The
Jewel Discourse
(Ratana Sutta) (1)
The occasion
for this discourse, in brief, according to the commentary, is
as follows: The city of Vesali was afflicted by a famine, causing
death, especially to the poor folk. Due to the presence of decaying
corpses the evil spirits began to haunt the city; this was followed
by a pestilence. Plagued by these three fears of famine, non-human
beings and pestilence, the citizens sought the help of the Buddha
who was then living at Rajagaha.
Followed
by a large number of monks including the Venerable Ananda, his
attendant disciple, the Buddha came to the city of Vesali. With
the arrival of the Master, there were torrential rains which
swept away the putrefying corpses. The atmosphere became purified,
the city was clean.
Thereupon
the Buddha delivered this Jewel Discourse (Ratana sutta)
(2) to the Venerable
Ananda, and gave him instructions as to how he should tour the
city with the Licchavi citizens reciting the discourse as a
mark of protection to the people of Vesali. The Venerable Ananda
followed the instructions, and sprinkled the sanctified water
from the Buddha's own alms bowl. As a consequence the evil spirits
were exorcised, the pestilence subsided. Thereafter the Venerable
Ananda returned with the citizens of Vesali to the Public hall
where the Buddha and his disciples had assembled awaiting his
arrival. There the Buddha recited the same Jewel Discourse to
the gathering: (3)
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Whatever
treasure there be either 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.(4) By this (asseveration
of the) truth may there be happiness.
4. 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. (5)
By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.
5. 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.
6. 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 (6). By this (asseveration
of the) truth may there be happiness.
7. 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. (7) This precious jewel is the
Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there
be happiness.
8. 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.
9. 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.(8) This precious jewel
is the Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may
there be happiness.
10. 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.(9) This precious
jewel is the Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth
may there be happiness.
11. 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).(10) This precious
jewel is the Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth
may there be happiness.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. Whatever
beings (non-human) are assembled here, terrestrial or celestial,
come let us salute the Buddha, the Tathagata (the perfect
One), honoured by gods and men. May there be happiness. (11)
16. Whatever
beings are assembled here terrestrial or celestial, come let
us salute the perfect Dhamma, honoured by gods and men.
May there be happiness.
17. Whatever
beings are assembled here terrestrial or celestial, come let
us salute the perfect Sangha, honoured by gods and men.
May there be happiness.
NOTES:
1. Khp.
3; Sn. 39
2. Ratana means precious jewel. Here the term is applied
to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.
3. Khp.A. 161.
4. Literally, in the Buddha is this precious jewel.
5. Literally, in the Dhamma is this precious jewel.
6. Literally, in the Sangha is this precious jewel.
7. Obtained without payment; 'avyayena', KhpA.
I., 185.
8. The reason why it is stated that there will be no eighth
existence for a person who has attained the stage of sotapatti
or the first stage of sanctity is that such a being can live
at the most for only a period of seven existences in the realm
of sense spheres.
9. Abhithanani; i. matricide, ii. patricide, iii. the
murder of Arahants (the Consummate Ones), iv. the shedding of
the Buddha's blood, v. causing schism in the Sangha, and vi.
pernicious false beliefs (niyata micca ditthi)
10. He is a sotapanna, stream-enterer, one who has attained
the first stage of sanctity. Also see Notes at the end of the
book.
11. The last three stanzas were recited by Sakka, the
chief of Devas (gods), KhpA. 195.