Entering the Inexhaustible Treasury
The closing verse's first half describes bodhisattvas born through the Tathāgata's own transformation, filling buddha-lands whose merit outlasts every kalpa of the three periods of time, crushing every demon enemy through majestic power, and dedicating without hindrance — never once recollecting the Śrāvaka vehicle or seeking the path of the Pratyekabuddha, but entering directly into the inexhaustible treasury of merit that names this dedication.
A Buddha-Land's Merit Never Ends
The verse opens with a striking comparison: every kalpa of the three periods of time might eventually come to an end, but a single buddha-land's merit never does. This asymmetry — finite time set against infinite merit — is the verse's own way of showing what "inexhaustible" means, before turning to the bodhisattvas who fill these lands, born through the Tathāgata's own Dharma-transformation, who never once look back toward the lesser vehicles and instead dedicate everything, without hindrance, into this same inexhaustible treasury.
「菩薩成就深心力，普於諸法得自在，
以其勸請隨喜福，無礙方便善迴向。
三世所有諸如來，嚴淨佛剎遍世間，
所有功德靡不具，迴向淨剎亦如是。
三世所有諸佛法，菩薩皆悉諦思惟，
以心攝取無有餘，如是莊嚴諸佛剎。
盡於三世所有劫，讚一佛剎諸功德，
三世諸劫猶可盡，佛剎功德無窮盡。
如是一切諸佛剎，菩薩悉見無有餘，
總以莊嚴一佛土，一切佛土悉如是。
有諸佛子心清淨，悉從如來法化生，
一切功德莊嚴心，一切佛剎皆充滿。
"The bodhisattva accomplishes the power of a profound mind, universally attaining sovereign freedom within every dharma; through the merit of entreaty and rejoicing, they skillfully dedicate through unobstructed skillful means. Every Tathāgata of the three periods of time adorns and purifies buddha-lands throughout the world; there is no merit at all they do not possess — the dedication that purifies lands is likewise just the same. Every buddha-dharma of the three periods of time, the bodhisattva contemplates every one of them truly; gathering them in with their mind, entirely without exception, they adorn every buddha-land in just this way. Throughout every kalpa of the three periods of time, praising the merit of a single buddha-land — every kalpa of the three periods of time might yet come to an end, but a buddha-land's merit never comes to an end. Every such buddha-land throughout — the bodhisattva sees every one of them without exception; gathering them all to adorn a single buddha-land, every buddha-land is likewise entirely the same. Every child of the Buddha whose mind is pure is born entirely through the Dharma's own transformation from the Tathāgata; their mind adorned with every merit, every buddha-land is entirely filled.
彼諸菩薩悉具足，無量相好莊嚴身，
辯才演說遍世間，譬如大海無窮盡。
菩薩安住諸三昧，一切所行皆具足，
其心清淨無與等，光明普照十方界。
如是無餘諸佛剎，此諸菩薩皆充滿，
未曾憶念聲聞乘，亦復不求緣覺道。
菩薩如是心清淨，善根迴向諸群生，
普欲令其成正道，具足了知諸佛法。
十方所有眾魔怨，菩薩威力悉摧破，
勇猛智慧無能勝，決定修行究竟法。
菩薩以此大願力，所有迴向無留礙，
入於無盡功德藏，去來現在常無盡。
Those very bodhisattvas are entirely endowed with immeasurable excellent marks adorning their body; their eloquence expounds throughout the entire world, just like the great ocean, never coming to an end. The bodhisattva abides in every samādhi, every practice entirely fulfilled; their mind pure, without anything to equal it, their light universally illuminating the worlds of the ten directions. Every buddha-land such as this, without exception, is entirely filled with these very bodhisattvas; never once do they recollect the Śrāvaka vehicle, nor do they seek the path of the Pratyekabuddha. The bodhisattva, their mind pure in just this way, dedicates every wholesome root toward the multitude; universally wishing to cause them to accomplish the true path, fully endowed with knowledge of every buddha-dharma. Every enemy demon throughout the ten directions, the bodhisattva's own majestic power entirely crushes; their courageous wisdom is unsurpassed by anyone, decisively cultivating the ultimate Dharma. The bodhisattva, through the power of this great vow, dedicates without any hindrance at all, entering the inexhaustible treasury of merit — past, future, and present, forever without end.
"Every kalpa of the three periods of time might yet come to an end, but a buddha-land's merit never comes to an end" is one of the sūtra's sharper images for inexhaustibility — not merely a very long duration, but a quantity that outlasts time itself considered in its totality. The verse's second half then explains why: bodhisattvas who never once turn back toward the Śrāvaka or Pratyekabuddha paths keep the dedication flowing forward without hindrance, which is precisely what "entering the inexhaustible treasury" names.
Part 259 Complete
This closes Part 259. Chapter 25 continues in Part 260 as the verse turns from description to teaching, contemplating that the very nature of every action lacks sovereignty of its own, and that no color, thought, or dharma can ultimately be grasped or attained.