4. The Discourse on the Treasures

Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni, bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe,
Whatever beings have come together here, whether of the earth or in the firmament,

sabbe va bhūtā sumanā bhavantu, atho pi sakkacca suṇantu bhāsitaṁ. [01]
may the minds of all those beings be happy, and may they listen carefully to what is said.

Tasmā hi bhūtā nisāmetha sabbe, mettaṁ karotha mānusiyā pajāya,
Therefore, all of you beings, be attentive, be friendly towards this generation of men,

divā ca ratto ca haranti ye baliṁ, tasmā hi ne rakkhatha appamattā. [02]
they who bring offerings by day and by night, therefore, being heedful, you must protect them.

Yaṁ kiñci vittaṁ - idha vā huraṁ vā saggesu vā - yaṁ ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ
Whatever riches there are - here or elsewhere or in the heavens - that excellent treasure

na no samaṁ atthi Tathāgatena, idam-pi Buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ:
is not equal unto the Realised One, this excellent treasure is in the Buddha:

etena saccena suvatthi hotu! [03]
by virtue of this truth may there be safety!

Khayaṁ virāgaṁ amataṁ paṇītaṁ, yad-ajjhagā Sakyamunī samāhito,
(Pollutants’) end, dispassion, deathlessness, excellence: which the concentrated Sakyan sage attained,

na tena dhammena samatthi kiñci, idam-pi Dhamme ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ:
there is nothing that is equal to that state, this excellent treasure is in the Dhamma:

etena saccena suvatthi hotu! [04]
by virtue of this truth may there be safety!

Yam-Buddhaseṭṭho parivaṇṇayī suciṁ, samādhim-ānantarikañ-ñam-āhu,
That which the Buddha, the Great One, praised as pure, the concentration said to have prompt (result),

samādhinā tena samo na vijjati, idam-pi Dhamme ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ:
no equal to that concentration is found, this excellent treasure is in the Dhamma:

etena saccena suvatthi hotu! [05]
by virtue of this truth may there be safety!

Ye puggalā aṭṭha sataṁ pasatthā, cattāri etāni yugāni honti,
Those eight individuals praised by the good, there are these four pairs (of individuals),

te dakkhiṇeyyā Sugatassa sāvakā, etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni,
those disciples of the Happy One are worthy of gifts, those things that have been given to them have great fruits,

idam-pi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ: etena saccena suvatthi hotu! [06]
this excellent treasure is in the Saṅgha: by virtue of this truth may there be safety!

Ye suppayuttā manasā daḷhena, nikkāmino Gotamasāsanamhi,
Those who have firm and devoted minds, without sense desire in Gotama’s dispensation,

te pattipattā amataṁ vigayha, laddhā mudhā nibbutiṁ bhuñjamānā,
those who have attained, and entered the deathless, are enjoying emancipation, gained for free,

idam-pi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ: etena saccena suvatthi hotu! [07]
this excellent treasure is in the Saṅgha: by virtue of this truth may there be safety!

Yathindakhīlo paṭhaviṁ sito siyā catubbhi vātehi asampakampiyo,
Just as a locking post stuck fast in the earth does not waver on account of the four winds,

tathūpamaṁ sappurisaṁ vadāmi, yo ariyasaccāni avecca passati,
in the same way, I say, is the true person, the one who sees the noble truths completely,

idam-pi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ: etena saccena suvatthi hotu! [08]
this excellent treasure is in the Saṅgha: by virtue of this truth may there be safety!

Ye ariyasaccāni vibhāvayanti, gambhīrapaññena sudesitāni,
Those who clearly distinguish the noble truths, which were well preached by the one with deep wisdom,

kiñcāpi te honti bhusappamattā na te bhavaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ ādiyanti,
however great they become in heedlessness still they do not take up an eighth existence,

idam-pi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ: etena saccena suvatthi hotu! [09]
this excellent treasure is in the Saṅgha: by virtue of this truth may there be safety!

Sahā vassa dassanasampadāya tayassu dhammā jahitā bhavanti:
With his attainment of (liberating) insight there are a triad of things that are given up:

sakkāyadiṭṭhi vicikicchitañ-ca, sīlabbataṁ vāpi yad-atthi kiñci.
embodiment view, uncertainty, and whatever (grasping at) virtue and practices there is.

Catūhapāyehi ca vippamutto, cha cābhiṭhānāni abhabbo kātuṁ,
He is free from (rebirth in) the four lower worlds, he is incapable of the six great crimes.

idam-pi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ: etena saccena suvatthi hotu! [10]
this excellent treasure is in the Saṅgha: by virtue of this truth may there be safety!

Kiñcāpi so kammaṁ karoti pāpakaṁ kāyena vācā uda cetasā vā,
Whatever bad action there is that he performs by way of body, or of speech, or of mind,

abhabbo so tassa paṭicchādāya, abhabbatā diṭṭhapadassa vuttā,
he is incapable of covering it up, this incapacity is said of one who has seen the state (of peace),

idam-pi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ: etena saccena suvatthi hotu! [11]
this excellent treasure is in the Saṅgha: by virtue of this truth may there be safety!

Vanappagumbe yathā phussitagge gimhānamāse paṭhamasmiṁ gimhe,
Just like a tall woodland tree crowned with blossom in the summer months, in the early summer,

tathūpamaṁ Dhammavaraṁ adesayī, Nibbānagāmiṁ paramaṁhitāya,
in the same way he preached the Dhamma which is best, which goes to Nibbāna, the highest benefit,

idam-pi Buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ: etena saccena suvatthi hotu! [12]
this excellent treasure is in the Buddha: by virtue of this truth may there be safety!

Varo varaññū varado varāharo, anuttaro Dhammavaraṁ adesayī.
The best one, knowing the best, giving the best, brought the best, brought the best, unsurpassed he preached the best Dhamma.

idam-pi Buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ: etena saccena suvatthi hotu! [13]
this excellent treasure is in the Buddha: by virtue of this truth may there be safety!

Khīṇaṁ purāṇaṁ navaṁ natthi sambhavaṁ, virattacittā āyatike bhavasmiṁ,
The old is destroyed, and nothing new is produced, (their) minds are unexcited by future rebirth,

te khīṇabījā avirūḷhicchandā, nibbanti dhīrā yathāyam-padīpo,
they have destroyed the seeds, and have no desire for growth, the wise are still, just as this lamp (is still),

idam-pi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ: etena saccena suvatthi hotu! [14]
this excellent treasure is in the Saṅgha: by virtue of this truth may there be safety!