Hail wisdom transcendent
Unlimited unimagined
In form unblemished
The observant know perfection

Pure unbounded soundless
As the entire universe
Whoso knows you knows
Him whose coming is also blessed

Pity is what brought you those
Who hail buddhadharmas
Theirs o salutary one
Is sovereignty peerless

Pure in heart the revelation
Of you makes them
They have won already
You who make fertile

The heroically compassionate
For the rest of humankind
Are nourished by you as a mother
Given birth and love

Buddhas teach the world
And are your pitying sons
Thus you great lady
Are the grandmother of us all

What is perfectly pure
Surrounds you always
As stars the moon’s bow
Sanctified you are utterly

They who walk in darkness
The Tathagatas tell
Of you as one and many
Various with many names

Dew disappears when once
The sunbeams come
So theoretics depart
When you are known

You are frightening to those
Who foolish see you fearfully
You are peace and succour
In the sight of the wise

There must be fondness for you
In anyone you save
Or mother how would anyone
Discern the rest of it?

You come from nowhere
Don’t go anywhere
There is no dwelling place
Where the sages have you

This is the way to see you
Not and so find you
Seeing you is freedom
Not seeing you is freedom too

You bind the faithful
And the faithless
Free the one
As well as the other

Perfect is your fame
And mystery though hard to discern
You appear as semblances
And can’t be seen at all

All the Buddhas everywhere
And disciples seek you
Who are the only paths of holiness
There can be no other

They who save the world
For pity of ignorant men
Speak of you by custom
And speak not of you

Who on earth can praise you
In your featurelessness?
There are no words
Nor means of approach

We do our best with common
Coinage praising you
Though it concerns you not
Thus are we blessed

Praise to wisdom transcendent
Thus I raise in return
Grant only that the world
Become devoted to you peerless
................................

Rahulabhadra (2nd c.)
translated by Christopher Mulrooney, after Edward Conze


Address:
Christopher Mulrooney
150 N. Catalina St., No. 2
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