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Protective Recitations

Ratana-Sutta

[SNP 13]
yān'īdha bhūtāni samāgatāni,
bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe.
sabb'eva bhūtā sumanā bhavantu,
atho pi sakkacca suṇantu bhāsitaṃ.

Pāli POS Grammar English
yānīdha
>yāni- pron nt.acc.pl those who, whoever, whatever
>idha ind here
bhūtāni noun nt.acc.pl beings, ghosts, spirits
samāgatāni pp nt.acc.pl met together; assembled
bhummāni adj nt.acc.pl belonging to the earth, earthly, terrestrial
ind or
yāni pron nt.acc.pl those who, whoever
ind or
antalikkhe noun nt.loc.sg in the atmosphere or in the air

whatever spirits have assembled here, belonging to the earth or in the sky

Pāli POS Grammar English
sabbā adj masc.nom.pl all
eva ind just
bhūtā noun masc.nom.pl beings, ghosts, spirits
sumanā adj masc.nom.pl glad, happy, pleased, satisfied, cheerful
bhavantu, verb imp.3.pl may they be
atho ind then; and also
pi ind also: and also; even so
sakkacca ind carefully, thoroughly, properly
suṇantu verb imp.3.pl may they listen, hear
bhāsitaṃ noun nt.acc.sg saying, speech, statement, utterance, talk, words lit. what was said

may all spirits be happy and also carefully listen intently (this) speech

tasmā hi bhūtā nisāmetha sabbe,
mettaṃ karotha mānusiyā pajāya.

Pāli POS Grammar English
tasmā ind therefore
hi ind indeed
bhūtā noun masc.v.pl o beings, ghosts, spirits
nisāmetha v.caus imp.2.pl may you attend, listen, observe, be careful of lit: cause to calm down (and listern)
sabbe pron masc.nom.pl all; every; whole; entire
mettaṃ noun fem.acc.sg goodwill; friendliness; benevolence
karotha verb imp.2.pl may you do; act; make
mānusiyā adj fem.dat.sg to existing in the human world, belonging to human, to human's
pajāya noun fem.dat.sg to progeny, generation

therefore, spirits, may you all listen and act friendly to the human's generation

divā ca ratto ca haranti ye baliṃ,
tasmā hi ne rakkhatha appamattā.

Pāli POS Grammar English
divā ca ind adv and by day
ratto ca ind adv and by night
haranti verb pr.3.pl they bring, carry
ye pron masc.acc.pl whatever
baliṃ noun masc.acc.sg religious offering, oblation
tasmā ind therefore
hi ind indeed
ne pron masc.acc.pl them, those
rakkhatha verb imp.2.pl may you protect
appamattā adj masc.nom.pl vigilant; careful; alert; diligent; not negligent

by day and night, they give offerings, therefore, may you, who are heedful, protect theṃ

yaṃ kiñci vittaṃ idha vā huraṃ vā,
saggesu vā yaṃ ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ.
na no samaṃ atthi tathāgatena,

Pāli POS Grammar English
yaṃ pron nt.nom.sg whatever
kiñci pron nt.nom.sg some, something, anything
vittaṃ noun nt.nom.sg wealth; property
idha vā ind here or
huraṃ vā ind there, in the other world, in another existence or
saggesu vā noun masc.loc.pl in heavens, places of happiness and long life
yaṃ pron nt.nom.sg whatever
ratanaṃ noun nt.nom.sg gem, jewel, treasure
paṇītaṃ adj nt.nom.sg superior, sublime, refined; lit. directed towards
na ind neg not
no pron 1.dat.pl for us, to us
samaṃ adj nt.nom.sg even; equal
atthi verb pr.3.sg there is, it is, it does
tathāgatena noun masc.ins.sg with / by the Tathāgata, Thus-Gone One.

whatever any wealth, here or in the other world, — whatever superior treasure in the heavens, does not, for us, equal to the Thus-Gone One

idam'pi buddhe ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ.
etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Pāli POS Grammar English
idam'pi pron masc.nom.sg just this, this too
buddhe noun masc.loc.sg in the Buddha
ratanaṃ noun nt.nom.sg gem, jewel, treasure
paṇītaṃ adj nt.nom.sg superior, sublime, refined; lit. directed towards
etena pron nt.ins.sg by this
saccena noun nt.ins.sg by the truth
suvatthi noun safety, well-being, blessing su+[v]+√as+ti
hotu verb imp.3.sg may it be

this, too, is a superior treasure in the Buddha. by this truth may there be well-being.

khayaṃ virāgaṃ amataṃ paṇītaṃ,
yad-ajjhagā sakya-munī samāhito.
na tena dhammena sam-atthi kiñci,

Pāli POS Grammar English
khayaṃ noun masc.acc.sg waste, destruction, consumption decay
virāgaṃ noun masc.acc.sg dispassion; absence of desire.
amataṃ noun nt.acc.sg the deathless state
paṇītaṃ, adj nt.acc.sg excellent; delicious
yad- pron masc.acc.sg that which
ajjhagā verb imperf.3.sg got, obtained, achieved, experienced
sakya-muni noun masc.nom.sg the noble sage of the Sakyans.
samāhito pp masc.nom.sg collected (of mind), settled, composed, firṃ attentive
na ind neg not
tena pron masc.ins.sg by that
dhammena noun masc.ins.sg by teaching
sama- adj even; equal; level; similar
atthi verb pr.3.sg there is, it is, it does
kiñci pron nt.nom.sg some, something, anything

the excellent deathlessness, destruction and dispassion, that which has been achieved by the settled Sakyan Sage. There is nothing equal to that Dhamma

yaṃ buddha-seṭṭho parivaṇṇayī suciṃ,

Pāli POS Grammar English
samādhim'ānantarikañ'ñam'āhu.

samādhinā tena samo na vijjati,

Pāli POS Grammar English
yaṃ pron masc.acc.sg that what
buddha- noun the Buddha
seṭṭho adj masc.nom.sg foremost; excellent, best
parivaṇṇayi verb aor.3.sg has praised all around, extolled, described
suciṃ, adj masc.acc.sg pure, clean, white
samādhiṃ- noun masc.acc.sg stability of mind; concentration
ānantarikaṃ- adj masc.acc.sg without interval, immediate; with immediate results
yaṃ- pron masc.acc.sg that what
āhu verb perf.3.pl they has said, called
samādhinā noun masc.ins.sg by stability of mind; concentration
tena pron masc.ins.sg by that
samo adj masc.nom.sg even; equal; level; similar
na ind neg not
vijjati, verb pr.3.sg exists; to be found.

what the excellent awakened one described as pure and called the stability of mind with immediate results. no equal to that concentration can be found

ye puggalā aṭṭha sataṃ pasatthā,
cattāri etāni yugāni honti.
te dakkhiṇeyyā sugatassa sāvakā,
etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni.

Pāli POS Grammar English
ye pron masc.nom.pl those which
puggalā noun masc.nom.pl an individual; a people
aṭṭha adj masc.nom.pl eight
sataṃ noun masc.gen.pl of virtuous people, of good people, of wise people, of sages
pasatthā, pp masc.nom.pl praised; commended; extolled
cattāri adj nt.nom.pl four
etāni pron nt.nom.pl those
yugāni noun nt.nom.pl pairs
honti verb pr.3.pl they are, there are
te pron masc.nom.pl those
dakkhiṇeyyā adj masc.nom.pl worthy of an offering
sugatassa noun masc.gen.sg of the Buddha, one well-gone
sāvakā, noun masc.nom.pl hearers; disciples
etesu pron masc.loc.pl in those, in them
dinnāni noun nt.nom.pl what is given; offered, gifts
mahapphalāni adj nt.nom.pl rich in result

the eight individuals, praised by the virtuous people, they are those four pairs. they worthy of an offerings, disciples of the one well-gone. what is given to them is rich in result

ye suppayuttā manasā daḷhena,
nikkāmino gotama-sāsanamhi.
te patti-pattā amataṃ vigayha,
laddhā mudhā nibbutiṃ bhuñjamānā.

Pāli POS Grammar English
ye pron masc.nom.pl those who
suppayuttā pp masc.nom.pl well applied, intent on, devoted to
manasā noun masc.ins.sg with mind
daḷhena, adj masc.ins.sg with firm, strong, solid; steady,
nikkāmino adj masc.ins.sg with effort, endurance, persistence, lit. going out
gotama- adj family name of the Buddha; lit. of the Gotama clan
sāsanamhi noun masc.loc.sg in the Teaching, message
te pron masc.nom.pl those
patti- noun fem attainment, acquisition
pattā pp masc.nom.pl reached; attained; obtained
amataṃ noun nt.acc.sg deathless state
vigayha, verb abs having entered or plunged into
laddhā verb abs having got, received, or attained
mudhā ind gratis; for nothing, freely
nibbutiṃ noun fem.acc.sg extinguishment; being quenched; being put out; going cold
bhuñjamānā prp masc.nom.pl enjoying

those who with firm mind, with effort, well applied in Gotama's Teaching, reached attainment, having plunged into the Deathlessness, having got, they enjoy the peace freely.

yath'inda-khīlo pathaviṃ sito siyā,
catubbhi vātehi asampakampiyo.
tath'ūpamaṃ sappurisaṃ vadāmi,
yo ariya-saccāni avecca passati.

Pāli POS Grammar English
yathā- ind as; like; just as
indakhīlo noun masc.nom.sg Indra's column, gate post of a city
pathaviṃ noun fem.acc.sg (in) the earth, ground
sito pp masc.nom.sg planted (in); fixed (to); lying (in); lit. dependent
siyā, verb opt.3.sg it could be
catubbhi card masc.ins.pl by four
vātehi noun masc.ins.pl by winds
asampakampiyo. ptp masc.nom.sg not can be shaken, not can be moved
tathā- ind thus; so; in that way; likewise
upamaṃ adj masc.acc.sg like, similar, equal
sappurisaṃ noun masc.acc.sg righteous person, worthy man
vadāmi, verb pr.1.sg I speak, say
yo pron masc.nom.sg that who
ariyasaccāni noun nt.acc.pl noble truths.
avecca ind certainly, definitely, absolutely, perfectly
passati verb pr.3.sg sees, understands

as the indra's post, planted in the ground, could not be shaken by the four winds, similar to that the worthy man, I say, who perfectly understands the noble truths

ye ariya-saccāni vibhāvayanti,
gambhīra-paññena sudesitāni.
kiñcāpi te honti bhusa-p'pamattā,
na te bhavaṃ aṭṭhamam-ādiyanti.

Pāli POS Grammar English
ye pron masc.nom.pl those who
ariyasaccāni noun nt.acc.pl noble truths.
vibhāvayanti, verb pr.3.pl they understand clearly
gambhīra- adj deep, profound, unfathomable, well founded
paññena adj masc.ins.sg by wise, intelligent, learned, knowledgeable skilled
sudesitāni pp nt.acc.pl well preached
kiñcāpi ind however much, even if, even though
te pron masc.nom.pl they
honti verb pr.3.pl they are
bhusaṃ- ind adv exceedingly, extremely
pamattā, adj masc.nom.pl careless, heedless, negligent, inattentive
na ind neg not
te pron masc.nom.pl they
bhavaṃ noun masc.acc.sg existence, state of being
aṭṭhamaṃ- adj masc.acc.sg eighth
adiyanti verb pr.3.pl they take up; seize on, grasp, appropriate

those who understand clearly the noble truths, well-taught by the one of deep wisdom. even if they are exceedingly heedless, do not take up the eighth existence

sahā'v'assa dassana-sampadāya,
taya'ssu dhammā jahitā bhavanti.
sakkāya-diṭṭhi vicikicchitañ'ca,
sīlabbataṃ vā'pi yad'atthi kiñci.

Pāli POS Grammar English
saha- ind with, together, accompanied by
eva ind just
assa pron masc.gen.sg his, one's
dassana- noun insight, seeing, vision
sampadāya, noun fem.ins.sg with success; attainment
tayo- adj three
ssu ind certainly; definitely; exactly
dhammā noun masc.nom.pl things
jahitā pp masc.nom.pl left; abandoned.
bhavanti verb pr.3.pl become
sakkāyadiṭṭhi noun masc.nom.sg view about self; identification with aggregates; identity-view; lit. view of existing body
vicikicchitaṃ ca, noun nt.nom.sg and doubt
sīlabbataṃ noun nt.nom.sg precepts and practices; ethics and observances; rites and rituals
vā'pi ind definitely even
yad- pron nt.nom.sg whatever
atthi verb pr.3.sg there is
kiñci pron nt.nom.sg some, something, anything

By the attainment of one's insight, exactly three things will become abandoned: identity-views, doubt and definitely any (attachment) to precepts and practices.

catūh'apāyehi ca vippamutto,
cha c'ābhiṭhānāni abhabbo kātuṃ

Pāli POS Grammar English
catūh- adj masc.abl.pl from four
apāyehi noun masc.abl.pl from hells; states of loss and woe
ca ind conj and
vippamutto, pp masc.nom.sg released, set free, saved
cha adj x.acc.pl six (6)
ca- ind and
abhiṭhānāni noun nt.acc.pl great or deadly crimes
abhabbo adj masc.nom.sg impossible, not likely, unable, incapable
kātuṃ verb inf to do

released from the four hells, and incapable to do the six great crimes

kiñcāpi so kammaṃ karoti pāpakaṃ,
kāyena vācāy-uda cetasā vā.
abhabbo so tassa paṭicchadāya,
abhabbatā diṭṭha-padassa vuttā.

Pāli POS Grammar English
kiñcāpi ind however much, even if, even though
so pron masc.nom.sg he
kammaṃ noun nt.acc.sg action, deed
karoti verb pr.3.sg done, performs, makes
pāpakaṃ, adj nt.acc.sg bad, wicked; sinful
kāyena noun masc.ins.sg by body
vācāya noun fem.ins.sg by word; speech; saying.
uda ind or
cetasā noun masc.ins.sg by mind
ind or
abhabbo adj masc.nom.sg impossible, not likely, unable, incapable
so pron masc.nom.sg he
tassa pron masc.dat.sg to this
paṭicchadāya, adj masc.dat.sg to hiding, covering, concealing
abhabbatā noun fem.nom.sg impossibility, unlikelihood
diṭṭha- pp seen; found; understood
padassa noun masc.dat.sg for way, path
vuttā pp fem.nom.sg said, ascribed

even if he performs bad deed, by body, speech, or mind, he is incapable to hiding this, an incapability is said about one who has seen the way

vana-p'pagumbe yathā phussi't'agge,
gimhāna-māse paṭhamasmiṃ gimhe.
tath-ūpamaṃ dhamma-varaṃ adesayi,
nibbāna-gāmiṃ paramaṃ hitāya

Pāli POS Grammar English
vana- noun forest; wood
pagumbe noun masc.loc.sg in thicket, bush, clump of trees
yathā ind as; like; just as
phussita- pp nourished, blossomed, flowering
agge, adj masc.loc.sg in highest part, in top
gimhāna- noun summer, summerly, the summer season
māse noun masc.loc.sg in month
paṭhamasmiṃ adj masc.loc.sg in first
gimhe noun masc.loc.sg in hot
tathā- ind so, thus, in this way, likewise
upamaṃ adj masc.acc.sg like; similar
dhammavaraṃ noun masc.acc.sg the excellent Doctrine
adesayi, verb aor.3.sg he taught a+ √dis (aya) + i
nibbānagāmiṃ adj masc.acc.sg leading to putting out the fire, to Nibbāna
paramaṃ adj masc.acc.sg superior; best; excellent, highest
hitāya adj masc.dat.sg for benefit

like in the forest thicket the top part is flowering, in the first month of the hot season, in the hot, so is the excellent Doctrine he taught, for the highest benefit, leading to Nibbāna

varo vara'ññū vara'do var'āharo,
anuttaro dhamma-varaṃ adesayi.

Pāli POS Grammar English
varo adj masc.nom.sg excellent; noble
vara'ññū adj masc.nom.sg knower the best , who knowing the best
vara'do adj masc.nom.sg giver the best
var'āharo, adj masc.nom.sg one who bring the best
anuttaro adj masc.nom.sg "nothing higher", without a superior incomparable, unexcelled
dhammavaraṃ noun masc.acc.sg the excellent Doctrine.
adesayi. verb aor.3.sg he taught a+ √dis (aya) + i

excellent one, who knowing the best, giver the best, who bringing the best, unexcelled, he taught the excellent Doctrine

khīṇaṃ purāṇaṃ navaṃ n'atthi sambhavaṃ,
viratta-citt'āyatike bhavasmiṃ.
te khīṇa-bījā avirūḷhi-chandā,
nibbanti dhīrā yath'āyaṃ padīpo.

Pāli POS Grammar English
khīṇaṃ pp nt.nom.sg exhausted; wasted
purāṇaṃ adj nt.nom.sg ancient; old; worn out; used; former.
navaṃ adj nt.nom.sg new, fresh
natthi verb pr.3.sg there is no
sambhavaṃ, noun nt.nom.sg origin; birth
viratta- pp detached (from); without desire (for); become indifferent (to); lost interest (in)
citta- noun mind
āyatike adj masc.loc.sg in future
bhavasmiṃ noun masc.loc.sg being, existence, becoming
te pron masc.nom.pl they
khīṇa'bījā adj masc.nom.pl who has destroyed the seed; with no possibility of rebirth
avirūḷhi- noun absence of growth
chandā, noun masc.nom.pl interest (in); desire (for); wish (for); intention (to); impulse (for)
nibbanti verb pr.3.pl are completely quenched; are entirely emancipated; are completely cooled; lit. blow away
dhīrā noun masc.nom.pl wise people
yathā- ind like, as
ayaṃ- pron masc.acc.sg this
padīpo noun masc.nom.sg lamp, light, lighting

Former (birth) are exhausted, there is no new birth, with mind without desire for future existence. They destroyed seed (of existence) and without impulse to grow (this seed of existence), the wise people are completely quenched as this lamp

tathāgataṃ deva-manussa-pūjitaṃ,
buddhaṃ namassāma suvatthi hotu.

Pāli POS Grammar English
tathāgataṃ noun masc.acc.sg such become, realised, being in such a state thus gone or thus came
devamanussa- noun gods and men
pūjitaṃ, pp masc.acc.sg worshipped, venerated, honored
buddhaṃ noun masc.acc.sg the Buddha
namassāma verb imp.1.pl let us worship, venerate, honor, pay honor
suvatthi noun safety, well-being, blessing su+[v]+√as+ti
hotu verb imp.3.sg may it be

let us pay homage to the Buddha, the such become worshipped by humans and gods. may there be well-being

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