Catubhāṇavārapāḷi | 11-12
11. Mettānisaṁsasuttaṁ
The Discourse on the Advantages of Friendliness Meditation
Introductory Verse
Aggikkhandhopamaṁ sutvā jātasaṁvegabhikkhunaṁ
To the monks who felt a sense of urgency after hearing the simile on the mass of fire
assādatthāya desesi yaṁ parittaṁ Mahāmuni.
the Great Sage preached this safeguard, for their welfare and satisfaction.
Sabbalokahitatthāya parittaṁ tam bhaṇāmahe.
For the whole world's welfare and benefit 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.
Tatra kho Bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
There it was that the Gracious One addressed the monks, saying:
“Bhikkhavo!” ti, “Bhadante!” ti te bhikkhū Bhagavato paccassosuṁ,
“Monks!”, “Reverend Sir!” those monks replied to the Gracious One,
Bhagavā etad-avoca:
and the Gracious One said this:
“Mettāya bhikkhave cetovimuttiyā,
“Monks, from the freedom of mind by friendliness meditation,
āsevitāya, bhāvitāya, bahulīkatāya, yānīkatāya,
when practised, developed, made much of, carried on,
vatthukatāya, anuṭṭhitāya, paricitāya, susamāraddhāya,
established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated,
ekādasānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā.
eleven advantages are to be expected.
Katame ekādasa?
What are the eleven?
Sukhaṁ supati, [01]
He sleeps happily,
sukhaṁ paṭibujjhati, [02]
he wakes up happily,
na pāpakaṁ supinaṁ passati, [03]
he does not see bad dreams,
manussānaṁ piyo hoti, [04]
he is dear to human beings,
amanussānaṁ piyo hoti [05],
he is dear to non-human beings,
devatā rakkhanti, [06]
the gods protect him,
nāssa aggi vā visaṁ vā satthaṁ vā kamati, [07]
neither fire, poison, or sword can affect him,
tuvataṁ cittaṁ samādhiyati, [08]
he can concentrate his mind quickly,
mukhavaṇṇo vippasīdati, [09]
his complexion becomes clear,
asammūḷho kālaṁ karoti, [10]
he dies unbewildered,
uttariṁ appaṭivijjhanto Brahmalokūpago hoti. [11]
and if he penetrates no further, he will (at least) go to the Brahma world.
Mettāya bhikkhave cetovimuttiyā,
Monks, from the freedom of mind by friendliness meditation,
āsevitāya, bhāvitāya, bahulīkatāya, yānīkatāya,
when practised, developed, made much of, carried on,
vatthukatāya, anuṭṭhitāya, paricitāya, susamāraddhāya,
established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated,
ime ekādasānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā” ti.
there are these eleven advantages to be expected.”
Idam-avoca Bhagavā,
The Gracious One said this,
attamanā te bhikkhū Bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandun-ti.
and those monks were uplifted and greatly rejoiced in the Gracious One's words.
12. Mittānisaṁsaṁ
The Advantages of Friendship
Introductory Verse
Pūrento Bodhisambhāre Nātho Temiyajātiyaṁ
While fulfilling the conditions for Awakening the Lord, in his birth as Temiya,
mittānisaṁsaṁ yaṁ āha Sunandaṁ nāma sārathiṁ.
spoke on the advantages of friendship to his charioteer named Sunanda.
Sabbalokahitatthāya parittaṁ taṁ bhaṇāmahe.
For the whole world's welfare and benefit we will recite that safeguard.
The Safeguard
Pahūtabhakkho bhavati vippavuttho sakā gharā,
He has an abundance of food (even) when away from his home,
bahū naṁ upajīvanti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati. [01]
many live depending on him, he who does no wrong to his friends.
Yaṁ yaṁ janapadaṁ yāti, nigame rājadhāniyo,
Whatever country he goes to, in a town or a king's capital,
sabbattha pūjito hoti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati. [02]
everywhere (he goes) he is honoured, he who does no wrong to his friends.
Nāssa corā pasahanti, nātimaññeti khattiyo,
Thieves do not overpower him, nobles do not despise him,
sabbe amitte tarati, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati. [03]
he overcomes all enemies, he who does no wrong to his friends.
Akkuddho sagharaṁ eti, sabhāya paṭinandito,
without anger he comes to his home, he is welcome in public halls,
ñātīnaṁ uttamo hoti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati. [04]
he is the best of relatives, he who does no wrong to his friends.
Sakkatvā sakkato hoti, garu hoti sagāravo,
After greeting, he is greeted, respectable, he is respected,
vaṇṇakittibhato hoti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati. [05]
he enjoys splendour and renown, he who does no wrong to his friends.
Pūjako labhate pūjaṁ, vandako paṭivandanaṁ,
Honourable, he receives honour, worshipful, he is worshipped,
yaso kittiñ-ca pappoti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati. [06]
he acquires repute and renown, he who does no wrong to his friends.
Aggi yathā pajjalati, devatā va virocati,
Just like a fire he shines forth, he is as brilliant as a god,
siriyā ajahito hoti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati. [07]
he is not abandoned by good luck, he who does no wrong to his friends.
Gāvo tassa pajāyanti, khette vuttaṁ virūhati,
His cows are productive for him, what is sown in his fields grows up,
puttānaṁ phalam-asnāti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati. [08]
he enjoys the boon of children, he who does no wrong to his friends.
Darito pabbatāto vā, rukkhato patito naro,
Whether that man has fallen from a cleft, a mountain, or a tree,
cuto patiṭṭhaṁ labhati, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati. [09]
while falling, he receives support, he who does no wrong to his friends.
Virūḷhamūlasantānaṁ nigrodham-iva māluto,
As the wind (cannot overpower) a banyan tree which has roots well grown,
amittā nappasahanti yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati. [10]
(so) enemies cannot overpower he who does no wrong to his friends.