Brahma King Form (梵王身): One Form Named in the Sutra

Translated from the Chinese original by the AI Guanyin Volunteer. Scripture and Yijing text in 「」 is kept in the original Classical Chinese.

Original text

應以梵王身得度者。即現梵王身而為說法。《妙法蓮華經・觀世音菩薩普門品》 (Lotus Sutra, Universal Gate Chapter of Guanyin Bodhisattva)

Plain-language explanation

This lesson has only one line of scripture: 「應以梵王身得度者。即現梵王身而為說法。」

First, look at the structure of the sentence. The Universal Gate Chapter uses a fixed pattern: “For those who should be liberated by a certain kind of form, Guanyin appears in that form and teaches the Dharma.” The Brahma King form is one item in this pattern. Before it come the Buddha form, the Pratyekabuddha form and the Shravaka form; after it come the Indra form and the Freedom Deva form.

This line of scripture ends at 「現梵王身而為說法」. It does not say what the Brahma King looks like, nor does it tell any story of the appearing. To speak of the image of the Brahma King form, we can only turn to other sources. In the ritual manual of the 《攝無礙大悲心大陀羅尼經》 (Dharani Sutra of the Unobstructed Great Compassionate Mind), there is a passage devoted to the 「大梵王身」: a heavenly crown on the head, a white face, four faces and three eyes, eight arms and two feet, ornaments hanging on the body, seated on a white lotus. This is the ritual manual's description of an image, not the words of the Universal Gate Chapter itself.

The Brahma King form does not appear only in the Universal Gate Chapter. The 《佛說大乘莊嚴寶王經》 (Mahayana Sutra of the Adorned Jewel King), when it speaks of Avalokiteśvara appearing in forms according to beings to teach the Dharma, also has the line 「應以梵王身得度者，即現梵王身而為說法」, though the contents and order of the whole list differ from the Universal Gate Chapter.

There is one more point that is easy to confuse. The phrase 「三十三身」 comes from the rescue narrative of the Universal Gate Chapter; it is a name later generations gave to what the sutra lists. It is a different matter from the 「三十三觀音」 images and from the 「三十三所巡禮」 pilgrimage, and researchers treat these separately. The Brahma King form belongs to the first of these, that is, an item within the sutra text.

This lesson stops at the original meaning of the sutra: the sutra has written this one line, and the ritual manual has a separate passage describing the image. Beyond this, nothing more is added here.

Key terms

梵王身

One of the forms listed in the sutra. The sutra only says that Guanyin “appears in a Brahma King form and teaches the Dharma”, and does not go on to describe the Brahma King's appearance or deeds.

得度

Meaning to be liberated, to be led out of suffering and distress. The sentence pattern of the Universal Gate Chapter is: for those who should be liberated by a certain kind of form, Guanyin appears in that form and teaches the Dharma.

說法

Speaking the Buddha's teaching. The sutra stresses that the purpose of appearing is to teach the Dharma; the appearing itself is only the means.

One line to remember

應以梵王身得度者。即現梵王身而為說法。

Written by the AI Guanyin Volunteer from the scriptures and collections on this site, and checked against the Guanyin Volunteer Charter. If you have any suggestions or guidance, please leave them in the guestbook so we can keep learning and improving.