08. Maha Mangala Sutta - Discourse on Blessings (Khp 5)
Mangala Sutta - Discourse on Blessings (Khp 5)
Êvam me sutam Thus I have heard: Êkam samayam bhagavâ On one occasion the Blessed One Sâvatthiyam viharati Jetavane was dwelling at the monastery of Anâtha-pindikassa ârâme Anathapindika in Jeta's Grove, near Savatthi. Atha kho aññâtarâ devatâ When the night was far spent, Abhikkantâya rattiyâ abhikkanta-vannâ a certain deity whose surpassing splendour kevala-kappam Jetavanam Obhâsetvâ illuminated the entire Jeta Grove, yena Bhagavâ ten'upasankami came to the presence of the Blessed One, Upasankamitvâ bhagavantam and drawing near, respectfully saluted and Abhivâdetvâ ekamantam atthâsi stood at one side. Ekamantam thitâ kho, sâ devatâ Standing thus, the deity Bhagavantam gâthâya ajjhabhâsi addressed the Blessed One in verse:
Bahû devâ manussâ ca - Mangalâni acintayum Many deities and men, yearning after good, Âkankha-mânâ sotthânam - Brûhi mangala muttamam have pondered on Blessings. Pray, tell me the Supreme Blessing.
Asevanâ ca bâlânam - Panditânan ca sêvanâ Not to follow or associate with fools, to associate with the wise, Pûjâ ca pûja-nîyânam - Etam mangala muttamam and honour those who are worthy of honour. This is the Supreme Blessing.
Patirûpa-desa vâsô ca - Pubbe ca kata-puññatâ To reside in a suitable locality, to have done meritorious actions in the past, Atta sammâ panidhi ca - Etam mangala muttamam and to have set oneself on the right course (towards emancipation). This is the Supreme Blessing.
Bâhu saccanca sippañca - Vinayo ca susikkhito Vast-learning, perfect handicraft, a highly trained discipline Subhâsitâ ca yâ vâcâ - Etam mangala muttamam and pleasant speech. This is the Supreme Blessing.
Mâtâ pitû upatthânam - Putta dârassa sangaho The support of father and mother, the cherishing of wife and children Anâkulâ ca kammantâ - Etam mangala muttamam and peaceful occupations. This is the Supreme Blessing.
Dânam ca dhamma-cariyâ ca - Ñâtakânañca sangaho Liberality, righteous conduct, the helping of relatives Anavajjâni kammâni - Êtam mangala muttamam and blameless actions. This is the Supreme Blessing.
Ârati virati pâpâ - Majja-pânâ ca saññamo To cease and abstain from evil, forbearance with respect to intoxicants Appa-mâdo ca dhammesu - Etam mangala muttamam and steadfastness in virtue. This is the Supreme Blessing.
Gâravo ca nivâto ca - Santutthi ca kataññutâ Reverence, humility, contentment, gratitude and Kâlena dhamma savanam - Etam mangala muttamam opportune hearing of the Dhamma. This is the Supreme Blessing.
Khanti ca Sovacassatâ - Samanâ nañca dassanam Patience, obedience, sight of the Samanas (holy men) Kâlena dhamma sâkacchâ - Êtam mangala muttamam and religious discussions at due season. This is the Supreme Blessing.
Tapô ca brahma cariyâca - Ariya saccâna dassanam Self-control, pure life, perception of the Noble Truths Nibbâna sacchi kiriyâca - Etam mangala muttamam and the realisation of Nibbana. This is the Supreme Blessing.
Putthassa lôka dhammehi - Cittam yassa na kampati He whose mind does not flutter, by contact with worldly contingencies, Asokam virajam khemam - Etam mangala muttamam sorrowless, stainless and secure. This is the Supreme Blessing.
Etâ-disâni katvâna - Sabbattha maparâjitâ To them, fulfilling matters such as thes