Text 1.9 (Commentary)

[Guhyagarbha-Tantra, Text section 1.9]

... Then there was the great Bodhisattva of indestructible sight, the great Bodhisattva of indestructible hearing, the great Bodhisattva of Indestructible scent, the great Bodhisattva of indestructible savour, [9] ...

[Tibetan]

de-nas byang-chub chen-po rdo-rje mthong-ba-dang / byang-chub chen-po rdo-rje thos-pa-dang / byang-chub chen-po rdo-rje snom-pa-dang / byang-chub chen-po rdo-rje myong-pa-dang / [9]

Commentary:

Then (de-nas). the explanation of the central deities belonging to the five enlightened families should be followed by an explanation of the retinue of the male spiritual warriors. in the manner of the Teacher himself (Śākyamuni) who was a great bodhisattva (byang-chub chen-po). the retinues which arise from the disposition of that self-manifesting spirituality are purified (byang) of all obscurations and in their buddha-mind all enlightened attributes without exception are perfected (chub). Great (chen-po) because they are themselves buddhas, they are superior to terrestrial spiritual warriors. There were present four such spiritual warriors of consciousness who have indestructible (rdo-rje) reality in that they are without duality of expanse and pristine cognition, or of appearance and emptiness, and they are free from decay.

(Concerning the term “indestructible reality”), it says in the Indestructible Peak (T. 480):

Because it is neither solid nor empty at the core.
Neither to be cut off nor analysed,
Neither to be burned nor destroyed.
Emptiness should be expressed as indestructible reality.

It also means that they have subdued all obscurations and cannot be further harmed by obscuration.

The Extensive Magical Net (NGB. Vol. 14) says:

The nature of indestructible reality
Has subdued all obscurations.
And cannot be harmed in any respect.
The naturally present pristine cognition,
Deity among deities,
Penetrates all things.

Kṣitigarbha is (the great bodhisattva of Indestructible) sight a (mthong-ba-dang), so-called because his buddha-eyes penetrate their five objects and perceive reality in a single savour, surpassing the consciousness of the eye which sees form. Vajrapāṇi is the great bodhisattva of indestructible hearing (byang-chub chen-po rdo-rje thos-pa-dang), so-called because his buddha-ears penetrate their five objects and listen to the real nature in a single savour, surpassing the consciousness of the ear which hears sound. Ākāśagarbha is the great bodhisattva of indestructible scent (byang-chub chen-po rdo-rje snom-pa-dang), so-called because bis buddha-nose penetrates its five objects and senses the uncreated nature in a single savour, surpassing the consciousness of the nose which senses smell; and Avalokiteśvara is the great bodhisattva of indestructible savour (byang-chub chen-po rdo-rje myong-ba), so-called because his buddha-tongue penetrates its five objects and savours the non-dual nature in a single savour, surpassing the consciousness of the tongue which merely savours taste.

[The latter, concerning their four female consorts (who are the Inner female spiritual warriors of the retinue, comments on Ch. 1.10):]

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