Universal Worthy [Bodhisattva]
“What is ‘Universal’? It means his way pervades everywhere. What does ‘Worthy’ mean? It means ‘his virtue is a sage’s virtue. ’ His conduct is identical to the conduct of the foremost sages.

Commentary

“There are four great Bodhisattvas: Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva is foremost in wisdom; the Bodhisattva Who Observes the Sounds of the World [Avalokiteśvara] is foremost in great compassion; Earth Store [Kṣitigarbha] Bodhisattva is foremost in strength of vows; Universal Worthy [Samantabhadra] Bodhisattva is foremost in practice.” (UW 5-6)

Universal Worthy Bodhisattva arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha’s feet, and said to the Buddha, ‘I have been a Dharma Prince with as many Thus Come Ones as there are sands in the Ganges. The Thus Come Ones of the ten directions tell their disciples who have the roots of a Bodhisattva to cultivate the Universal Worthy Conduct, which is named after me.

‘World Honored One, I use my mind to listen and distinguish the knowledge and views of living beings. In other regions as many realms away as there are sands in the Ganges, if there is any living being who discovers the conduct of Universal Worthy, I immediately mount my six-tusked elephant and create hundreds of thousands of reduplicated bodies which go to those places. Although their obstacles may be so heavy that they do not see me, I secretly rub the crowns of their heads, protect and comfort them, and help them to be successful.’ (SS V 65-67)


Chinese / Sanskrit Terms

普賢《菩薩》 ; Samantabhadra