1.1Tirokuṭṭesu tiṭṭhanti,Outside the walls they stand and wait,1.2sandhisiṅghāṭakesu ca;at the junctions and the crossroads.1.3Dvārabāhāsu tiṭṭhanti,Returning to their former homes1.4āgantvāna sakaṁ gharaṁ.they wait beside the door posts.

2.1Pahūte annapānamhi,But when lavish food and drink2.2khajjabhojje upaṭṭhite;of many kinds is set out,2.3Na tesaṁ koci sarati,no one remembers them at all,2.4sattānaṁ kammapaccayā.because of those beings’s deeds.

3.1Evaṁ dadanti ñātīnaṁ,That’s why those who have compassion3.2ye honti anukampakā;give to their relatives3.3Suciṁ paṇītaṁ kālena,food and drink at the right time,3.4kappiyaṁ pānabhojanaṁ.that’s clean, delicious, and suitable.

4.1Idaṁ vo ñātīnaṁ hotu,“May this be for our relatives!4.2sukhitā hontu ñātayo;May our relatives be happy!”4.3Te ca tattha samāgantvā,Those ghosts who have gathered there,4.4ñātipetā samāgatā.the departed relatives who have come

5.1Pahūte annapānamhi,for the lavish food and drink5.2sakkaccaṁ anumodare;gratefully express appreciation:5.3Ciraṁ jīvantu no ñātī,“May our relatives live long!5.4yesaṁ hetu labhāmase.For those to whom we owe this gain,

6.1Amhākañca katā pūjā,who have given honor to us,6.2dāyakā ca anipphalā;it will not be fruitless for the donor.”6.3Na hi tattha kasī atthi,There is no farming there,6.4gorakkhettha na vijjati.no cow pasture can be found;

7.1Vaṇijjā tādisī natthi,likewise there’s no trading,7.2hiraññena kayākayaṁ;and no commerce in gold coin.7.3Ito dinnena yāpenti,The departed, the dead in that place7.4petā kālagatā tahiṁ.live on what is given here.

8.1Unname udakaṁ vuṭṭhaṁ,Just as water that rains on high8.2yathā ninnaṁ pavattati;flows down to the plains,8.3Evamevaṁ ito dinnaṁ,so too what is given here8.4petānaṁ upakappati.aids the departed ghosts.

9.1Yathā vārivahā pūrā,Just as the rivers full9.2paripūrenti sāgaraṁ;swell the ocean seas9.3Evamevaṁ ito dinnaṁ,so too what is given here9.4petānaṁ upakappati.aids the departed ghosts.

10.1Adāsi me akāsi me,Thinking: “They gave to me, they did for me,10.2ñāti mittā sakhā ca me;they were my family, friend, comrade”,10.3Petānaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ dajjā,give offerings to departed kin,10.4pubbe katamanussaraṁ.remembering past deeds.

11.1Na hi ruṇṇaṁ vā soko vā,For neither tears nor grief11.2yā caññā paridevanā;or other lamentations11.3Na taṁ petānamatthāya,are of any use to the departed,11.4evaṁ tiṭṭhanti ñātayo.so long as their relatives stay like this.

12.1Ayañca kho dakkhiṇā dinnā,This offering that has been given,12.2saṅghamhi suppatiṭṭhitā;well placed in the Saṅgha,12.3Dīgharattaṁ hitāyassa,is for their lasting welfare,12.4ṭhānaso upakappati.and aids them right away.

13.1So ñātidhammo ca ayaṁ nidassito,The relative’s duty has now been shown:13.2Petāna pūjā ca katā uḷārā;how high honor to departed is performed,13.3Balañca bhikkhūnamanuppadinnaṁ,how the mendicants can be kept strong,13.4Tumhehi puññaṁ pasutaṁ anappakanti.and how no little merit is produced by you.

14.1Tirokuṭṭasuttaṁ.