The Gems (Ratana Sutta)

Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni,
Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe;
Sabbeva bhūtā sumanā bhavantu,
Athopi sakkacca suṇantu bhāsitaṁ.

Meaning

Whatever beings have gathered here, whether of the earth or of the sky, may all these beings be glad at heart, and listen with care to what is said.

Tasmā hi bhūtā nisāmetha sabbe,
Mettaṁ karotha mānusiyā pajāya;
Divā ca ratto ca haranti ye baliṁ,
Tasmā hi ne rakkhatha appamattā.

Meaning

So listen, all you beings, and show loving-kindness to humankind, who bring you offerings by day and by night; so guard them, and never be careless.

Yaṁ kiñci vittaṁ idha vā huraṁ vā,
Saggesu vā yaṁ ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ;
Na no samaṁ atthi tathāgatena,
Idampi buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ;
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

Whatever wealth there is, here or in other worlds, or whatever sublime jewel in the heavens, nothing is equal to the Tathāgata. This, too, is the sublime jewel in the Buddha. By this truth, may all be well.

Khayaṁ virāgaṁ amataṁ paṇītaṁ,
Yadajjhagā sakyamunī samāhito;
Na tena dhammena samatthi kiñci,
Idampi dhamme ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ;
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

The ending, the fading of passion, the deathless, the sublime, which the Sakyan sage reached in immersion: nothing at all is equal to that Dhamma. This, too, is the sublime jewel in the Dhamma. By this truth, may all be well.

Yaṁ buddhaseṭṭho parivaṇṇayī suciṁ,
Samādhimānantarikaññamāhu;
Samādhinā tena samo na vijjati,
Idampi dhamme ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ;
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

The pure immersion the supreme Buddha praised, the immersion said to bring its result at once: nothing is found equal to that immersion. This, too, is the sublime jewel in the Dhamma. By this truth, may all be well.

Ye puggalā aṭṭha sataṁ pasatthā,
Cattāri etāni yugāni honti;
Te dakkhiṇeyyā sugatassa sāvakā,
Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni;
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

The eight persons praised by the good, who make up these four pairs, are the Sugata’s disciples, worthy of gifts; what is given to them bears great fruit. This, too, is the sublime jewel in the Saṅgha. By this truth, may all be well.

Ye suppayuttā manasā daḷhena,
Nikkāmino gotamasāsanamhi;
Te pattipattā amataṁ vigayha,
Laddhā mudhā nibbutiṁ bhuñjamānā;
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

Those who apply themselves well, with a firm mind, free of longing, in the teaching of Gotama, have reached the goal and plunged into the deathless, enjoying the cool of release they gained for nothing. This, too, is the sublime jewel in the Saṅgha. By this truth, may all be well.

Yathindakhīlo pathavissito siyā,
Catubbhi vātehi asampakampiyo;
Tathūpamaṁ sappurisaṁ vadāmi,
Yo ariyasaccāni avecca passati;
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

As a city pillar planted in the earth stands unshaken by the four winds, so, I say, is the good person who sees the noble truths with full understanding. This, too, is the sublime jewel in the Saṅgha. By this truth, may all be well.

Ye ariyasaccāni vibhāvayanti,
Gambhīrapaññena sudesitāni;
Kiñcāpi te honti bhusaṁ pamattā,
Na te bhavaṁ aṭṭhamamādiyanti;
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

Those who see clearly the noble truths, so well taught by the one of deep wisdom, however careless they may later be, will not take up an eighth existence. This, too, is the sublime jewel in the Saṅgha. By this truth, may all be well.

Sahāvassa dassanasampadāya,
Tayassu dhammā jahitā bhavanti;
Sakkāyadiṭṭhī vicikicchitañca,
Sīlabbataṁ vāpi yadatthi kiñci.

Meaning

As soon as they gain true vision, three things are left behind: identity view and doubt, and any clinging to rules and rituals, whatever of it there is.

Catūhapāyehi ca vippamutto,
Chaccābhiṭhānāni abhabba kātuṁ;
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

Freed, too, from the four lower realms, they cannot commit the six grave wrongs. This, too, is the sublime jewel in the Saṅgha. By this truth, may all be well.

Kiñcāpi so kamma karoti pāpakaṁ,
Kāyena vācā uda cetasā vā;
Abhabba so tassa paṭicchadāya,
Abhabbatā diṭṭhapadassa vuttā;
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

Though they may still do some evil deed, by body, by speech or in mind, they cannot keep it hidden; one who has seen the path, it is said, is incapable of that. This, too, is the sublime jewel in the Saṅgha. By this truth, may all be well.

Vanappagumbe yatha phussitagge,
Gimhānamāse paṭhamasmiṁ gimhe;
Tathūpamaṁ dhammavaraṁ adesayi,
Nibbānagāmiṁ paramaṁ hitāya;
Idampi buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

Like a forest thicket with its treetops in bloom in the first month of the hot season, such is the excellent Dhamma he taught, leading to Nibbāna, for the highest good. This, too, is the sublime jewel in the Buddha. By this truth, may all be well.

Varo varaññū varado varāharo,
Anuttaro dhammavaraṁ adesayi;
Idampi buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

The excellent one, who knows the excellent, gives the excellent and brings the excellent, the unsurpassed, taught the excellent Dhamma. This, too, is the sublime jewel in the Buddha. By this truth, may all be well.

Khīṇaṁ purāṇaṁ nava natthi sambhavaṁ,
Virattacittāyatike bhavasmiṁ;
Te khīṇabījā avirūḷhichandā,
Nibbanti dhīrā yathāyaṁ padīpo;
Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

The old is used up, nothing new arises; their minds no longer cling to future existence. With seeds spent and no desire left to sprout, the wise go out, as this lamp goes out. This, too, is the sublime jewel in the Saṅgha. By this truth, may all be well.

Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni,
Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe;
Tathāgataṁ devamanussapūjitaṁ,
Buddhaṁ namassāma suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

Whatever beings have gathered here, whether of the earth or of the sky, we bow to the Buddha, the Tathāgata, revered by gods and humans: may all be well.

Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni,
Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe;
Tathāgataṁ devamanussapūjitaṁ,
Dhammaṁ namassāma suvatthi hotu.

Meaning

Whatever beings have gathered here, whether of the earth or of the sky, we bow to the Dhamma, true and thus, revered by gods and humans: may all be well.

Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni,
Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe;
Tathāgataṁ devamanussapūjitaṁ,
Saṅghaṁ namassāma suvatthi hotūti.

Meaning

Whatever beings have gathered here, whether of the earth or of the sky, we bow to the Saṅgha, gone the true way, revered by gods and humans: may all be well.