(Handa mayaṃ khemākhema-saraṇa-gamana-paridīpikā-gāthāyo bhaṇāmase)
Bahuṃ ve saraṇaṃ yanti pabbatāni vanāni ca Ārāma-rukkha-cetyāni manussā bhaya-tajjitā
To many refuges they go — To mountain slopes and forest glades, To parkland shrines and sacred sites — People overcome by fear.
N’etaṃ kho saraṇaṃ khemaṃ n’etaṃ saraṇam-uttamaṃ N’etaṃ saraṇam-āgamma sabba-dukkhā pamuccati
Such a refuge is not secure, Such a refuge is not supreme, Such a refuge does not bring Complete release from suffering.
Yo ca Buddhañca Dhammañca saṅghañca saraṇaṃ gato Cattāri ariya-saccāni sammappaññāya passati
Whoever goes to refuge In the Triple Gem Sees with right discernment The Four Noble Truths:
Dukkhaṃ dukkha-samuppādaṃ dukkhassa ca atikkamaṃ Ariyañ-c’aṭṭh’aṅgikaṃ maggaṃ dukkhūpasama-gāminaṃ
Suffering and its origin And that which lies beyond — The Noble Eightfold Path That leads the way to suff’ring’s end.
Etaṃ kho saraṇaṃ khemaṃ etaṃ saraṇam-uttamaṃ Etaṃ saraṇam-āgamma sabba-dukkhā pamuccati
Such a refuge is secure, Such a refuge is supreme, Such a refuge truly brings Complete release from all suffering.