《元始天尊说三官宝号经》

At that time, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning was in the Palace of the Eight Effulgences in the Great Canopy Heaven, expounding the supreme and unsurpassed wondrous teaching to the kings of the celestial deities, the sages and honored gods among the sun, moon, and stars, and countless assemblies of the holy.

A Perfected named the Barefoot Great Immortal stepped out from the ranks, clasped his hands, knelt, and addressed the Celestial Worthy: “People of the lower world sometimes meet with disasters of flood and fire, the turmoil of arms and warfare, illness, the peril of childbirth, ghosts and baleful spirits, predicaments as inescapable as heaven’s net and earth’s snare, and calamities of every kind. How can they be rescued and delivered from these afflictions?”

The Celestial Worthy replied: “All who attain the Dao (the Way) and become immortals are recommended by the Three Officials, the deities who preside over the bestowal of blessings, the pardon of sins, and release from adversity. People of the lower world need only uphold and recite the precious titles of the Three Officials, and they can dispel calamities and bring these afflictions to rest. I now transmit this method to you, so that it may circulate in the human world for later generations. Those who recite it will obtain immeasurable blessings and be freed from every disaster and adversity.” The Celestial Worthy then pronounced the honored titles of the Three Officials:

“The mysterious vault of the Northern Pole, the imperial court of Purple Tenuity. Mount Tai, the Dai Marchmount, the clear and cool Water Kingdom.”

This praises the celestial realm of the Northern Pole and the imperial court of Purple Tenuity, the abode of the Celestial Emperor, together with sacred places such as Mount Tai and the clear, cool Water Kingdom.

“They hold the guiding cords of the Three Realms and command the myriad spirits. At the Three Primordials they examine the registers, and good and evil are distinguished.”

The Three Officials maintain the order of the Three Realms and govern the myriad spirits; at the Three Primordials—the Upper Prime, the Middle Prime, and the Lower Prime—they verify the name registers of all beings and separate good from evil.

“Through fasting, worship, and recitation, no wish goes unfulfilled. Disasters are removed and sins released; blessings descend and life is prolonged.”

By fasting and purification, worship, and recitation, every wish that is prayed for can be accomplished; calamities are eliminated, offenses are pardoned, blessings arrive, and one’s span of life is extended.

“Merit without bound, great compassion and a great vow. Greatly holy and greatly merciful, the supreme and wondrous Dao.”

The merit of the Three Officials is immeasurable. They harbor profound compassion and a vast vow; they are honored deities both sagely and merciful, and they embody the supreme and wondrous Dao.

“Of the Upper Prime, first rank, the Heavenly Official who bestows blessings, the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity; of the Middle Prime, second rank, the Earthly Official who pardons sins, the Great Emperor of Pure Vacuity; of the Lower Prime, third rank, the Water Official who releases from adversity.”

The Great Official of Cavern Yin (Dongyin Daguan), the divine official who presides over the dark watery mansions, is the sovereign of the Three Primordials (Sanyuan: the Upper Prime, the Middle Prime, and the Lower Prime). He commands three hundred and sixty deities and can manifest in response to the prayers of all living beings. He is honored with the title Heavenly Worthy of Responsive Manifestation (Yinggan Tianzun).

At this time, the Barefoot Great Immortal (Chijiao Daxian), together with the divine kings of the various heavens and the host of perfected immortals, heard the precious title (the revered name of the deity). Among these, the second rank of the Middle Prime is the Earth Official Who Pardons Sins, also called the Great Emperor of Pure Vacuity (Qingxu Dadi); the third rank of the Lower Prime is the Water Official Who Resolves Adversity.

The Great Official of Cavern Yin is the sovereign of the Three Primordials. He commands three hundred and sixty deities, can manifest in response to prayer, and is honored as the Heavenly Worthy of Responsive Manifestation.

At this time, after the Barefoot Great Immortal, the divine kings of the various heavens, and the host of perfected immortals had heard the precious title, they were all filled with great joy. They paid homage facing upward, bowed their heads in reverence, and then withdrew.