Ratana Sutta - The Jewel Discourse

Ratana Sutta – The Jewel Discourse

When the city of Vesāli was haunted by three kind of fears - fear of famine, fear of haunted spirits, fear of pestilence, the citizens and the rulers called Licchavis were in great trouble. Then the Buddha arrived there with a large retinue of his disciples due to which a blissful rained occurred causing the root of the fears go away. Subsequently the Blessed One instructed his personal attendant, venerable Ananda to  go around the city chanting the Ratana Sutta and sprinkle the blessed and protective water using Buddha's own bowl. After establishing the normalcy in the city, the Blessed One preached a sermon to the rulers and the citizens using the same sutta. 

ever since the Buddhist monks use Ratana Sutta to ward off the evil spirits and bring peace and happiness to afflicted people and houses. Ratana Sutta reflects the noble qualities of the Triple Gem - Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. Every stanza ends with an assertion (saccakiriya) as follows: 

Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. 

By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.)

Today as the whole world is afflicted with an unprecedented disaster with the horrendous COVID 19 (Corona) virus, the Buddhist monks all over the world pray for the innocent victims using this powerful protective paritta. May the entire world be healed by the power and the blessings of this sutta and the noble Triple Gem! 

Sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā! 

(May all beings be well & happy & healthy!)

Here is the Pali & English version of Ratana Sutta. 

Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni
Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe,
Sabbeva bhūtā sumanā bhavantu
Athopi sakkacca suṇantu bhāsitaṃ.
 

(Whatever beings (non-humans) are assembled here, terrestrial or celestial, may they all have peace of mind, and may they listen attentively to these words:)

Tasmā hi bhūtā nisāmetha sabbe
Mettaṃ karotha mānusiyā pajāya,
Divā ca ratto ca haranti ye baliṃ
Tasmā hi ne rakkhatha appamattā.
 

(O beings, listen closely. May you all radiate loving-kindness to those human beings who, by day and night, bring offerings to you (offer merit to you). Wherefore, protect them with diligence.)

Yaṃ kiñci vittaṃ idha vā huraṃ vā
Saggesu vā yaṃ ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ,
Na no samaṃ atthi tathāgatena
Idampi buddhe ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.
 

(Whatever treasure there be either here or in the world beyond, whatever precious jewel there be in the heavenly worlds, there is nought comparable to the Tathagata (the perfect One). This precious jewel is the Buddha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.)

Khayaṃ virāgaṃ amataṃ paṇītaṃ
Yadajjhagā sakyamunī samāhito,
Na tena dhammena samatthi kiñcī
Idampi dhamme ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.
 

(That Cessation, that Detachment, that Deathlessness (Nibbana) supreme, the calm and collected Sakyan Sage (the Buddha) had realized. There is nought comparable to this (Nibbana) Dhamma. This precious jewel is the Dhamma. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.)

Yaṃ buddhaseṭṭho parivaṇṇayī suciṃ
Samādhi mānantarikaññamāhu,
Samādhinā tena samo na vijjati
Idampi dhamme ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.
 

(The Supreme Buddha extolled a path of purity (the Noble Eightfold Path) calling it the path which unfailingly brings concentration. There is nought comparable to this concentration. This precious jewel is the Dhamma. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.)

Ye puggalā aṭṭhasataṃ pasatthā
Cattāri etāni yugāni honti,
Te dakkhiṇeyyā sugatassa sāvakā
Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni,
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.
 

(The eight persons extolled by virtuous men constitute four pairs. They are the disciples of the Buddha and are worthy of offerings. Gifts given to them yield rich results. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.)

Ye suppayuttā manasā daḷhena
Nikkāmino gotama sāsanamhi
Te pattipattā amataṃ vigayha
Laddhā mudhā nibbutiṃ bhuñjamānā
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.
 

(With a steadfast mind, and applying themselves well in the dispensation of the Buddha Gotama, free from (defilements), they have attained to that which should be attained (arahantship) encountering the Deathless. They enjoy the Peace of Nibbana freely obtained. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.)

Yathindakhīlo paṭhaviṃsito siyā
Catubbhi vātehi asampakampiyo,
Tathūpamaṃ sappurisaṃ vadāmi
Yo ariyasaccāni avecca passati,
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

(As a post deep-planted in the earth stands unshaken by the winds from the four quarters, so, too, I declare is the righteous man who comprehends with wisdom the Noble Truths. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.)

 
Ye ariyasaccāni vibhāvayanti
Gambhīrapaññena sudesitāni
Kiñcāpi te honti bhusappamattā
Na te bhavaṃ aṭṭhamaṃ ādiyanti,
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.
 

(Those who realized the Noble Truths well taught by him who is profound in wisdom (the Buddha), even though they may be exceedingly heedless, they will not take an eighth existence (in the realm of sense spheres). This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.)

Sahāvassa dassanasampadāya
Tayassu dhammā jahitā bhavanti,
Sakkāyadiṭṭhi vicikicchitañca
Sīlabbataṃ vāpi yadatthi kiñci,
Catūhapāyehi ca vippamutto
Cha cābhiṭhānāni abhabbo kātuṃ
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

(With his gaining of insight he abandons three states of mind, namely self-illusion, doubt, and indulgence in meaningless rites and rituals, should there be any. He is also fully freed from the four states of woe, and therefore, incapable of committing the six major wrongdoings. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.)

 
Kiñcāpi so kammaṃ karoti pāpakaṃ
Kāyena vācā uda cetasā vā
Abhabbo so tassa paṭicchādāya
Abhabbatā diṭṭhapadassa vuttā,
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.
 

(Any evil action he may still do by deed, word or thought, he is incapable of concealing it; since it has been proclaimed that such concealing is impossible for one who has seen the Path (of Nibbana). This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.)

Vanappagumbe yathā phussitagge
Gimhānamāse paṭhamasmiṃ gimhe,
Tathūpamaṃ dhammavaraṃ adesayi
Nibbānagāmiṃ paramaṃ hitāya,
Idampi buddhe ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.
 

(As the woodland groves though in the early heat of the summer month are crowned with blossoming flowers even so is the sublime Dhamma leading to the (calm) of Nibbana which is taught (by the Buddha) for the highest good. This precious jewel is the Buddha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.)

Varo varaññū varado varāharo
Anuttaro dhammavaraṃ adesayī
Idampi buddhe ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

(The Peerless Excellent one (the Buddha) the Knower (of Nibbana), the Giver (of Nibbana), the Bringer (of the Noble Path), taught the excellent Dhamma. This precious jewel is the Buddha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.)

 
Khīṇaṃ purāṇaṃ navaṃ natthi sambhavaṃ
Virattacittā āyatike bhavasmiṃ,
Te ṇīṇabilā avirūḷhicchandā
Nibbanti dhīrā yathāyampadīpo,
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṃ paṇītaṃ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

(Their past (kamma) is spent, their new (kamma) no more arises, their mind to future becoming is unattached. Their germ (of rebirth-consciousness) has died, they have no more desire for re-living. Those wise men fade out (of existence) as the flame of this lamp (which has just faded away). This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.)

 
Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni
Bhummāni vā yāni va antajikkhe,
Tathāgataṃ devamanussapūjitaṃ
Buddhaṃ namassāma suvatthi hotu.
 

(Whatever beings (non-human) are assembled here, terrestrial or celestial, come let us salute the Buddha, the Tathagata (the perfect One), honored by gods and men. May there be happiness.)

Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni
Bhummāni vā yāni va antajikkhe,
Tathāgataṃ devamanussapūjitaṃ
Dhammaṃ namassāma suvatthi hotu.
 

(Whatever beings (non-human) are assembled here, terrestrial or celestial, come let us salute the perfect Dhamma, the doctrine, honored by gods and men. May there be happiness.)

Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni
Bhummāni vā yāni va antajikkhe,
Tathāgataṃ devamanussapūjitaṃ
Saṅghaṃ namassāma suvatthi hotu.
 

Whatever beings are assembled here, terrestrial or celestial, come let us salute the perfect Sangha, honored by gods and men. May there be happiness."