Read, reflect, pray
Text on Holy Fudō
仏説聖不動経
A text describing Fudō’s appearance, compassion, wisdom, sword and rope. The separately recited names of the attendants following it in some books are outside this entry’s scope.
English meaning and source text
English meaning
About this English rendering
This site’s English rendering of the Japanese meaning guide, aligned with this edition. It is separate from the source words for recitation and is not an official liturgy. Sacred sounds are explained where possible, not given speculative literal translations. Historical beliefs, royal authority, illness and protection claims belong to the text; they are not present-day judgments, medical advice or guarantees of results.
Then, in the great assembly hearing the teaching, there was a wisdom king.
This great wisdom king possesses mighty power.
Through the virtue of deep compassion rescuing people from suffering,
he manifests a blue-black form.
Through the virtue of profound, unwavering meditation,
he sits upon a rock hard as vajra.
Through the virtue of great wisdom,
he manifests a great flame.
Holding a sword representing excellent wisdom,
he cuts off greed,
anger,
and delusion that does not know reality.
Holding a rope representing samadhi, the power of unifying the mind,
he binds what is difficult to guide by the teaching.
His essential body is the body of truth, not confined to a particular form.
Being one with vast space,
he has no dwelling limited to this place alone.
Rather,
he dwells within what living beings envision in their hearts.
Because what people envision
differs among them,
according to each person’s heart,
he becomes their help
and fulfills their aspirations, the text says.
Then those assembled there,
hearing this sutra taught,
all rejoiced greatly,
trusted and received it, and practiced its teaching.
Source text and reading aid
Roman letters are provided for every line of this source text.
How to use the Roman letters
Roman letters follow the kana displayed in this site’s Japanese reader; some readings are editorial additions documented on the Japanese page. These are a reading aid, not restored Sanskrit or a recording of a temple’s chanting. Historical spellings (such as wo, wi, we and ha used as a particle) are kept. Double vowels and repeated vowels mark the written kana; rhythm and pronunciation can differ by tradition.
You can simply read the meaning or sit quietly. No recitation is required. For a temple or shrine’s own recitation, follow that tradition’s published guidance.
爾の時に大会に一りの明王います。
sono tokini dai eni hitorino myou ouimasu.
是の大明王は大威力あり。
kono dai myou ouha dai i rikiari.
大悲の徳の故に。
dai hino tokuno yueni.
青黒の形を現じ。
shou kokuno katachiwo genji.
大定の徳の故に。
dai jouno tokuno yueni.
金剛石に坐し。
kon gou sekini zashi.
大智慧の故に。
dai chi eno yueni.
大火焔を現じ給う。
dai ka enwo genji tamau.
大智の剣を執っては。
dai chino kenwo totteha.
貪。
ton.
瞋。
jin.
癡を害し。
chiwo gaishi.
三昧の索を持して。
san maino nawawo jishite.
難伏の者を縛す。
nan bukuno monowo bakusu.
無相の法身。
mu souno hosshin.
虚空同体なれば。
ko kuu dou tainareba.
其住所もなし。
sono juu shomonashi.
但。
tada.
衆生心想の中に住し給う。
shu jou shin souno uchini juushi tamau.
衆生の意想。
shu jouno i sou.
各各不同なれば。
kaku kaku fu dounareba.
衆生の意に隨いて。
shu jouno kokoroni shitagaite.
利益を作し。
ri yakuwo nashi.
所求圓満す。
sho gu en mansu.
爾の時に大會。
sono tokini dai e.
是の経を説き給うを聞き。
kono kyouwo toki tamauwo kiki.
皆大いに歓喜して。
mina ooini kan gishite.
信受し奉行しき。
shin jushi bu gyoushiki.
Connected kami and buddhas
These connections include figures addressed, mentioned, or associated by tradition. They do not assign a universal recitation practice.
Sources and edition (1)
English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.