---
title: "元皇大道真君救劫寶經 – English Interpretation | Daozang"
url: "https://daozang.app/en/text/KR5i0085/"
canonical: "https://daozang.app/en/text/KR5i0085/"
lang: "en"
source: "Kanripo 漢籍リポジトリ（京都大学）"
license: "CC BY-SA 4.0"
---

# 《元皇大道真君救劫寶經》

Qing Daoist texts 清代道教文獻 · 1 volumes · 3,751 characters

## Vol. 1

元皇大道眞君救劫寶經

大興朱　珪石君敬校

睢陽蔣予蒲夢因重訂眞君曰吾道德圓通久證眞位兹以劫運可念遂願救度衆生壬申𡻕七月七日時西晉懷帝永嘉六年琅輿羽軒麟車鳳駕玉童玉女神將天兵樂隊旌旗百萬引從侍衞森列樂音震天蒙天帝令爲太玄無上上德眞君同中書門下平章事上主三十三天仙籍中主人間夀夭禍福死生貴賤下主十八重地獄輪迴拜命訖空中大震七聲天旋地轉吾以劍一指天地停車日月停輪頃刻間紫雲上衝黑氣盤結有二童子以善惡簿進曰寅卯而後劫運可駭承旨預定善惡敢以簿進吾閱善簿得忠孝功德陰隲修行者若干人閱惡簿得十惡五逆臣民官吏士農工商僧道雜流爲惡若干人吾愍劫運之臨世人造惡無有窮已今遣十惡大魔三百萬飛天神王三百萬神兵神將一千六百萬以五道雷神主之收取惡人又大風大雨大水大火大疫並作以收惡人用充劫運罪罰不遠深可哀憐吾今爲度脫衆生私露天機略具善惡簿中曾有功過者以爲生人警戒今勸世人每日侵晨持誦玉皇大天尊玄穹高上帝尋聲赴感太乙救苦天尊九天應元雷聲普化天尊玉虛師相玄天上帝金闕化身天尊四位聖號朔望誦救劫經並太上感應篇一遍以消罪愆先當遵此六章修行庶持念聖

**Interpretation**

**Interpretation of the Precious Scripture of Salvation from Calamities by the True Lord of the Primordial Sovereign Great Dao**

The True Lord of the Primordial Sovereign Great Dao (a revered deity in Daoism) declares: Having long attained perfect virtue (De) and realized the fruit of true immortality, I now behold the impending calamities facing the mortal realm and vow to deliver all sentient beings.

On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month in the sixth year of the Yongjia era (312 CE) of the Western Jin Dynasty, a magnificent celestial spectacle unfolded: jade maidens and youths, divine generals and heavenly soldiers formed a grand procession of millions, their banners unfurled and celestial music resounding through the heavens. By the decree of the Heavenly Emperor, I was conferred the title "True Lord of Supreme Virtue Beyond the Mysterious," entrusted with governance over the Three Realms—overseeing the registers of immortals in the Thirty-Three Heavens above, the fortunes and misfortunes of human lifespans in the middle realm, and the cycles of rebirth in the Eighteen Hells below.

At the moment of my investiture, heaven and earth trembled. With a single motion of my sword, the winds stilled, the clouds halted, and the sun and moon stood motionless. Amid rising violet mists, two attendants presented the ledgers recording human virtue and vice, reporting: "After the years of Yin and Mao (years portending disaster), a great calamity shall arise. We beseech the True Lord to discern good and evil." Upon examination, I found the virtuous included those who cultivated loyalty, filial piety, and secret acts of goodness, while the wicked spanned all social strata—those guilty of the Ten Abominations and Five Heinous Crimes.

Witnessing humanity's unceasing wickedness and the approaching calamity, I dispatched three million great demons of the Ten Abominations, three million celestial kings who soar through the heavens, and sixteen million divine troops—all commanded by the Thunder Gods of the Five Directions—to subdue the wicked. The impending disasters shall manifest as tempests, floods, infernos, and plagues. Yet the thought of sentient beings facing such retribution grieves my heart deeply.

Now, to deliver all beings, I reveal this celestial secret: Let all whose deeds are recorded in these ledgers take heed. I exhort humanity to recite daily at dawn the sacred names of:

1. The Jade Emperor, Supreme Venerable Sovereign of the Mysterious Firmament

2. The Heavenly Worthy of Supreme Oneness Who Saves from Suffering

3. The Heavenly Worthy of Universal Transformation Through Thunder's Voice

4. The Divine Emperor of the Mysterious Heaven

On the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, add one recitation each of the *Scripture of Salvation from Calamities* and the *Taishang Tract of Actions and Retributions* to absolve transgressions. Most crucially, adhere to the following six chapters of essential cultivation methods (details unspecified in the original scripture). Only through sincere recitation of these holy names may calamities be averted.

號靈篇得以感應如此則自然福祿無量子孫榮昌金車入門仕宦卿相若不遵此六章修行徒口誦經欲免罪愆名曰瀆天其罪尤重愈不可解吾今降下此經流傳於世所在之處以三千神兵衞之其誦讀此經而不信受與前信受後有悔心者仰飛天大神卽時收取以充劫數如有祕藏此經而不傳者其罪惟均各宜省悟

天下通行警戒章第一眞君曰哀哉今世之人子不孝於親弟不敬於兄下不順於上婦逆於舅姑子弟凌師長士虧實行官恣貪謀農趨末作工競浮華僧道誑俗自毀眞敎罪罰不遠深可哀憐各宜遵吾警戒勇猛修行以逃劫運

天下通行孝感章第二眞君曰人之立身以孝爲本　東京趙居先父年九十一𡻕母年九十四𡻕性皆嚴急居先夫婦侍奉勤謹孝行克諧每夕焚香爲父母祈禱三尸上奏天遣飛天大神逐日監察見其心專意一孝行動天七子三婿皆列殊科居先身證仙界　茂州黎瓊棄父貪淫酒色三年淹母殯者五載被雷焚之　徽州李氏女名善瑜適葉元贊長子年三十自十八侍舅姑極孝家貧已雖饑寒凡飲食不敢嘗啖以奉舅姑舅姑病甚家貧不能召醫自爲祈吿天地願以身代舅姑適遇三官巡察空中聞之奏聞玉帝奉旨加其舅姑夀一紀仍賜錢八千萬注名祿籍二子賜

**Interpretation**

The *Precious Scripture of Salvation from Calamities by the True Lord of the Primordial Sovereign Great Dao* offers a vernacular interpretation in two main sections:

The first part conveys the warning from the True Lord of the Primordial Sovereign Great Dao (a revered Daoist deity): This scripture is guarded by three thousand divine soldiers. Those who merely recite the text without sincere belief, or who initially accept its teachings but later reject them, will have the scripture immediately confiscated by the flying celestial generals. Likewise, those who hoard the scripture privately without disseminating its wisdom will receive equivalent punishment.

The second section illustrates the paramount importance of filial piety through contrasting examples:

1. In Dongjing, Zhao Juxian and his wife devotedly cared for their demanding parents in their nineties, offering nightly incense prayers. Their filial devotion moved Heaven: all seven sons and three sons-in-law achieved success, while Zhao Juxian himself attained immortality through cultivation.

2. The negative example concerns Maozhou's Li Qiong, who indulged in wine and women for three years while neglecting his father, and left his mother's funeral unattended for five years after her death. He was ultimately struck dead by lightning.

3. The story of Huizhou's virtuous daughter Li Shanyu: From age eighteen, she served her parents-in-law with exceptional filial devotion. During poverty, she prioritized feeding them while enduring hunger herself. When they fell ill, she prayed to Heaven and Earth to take their suffering upon herself. During an inspection by the Three Officials (Daoist deities governing Heaven, Earth, and Water), this act was reported to the Jade Emperor. Consequently, her in-laws were granted twelve additional years of life, bestowed with eighty million coins, and their two sons were enrolled in the register of blessings.

The scripture concludes by emphasizing filial piety as the foundation of human virtue—the key to avoiding calamities and receiving divine blessings. Merely reciting the text without practicing its teachings in hopes of absolving sins constitutes blasphemy against Heaven and invites graver offenses.

品官後一𡻕一旦門未啟忽見廳上金玉滿堂變易果得錢八千萬其鄰居秦氏女年二十恃其長舌抵觸舅姑李氏嘗勸之而不聽李氏受錢日秦氏爲雷火焚燒善惡之報昭然可畏

天下通行士行章第三眞君曰吾一十七世爲士大夫未嘗虐民酷吏今人衣冠紛紛日讀其書恃其文章而行已法度孝行陰功略不加意或兄弟分爭或宗族相毀或夫妻反目或父子憎嫌或倚恃富勢而欺凌小民或矜持才能而欺侮前輩或口誦佛老而薄於父母或貌敬天地而中萌欺詐或敎人爭訟而破散人家或巧言妄語而助人之過或破人婚姻或誹謗同類或播人是非或埋藏陰毒此等罪犯難可解雪倘或回心庶幾免咎　衢州范元之素貧盛暑江浴拾得金銀一袋於岸歸謂子曰世人以財爲命萬一此人失此自經於溝壑枉喪性命翼旦父子攜於岸以待之果見一婦悲號而至元之詰其故曰夫坐獄當死易田得銀至此失之元之卽以還之婦與分亦不肯受旣而鄉里多薄之謂其不能經營生理空自守貧元之笑而不答次年父子登第至今十二世爲二千石　瀘州李挺先才高自爲第一以兄弟參商好毀人婚姻發人私密遂降其籍　信州林茂先才高過人已捧鄉書家極貧閉戶讀書鄰家巨富婦厭其夫不學私慕茂先才名夜奔之茂先呵之曰男女有別禮法不容天地鬼神羅

**Interpretation**

The *Precious Scripture of Salvation by the Primordial Sovereign of the Great Dao* records several karmic retribution tales:

The first passage illustrates the principle that good and evil inevitably meet their just rewards: A woman surnamed Li often admonished her neighbor's daughter (a twenty-year-old girl who enjoyed gossip and disobeyed her in-laws), but the girl refused to listen. Later, the Qin family's home was struck by lightning and burned to ashes, while Li unexpectedly came into wealth. This clearly demonstrates how virtue and vice ultimately receive their due recompense.

The Primordial Sovereign of the Great Dao (a high-ranking Daoist deity) declares: "Through seventeen successive incarnations as an official, I never oppressed the common people. Yet nowadays, though some dress respectably and are well-versed in classics, their conduct violates cosmic law: brothers feud, clans turn against each other, spouses become enemies, and fathers and sons grow estranged. Some abuse power to bully the weak, while others flaunt their talents arrogantly. They perform temple rituals yet mistreat their parents, appearing pious while harboring deceit. Worse still are those who instigate lawsuits, destroy families, use honeyed words to encourage others' faults, break marriages, slander neighbors, spread rumors, and nurture malicious hearts. Such sins are difficult to cleanse—only sincere repentance can avert calamity."

Several illustrative cases follow:

1. Fan Yuanzhi of Quzhou, though impoverished, found a bag of gold and silver by the river. Realizing the owner might die from the loss, he waited with his son until a distraught woman arrived—the money was from selling her possessions to save her condemned husband. Though villagers mocked their "foolish honesty," the next year both father and son passed imperial examinations, and their descendants held high office for twelve generations.

2. Li Ting of Luzhou, despite his talents, grew arrogant—delighting in ruining marriages and exposing secrets—until his scholarly rank was revoked.

3. Lin Maoxian of Xinzhou remained virtuous in poverty. When a wealthy neighbor's wife (disgusted by her uncultured husband) came secretly at night offering herself, he rebuked her: "Gender boundaries and ritual principles cannot be violated—the celestial deities and earthly spirits witness all!" He later earned the jinshi degree, his three sons achieved prominence, while the woman died of shame.

These accounts uniformly reveal the Dao's cyclical justice: blessings reward the virtuous, while punishments befall the wicked with perfect precision.

列森布何可以此污我婦慚而退茂先次舉登第二子皆登第見聞者各宜悛戒

天下通行日用章第四眞君曰凡今之人毒惡殘忍巧詐不常難爲指名姑示一二勸戒　杭州王用先家貲百萬置大小二斗大小二秤較量出入以欺陷人止及十年遭禍被刑家財破散子孫作丐　福州福清縣文紹祖與柴公行議親旣問名柴女忽中風紹祖欲更之其妻大怒曰我有兒當使其順天理自然長久悖禮傷義是爲速禍大斥紹祖卽娶柴女歸次年紹祖子登第柴女瘋亦痊生三子皆登第　何元益與趙明夫議婚已定而趙女失明家計寥落元益易其親與單子文爲婚次年父子俱喪明趙女適士人葉惟先惟先登第三典大郡　階州孫仲可欺奪寡婦之田繼與通姦中年聾盲子孫齟齬　建州揚進多廣田園百計吞併交易不明至少子鐘仲不肖三年破敗蕩盡拘惡簿　元秀家財四十萬生子四人其餘諸妾所出不問男女並瘞埋之一日夢見數十輩來追殺人賊元秀大驚起兩手兩足已爲牛蹄展轉於牀大呌三日頭斷而死陰府申聞天曹帝大怒曰性根不壞方得人身天神誦章始離母腹愚人不禁情慾嬰兒有何罪愆揆以正條倍於故殺殺人償命理所應然天曹牒下陰府判斷元秀受罪外拘囚地獄在生四子注籍刑名四十萬財沒

**Interpretation**

The *Precious Scripture of Salvation from Calamity by the True Lord of Primordial Sovereign Dao* reveals the celestial principle of retribution through several documented cases. The True Lord declares: "Observing the wickedness in contemporary human hearts, I shall recount these examples to awaken the world:

Wang Yongxian, a wealthy merchant of Hangzhou with family assets exceeding a million, deliberately maintained two sets of measurement scales—large and small—to cheat customers by short measures. After ten years of such deception, calamity suddenly struck: his fortune dissipated completely, leaving his descendants reduced to beggary.

In Fuqing County of Fuzhou, Wen Shaozu had arranged a marriage with the Chai family when their daughter suddenly suffered paralysis. Though Wen considered breaking the engagement, his wife adamantly refused, stating: 'Only by following heavenly principles can we attain lasting fortune—defying Daoist ethics invites disaster.' They proceeded with the marriage. The following year their son passed the imperial examinations, the Chai daughter miraculously recovered from her illness, and she subsequently bore three sons who all achieved scholarly honors.

He Yuanyi broke his engagement with the Zhao family after their daughter went blind, instead marrying a daughter of the Shan family. Within a year, both father and son lost their eyesight, while the Zhao daughter—wed to Ye Weixian—saw her husband appointed as governor of three successive districts.

Sun Zhongke of Jiezhou forcibly seized a widow's land and committed adultery with her, only to become deaf and blind by middle age while his descendants lived in constant discord. Yang Jin of Jianzhou amassed vast farmlands through fraudulent schemes, yet his son Zhong Zhong squandered the fortune completely within three years.

Most horrifying was Yuan Xiu, who possessed 400,000 in assets but buried alive all children born to his concubines. Later dreaming of dozens of vengeful spirits demanding retribution, he awoke to find his limbs transformed into ox hooves. After three days of agonized screams, he died by decapitation. The Celestial Court proclaimed in wrath: 'Human rebirth is granted only to those with innate goodness—what crime did these infants commit? This offense surpasses even intentional murder!' Beyond Yuan Xiu's eternal hellish punishments, his four living sons were recorded in the register of sins, with all 400,000 in wealth confiscated."

These accounts uniformly demonstrate: the retribution for good and evil follows like shadows. All who hear this should take warning and conduct themselves in accordance with celestial principles.

入官府近者四方奏牘類此者衆下酆都別置一籍收錄此等名字差北方飛天神王統領神兵巡行天下有似此者卽許便宜施行不待事終赴十獄考鞫眞君曰人子不孝自有天條誅戮無罪殺兒是殺天下人民也故元秀身墮地獄四子犯刑家財沒官且人厭多兒何不節慾乃敢殺人不顧今世之如元秀者何地無之吾觀酆都城中以此受罪者不可勝數各宜省悟不可自取天譴若元秀永囚地獄萬劫受罪子孫受刑可不悲夫禍福無門惟人自召

天下通行官守章第五眞君曰士之居官以忠爲先今世大異上而卿相下而一命賄賂公行公道不立皇天震怒何况侵民膏血自肥一家扼人襟喉自謀進取不公不法不仁不義快一勝於目前結無窮之冤業劫數來時福力盡處果報昭彰若速悔心猶可免戾故顯官子弟多不振勢位之家多破殘上天之報昭然人苦不自覺耳

葉知遠知嵐谷縣夀限將終其春首知遠之子與一巨室同謀私受財物妄入人罪誣以劫掠其勢炎炎罪及千家知遠覺其情並其子申於朝力爲明辨遂免千家之罪城隍申奏知遠延夀一紀一年内妻妾生二子皆榮顯然則善簿所記存心如知遠者有何人知遠若私其子以害民必自受責其禍當何如今遣童子三百萬巡察四方官吏善惡各行果報

天下通行道釋章第六

**Interpretation**

**Precious Scripture of the Primordial Sovereign's Great Dao for Deliverance from Kalpic Calamities** (Modern Interpretation)

**[On Judicial Cases]**

Numerous similar cases have been reported across regions. Fengdu (the Daoist underworld) maintains dedicated registers to document such offenses. The Northern Flying Celestial Kings (Dharma-protecting deities) lead celestial troops to patrol the mortal realm. When encountering such transgressions, they may act immediately without waiting for posthumous judgment in the Ten Courts of Hell.

The True Sovereign declares: Unfilial children are naturally punished by celestial law, but killing innocent infants is akin to slaughtering the common people. Cases like Yuan Xiu—who was cast into hell, whose four sons suffered punishment, and whose family assets were confiscated—beg the question: If one resents having too many children, why not restrain their desires? Today, those who commit murder like Yuan Xiu are everywhere, and Fengdu's prisons overflow with offenders. People must awaken and avoid invoking divine retribution. Yuan Xiu’s eternal damnation, suffering through endless kalpas, and the karmic consequences visited upon his descendants—are these not proof that fortune and misfortune are self-invited?

**[On Official Integrity]**

The True Sovereign admonishes: Officials must base their conduct on loyalty. In these degenerate times, bribery pervades all ranks, from prime ministers to petty clerks. Extorting the people’s wealth, suppressing others for personal advancement—these unjust, unlawful, and immoral acts may bring temporary success but plant seeds of boundless karmic debt. When the kalpic reckoning arrives and merit is exhausted, retribution will be exacted. Yet repentance in time may avert disaster—observe how the scions of the powerful often fall, how illustrious families crumble. Such is Heaven’s justice!

**Example:** When Lan’gu County Magistrate Ye Zhiyuan neared the end of his allotted lifespan, his son colluded with local bullies to accept bribes and frame innocents, nearly implicating a thousand households. Upon uncovering the truth, Zhiyuan upheld righteousness above family ties, reporting the injustice to the imperial court to exonerate the wronged. The City God (local guardian deity) petitioned the celestial court, granting Zhiyuan twelve additional years of life, two sons born to his wives, and flourishing prosperity. Such upright officials are exceedingly rare. Had he shielded his son at the people’s expense, severe punishment would have followed.

Now, three million divine youths are dispatched to inspect officials everywhere. Good and evil each receive their due recompense.

*(Note: "Kalpic reckoning" refers to Daoist cycles of karmic retribution; "one cycle" equals twelve years; "City God" serves as the underworld’s local magistrate.)*

眞君曰僧道出家名爲離業垢今世可駭纔入道塲逆料施利之多少加減法事或醉酒飽肉或蓄妻私寮穢德彰聞有負上聖救世之心如此等類厯劫不赦　通州海門縣景覺之有子名佛孫九𡻕出家名祖惠二十八爲長老濫稱禪師而不明本性罪惡又多其伯景識之有女名蓮眞年十八出適與其夫失歡而回故家僧祖惠出入伯氏時或遇宿與蓮眞通姦其伯以一家無間初不知覺僅及兩月司命大怒徑奏上蒼適遇雷公奏事奉命碎祖惠屍首於通衢拷其魂於酆都地獄萬劫受罪不舍晝夜又以雷火三繞蓮眞三焚之不令死大書其背曰亂倫怪獸求生不得求死不得如是三年方令入地獄受罪配入禽獸道識之夫妻以閨門不肅各減夀一紀惡疾而終蓮眞之姑中間知覺私受二百貫大風刳其目截其鼻旦夕自稱曰我黨同亂倫怪獸使我至此伽藍土地以失申奏亦拘繫獄府日受鞭笞責以重罰黑氣二十四其中一道是僧道淫穢䙝瀆上眞事一道是世人殺所生男女冤氣衝天其他皆罪惡所積今通都大邑有敗禮之家或至親或宗黨旣出家者往來私家男女雜遝無間不知僧道壞俗俗壞僧道亂上天人倫背至尊敎法天地震怒罪入惡籍侮滅三敎如此等罪何時可懺耶今遣飛天大聖統御鬼魔四十萬以雷公主之巡行四方日夕申奏

**Interpretation**

The *Precious Scripture of the Primordial Sovereign's Great Dao for Deliverance from Calamities* delivers stern admonitions through the teachings of the True Lord (a high-ranking Daoist deity), exposing the corruption prevalent in religious circles of the time:

The True Lord declares: Monks and Daoist priests, who have left household life to transcend worldly defilements, now shockingly calculate the offerings they might receive as soon as they enter sacred spaces, adjusting rituals based on monetary gain. Some indulge in drunkenness and meat-eating, others secretly keep wives and concubines, their scandals spreading far and wide—utterly betraying the divine mission of salvation. Such wicked deeds remain unforgivable across kalpas (cycles of rebirth).

The text cites a documented case from Haimen County, Tongzhou: Jingjue’s son, Fosun, took monastic vows at nine, receiving the Dharma name Zuhui. By twenty-eight, he became an abbot, falsely claiming to be a Chan master while ignorant of true nature, his crimes mounting. His uncle Jingshi’s daughter, Lianzhen, returned to her parents after marital strife at eighteen. Zuhui frequented his uncle’s home, committing adultery with her. Initially unaware, Jingshi learned the truth after two months, provoking the Director of Fate (deity overseeing lifespans) to report directly to Heaven. As the Thunder God (deity governing lightning) happened to be submitting celestial affairs, he was ordered to strike Zuhui publicly, shattering his body and condemning his soul to eternal torment in Fengdu (the Daoist judicial underworld). Lianzhen endured three lightning fires without dying, branded on her back as "Incestuous Beast," trapped between life and death for three years before rebirth as an animal. Jingshi and his wife, for lax household discipline, had twelve years cut from their lifespans, dying of vile diseases. Lianzhen’s aunt, complicit through silence and bribes of 200 strings of cash, had her eyes gouged and nose severed by a gale, wailing ceaselessly. Local guardian deities—the Sangharama and Earth Gods—were detained in the underworld for negligence, whipped daily.

The scripture identifies two gravest black vapors piercing the heavens: first, the defilement of clergy through lust and sacrilege; second, worldly kin-slaying. Major cities now teem with families corrupting propriety, monastics mingling freely with lay households, men and women entangled without restraint. This mutual degradation—clergy corrupting the secular, the secular polluting clergy—violates cosmic and human ethics, enraging Heaven and Earth with inexpiable sin. Finally, the True Lord dispatches the Flying Heaven Sage leading 400,000 demonic troops under the Thunder God’s command, patrolling day and night to report transgressions.

(This passage, through concrete cases and divine pronouncements, fiercely condemns religious corruption, emphasizing inevitable karmic retribution with potent moral urgency.)

如有亂敎法者仰雷公便宜施行大道與佛初無負人而人自負之　壬申𡻕世人以誦經修行證道成佛者七千人蓋自清心寡慾先修人事不犯人倫科戒積德累功諸惡不作然後得此今勸世人若能遵此六章行之乃可免禍而得福背吾所言天條不赦眞君曰混沌未分吾統天地人之道自太極判吾與大道俱顯吾上則替天行道下則濟度萬民故證斯果吾統天地人何神不攝何事不該何物不佑何罪不罰何祈不應何劫不定吾哀世人造惡不已或心生或口語或敎人或自作晝則不足夜以繼之今大劫可駭不生悔心不覺不知流浪苦海生而害身滅家死後萬劫受罪作禽獸身昏昏默默永無出期深可悲哉每家各宜書寫此經一帙日夕瞻視依此六章修行每日侵晨誦四大天尊聖號及感應篇行之二年萬罪消滅行之四年百福皆集行之七年子孫賢明榮登科第行之十年夀命延長行之十五年萬事如意行之二十年子孫爲卿相行之三十年注名仙籍行之五十年天神恭敬名列仙班不依此六章加意修行或作或輟今日行明日廢人事旣乖心田日暗雖口誦經而其心不悟是爲瀆天罪不容赦欽哉一違吾言斷不容恕詩曰爲官清正强修道愛老憐貧勝出家作事莫瞞天地眼自然心似白蓮花又曰行藏虛實自家知禍福因由更問誰善惡到頭終

**Interpretation**

**Interpretation of the "Precious Scripture of Salvation from Calamities by the True Lord of Primordial Sovereign Dao"**

The True Lord of Primordial Sovereign Dao (a revered Daoist deity) admonishes humanity: Those who disrupt the orthodox Dharma will face immediate punishment from the Thunder Gods. The Dao and Buddhist teachings never fail humanity—it is people themselves who deviate from the true path. In the Ren-Shen year [a specific calendrical cycle], seven thousand practitioners attained enlightenment through scripture recitation and cultivation by maintaining purity, upholding ethical virtues, accumulating merit, and abstaining from evil. Today, I exhort all: those who follow the six chapters of this teaching shall avoid calamity and receive blessings; those who violate these celestial principles will surely face divine retribution.

The True Lord reveals: Before the separation of Heaven and Earth, I governed the Three Realms (Heaven, Earth, and Humanity). Since the differentiation of the Taiji (Supreme Ultimate), I have manifested alongside the Great Dao. Receiving the celestial mandate above and delivering sentient beings below, I thereby attained supreme enlightenment. When ruling the Three Realms, no deity lies beyond my jurisdiction, no event escapes my governance, no being is without protection, no transgression goes unpunished, no sincere prayer goes unanswered, and no calamity cannot be resolved.

I grieve for humanity’s relentless creation of evil—harboring wicked thoughts, speaking malicious words, inciting others, or committing misdeeds directly. Not content with daytime wrongdoing, they persist at night. Now, as the Great Calamity approaches, these individuals remain unrepentant, drowning in delusion. In life, they ruin themselves and their families; after death, they endure endless suffering, reborn as beasts, eternally trapped—how pitiful!

Every household should transcribe this scripture and recite it morning and evening. Practice according to these six chapters:

- Recite the holy names of the Four Great Heavenly Worthies and the *Tract of Actions and Retributions* daily at dawn.
- Two years of steadfast practice erases ten thousand transgressions.
- Four years accumulate a hundred blessings.
- Seven years bring wise descendants who excel in imperial examinations.
- Ten years extend longevity.
- Fifteen years fulfill all aspirations.
- Twenty years see descendants rise to high office.
- Thirty years grant registration in the immortal registers.
- Fifty years earn reverence from celestial beings and ascension to immortal rank.

Those who lack dedication—reciting sporadically with superficial understanding—commit sacrilege against Heaven’s Dao, an unforgivable offense! Remember: defiance of my teachings will never be pardoned.

Closing with two cautionary verses:

I. *An upright official surpasses forced cultivation;*

*Honoring elders and aiding the poor outweighs monastic pretense.*

*Deceive not Heaven, Earth, or the divine,*

*And your heart will mirror the white lotus' purity.*

II. *Your deeds' truth is known to you alone—*

*Why ask others of fortune's source?*

*Good and evil reap their due season,*

*For divine witnesses hover three feet above.*

有報只爭來早與來遲閒時檢點平生事靜坐思量日所爲意馬心猿當繫縛自然天地不相虧又曰心不明來點甚燈意不公平看甚經大秤小斗喫甚素不孝父母齋甚僧妙藥難醫冤業病橫財不富命窮人利己害人終損夀積善修身蔭子孫人惡人怕天不怕人善人欺天不欺暗中陰隲分明有遠在兒孫近在身說話莫談他人短自短何曾說與人生事事生君莫怨害人人害汝休嗔欺心折盡平生福行短天敎一世貧爐中有火休添炭扇遇涼時莫使風立心若不行方便念盡彌陀總是空又曰饒一著添子孫之福夀退一步寛隙駒之易過忍一言免駟馬之難追息一怒養身心之

**Interpretation**

This scripture expounds principles for conducting oneself in the world, urging people toward virtuous conduct and the accumulation of De (Virtue/Power). It conveys several key teachings:

On Self-Cultivation

One should regularly examine one's words and deeds ("in leisure moments, reflect on life's affairs"). Restrain the restless mind like tethering a wild horse or monkey ("bind the mind-monkey and thought-horse"). No lamp can illuminate a darkened heart, and no scripture benefits an unfair mind ("what use lighting lamps when the heart lacks clarity? What merit in reciting texts with unjust intent?").

On Virtuous Conduct

Hypocrisy manifests when one abstains from meat yet cheats with false measures, or donates to monks while neglecting filial duties ("what purity in fasting when using crooked scales? What merit in feeding monks while shunning parents?"). Only true goodness blesses descendants ("accumulate virtue and cultivate the self to shelter future generations"). Heaven's justice spares no wrongdoer ("though men may fear the wicked, Heaven never does"), as retribution follows inevitably ("karma reaches descendants if not oneself").

Principles for Living

Avoid discussing others' faults ("in speech, never dwell on others' shortcomings"). Harming others ultimately harms oneself ("when those you harm retaliate, harbor no resentment"). Deceit squanders life's blessings ("cheating hearts exhaust their fortune"). Forbearance brings blessings ("yielding once adds to descendants' fortune and longevity"), while retreating brings spacious ease ("stepping back makes life's narrow passes wide"). Restraint preserves peace ("holding back one word avoids futile chases"), and quelling anger nurtures vitality ("calming rage preserves the spirit of body and mind").

The Essence of Practice

Without benevolent action, even endless sutra recitations prove empty ("if the heart intends no kindness, chanting Buddha's name remains void").

Through vivid contrasts like "no miracle cure heals karmic illness, no sudden wealth enriches the destiny-poor," the text illustrates cosmic retribution. It emphasizes that true cultivation lies in righteous intention and virtuous action, not superficial observances.

精神

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原文底本：Kanripo 漢籍リポジトリ（京都大学），CC BY-SA 4.0。  
Source text: Kanripo Chinese Classics Repository (Kyoto University), CC BY-SA 4.0.  
HTML version: https://daozang.app/en/text/KR5i0085/