Ma¸ngala Sutta
Ma¸ngala Sutta
(The Discourse on the Blessings)
Uyyojañña | Invocation | |
| i. | Ya¸m ma¸ngala¸m dvādasahi cintayi¸msu sadevakā sotthāna¸m nādhigacchanti. aţţhati¸msañca ma¸ngala¸m. | The meaning of the 'Highest Blessing' had been speculated by gods and men for twelve years; however they could not acquire the actual meaning of the thirty-eight Highest Blessings which can eradicate all sins and evils, as was expounded by the Supreme One (The Buddha) for the benefit and welfare of the entire world. Let us recite this discourse on the Highest Blessings. |
| ii. | Desita¸m deva-devena, sabba-pāpa-vināsana¸m; sabba-loka-hitatthāya, ma¸ngala¸m ta¸m bha¸nāma he. | |
SuttaEva¸m me sutta¸m; -eka¸m samaya¸m bhagavā sāvatthiya¸m viharati jetavane anātha-pi¸n¸dikassa ārāme. attha kho aññtarā devatā abhikkantaya rattiyā abhikkanta va¸n¸nā kevalakappa¸m jetavana¸m obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tanupasankami, upasa¸n-kamitvā bhagavanta¸n abhivādetva ekamanta¸m aţţhāsi, ekamanta¸m ţhitā kho sa devatā bhagava-nta¸m gathāya ajjhabahāsi. | The DiscourseThus have I heard; Once the Blessed One was dwelling near Sāvatthi in the Jeta Grove at the monastery of Anāthapi¸n¸dika, when a certain deity at midnight, having illuminated the entire Jeta grove with surpassing splendor, came to the presence of the Blessed One. Having paid homage to the Blessed One, he very respectfully stood in a suitable place, and then addressed the Blessed One in verse: | |
| 1. | "Bahū devā manussā ca, ma¸ngalāni acintayu¸m; āka¸nkhamānā sotthāna¸m, brūhi ma¸ngala muttama¸m." | "Many gods and men, Have pondered on Highest Blessing; Wishing for happiness, Please tell us the highest blessing".. |
| 2. | Asevanā ca bālāna¸m, pa¸n¸ditānañ ca sevanā; pūjā ca pūjaneyyāna¸m, eta¸m ma¸ngala muttama¸m. | Not to associate with the fools, But to associate with the wise; And to honor those worthy of honor. This is the highest blessing. |
| 3. | Patirūpa-desa-vāso ca, pubbe ca katapuññatā; attasammā pa¸nidhi ca, eta¸m ma¸ngala muttama¸m | Dwelling in a suitable locality, And good deeds done in the past; To establish oneself in the right course, This is the highest blessing. |
| 4. | Bāhusaccañ ca sippañ ca, vinayo ca susikkhito; subhāsittā ca yā vācā, eta¸m ma¸ngala muttama¸m. | Great learning and skill in work, A highly trained discipline; And well spoken speech, This is the highest blessing. |
| 5. | Mātāpitu upaţţhāna¸m, putta-dārassa sa¸ngaho; anākulā ca kammantā, eta¸m ma¸ngala muttama¸m | Looking after one's mother and father, Caring for one's wife and children, To be engaged in the blameless occupation, This is the highest blessing. |
| 6. | Dānañ ca dhammacariyā ca, ñātakānan ca sa¸ngaho; anavajjāni kammāni, eta¸m ma¸ngala muttama¸m. | Generosity and righteous life, Caring for one's relatives' And to perform faultless actions, This is the highest blessing. |
| 7. | Āratī viratī pāpā majja-pānā ca sa¸myamo; appamādo ca dhammesu, eta¸m ma¸ngala muttama¸m. | To abstain and refrain from wrong-doing, Not drinking intoxicants; And diligence in righteousness, This is the highest blessing. |
| 8. | Gāravo ca nivāto ca, santuţţhī ca kataññutā; kālena dhammasavana¸m, eta¸m ma¸ngala muttama¸m. | Reverence, humility, Contentment and gratitude; Hearing the Dhamma at the right time, This is the highest blessing. |
| 9. | Khantī ca sovacassataā sama¸nānañ ca dassana¸m; kālena dhamma-sākacchā, eta¸m ma¸ngala muttama¸m. | Patience, obedience, And meeting the monks; Timely discussion of the Dhamma, This is the highest blessing |
| 10. | Tapo ca brahmacariyañ ca, ariya-saccāna dassana¸m; nibbāna-sacchikiriyā ca, eta¸m ma¸ngala muttama¸m. | Ascetic practice and chastity, Discerning the Noble Truths; And realizing Nibbāna, This is the highest blessing. |
| 11. | Phuţţhassa lokadhammehi, citta¸m yassa na kampati; asoka¸m viraja¸m khema¸m, eta¸m ma¸ngala muttama¸m. | When touched by the worldly vicissitudes, If one's mind remains unshaken; Sorrowless, stainless and secure, This is the highest blessin |
| 12. | Etādisani katvana, sabbattha maparājitā; sabbattha sotthi¸m gacchanti; ta¸m tesa¸m ma¸ngala muttama¸m. | Those who perform such auspicious deeds, Are undefeated by all enemies; And gain happiness everywhere, These are the highest blessings." |
| Ma¸ngala-sutta¸m nitthita¸m | Here ends the Discourse on Blessings |
Commentary
The Ma¸ngala Sutta is found in the Sutta Nipata in the Khuddaka Nikāya. The word Ma¸ngala is commonly understood to mean 'blessing'. However in this context it also means 'omen' or 'auspicious sing'. At the time of the Buddha, people where speculating amongst themselves, about omens and auspicious signs. On one occasion a certain deity, probably Sakka (Indra), 'the Ruler of the Gods', went to see the Buddha at midnight and asked him: "What is an auspicious sign?" Or, "What is Blessing?" The Buddha told him about thirty-eight kinds of ethical and spiritual practices and described these as being auspicious signs or the blessings of life. This Sutta is generally chanted on all occasions. Furthermore, when this Paritta is chanted, its results will be experienced immediately. However, when one applies any of these thirty-eight auspices to daily life then the results follow at once. Therefore, one is encouraged not only to chant this Paritta but also to one's daily life, as much as possible.
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