Bhīṣmottaranirghoṣa Praises Good-Wealth
Instead of answering Good-Wealth directly, Bhīṣmottaranirghoṣa turns first to his own gathered disciples and describes the boy standing before them — eleven wishes already forming in him, from bestowing fearlessness on every being to nurturing every root of goodness in every sentient creature.
Eleven Wishes Already Forming
Good-Wealth asks the same question he has carried to seven teachers before, but this time the answer is delayed — the sage speaks first to his own assembly, naming eleven things this one boy already wishes to do, none of them yet accomplished but all of them, apparently, already visible.
白言：「聖者！我已先發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心，而未知菩薩云何學菩薩行？云何修菩薩道？我聞聖者善能誘誨，願為我說！」時，毘目瞿沙顧其徒眾，而作是言：「善男子！此童子已發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心。善男子！此童子普施一切眾生無畏，此童子普興一切眾生利益，此童子常觀一切諸佛智海，此童子欲飲一切甘露法雨，此童子欲測一切廣大法海，此童子欲令眾生住智海中，此童子欲普發起廣大悲雲，此童子欲普雨於廣大法雨，此童子欲以智月普照世間，此童子欲滅世間煩惱毒熱，此童子欲長含識一切善根。」
He said: "Noble one! I have already given rise to the mind of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, but I do not yet know how a bodhisattva learns the bodhisattva practices, or how a bodhisattva cultivates the bodhisattva path. I have heard that the noble one is skilled in guiding and instructing others — I wish that you would explain it to me!" At that time, Bhīṣmottaranirghoṣa looked toward his own band of disciples, and spoke these words: "Good sons, this boy has already given rise to the mind of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Good sons, this boy universally bestows fearlessness upon every being; this boy universally brings forth benefit for every being; this boy constantly contemplates the ocean of wisdom of every buddha; this boy wishes to drink the rain of every sweet-dew dharma; this boy wishes to fathom the vast ocean of every dharma; this boy wishes to cause every being to abide within the ocean of wisdom; this boy wishes to universally raise up a vast cloud of compassion; this boy wishes to universally rain down a vast rain of dharma; this boy wishes to universally illuminate the world with the moon of wisdom; this boy wishes to extinguish the poisonous heat of the world's own affliction; and this boy wishes to nurture and grow every root of goodness in every sentient being."
此童子欲測一切廣大法海 — this boy wishes to fathom the vast ocean of every dharma. Every teacher so far has answered Good-Wealth's question by describing their own attainment. Bhīṣmottaranirghoṣa instead answers by describing Good-Wealth himself, to an audience of his own disciples, before a single word of actual instruction has been given.
Part 957 Complete
This continues chapter thirty-nine, 入法界品, in fascicle sixty-four. Part 958 turns to the sage's own assembly of disciples, who scatter wondrous flowers and incense over Good-Wealth and prostrate before him, praising him with a further list of what he will one day accomplish.