Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra

Further, Satatasamitabhiyukta, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva who preserves, shares, studies, and writes this Sacred Teaching (Dharmapāryaya), is blessed with a perfect sense of smell, endowed with eight hundred fine qualities. With this refined sense, he can detect various odors in the entire universe, inwardly and outwardly. These include unpleasant and pleasant smells, foul odors, and the fragrance of assorted flowers, such as the Great Flowered Jasmine, Arabian Jasmine, Michelia Champaka, and Trumpet-Flower.

He can also discern the scents of aquatic flowers like the Blue Lotus, Red Lotus, White Esculent Water-Lily, and White Lotus. He senses the aroma of fruits and blossoms from trees like Sandals, Xanthochymus, Tabernæmontana, and Agallochum. From where he stands, he can detect and understand the countless combinations of perfumes and the distinct smells of creatures, such as elephants, horses, cows, goats, wild animals, and the body odors of various beings in brute form.

He recognizes the scents of women and men, boys and girls, and even from a distance, the smell of grass, bushes, herbs, and trees. He perceives these smells as they are without being surprised or stunned.

Remaining on Earth, he smells the fragrance of gods and heavenly flowers, such as Erythrina, Bauhinia, Mandarava, Great Mandarava, Mangusha, and Great Mangusha. He detects the perfume of divine powders like sandal and agallochum and the mixed scents of celestial blossoms. He senses the aroma from the bodies of gods like Indra, the Chief of the Gods, knowing whether the god is relaxing, playing, or speaking the law in his palace, Vaigayanta, or the assembly hall of the gods, Sudharma.

He smells the odors from other gods, their companions, youths, and maidens without being overwhelmed by these scents. He also perceives the fragrance from all Devanikayas, Brahmakayikas, Mahabrahmas, disciples, Hermit Buddhas (Solitary Enlightened Ones), Bodhisattvas, and Tathagatas (Enlightened Ones). He detects the scent arising from the seats of the Tathagatas, knowing where they abide without being hindered or troubled by these diverse smells. He can describe these odors to others without affecting his memory if needed.

At that moment, the Lord expressed the following verses:

The organ of smell, correct and pure,
Perceives the scents of the world, to be sure,
Fragrances manifold, both good and bad,
In his discerning nose, they’re clearly had.

Jasmines and sandalwood, fruits and blossoms sweet,
Arabian fragrances, all scents he’ll meet,
Xanthochymus, agallochum, each a fragrant grace,
In his wise nose, they all find their place.

The scents of men and women, girls and boys,
He perceives afar, a gift he employs,
By scent, he knows their place, their presence clear,
A skill profound, he holds it dear.

Emperors, rulers, governors, and more,
Princes and ministers, ladies galore,
By their peculiar scent, he knows them well,
A fragrant wisdom, in him, does dwell.

Jewels and treasures, both in earth and hand,
By odor, he discerns, he understands,
Women’s ornaments, each scent he knows,
A wisdom rare, in him, it glows.

Women’s adornments, robes, and ointments too,
By scent, he recognizes, true and true,
Wreaths and garments, each a fragrant clue,
He knows them all, his skill’s not new.

Standing or sitting, lying or in sport,
Magic or wanton play of every sort,
By scent, he knows, a woman’s stance and grace,
A power profound, in him, takes place.

Scented oils, flowers, fruits, their odors sweet,
From his earthly stand, he knows their beat,
Their sources clear, he knows from whence they came,
A fragrant wisdom, his renowned fame.

Sandal trees in bloom, creatures dwelling near,
In mountain glens, their scents he’ll clearly hear,
Each being’s scent, in earth or sea or sky,
He knows them all, he’ll never pass them by.

Gods and demons, daughters and their play,
Their luxury and sports, their scents convey,
He discerns them all, his organ of smell,
Such is its power, as these verses tell.

Lions, tigers, snakes, and elephants grand,
Buffaloes, cows, gayals, across the land,
By scent, he tracks, their abodes he’ll find,
A fragrant wisdom, in his gifted mind.

The child in the womb, a boy or a girl,
By odor, he knows, a skill he’ll unfurl,
Dead or alive, in throes or healthy birth,
By scent, he knows, a gift of endless worth.

Men’s designs and passions, wicked or meek,
By scent, he senses, no need to speak,
Hypocrites and quiet souls, their odors tell,
A fragrant wisdom, in him, does dwell.

Treasures in the ground, gold, silver, and more,
Chests and metal pots, gems and jewels galore,
By scent, he knows, their places he’ll reveal,
A fragrant wisdom, his renowned appeal.

Necklaces and pearls, gems of every kind,
Priceless jewels, brilliant, in his nose, he’ll find,
By scent, he knows, their beauty and their worth,
A fragrant wisdom, none like it on earth.

Flowers above with gods, celestial bloom,
Mandâravas, Mañgûshakas, coral’s perfume,
By scent, he knows, from his earthly stand,
A fragrant wisdom, none like it in the land.

Aerial cars, lofty, low, and in between,
Brilliant forms shooting, their scents he’s seen,
By smell, he knows, without leaving his place,
A fragrant wisdom, a divine embrace.

Paradise, gods, Sudharmâ’s glorious hall,
Vaigayanta’s palace, angels in their thrall,
By scent, he knows, their joys and their ways,
A fragrant wisdom, his eternal praise.

Angels, houris, wreaths, and ornaments grand,
By scent, he knows, where they dally and stand,
Their dalliance and stay, their fragrant bloom,
A fragrant wisdom, his profound attune.

Gods, Brahmas, Brahmakâyas, in their cars,
Absorbed in meditation, near or far,
By scent, he knows, their meditative state,
A fragrant wisdom, none can replicate.

The Âbhâsvara angels, shooting, falling bright,
Appearing even if unseen by sight,
By scent, he knows, their angelic embrace,
A fragrant wisdom, none can replace.

Monks under Sugata, in walks and in reading,
By scent, he knows, their lessons and their heeding,
Disciples, tree-dwellers, each monk’s abode,
A fragrant wisdom, in him, it flowed.

Bodhisattvas, good memory and delight,
By scent, he knows, their lessons and their might,
Assiduous in preaching, their fragrant bloom,
A fragrant wisdom, his endless attune.

Sugata, great Seer, benign and bounteous,
By scent, he knows, the Lord’s voice wondrous,
The Lord of the universe, his law and crowd,
A fragrant wisdom, profound and proud.

The beings who hear the law, their joy and cheer,
The Jina’s assembly, by scent, it’s clear,
His organ of smell, its power divine,
Yet natural still, in perfect line.

A gift profound, yet not divine in its way,
Before the perfect, divine faculty’s day,
A fragrant wisdom, in him, does dwell,
Such is the story these verses tell.