Supplication to the King of the Shakyas
 
 

Prostrations to the Guru and Manjushri!

Under the Bodhi Tree, the earth and sky were filled with hosts of Mara.
Thunderbolts, javelins, weapon wheels, fire, mountains, and snow-capped peaks
             rained down.
Powerful archers with flower arrows magically attempted to block the path
             to enlightenment.
Prostrations to the one who completely defeated them with a loving mind, and
             attained perfect Buddhahood.

When you, for others' benefit,
With perfect resolve and action,
Created excellent enlightenment thought,
Even the earth trembled in six motions.

You completely accumulated giving and morality,
Mastered patience and diligence, and
Accomplished concentration and wisdom.
Prostrations to you who accomplished the perfections.

Protector of beings, when you took birth,
All the wise in the world were delighted.
All demons grew extremely suspicious,
And all heretics were afraid,

Because the holy works of your doctrine
Shine like the light of the sun.
Never deceiving in any way,
I take refuge in you, the source of all.

When you proclaimed the scripture like a lion's roar
In all the worlds, including the gods'
Brahma and Vishnu were struck dumb, and
The teachers of gods cowered like foxes.

Learned Kangmig, Trogkhar,
Rishi Gyepa, Rishi Nejok,
And many others well-renowned,
Prostrations to you who defeated them with Dharma.

Even after attaining perfect enlightenment,
Amazingly, you still performed the benefit of beings.
For those not freed from clinging to existence,
Renouncing life makes the hair stand on end.

But disregarding your own holy life,
You resolved to benefit beings, and
Accept the protectorless, like us.
I take refuge in you, Protector.

Conqueror, you tamed the host of maras,
Defeated all heretics without exception,
Liberated countless disciple Shravakas, and
Prophesied noble Bodhisattvas.

Those who perceive this excellence,
Strive to attain your qualities.
So, I who have undertaken the goal of enlightenment
Again take refuge in you.

Your son is Manjushri.
Your disciple is Shariputra.
Your holy regent is Maitreya.
Who among the intelligent could doubt?

Not to mention your own perfection,
The good qualities of your sons are dazzling.
As through the glorious rays of dawn
We learn the brilliance of sunlight.

You realize the nature of all phenomena
Exactly and entirely.
Prostrations to you who accomplish
Every holy deed just as you aspire.

Thus, the teacher of beings from the Shakya family,
Took birth in the Puramshing clan.
Through this homage to the blessed, perfect Buddha,
May all beings swiftly reach omniscience.
 

These fifteen verses of supplication to the King of the Shakya clan were written by the
glorious Sakya Pandita in the Lhasa shrine.

Translated into English by Venerable Lama Kalsang Gyaltsen and Ane Kunga Chodron
in 1997 at Sakya Phuntsok Ling in Washington D.C.

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