Banner
of Protection
(Dhajagga Paritta) (1)
Thus have
I heard:
On one occasion
the Blessed One was living near Savatthi at Jetavana at the
monastery of Anathapindika. Then he addressed the monks saying,
'O monks'. 'Venerable Sir,' said the monks by way of reply to
the Blessed One. Thereupon he spoke as follows:
'Monks,
I shall relate a former incident. There arose a battle between
the Devas (gods) and Asuras. Then Sakka, the Lord of the devas,
addressed the devas of the Tavatimsa heaven thus:
"Happy ones, if the devas who have gone to the battle should
experience fear or terror or suffer from hair standing on end,
let them behold the crest of my own banner. If you do so, any
fear, terror or hair standing on end arising in you will pass
away.
If you fail
to look up to the crest of my banner, look at the crest of the
banner of Pajapati, King of gods. If you do so, any fear, terror
or hair standing on end arising in you will pass away.
If you fail
to look up to the crest of Pajapati, King of the gods, look
at the crest of the banner of Varuna, King of the gods. If you
do so, any fear, terror or hair standing on end arising in you
will pass away."
'Monks,
any fear, terror or hair standing on end arising in them who
look at the crest of the banner of Sakka
. The Lord of
the gods, of Pajapati
. of Varuna
.of Isana, the King
of the gods, any fear terror or hair standing on end, may pass
away, or may not pass away. What is the reason for this?
Sakka, the
Lord of gods, O monks, is not free from lust, not free from
hate, not free from delusion, and is therefore liable to fear,
terror, fright and flight. I also say unto you O monks - if
any fear, terror or hair standing on end should arise in you
when you have gone to the forest or to the foot of a tree, or
to an empty house (lonely place), then think only of me thus:
"Such
Indeed is the Blessed One, Arahant (Consummate One), supremely
enlightened, endowed with knowledge and virtue, welcome being,
knower of worlds, the peerless trainer of persons, teacher of
gods and men, the Buddha, the Blessed One." Monks, if you
think of me, any fear, terror, or standing of hair on end, which
may arise in you, will pass away.
If you fail
to think of me, then think of the Dhamma (the Doctrine) thus
: "Well expounded is the Dhamma by the Blessed One, a Dhamma
to be realized by oneself and gives immediate results, a Dhamma
which invites investigation and leads up to Nibbana, a Dhamma
to be understood by the wise each for himself." Monks,
if you think of the Dhamma, any fear, terror or hair standing
on end, that may arise in you, will pass away.
If you fail
to think of the Dhamma, then think of the Sangha (the Order)
thus : "Of good conduct is the Order of Disciples of the
Blessed One, of upright conduct is the Order of Disciples of
the Blessed One, of wise conduct is the Order of Disciples of
the Blessed One, of dutiful conduct is the Order of Disciples
of the Blessed One. This Order of Disciples of the Blessed One
- namely those four pairs of persons, (2)
the eight kinds of individuals (3) - is
worthy of offerings, is worthy of hospitality, is worthy of
gifts, is worthy of reverential salutations, is an incomparable
field of merit for the world." Monks, if you think of the
Sangha, any fear, terror or hair standing on end, that may arise
in you, will pass away. What is the reason for this? The Tathagata,
O monks, who is Arahant, supremely enlightened, is free from
lust, free from hate, is free from delusion, and is not liable
to fear, terror, fright or flight.'
So said
the Blessed One. Having thus spoken, the teacher, the 'Welcome
Being' (Sugata), further said: