Subhúti, suppose there were as many Rivers Ganges as the sands of the Ganges, would the sands of all these rivers be numerous or not?
Subhúti said: Very numerous indeed, world-honoured one! Even the rivers themselves would be numberless, how much more the sands of all these rivers?
Subhúti, I now say to you: Verily if there be a disciple, male or female, who were to distribute in alms as much of the seven precious substances as would fill as many great chiliocosms as there are sands in all the rivers above described, would his merit be great or not?
Subhúti said: Very great, world-honoured one!
Buddha replied: And yet if there were a disciple, male or female, who in the perusal of this Sútra advanced so far as to accept and appropriate the four canons (laid down in the former chapter), I declare on his behalf that his merit and happiness in consequence, would far exceed that of the former disciple.
Cap. XII.—The honour and respect due to the true doctrine.
Moreover, Subhúti, in repeating this Sútra in due order, and having come to the part in which the four canons are laid down, you should know that at this point the whole body of Devas, men and asuras, ought with one accord to bring their tribute of worship, as to a temple or Stúpa. How much more then if there be a man who is able completely to believe and receive the whole Sútra and to recite it throughout. Subhúti, know that this man has acquired knowledge of the most excellent and desirable of all laws; and if the place where this Sútra is recited be worthy of all honour as the place of Buddha himself, so also is this disciple honourable and worthy of the highest respect.
Cap. XIII.—Relating to the character in which this system should be received by men.
At this time Subhúti addressed Buddha, and said, World-honoured one, by what name ought we to accept and adopt this Sútra?
Buddha replied, The name of this Sútra is “Kin-kong Poh-yo po-lo-mih” (Vajra-chhediká párami); by these words you ought to receive and adopt it.