Catubhāṇavārapāḷi | 10. Khandhaparittaṁ

10. Khandhaparittaṁ
The Safeguard of the Constituent Groups (of Mind & Body)

Introductory Verses

Sabbāsivisajātīnaṁ dibbamantāgadaṁ viya,
To all kinds of poisonous snakes it is like the medicine of a divine charm,

yaṁ nāsesi visaṁ ghoraṁ sesaṁ cāpi parissayaṁ.
it destroyed terrible poisons and all other dangers.

Āṇakkhettamhi sabbattha, sabbadā sabbapāṇinaṁ,
In this order's domain, (which is) everywhere, always, for all living creatures,

sabbaso pi vināseti, parittaṁ taṁ bhaṇāmahe.
it thoroughly destroys (all dangers), we will recite that safeguard.

The Safeguard

Evaṁ me sutaṁ:
Thus I have heard:

ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Sāvatthī

Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
at Anāthapiṇḍika's grounds in Jeta's Wood.

Tena kho pana samayena Sāvatthiyaṁ
Then at that time near Sāvatthī

aññataro bhikkhu ahinā daṭṭho kālakato hoti.
a certain monk was bitten by a snake and died.

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena Bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu,
Then a great many monks approached the Gracious One,

upasaṅkamitvā Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā, ekam-antaṁ nisīdiṁsu.
and after approaching and worshipping the Gracious One, they sat down on one side.

Ekam-antaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū Bhagavantaṁ etad-avocuṁ:
While sitting on one side those monks said this to the Gracious One:

“Idha bhante Sāvatthiyaṁ,
“Here, reverend Sir, near Sāvatthī,

aññataro bhikkhu ahinā daṭṭho kālakato” ti.
a certain monk has been bitten by a snake and has died”.

“Na ha nūna so bhikkhave bhikkhu
“Surely, monks, that monk did not

cattāri ahirājakulāni mettena cittena phari.
suffuse the four royal families of snakes with a mind (full of) friendliness.

Sace hi so bhikkhave bhikkhu
For if, monks, that monk

cattāri ahirājakulāni mettena cittena phareyya
had suffused the four royal families of snakes with a mind (full of) friendliness

na hi so bhikkhave bhikkhu ahinā daṭṭho kālaṁ kareyya.
then that monk, monks, would not have been bitten by a snake and died.

Katamāni cattāri ahirājakulāni?
Who are the four royal families of snakes?

Virūpakkhaṁ ahirājakulaṁ,
The Virūpakkha royal family of snakes,

Erāpathaṁ ahirājakulaṁ,
the Erāpatha royal family of snakes,

Chabyāputtaṁ ahirājakulaṁ,
the Chabyāputta royal family of snakes,

Kaṇhāgotamakaṁ ahirājakulam.
the Kaṇhāgotamaka royal family of snakes.

Na ha nūna so bhikkhave bhikkhu
Surely, monks, that monk did not

imāni cattāri ahirājakulāni mettena cittena phari.
suffuse these four royal families of snakes with a mind (full of) friendliness.

Sace hi so bhikkhave bhikkhu
For if, monks, that monk

imāni cattāri ahirājakulāni mettena cittena phareyya,
had suffused these four royal families of snakes with a mind (full of) friendliness,

na hi so bhikkhave bhikkhu ahinā daṭṭho kālaṁ kareyya.
then that monk, monks, would not have been bitten by a snake and died.

Anujānāmi bhikkhave,
I allow you, monks,

imāni cattāri ahirājakulāni mettena cittena pharituṁ,
to suffuse these four royal families of snakes with a mind (full of) friendliness,

attaguttiyā attarakkhāya attaparittāyā” ti.
to guard yourselves, to protect yourselves, to safeguard yourselves.”

Idam-avoca Bhagavā,
The Gracious One said this,

idaṁ vatvā Sugato athāparaṁ etad-avoca Satthā:
and after saying this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, said something more:

“Virūpakkhehi me mettaṁ, mettaṁ Erāpathehi me,
“I am friendly with the Virūpakkhas, with the Erāpathas I am friendly,

Chabyāputtehi me mettaṁ, mettaṁ Kaṇhāgotamakehi ca. [01]
I am friendly with the Chabyāputtas, and friendly with the Kaṇhāgotamakas.

Apādakehi me mettaṁ, mettaṁ dipādakehi me,
I am friendly with those without feet, with those with two feet I am friendly,

catuppadehi me mettaṁ, mettaṁ bahuppadehi me. [02]
I am friendly with those with four feet, with those with many feet I am friendly.

Mā maṁ apādako hiṁsi, mā maṁ hiṁsi dipādako,
May the one without feet not hurt me, may the one with two feet not hurt me,

mā maṁ catuppado hiṁsi, mā maṁ hiṁsi bahuppado. [03]
may the one with four feet not hurt me, may the one with many feet not hurt me.

Sabbe sattā, sabbe pāṇā, sabbe bhūtā ca kevalā,
May all beings, all living creatures, all who are born, in their entirety,

sabbe bhadrāni passantu, mā kañci pāpam-āgamā. [04]
may all see prosperity, may nothing bad come to anyone.

Appamāṇo Buddho!
The Buddha is measureless!

Appamāṇo Dhammo!
The Dhamma is measureless!

Appamāṇo Saṅgho!
The Saṅgha is measureless!

Pamāṇavantāni siriṁsapāni, ahivicchikā, satapadī, uṇṇānābhi, sarabhū, mūsikā.
Measurable are creeping things, (such as) snakes, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, lizards, and rats.

Katā me rakkhā, katā me parittā, paṭikkamantu bhūtāni!
I have made this protection, I have made this safeguard, may (all these) beings go away!

Sohaṁ namo Bhagavato, namo sattannaṁ Sammāsambuddhānan”-ti.
I revere the Gracious One, I revere the seven Perfect Sambuddhas.”