The Ratana Sutta was chanted when the town of Vesali (or Visala) was being plagued by disease, non-human beings and famine. The people of Visala called upon the Buddha for help; Buddha had Ven. Ananda go through town reciting this discourse leading to the dispersal of the town’s woes.
The city was afflicted by a famine, causing death, especially to the poor people. The decaying corpses were all around. The evil spirits began to haunt the city;
Due to these three fears of famine, pandemic and the non-human beings, the citizens sought the help of the Buddha. He was then living at Rajagaha now called Rajgir.
Followed by a large number of monks including Venerable Ananda, his attendant disciple, the Buddha came to the city of Vesali. With the arrival of the Buddha, torrential rains started. The rain swept away the decaying corpses. The atmosphere became purified, the city was clean.
Thereupon the Buddha delivered this Jewel Discourse (Ratana sutta) to the Venerable Ananda, and gave him instructions as to how he should tour the city with the Licchavi citizens reciting the discourse as a mark of protection to the people of Vesali.
Venerable Ananda followed the instructions, and sprinkled the sanctified water from the Buddha’s own alms bowl. As a result the evil spirits left the city, the plague subsided.
Thereafter Venerable Ananda returned with the citizens the public hall. There the Buddha and his disciples had assembled awaiting his arrival. There the Buddha recited the same Jewel Discourse to the gathering:
Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni
Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe
Sabbeva bhūtā sumanā bhavantu
Atho pi sakkacca sunantu bhāsitam
“Whatever beings (non-humans) are assembled here, terrestrial or celestial, may they all have peace of mind, and may they listen attentively to these words”
Tasmā hi bhūtā nisāmetha sabbe
Mettam karotha mānusiyā pajāya
Divā ca ratto ca haranti ye balim
Tasmā hi ne rakkhatha appamattā
“Listen closely. May you all radiate loving-kindness to those human beings who, by day and night, bring offerings to you offer merit to you. Protect them with diligence.”
Yam kiñci vittam idha vā huram vā
Saggesu vā yam ratanam panītam
Na no samam atthi tathāgatena
Idam pi Buddhe ratanam panītam
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“Whatever treasure there be either here or in the world beyond, whatever precious jewel there be in the heavenly worlds, there is none comparable to the Tathagata. This precious jewel is the Buddha. By this truth may there be happiness.”
Khayam virāgam amatam panītam
Yadajjhagā sakyamuni samāhito
Na tena dhammena sam’atthi kiñci
Idam pi dhamme ratanam panītam
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“That cessation that detachment that deathlessness (Nibbana) supreme, the calm and collected Sakyan Sage, the Buddha, had realized. There is none comparable to this Dhamma leading to Nibbana (the deathless state). This precious jewel is the Dhamma. By this truth may there be happiness.”
Yam buddhasettho parivannayi sucim
Samādhi-mānantari-kañña-māhu
Samādhinā tena samo na vijjati
Idam pi dhamme ratanam panītam
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“The Supreme Buddha recommend a path of purity which is ‘the Noble Eightfold Path’, calling it the path which unfailingly brings concentration. There is none comparable to this concentration. This precious jewel is the Dhamma. By this truth may there be happiness.”
Ye puggalā attha satam pasatthā
Cattāri etāni yugāni honti
Te dakkhineyyā sugatassa sāvakā
Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni
Idam pi sanghe ratanam panītam
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“The eight persons praised by virtuous men constitute four pairs. They are the disciples of the Buddha and are worthy of offerings. Gifts given to them yield rich results. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this truth may there be happiness.”
Ye suppayuttā manasā dalhena
Nikkāmino gotama sāsanamhi
Te pattipattā amatam vigayha
Laddhā mudhā nibbutim bhuñjamānā
Idam pi sanghe ratanam panītam
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“With a loyal mind, and applying themselves well in the exemption of the Buddha Gautama, free from defilements, they have attained to that which should be attained, arahantship, experiencing the state of deathlessness. They enjoy the Peace of Nibbana which has been freely obtained. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this truth may there be happiness.”
Yathindakhīlo pathavim sito siyā
Catubbhi vātehi asampakampiyo
Tathūpamam sappurisam vadāmi
Yo ariyasaccāni avecca passati
Idam pi sanghe ratanam panītam
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“As a post very well planted to the ground stands unshaken by the winds from the four sides, I declare is the good man who understands the four noble truths with his wisdom. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this truth may there be happiness for all.”
Ye ariyasaccāni vibhāvayanti
Gambhīrapaññena sudesitāni
Kiñcāpi te honti bhusappamattā
Na te bhavam atthamam ādiyanti
Idam pi sanghe ratanam panītam
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“Those who have realized the noble truths taught by the Buddha, who is great in wisdom, even though they may be exceedingly heedless, they will not take an eighth existence or been born again after seven incarnations. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this truth may there be happiness.”
Sahāvassa dassana sampadāya
Tayassu dhammā jahitā bhavanti
Sakkāyaditthi vicikicchitañ ca
Sīlabbatam vāpi yadatthi kiñci
Catūhapāyehi ca vippamuto
Cha cābhithānāni abhabbo kātum
Idam pi sanghe ratanam panītam
Etena saccena suvatti hotu
“With his right awareness he abandons three states of mind, namely self-illusion, doubt, and engaged in meaningless rites and rituals. Should there be any, he is also fully freed from the four states of woe or unhappiness, and therefore, incapable of committing the six major wrongdoings. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this truth may there be happiness.”
Kiñcāpi so kammam karoti pāpakam
Kāyena vācā uda cetasā vā
Abhabbo so tassa paticchādāya
Abhabbatā ditthapadassa vuttā
Idam pi sanghe ratanam panītam
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“Any evil action he may still do by deed, word or thought, he is incapable of hiding it; since it has been stated that such hiding is impossible for one who has seen the path of nibbana. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this truth may there be happiness.”
Vanappagumbe yathā phussitagge
Gimhānamāse pathamasmim gimhe
Tathūpamam dhammavaram adesayi
Nibbānagāmim paramam hitāya
Idam pi Buddhe ratanam panītam
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“As the woods (trees) though in the early heat of the summer month are crowned with blossoming flowers even so is the sublime dhamma leading to the calmness of nibbana which is taught (by the Buddha) for the highest good. This precious jewel is the Buddha. By this truth may there be happiness.”
Varo varaññū varado varāharo
Anuttaro dhammavaram adesayi
Idam pi Buddhe ratanam panītam
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“The unequalled and excellent one, the Buddha, the one who knows the nibbana, the one who gives the nibbana, the one who brings the noble Path, taught the excellent dhamma. This precious jewel is the Buddha. By this truth may there be happiness.”
Khīnam purānam
navam natthi sambhavam
Viratta cittā āyatike bhavasmim
Te khīnabījā avirūlhicchandā
Nibbanti dhīrā yathā’yam padīpo
Idam pi sanghe ratanam panītam
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“Their past karma is spent, their new karma no more arises, and their mind to future becoming is unattached. Their essence of rebirth-consciousness has disappeared, they have no more wish to be born again. Those wise men fade out of existence as the flame of this lamp which has just faded away. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this truth may there be happiness.”
Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni
Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe
Tathāgatam devamanussa-pūjitam
Buddham namassāma suvatthi hotu
“Whatever non-human beings are assembled here, earthly or heavenly, come let us salute the Buddha, the Tathagata or the perfect one, honoured by gods and men. May there be happiness.”
Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni
Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe
Tathāgatam devamanussa-pūjitam
Dhammam namassāma suvatthi hotu
“Whatever non-human beings are assembled here, earthly or heavenly, come let us salute the perfect dhamma, honoured by gods and men. May there be happiness.”
Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni
Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe
Tathāgatam devamanussa-pūjitam
Sangham namassāma suvatthi hotu
“Whatever non-human beings are assembled here, earthly or heavenly, come let us salute the perfect Sangha, honoured by gods and men. May there be happiness.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
