“As much of the seven precious substances as would fill as many great chiliocosms as there are sands in all the rivers above described.”—Kin-Kong-King. Beal.
[Chapter 12]
The Lord Buddha, continuing, said unto Subhuti: “Wherever this Scripture is proclaimed, even though it were but a stanza comprising four lines, you should realise that that place would be sanctified by the presence of the whole realm of gods, men, and terrestrial spirits,[1] who ought unitedly to worship, as if before a sacred shrine of Buddha.[2] But what encomium shall express the merit of a disciple who rigorously observes, and diligently studies,[3] the text of this Scripture? Subhuti, you should realise that such a disciple will be endowed[4] with spiritual powers commensurate with initiation in the supreme, incomparable, and most wonderful Law.[5] Whatever place constitutes a repository for this sacred Scripture, there also the Lord Buddha may be found, together with disciples worthy of reverence and honour.”
[1] Adopting Max Müller’s rendering. In the Chinese text are Tien, Ren, and O-Siu-Lo—heaven, or gods—men, and Asurus; the latter defined as fei-tien—not celestial spirits.
[2] “Whatever spirits have come together here, either belonging to the earth or living in the air, let us worship the perfect Buddha, revered by gods and men.”
“Whatever spirits have come together here, either belonging to the earth or living in the air, let us worship the perfect Dhamma (Law), revered by gods and men.”
“Whatever spirits have come together here, either belonging to the earth or living in the air, let us worship the perfect Sangha (community of monks), revered by gods and men.”—Dhammapada. Max Müller.
[3] “Earnestness is the path of immortality (Nirvana), thoughtlessness the path of death. Those who are in earnest do not die, those who are thoughtless are as if dead already.”—Dhammapada. Max Müller.
[4] “They, O Subhuti, will be endowed with the highest wonder (with what excites the highest wonder). And in that place, O Subhuti, there dwells the teacher (Sasa, often the name of Buddha), or one after another holding the place of the wise preceptor. (This may refer to a succession of teachers banding down the tradition one to another.)”—The Vagrakkhedika. Max Müller.