"...The Maharaja Deva Kings of the four quarters rose reverently from their seats and said to Shakyamuni Buddha, “Honoured of the World, since Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has made such great vows kalpas and kalpas ago, why are there still unconverted beings and why was it necessary for Ksitigarbha to renew his vows?”
Shakyamuni Buddha told the four Deva Kings, “Very well, your question is very good.
For the welfare of the four Deva Kings, devas and beings of the Heavens or the worlds, at this time and for the future, I shall tell you how Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva with great compassion, relieved erring beings of the Samsara world from the ocean of birth and death, leading them to emancipation.”
The four Deva Kings replied, “We will listen most attentively to your words.”
Shakyamuni Buddha continued, “Although Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has converted erring beings through the kalpas, he is still not satisfied.
He has great pity for those who wander in sin, knowing that no matter how hard they try, they will fall back into erring actions again and again.
They are like link-grass which spread far and wide. Therefore, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has renewed his vows again and again. He has unceasingly tried to find upaya (devices) suitable for saving the sinful and converting them to the Eternal Truth .”
Then Shakyamuni Buddha spoke again to the four Deva Kings, saying, “If Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva encounters beings who commit sin by killing, he helps them to realise that such sins shorten their lives.
If he encounters thieves and robbers, he will lead them to understand that such evil actions will bring suffering and poverty to those who commit them.
When he meets adulterers, he tells them that they will be reborn as pigeons which are inseparable.
He tells those addicted to harsh language that they will be born into quarrelsome families.
If scandalmongers are met, then he warns them of the danger of being born without tongues or with horrible boils in their mouths.
He assures those with hot temper that they may risk being reborn with ugly faces and deformed bodies.
Misers will not be successful in gaining their wishes, greedy beings will suffer hunger and thirst, and sickness of the throat.
When he encounters hunters, he warns them that they are in danger of dying by violence.
Those who are guilty of disrespect for their parents will die in warfare.
Those who burn forests will die mentally unbalanced.
Those who are unkind to step-children will eventually receive the same treatment.
Those who catch living things in nets will be separated from their children and families.
Those who despise the Triple-gems will be reborn deaf, dumb and blind.
Those who have no respect for the Teachings of the Buddha are always reborn in the evil realms of suffering.
Those who steal from temples will be reborn in Hells for kalpas and kalpas.
Monks and nuns guilty of sexual misconduct will be reborn as animals endlessly. Also the laity will be included in this punishment if they are well instructed in the precepts but violate them.
Those beings who harm people with boiling water, fire, cutting or otherwise injuring them will, in their next life, receive the same treatment.
Those who encourage others to break the precepts shall be reborn as animals- always suffering from hunger.
Those who are guilty of stupid extravagance will never get their wishes fulfilled.
Those who are proud and look down on others will have low births.
Gossips and tale-bearers will be reborn without tongues or else with one hundred tongues.
Those who cling to wrong views will be reborn in uncivilised places and endure suffering.”
“Erring beings who commit sins in actions, words and thoughts are countless, that I can only tell you some of them.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva knows that erring being are different from one another and he accommodates himself to lead and teach them all, leading them to conversion.
Evil beings suffer in this lifetime for their evil deeds and upon death will be reborn into the Hells for kalpas and kalpas before they can emerge therefrom.
It is the duty of you Deva Kings of the Four Quarters to protect your subjects and countries and lead them away from the countless sins.”
After hearing this discourse, the Deva Kings wept and departed sorrowfully, with clasped hands, reverently...."
From: The Ksitigharba Bodhisattva Sutra
