At that time the Heavenly Worthy Who Saves from Suffering pervaded the realms of the ten directions. Always by his majestic spiritual power he rescues all beings, so that they may leave the path of delusion. Beings do not know or perceive it, like the blind seeing sun and moon. I am originally within the Great Nothing, lifting and leading without bound. Auspicious clouds open the gate of life; auspicious smoke blocks the door of death. First issuing forth from the Mysterious Primordial Beginning, to open the workings of auspicious response, saving from all sins, delivering from all distress. Far and remote, transcending the source of the immortals; vast and wide, clear as what is so of itself. All rely on the power of the Great Tao to subdue all demons and sprites. How brilliant it is in the void! Its name is the Immortal of the Niwan. Purple clouds cover the Yellow Elder; these are called the Lords of the Three Treasures. Taking again the qi of the upper heaven, they govern the souls of the nine heavens. The wondrous spirits who save from suffering: when the Good-Seeing One saves from suffering, heaven above is merged without distinction; the heavenly qi returns to the one body, and all become people who are so of themselves; being so of themselves, they have a distinct body. Originally within the hollow void, the hollow void leaves traces that are not traces, and the whole body is empty space. First, qi is entrusted and established; second, qi flows along and is born; third, the myriad methods are completed; fourth, light and brightness are born. Thirty-six in heaven above, thirty-six on earth below; the Great Mystery has no bounds—wondrous indeed is the Great Grotto Scripture. Take refuge in the Most High Worthy, who can dissolve all sins.
The Heavenly Worthy Jade Treasure Sovereign on High of the East; the Heavenly Worthy of Mysterious Truth and Myriad Blessings of the South; the Heavenly Worthy of Great Wonder and Utmost Extremity of the West; the Heavenly Worthy of the Mysterious Supreme Jade Star of the North; the Heavenly Worthy Supreme Sage Who Delivers Immortals of the Northeast; the Heavenly Worthy Who Loves Life and Delivers Destinies of the Southeast; the Heavenly Worthy Great Numinous Void Sovereign of the Southwest; the Heavenly Worthy of Immeasurable Great Splendor of the Northwest; the Heavenly Worthy Bright Sovereign of Jade Emptiness of the Zenith; the Heavenly Worthy True Sovereign of the Grotto Spirit of the Nadir.
The Tao says: The Heavenly Worthies of the ten directions are as numberless as the sands and dust. Transforming their forms in the realms of the ten directions, they universally save and deliver gods and humans. Entrusting their qi, they gather merit, and with one voice they save sinners. Sinners are truly pitiable; I now speak this wondrous scripture. Recite it without rest; return to it without pause. Then in the heavens one enjoys great blessings, and in the hells there are no cries of suffering. The fiery shade becomes a cool office; the sword trees change into qian trees. Above, one ascends to the Vermilion Tumulus Palace; below, one enters the Gate of Opening Light. Delivered from the troubles of the Three Realms, one goes straight up to the Heaven of the Primordial. Thereupon the Flying Heavenly Spirit Kings, in countless multitudes, gazed up at the Worthy's countenance and made a hymn, saying: The Heavenly Worthy speaks the teaching of the scripture, to receive and lead those in this floating life. Diligently cultivate and learn non-action; awaken to the truth, and the Tao is accomplished of itself. Neither deluded nor neglectful, without self and without name. Chant aloud the lines on sin and blessing; ten thousand times, and the mind's defilements are cleared.
At that time the Flying Heavenly Spirit Kings and the hosts of heavenly immortals, having spoken this hymn, bowed their heads to the Heavenly Worthy, took their leave, and withdrew.