“Mendicants, when a king’s frontier citadel is well provided with seven essentials and gets four kinds of sustenance when needed, without trouble or difficulty, it is then called a king’s frontier citadel that cannot be overrun by external foes and enemies.
With what seven essentials is a citadel well provided?
Firstly, a citadel has a pillar with deep foundations, firmly embedded, imperturbable and unshakable. This is the first essential with which a king’s frontier citadel is well provided, to defend those within and repel those outside.
Parittaṁ yaṁ bhaṇantassa – nisinnaṭṭhāna dhovanaṁ Udaka’mpi vināseti – sabbameva parissayaṁ Sotthinā gabbha vuṭṭhānaṁ – yañ ca sādheti taṁ khaṇe Therassaṅgulimālassa – lokanāthena bhāsitaṁ Kappaṭṭhāyiṁ mahātejaṁ – parittaṁ taṁ bhaṇāmahe Even the water that is used to wash / the seat which Arahant Aṅgulimāla sat on / and recited this paritta, / that water can end all sufferings. If a pregnant mother suffers from any pain, / she will be well and be strong enough / to stand instantly. Now we shall recite that very powerful paritta / taught by the Buddha, / to Arahant Aṅgulimāla / which will hold its power for an aeon.
Yato’haṁ bhagini, ariyāya jātiya jāto nā’bhijānāmi saṁcicca pāṇaṁ jīvitā voropetā, tena saccena sotthi te hotu, sotthi gabbhassā’ti. “Sister, from the day I was born / in the Noble Birth / which leads to supreme Nibbāna, / from that day on / I am not aware of myself / killing any living beings deliberately. By this truth / may you be well! / May the delivery of your child / be peaceful!”
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu! By this truth, may there be well-being!
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Translation from The Mahamevnawa Pali English Paritta Chanting Book.
Learn the five ways a monk can practice compassion towards lay people.
Reading Time: < 1minute
“Monks, a resident monk with five qualities shows compassion to the lay people. What five?
They encourage them in higher ethics.
They equip them to see the truth of the teachings.
When they are sick, they go to them and prompt their mindfulness, saying: ‘Establish your mindfulness, good sirs, in what is worthy.’
When a large monk Saṅgha is arriving with monks from abroad, they go to the lay people and announce: ‘A large monk Saṅgha is arriving with monks from abroad. Make merit! Now is the time to make merit!’
And they eat whatever food they give them, coarse or fine, not wasting a gift given in faith.
A resident monk with these five qualities shows compassion to the lay people.”
Based on the translation by Bhikkhu Sujato, 2018. Read the original on SuttaCentral.net
These are traditional verses that can be recited as a meditation.
1. Pavāta dīpa tulyāya – sāyu santatiyākkhayaṁ Parūpamāya samphassaṁ – bhāvaye maraṇassatiṁ Life passes towards its end like the flame of a lamp goes out by the wind. Seeing how others die applying it to one’s own life, one should develop mindfullness of death.
2. Mahāsampatti sampattā – yathā sattā matā idha Tathā ahaṁ marissāmi – maraṇaṁ mama hessati Just as beings that once enjoyed great prosperity are now dead, even so one day I too will die. Death will indeed come to me.
3. Uppattiyā saheveḍaṁ – maraṇaṁ āgataṁ sadā Māraṇatthāya okāsaṁ – vadhako viya esati Death has followed each and every birth. Therefore, like an executioner, death always seeks an opportunity to destroy my life.
4. Īsakaṁ anivattaṁ taṁ – satataṁ gamanussukaṁ Jīvitaṁ udayā atthaṁ – suriyo viya dhāvati Life, without stopping a moment, ever keen on moving, runs on towards death like the sun that travels to set without stopping after it rises.
5. Vijju bubbula ussāva – jalarāji parikkhayaṁ Ghātako’va ripūtassa – sabbatthā’pi avāriyo This life comes to an end like a streak of lightning, a bubble of water, a dew drop on a leaf, or a line drawn on water. Like an enemy, death chases after one constantly. Death can never be avoided by any means.
6. Suyasatthāma puññiddhi – buddhi vuddhe jinaddvyaṁ Ghātesi maraṇaṁ khippaṁ – kā tu mādisake kathā If death could come in an instant, even to Supreme Buddhas, private Buddhas, and arahants endowed with great glory, prowess, merit, supernormal powers and wisdom, what could be said of me?
7. Paccayāna’ñca vekalyā – bāhirajjhattu paddavā Marāmoraṁ nimesā’pi – maramāno anukkhaṇa’nti. Due to the change of supporting factors, constant injuries arising internally and externally the life heads towards death changing every instant. Death will come one in the twinkling of an eye.
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu! By this truth, may there be well-being!
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Translation from The Mahamevnawa Pali English Paritta Chanting Book.
At one time Venerable Nārada was staying at Pāṭaliputta, in the Chicken Monastery.
Now at that time King Muṇḍa’s dear and beloved Queen Bhaddā had just passed away. And since that time, the king did not bathe, anoint himself, eat his meals, or apply himself to his work. Day and night he brooded over Queen Bhaddā’s corpse.
Then King Muṇḍa addressed his treasurer, Piyaka,
“So, my good Piyaka, please place Queen Bhaddā’s corpse in an iron case filled with oil. Then close it up with another case, so that we can view Queen Bhaddā’s body even longer.”
At one time the Buddha was staying near Cālikā, on the Cālikā mountain.
Now, at that time Venerable Meghiya was the Buddha’s attendant. Then Venerable Meghiya went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him, “Sir, I’d like to enter Jantu village for alms.”
“Please, Meghiya, go when it’s convenient.”
Then Meghiya robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Jantu village for alms. After the meal, on his return from alms-round in Jantu village, he went to the shore of Kimikālā river. As he was going for a walk along the shore of the river he saw a lovely and delightful mango grove.
It occurred to him, “Oh, this mango grove is lovely and delightful! It’s truly good enough for meditation for a kinsman who wants to meditate. If the Buddha allows me, I’ll come back to this mango grove to meditate.”
Evaṁ me sutaṁ. Ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena Suriyo devaputto Rāhunā asurindena gahito hoti. Atha kho Suriyo devaputto Bhagavantaṁ anussaramāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi. Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was living in Sāvatthi, at Jetavana, at Anāthapiņḍika’s monastery. At that time Sūriya, the sun deity, was captured by Rāhu, one of the kings of the Asuras. Thereupon calling to mind the Blessed One, Sūriya, the sun deity, recited this stanza:
Namo te Buddha vīra’tthu – Vippamutto’si sabbadhi Sambādhapaṭipanno’smi – Tassa me saraṇaṁ bhavā’ti. Oh Buddha, the Hero I pay homage to you. You are completely free from all suffering. I have fallen into trouble. Please be my refuge and help me.
