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Gems

Ratanasutta

The many treasures to be found in the Triple Gem.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Sutta Nipāta 2.1Anthology of Discourses 2.1

0.2RatanasuttaGems

1.1Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni,Whatever beings have gathered here,1.2Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe;on the ground or in the sky:1.3Sabbeva bhūtā sumanā bhavantu,may beings all be of happy heart,1.4Athopi sakkacca suṇantu bhāsitaṁ.and listen carefully to what is said.1

2.1Tasmā hi bhūtā nisāmetha sabbe,So pay heed, all you beings,2.2Mettaṁ karotha mānusiyā pajāya;have love for humankind,2.3Divā ca ratto ca haranti ye baliṁ,who day and night bring offerings;2.4Tasmā hi ne rakkhatha appamattā.please protect them diligently.

3.1Yaṁ kiñci vittaṁ idha vā huraṁ vā,There’s no wealth in this life or the next,3.2Saggesu vā yaṁ ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ;no sublime gem in the heavens,3.3Na no samaṁ atthi tathāgatena,that equals the Realized One.3.4Idampi buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ;This sublime gem is in the Buddha:3.5Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.by this truth, may you be well!2

4.1Khayaṁ virāgaṁ amataṁ paṇītaṁ,Ending, dispassion, the undying, the sublime,4.2Yadajjhagā sakyamunī samāhito;attained by the Sakyan Sage immersed in samādhi;4.3Na tena dhammena samatthi kiñci,there is nothing equal to that Dhamma.4.4Idampi dhamme ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ;This sublime gem is in the Dhamma:4.5Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.by this truth, may you be well!

5.1Yaṁ buddhaseṭṭho parivaṇṇayī suciṁ,The purity praised by the highest Buddha5.2Samādhimānantarikaññamāhu;is said to be the “immersion with immediate fruit”;5.3Samādhinā tena samo na vijjati,no equal to that immersion is found.5.4Idampi dhamme ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ;This sublime gem is in the Dhamma:5.5Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.by this truth, may you be well!

6.1Ye puggalā aṭṭha sataṁ pasatthā,The eight individual persons praised by the good6.2Cattāri etāni yugāni honti;are the four pairs of the Holy One’s disciples;6.3Te dakkhiṇeyyā sugatassa sāvakā,they are worthy of religious donations,6.4Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni;what’s given to them is very fruitful.6.5Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha:6.6Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.by this truth, may you be well!

7.1Ye suppayuttā manasā daḷhena,Dedicated to Gotama’s dispensation,7.2Nikkāmino gotamasāsanamhi;strong-minded, free of sense desire,7.3Te pattipattā amataṁ vigayha,they’ve attained the goal, <j>plunged into freedom from death,7.4Laddhā mudhā nibbutiṁ bhuñjamānā;and enjoy the quenching they’ve freely gained.7.5Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha:7.6Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.by this truth, may you be well!

8.1Yathindakhīlo pathavissito siyā,As Indra’s pillar rooted in earth8.2Catubbhi vātehi asampakampiyo;is not shaken by the four winds,8.3Tathūpamaṁ sappurisaṁ vadāmi,I say a true person is like this,8.4Yo ariyasaccāni avecca passati;who sees the noble truths in experience.8.5Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha:8.6Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.by this truth, may you be well!

9.1Ye ariyasaccāni vibhāvayanti,Those who fathom the noble truths9.2Gambhīrapaññena sudesitāni;taught by the one of deep wisdom,9.3Kiñcāpi te honti bhusaṁ pamattā,do not take an eighth life,9.4Na te bhavaṁ aṭṭhamamādiyanti;even if they are hugely negligent.9.5Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha:9.6Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.by this truth, may you be well!

10.1Sahāvassa dassanasampadāya,When they attain to vision10.2Tayassu dhammā jahitā bhavanti;they give up three things:10.3Sakkāyadiṭṭhī vicikicchitañca,substantialist view, doubt, and any10.4Sīlabbataṁ vāpi yadatthi kiñci.attachment to precepts and observances.

11.1Catūhapāyehi ca vippamutto,They’re freed from the four places of loss,311.2Chaccābhiṭhānāni abhabba kātuṁ;and cannot do six things.411.3Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha:11.4Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.by this truth, may you be well!

12.1Kiñcāpi so kamma karoti pāpakaṁ,Even if they do a bad deed12.2Kāyena vācā uda cetasā vā;by body, speech, or mind,12.3Abhabba so tassa paṭicchadāya,they are unable to conceal it;12.4Abhabbatā diṭṭhapadassa vuttā;this, it’s said, is the inability <j>of one who has seen the truth.12.5Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha:12.6Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.by this truth, may you be well!

13.1Vanappagumbe yatha phussitagge,Like a tall forest tree crowned with flowers13.2Gimhānamāse paṭhamasmiṁ gimhe;in the first month of summer;13.3Tathūpamaṁ dhammavaraṁ adesayi,that’s how he taught the superb Dhamma,13.4Nibbānagāmiṁ paramaṁ hitāya;leading to extinguishment, the ultimate benefit.13.5Idampi buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,This sublime gem is in the Buddha:13.6Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.by this truth, may you be well!

14.1Varo varaññū varado varāharo,The superb, knower of the superb, <j>giver of the superb, bringer of the superb;14.2Anuttaro dhammavaraṁ adesayi;taught the superb Dhamma supreme.14.3Idampi buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,This sublime gem is in the Buddha:14.4Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.by this truth, may you be well!

15.1Khīṇaṁ purāṇaṁ nava natthi sambhavaṁ,The old is ended, nothing new is produced;15.2Virattacittāyatike bhavasmiṁ;their minds have no desire for future rebirth.15.3Te khīṇabījā avirūḷhichandā,Withered are the seeds, there’s no desire for growth,15.4Nibbanti dhīrā yathāyaṁ padīpo;those attentive ones are extinguished like this lamp.15.5Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha:15.6Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.by this truth, may you be well!

16.1Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni,Whatever beings have gathered here,16.2Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe;on the ground or in the sky:16.3Tathāgataṁ devamanussapūjitaṁ,the Realized One is honored by gods and humans!16.4Buddhaṁ namassāma suvatthi hotu.We bow to the Buddha! May you be safe!

17.1Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni,Whatever beings have gathered here,17.2Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe;on the ground or in the sky:17.3Tathāgataṁ devamanussapūjitaṁ,the Realized One is honored by gods and humans!17.4Dhammaṁ namassāma suvatthi hotu.We bow to the Dhamma! May you be safe!

18.1Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni,Whatever beings have gathered here,18.2Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe;on the ground or in the sky:18.3Tathāgataṁ devamanussapūjitaṁ,the Realized One is honored by gods and humans!18.4Saṅghaṁ namassāma suvatthi hotūti.We bow to the Saṅgha! May you be safe!

18.5Ratanasuttaṁ paṭhamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. The gods are invoked in the Vedic fashion. Compare eg. Rig Veda 6.52.13a: “May all gods hear my call, whether in the sky or in heaven.”

    ↩ snp2.1:1.4

  2. The asseveration of truth—the belief that “by this truth” (tena saccena, also at MN 86:15.2) effective results could be won—can be traced to Rig Veda 1.21.6 (tena satyena).

    ↩ snp2.1:3.5

  3. Hell (niraya), the animal realm, the ghost realm (pettivisaya), and the abode of the demons (asuraloka).

    ↩ snp2.1:11.1

  4. This is often identified with the six heinous crimes beginning with murdering one’s mother (AN 6.94). However, there are three other lists of six things that do not mention these heinous crimes (AN 6.92, AN 6.93, AN 6.95). They include such errors as taking what is impermanent to be permanent.

    ↩ snp2.1:11.2