PROTECTIVE SUTTAS - PARITTA SUTTA
CONTENTS
"Monks, learn the ŒÔÈnÈÔiya protection, study the ŒÔÈnÈÔiya protection, hold in your hearts the ŒÔÈnÈÔiya protection. Monks, beneficial is the ŒÔÈnÈÔiya protection for security, protection, freedom from harm and living in ease for monks, nuns (bhikkhunis) and male and female lay followers."
With these words the Buddha exhorted His monks to learn the ŒÔÈnÈÔiya protection for their protection and thus began the tradition of chanting the Sutta for protection and good results. The Sutta chanted for protection, etc., is also known as "Paritta" which means "the Sutta that protects those who chant and who listen to it against dangers, calamities, etc., from all around." Through the ages other Suttas were added to the list of 'Suttas for chanting.' Thus we find in MilindapaÒha and the Commentaries by the Venerable Buddhaghosa the following nine Suttas mentioned as Parittas: Ratana Sutta, Metta Sutta, Khandha Sutta, Mora Sutta, Dhajagga Sutta, ŒÔÈnÈÔiya Sutta, A~gulimÈla Sutta, Bojjha~ga Sutta and Isigili Sutta. The collection presented here includes the first eight Suttas and in addition, Ma~gala Sutta, VaÔÔa Sutta and PubbaÓha Sutta, thus comprising altogether 11 Suttas, with further addition of introductory verses at the beginning of each Sutta. These are the 11 Suttas chanted everyday in every monastery and nunnery and in some houses of lay people in all TheravÈda Buddhist countries. This collection is known in Myanmar as "The Great Paritta", not because the Suttas in this collection are long ones, but probably because they have great power, if chanted and listened to in a correct way, to ward off dangers and bring in results.
Chanting of and Listening to the Suttas
Since these Parittas are meant for protection and other good results, it is important that they are chanted and listened to in a correct way. There are some conditions to be fulfilled by both the chanters and the listeners so as to get the full benefits of the Paritta. In fact, there are three conditions for the chanters to fulfill and another three for the listeners.
The three conditions for the chanters are:
The three conditions for the listeners are:
Only when these conditions are fulfilled do people get full benefits from the Parittas. Therefore, it is important that when the Parittas are being chanted, people should listen to the chanting with confidence, respect and attentiveness. Moreover, the chanting of Parittas for benefits is a two way action. Those who chant are like those who give out something, and those who listen are like those who take what is given; if they do not take what is given they will not get the thing. In the same way if people do not listen to the chanting, but just let other people chant and themselves do something else, they surely are not taking what is given and so they will not get the benefits of the chanting.
The PÈÄi Text
When presenting the PÈÄi Text of Parittas here, we did not follow the convention of western editions of PÈÄi books. This book of Paritta is meant for reading and chanting for all who are interested in doing so; and those who are not familiar with the convention mentioned above will find it difficult to pronounce correctly such readings as etad avoca, ma~galam uttamaÑ, sabbe 'p' ime and others; therefore, such words are printed as etadavoca, ma~gala-muttamaÑ, sabbe pime, etc...
References
Except the introductory verses, the Suttas are found in the Pitakas as follows:
(Reference numbers are page numbers of Sixth Buddhist Council Edition except those of JÈtakas which are given by JÈtaka numbers.)
introductory passage, Dhammapada AÔÔhakathÈ, ii.272,
following two verses, composed by compilers,
remaining text, KhuddakapÈÔha, 4-7,
Sutta NipÈta, 312-5.
Sutta NipÈta, 300-1.
A~guttara NikÈya, i.384,
JÈtaka no.203.
verses 104-109, DÊgha NikÈya, iii.159.
verses 102,103,110-130, composed by compilers.
verse 131, Dhammapada, verse 109. 10. A~gulimÈla Sutta, Majjhima NikÈya, ii. 306.
original Suttas, SaÑyutta NikÈya, iii. 71,72,73.
verses here, composed by compilers.
verse 153, KhuddakapÈÔha, 5,
Sutta NipÈta, 312.
verses 162-4, A~guttara NikÈya, i. 299.
the rest, composed by compilers.
The Translation
This translation does not contain poetic renderings, but it is a translation made to be as faithful to the original as possible. The relevant ancient Commentaries and some Burmese and English translations were consulted constantly in the process of translating, and every effort has been made to bring the translation to conform to the explanations given in these time-honored works. (Some English translations were also consulted.)
The Use of the Parittas
Although the Parittas are for chanting in general, some of the Parittas are to be practiced as well. Only the Ratana Sutta, Mora Sutta, VaÔÔa Sutta, ŒÔÈnÈÔiya Sutta, A~gulimÈla Sutta and PubbaÓha Sutta are meant for chanting only; the others are for both chanting and practicing. And there are specific uses for the Parittas although generally they are meant for protection against dangers. The specific uses can be obtained from the introductory verses of each Sutta. They are, in brief, as follows:
Never before has the need for loving-kindness been so much felt as in these days. Violence is rampant throughout the world. If we cannot and do not reduce violence, the world will be a living hell for all inhabitants. Therefore it is imperative that we do something to at least reduce violence even if we will not be able to wipe it out from the world altogether. The practice of loving-kindness, fortunately for us, can help us achieve that aim; we can help reduce violence with the practice of loving-kindness and make things better for all beings. The section 'Loving-kindness' in this book is for that purpose.
'Sharing Merits' is always a pleasant act to do whenever we do meritorious deeds. The verses for this purpose are given after 'Loving-kindness'.
When Parittas are chanted in sonorous tones and listened to with devotional faith, the immediate benefits they bring are serenity, calm, peacefulness and joy. Generations have enjoyed these benefits and many others of Paritta and MettÈ for many many years. These benefits are for us too if we chant, listen to and practice them in a correct way. May all beings enjoy the benefits of Paritta and MettÈ following the instructions given here.
In conclusion, I would like to thank Ms. Srinuch Pongsavas, my disciple for many years, for defraying the cost of printing this book and distributing it free as a donation for the 'benefit and welfare of many'. She meant the donation of this book to be a Birthday Present to me.
May the puÒÒa she acquired through this noble act bring her happiness. May this puÒÒa be a firm foundation for her achieving final liberation from suffering.
U SÊlÈnanda, AggamahÈpaÓÉita
DhammÈnanda VihÈra,
Daly City, California, U. S. A.
December 16, 1995.