! This is called the bodhisattva mahāsattva's third dedication, equal to every buddha. When the bodhisattva mahāsattva abides in this dedication, they enter deeply into the karmic activity of every Tathāgata, advancing toward the Tathāgata's own supreme and wondrous merit; entering the profound and pure domain of wisdom, never departing from the karmic activity of any bodhisattva, skillfully able to discern excellent and wondrous skillful means; entering the profound Dharma-realm, skillfully understanding the sequence of a bodhisattva's own cultivation and practice; entering the very lineage of the Buddha, through skillful means discerning and understanding immeasurable, boundless dharmas of every kind; although manifesting a body born within the world, their mind clings to nothing at all regarding any worldly dharma."
爾時，金剛幢菩薩承佛神力，普觀十方，即說頌言：
At that time, Vajra Banner Bodhisattva, relying upon the Buddha's own spiritual power, universally surveyed the ten directions, and then spoke a verse, saying:
"Although manifesting a body born within the world, their mind clings to nothing at all regarding any worldly dharma" gives concise form to a teaching this dedication has been building toward since its opening equanimity before form and touch: birth in the world is not an obstacle the bodhisattva must escape or apologize for, but the very setting in which non-attachment is demonstrated. A mind unattached anywhere else would prove little; unattached while embodied and born, it proves everything this dedication claims.
Part 242 Complete
This closes Part 242. Chapter 25 continues in Part 243 with the opening lines of Vajra Banner Bodhisattva's verse, gathering the third dedication into gatha form for the assembly.