Invocation /
Mangala Sutta

Ratana
Sutta

Metta
Sutta

Khandha
Sutta

Mora
Sutta

Vatta
Sutta

Dhajagga
Sutta

Atanatiya
Sutta

Angulimala
Sutta

Bojjhanga
Sutta

Pubbanha
Sutta

RATANA SUTTA

panidhanato patthaya Tathagatassa dasa paramiyo,

dasa upapkamiyo dasa paramatthaparamiyoti

samatimsa paramiyo

panca mahapariccage lokatthacariyam natatthacariyam buddhatthacariyanti tisso cariyayo

paccbimabhave gabbhavokkantim jatim abhinikkhamanam

padhanacariyam bodhipallanke maravijayam

sabbannutannanappativedham dhammacakkappavattanam nava lokuttaradhammeti

sabbepime Buddhagune avajjetva

Vesaliya tisu pakarantaresu

tiyamarattim parittam karonto

ayasma Anandatthero viya

karunnacittam upatthapetva.

kotisatasahassesu, cakkavalesu devata;

yassanam patigganhanti yanca Vesaliya pure.

rogamanussadubbhikkha sambhutam tividham bhayam;

khippamantaradhapesi parittam tam bhanama he.

yanidha bhutani samagatni,

bhummani va yani va antalikkhe;

sabba va bhuta sumana bhavantu,

athopi sakkacca sunantu bhasitam.

Tasma hi bhuta nisametha sabbe,

mettam karotha manusiya pajaya;

diva ca ratto ca haranti ye balim,

tasma hi ne rakkhatha appamatta.

yam kinci vittam idha va huram va,

saggesu va yam ratanam panitam:

na no samam atthi Tathagatena,

idampi Buddhe ratanam panitam,

etena saccena suvatthi hotu

khayam viragam amatam panitam,

yad-ajjhaga Sakyamuni samahito;

na tena dhammena samatthi kinci;

idampi Dhamme ratanam panitam,

etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Yem Buddhasettho parivannayi sucim,

samadhim-anantarikannam-ahu,

samadhim tena samo na vijjati;

idampi Dhamme ratanam panitam,

etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

ye puggala attha satam pasattha,

cattari etani yugani honti,

te dakkhineyya Sugatassa savaka,

etesu dinnani mahapphalani;

idampi Samghe ratanam panitam,

etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

ye suppayutta manasa dalhena,

nikkamino Gotamasasanamhi;

te pattipatta amatam vigayha,

laddha mudha nibbutim bhujamana;

Idampi Samghe ratanam panitam,

etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

yathindakhilo pathavissito siya,

catubbhi vatehi asampakampiyo;

tathupamam sappurisam vadami,

yo ariyasaccani avecca passati;

idampi Samghe ratanam panitam,

etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

ye ariyasaccani vibhavayanti,

gambhirapannena sudesitani;

kincapi te honti bhusam pamatta,

na te bhavam atthamam-adiyanti;

idampi Samghe ratanam panitam,

etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

saha-v-assa dassanasampadaya,

tayassu dhamma jahita bhavanti;

sakkayaditthi vicikicchitanca,

silabbatam va pi yad-atthi kinci;

catuh-apayehi ca vippamutto,

chaccabhithanani abhabba katum,

idampi Samghe ratanam panitam,

etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

kincapi so kammam karoti papakam,

kayena vaca uda cetasa va;

abhabba so tassa paticchadaya,

abhhabbata ditthapadassa vutta;

idampi Samghe ratana panitam,

etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

vanappagumbe yatha phussitagge,

gimhina mise pathamasmim gimhe;

tathupamam dhammavaram adesayi,

nibbinagamim paramam hitaya;

idampi Buddhe ratanam panitam,

etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

varo varannu varado varaharo,

anuttaro dhammavaram adesayi;

idampi Buddhe ratanam panitam,

etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

khinam puranam, nava n'atthi sambhavam,

virattacitta-yatike bhavasmim,

nibbanti dnira yatnayam padipo;

idampi Samghe ratanam panitam,

etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

yanidha bhutani samagatani,

bhummani va yani va antaikkhe;

tathagatam devamanussapujitam,

Buddnam namassama suvatthi hotu.

yanidha bhutani samagatini,

bnummani va yani va antalikkhe;

tatnagatam devamanussapujitam,

Dhammam namassama suvatthi hotu.

yanidha bhutani samagatini,

bhummani va yani va antalikkhe;

tathagatam devamanussapujitam,

Samgnam namassama suvatthi hotu.

Ratana Suttam Nitthitam.

RATANA SUTTA

2. DISCOURSE ON PRECIOUS JEWELS

An Historical Sketch

        During the lifetime of our Lord Buddha the city of Vesali was afflicted by famine, which killed thousands of poverty stricken families. Due to the presence of decaying corpses the evil spirits haunted the city, and led to inevitable pestilence. Plagued by these three perils of famine, devils and pestilence, the Vesalians sought the help of the Buddha who was then dwelling at Rajagaha. Moved by deep compassionate love, Lord Buddha marched to the plagued city of Vesali, followed by hundreds of monks including the Venerable Ananda. No sooner had the Lord arrived at the city, than the torrential rains poured down and swept away the putrefying dead bodies. So the city was cleansed and the atmosphere became purified. Then the Buddha delivered the Discourse on Precious Jewels to the Venerable Ananda and instructed him to tour the city reciting the discourse as a means of protection to the citizens of Vesali.

        The Venerable Ananda obeyed the command and sprinkled the holy water from the alms-bowl of the Lord, to banish the evil spirits consequently. And eventually the pestilence subsided.

         Thereafter the Venerable Ananda reported the events promptly to the Lord, who was awaiting his arrival at the City Hall of Vesali. Then again Lord Buddha recited the same discourse and explained the intrinsic value of the text to the assembled disciples. Thus the recitation of the discourse had been approved by the Lord and the assembly.

        According to the standard Burmese Version, this discourse is composed of twenty one blank verses including the introductory prelude. This sutta is usually treated as an exegesis of the virtues of three Precious Jewels namely, Buddha, Dhamma and Samgha.

        Ratana=Precious Jewel; Gem; Preciousness

         The Minor Readings: P.T.S. tr. Bhikkhu Nanamoli, Luzag and Co. Ltd. London. 1960. pp. 4-6. The Jewel Discourse

         The Illustrator of Ultimate Meaning: P.T.S. Chapter VI. pp. 172-222.

   Retrospecting all these virtues of the Lord Buddha such as: commencing from the time of his Noble Vow (pledged in the presence of Lord Dipankara, to become a Buddha) the Tathagata had fulfilled all the thirty (Paramitas) Perfections, viz: the ten ordinary Perfections, the ten (Upaparamitas) superior Perfections, and the ten (Paramattha Paramitas) supreme Perfections;

   the five Great Sacrifices;

   the three modes of Practice, viz:

   the practice for the welfare of the world, for the welfare of kinsmen and relatives, and for the benefit of his attainment of Buddhahood;

   and that he had been naturally conceived in his mother's womb in this last existence;

   his nativity; the Great Renunciation; the experience of Austerity;

   the Conquest upon (five types of) Death (Mara) being seated under the Bo tree; the Discernment of Omniscient Wisdom;

   expounding the sermon of the Rotating of the Wheel of Law (Dhammacakkappavattana sutta);

   and the nine supramundane laws:

Reverend Ananda the Elder, the protective recitation through the three watches of the night,

   within the three walls of the city of Vesali.

   Having established such a sympathetic mind as Reverend Ananda did,

   the glory of which had been accepted by the deities who have assembled in the hundred-thousand-crores of universes,

   and in the city of Vesali,

   by the power of which the three types of disasters, that broke out due to epidemic diseases, inhuman beings, and famine

   were also eradicated promptly,

   Oh thou!, Let us recite this discourse of protection

   Whatever so be May mind,

   beings are assembled here they terrestrial or celestial all beings have peaceful

   And also listen attentively to these words.

   Therefore, O beings, listen closely. Radiate loving-kindness to your fellow beings.

   By day and by night, they bring offerings to you

   Therefore protect them well with diligence.

   Whatever treasure there be either here or in the world beyond;

   whatever precious jewel there be in the heavenly abodes;

   none is there equal to the Perfect One.

   This precious jewel (holiness) is the Enlightened One.

   By this asseveration of the Truth, may there be the perfect bliss.

   That Cessation, Detachment, and holy Immortality

   has been realized by the perfectly meditated Sakyan-Sage

   There is no equal ideal to this Dhamma

   This holy jewel indeed lies in the Dhamma

   By this asseveration of the Truth, may there be the perfect bliss.

   The Supreme Enlightened One extolled the path of purity

   calling it the Concentration which yields infallible result immediately

   No equal is there to such concentration

   this holy jewel indeed lies in the Dhamma

   By this asservation of the Truth may there be the perfect best bliss.

   The eight persons are extolled by holy men;

   And they constituted four pairs, they are the disciples of the Sublime Lord worthy of offerings.

   Gifts offered to them yield rich results.

   This holy jewel, indeed lies in the Sangha

   By this asseveration of the Truth may there be the perfect bliss.

   Striving well with a steadfast mind,

   they are liberated during the Dispensation of Gotama Buddha.

   They have attained the highest state, having encountered the Immortality.

   They enjoy the Perfect Peace which they obtained without obligation.

   This precious jewel (holiness) is in the Sangha.

   By this asseveration of the truth may there be the perfect bliss.

   As a post deep planted in the earth stands

   unshaken by the winds blast from four quarters.

   So also I declare the righteous man is unshaken

   who sees the Noble Truths through discriminating wisdom.

   This precious jewel (holiness) is

   in the Sangha.

By this asseveration of the Truth, may there be the perfect bliss.

   Those who develope the Noble Truths well expounded by the Lord of Profound Wisdom

   even though they may be exceedingly heedless;

   Still they do not take an eighth existence (in the realm of Kama bhumi).

   This precious jewel (holiness) is in the Sangha.

   By this asseveration of the Truth may there be the perfect bliss.

   Simultaneously with his accomplishment of Insight

   Three mental aspects are abandoned

   namely individualism, doubt, and Indulgence

   in futile rites and rituals, and other defilements if there be any.

   He is also emancipated from the four states of deprivation.

   And can no more commit the six major sins.

   This precious jewel (holiness) is in the sangha.

   By this asseveration of the Truth may there be the perfect bliss.

   Though he may still do evil deed

   physically, verbally or mentally

   Yet he cannot conceal it.

   Since it has been promulgated that such concealing is impossible for one who has seen the Path.

   This precious jewel (holiness) is

   in the Sangha

   By this asseveration of the Truth may there be the perfect bliss.

   Just like (the glory of) the woodland groves crowned with blossoms

   in the early heat of the warm summer month,

   even so the glory of the sublime (Dhamma) doctrine was expounded for the supreme prosperity leading towards Nibbana.

   This precious jewel (holiness) is

   in the Buddha.

   By this asseveration of the Truth may there be the perfect bliss.

   The Glorious One, who knows the glory, delivers the glory, brings the glory

   and is the peerless-expounded the

   glorious doctrine.

   This precious jewel (holiness) is in the Buddha.

   By this asseveration of the Truth may there be the perfect bliss.

   Their former (kamma) is exhausted and the new one arises no more.

   The lust for future-becoming is detached.

   The seed germ (of rebirth) has exhausted and they have no more desire for regrowing.

   As this lamp-flame extinguishes away, the wise men pass away (into Nibbana).

   This precious jewel (holiness) is in the Sangha.

   By this asseveration of the Truth may there be the perfect bliss.

   Whatever beings are assembled here, so be they terrestrial or celestial, come, let us worship the Buddha; (the Perfect One), who is honoured by gods and men.

   May there be perfect bliss.

   Whatever beings are assembled here

   so be they terrestrial or celestial

   come, let us worship the Dhamma (Doctrine); (the Perfect One) which is honoured by gods and men.

   May there be perfect bliss.

   Whatever beings are assembled here, so be they terrestrial or celestial, come, let us worship the Sangha (Order) ;(the Perfect One) which is honoured by gods and men.

   May there be the perfect bliss.

The end of Ratana Sutta,

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