Supreme Praise of the Dhamma
(Handa mayaṃ dhammābhigītiṃ karomase)
Svākkhātat’ādiguṇa-yoga-vasena seyyo
It is excellent because it is ‘well expounded,’
Yo magga-pāka-pariyatti-vimokkha-bhedo
And it can be divided into Path and Fruit, Learning and Liberation.
Dhammo kuloka-patanā tada-dhāri-dhārī
The Dhamma holds those who uphold it from falling into delusion.
Vandām’ahaṃ tama-haraṃ vara-dhammam-etaṃ
I revere the excellent Teaching, that which removes darkness —
Dhammo yo sabba-pāṇīnaṃ saraṇaṃ khemam-uttamaṃ
The Dhamma, which is the supreme, secure refuge of al꜖l beings —
Dutiyānussatiṭṭhānaṃ vandāmi taṃ siren’ahaṃ
As the Second Object of Recollection, I venerate it with bowed head.
Dhammassāh’asmi dāso va (dāsī va) dhammo me sāmi-kissaro
I am indeed the Dhamma’s servant, the Dhamma is my Lord and Guide.
Dhammo dukkhassa ghātā ca vidhātā ca hitassa me
The Dhamma is sorrow’s destroyer, and it bestows blessings on me.
Dhammass’āhaṃ niyyādemi sarīrañ-jīvitañ-cidaṃ
To the Dhamma I dedicate this body and life,
Vandantohaṃ (Vandantīhaṃ) carissāmi dhammass’eva sudhammataṃ
And in devotion I will walk this excellent way of Truth.
Natthi me saraṇaṃ aññaṃ dhammo me saraṇaṃ varaṃ
For me there is no other refuge, the Dhamma is my excellent refuge.
Etena sacca-vajjena vaḍḍheyyaṃ satthu-sāsane
By the utterance of this Truth, may I grow in the Master’s Way.
Dhammaṃ me vandamānena (vandamānāya) yaṃ puññaṃ pasutaṃ idha
By my devotion to the Dhamma, and the blessing of this practice —
Sabbepi antarāyā me māhesuṃ tassa tejasā
By its power, may all obstacles be overcome.
(Bowing.)
Kāyena vācāya va cetasā vā
By body, speech, or mind,
Dhamme kukammaṃ pakataṃ mayā yaṃ
For whatever wrong action I have committed towards the Dhamma,
Dhammo paṭiggaṇhātu accayantaṃ
May my acknowledgement of fault be accepted,
Kālantare saṃvarituṃ va dhamme
That in future there may be restraint regarding the Dhamma.