SN 2:9 Canda Paritta, Discourse Given to the Moon Deity

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Evaṁ me sutaṁ. Ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena Candimā devaputto Rāhunā asurindena gahito hoti. Atha kho Candimā 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 Candima, the moon deity, was captured by Rāhu, one of the kings of the Asurās. Thereupon, calling to mind the Blessed One, Candima, the moon 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.

Atha kho Bhagavā Candimaṁ devaputtaṁ ārabbha Rāhuṁ asurindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi.
Then the Blessed One addressed Rāhu the Asura in verse, on behalf of Candima, the moon deity, thus:

Tathāgataṁ Arahantaṁ – Candimā saraṇaṁ gato
Rāhu candaṁ pamuñcassu – Buddhā lokānukampakā’ti

Oh Rāhu, Candima has gone for refuge to the Tathāgata, the Arahant. Oh Rāhu, release Candima. The Buddhas radiate compassion on the beings of the world.

Atha kho Rāhu asurindo Candimaṁ devaputtaṁ muñcitvā taramānarūpo yena Vepacitti asurindo ten’upasaṅkami. Upasaṅkamitvā saṁviggo lomahaṭṭajāto ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitaṁ kho Rāhuṁ asurindaṁ Vepacitti asurindo gāthāya ajjhabhāsi.
Thereupon Rāhu the Asura released Candima, the moon deity, and immediately went to the presence of Vepacitti, the leader of Asurās, and stood beside him trembling with fear, with hair standing on end. Then Vepacitti the Asura addressed Rāhu the Asura with this stanza.

Kinnu santaramāno’va – Rāhu, Candaṁ pamuñcasi?
Saṁviggarūpo āgamma – Kinnu bhīto’va tiṭṭhasī’ti?

Rāhu, why did you suddenly release Candima? Why have you come here trembling? And why are you standing here terrified?

Sattadhā me phale muddhā – Jīvanto na sukhaṁ labhe
Buddhagāthābhigīto’mhi – No ce muñceyya Candiman’ti.

I have been spoken to by the Buddha in a stanza requesting me to release Candima. If I had not released Candima my head would have split into seven pieces. If I lived, I would not have had any happiness.

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.

Index

9 Buddha Qualities, abandon suffering, aggregates~khanda, alcohol, anger, animal world, anuttaropurisadammasarati quality, araham quality, Aṅgulimāla Arahant, bad association, bhagava quality, buddhanussati meditation, Buddhism, Buddhist, Buddhist etiquette, chanting, Chattamanavaka Gatha, compassion, confidence~saddhā, courage, craving, Culla Kammavibhanga Sutta, death, Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, dharma classes near me, Enlightenment, evil deeds, first noble truth, Four Noble Truths, friendship, ghost world, giving~dāna, good actions, gratitude, greed, guided meditation, heaven, ignorance, impermanence~anicca, jataka, jealousy, karma, Katina, Katina Clothing, kids dhamma school, killing, life of Buddha, Life of Buddha with English Subtitles, Load Buddha, lokavidu quality, losing loved ones, loving-kindness~mettā, lying, Maha Satipatthana Sutta, Mangala Sutta, marks of a great man, meditation, merit~puññā, Mihintale, mindfulness~sati, Mora Paritta, Mundane Right View, nibbāna, Noble Eightfold Path, noble truth of suffering, non-attachment, Offering Katina Robes, online dhamma school, ordination, origin of suffering, parents, paritta, patience, pilgrimage, practice, precepts, psychic powers, pujas, Pāli, rains retreat, Rainy season, rare human birth, Ratana Sutta, respect, right speech, right view, sacred places, Sakka God, sammasambuddho quality, samsara, Sangha, Second Noble Truth, sexual misconduct, similes, Sri Lanka, Story of Buddha, stress, Suprime Buddha, Sāriputta Arahant, Taking advice, Third Noble Truth, Triple Gems, uposatha, Vas Season, Venerable Maha Moggalana, Vesak, vijjacaranasampanno quality, virtue~sīla, wisdom, Work, worldly conditions, wrong view