Good-Wealth's Confession, and Fierce-Heat's Verse
Having heard an entire chorus of gods, māras, nāgas, and asuras testify on Fierce-Heat's behalf, Good-Wealth finally names his own fault directly — the unwholesome thought he had in Part 966 — and asks forgiveness, receiving in return not a rebuke but a short verse about what awaits anyone who follows a good spiritual friend without fear.
"I Gave Rise to an Unwholesome Thought"
Good-Wealth does not wait to be accused — he names his own earlier suspicion of Māra plainly, asking Fierce-Heat directly to forgive it, and receives in reply a verse rather than any word of correction at all.
爾時，善財童子聞如是法，心大歡喜，於婆羅門所，發起真實善知識心，頭頂禮敬，唱如是言：「我於大聖善知識所生不善心，唯願聖者容我悔過！」時，婆羅門即為善財而說頌言：
At that time, the boy Good-Wealth, having heard such dharma as this, his mind greatly rejoicing, gave rise, toward the brahmin, to a mind that truly recognized him as a good spiritual friend, and bowing his head in reverent homage, proclaimed these words: "Toward this great sage, my good spiritual friend, I gave rise to an unwholesome thought; I only wish that the noble one would allow me to repent of my transgression!" At that time, the brahmin then spoke a verse for Good-Wealth, saying:
若有諸菩薩，順善知識教，
一切無疑懼，安住心不動。
當知如是人，必獲廣大利，
坐菩提樹下，成於無上覺。」
If there are bodhisattvas who follow the good spiritual friend's own teaching, with no doubt or fear at all, their minds abiding securely, unmoving — know that such people will certainly obtain vast and great benefit, sitting beneath the bodhi tree, accomplishing unsurpassed awakening.
一切無疑懼，安住心不動 — with no doubt or fear at all, their minds abiding securely, unmoving. Fierce-Heat's verse names the exact opposite of what Good-Wealth confessed to feeling — doubt and fear are not condemned outright, but the verse quietly sets the standard Good-Wealth has just admitted falling short of, without ever naming his failure directly.
Part 975 Complete
This continues chapter thirty-nine, 入法界品, in fascicle sixty-four. Part 976 turns to what Good-Wealth actually does next — climbing the mountain of blades and throwing himself into the mass of fire, and what he discovers the instant his body touches the flame.