The prefatory verse to the Āṭānāṭiya Paritta, on the fierce non-human beings who were never persuaded.
- When chanted
- Chanted immediately before the Āṭānāṭiya Paritta, introducing it.
A note on this chant. The book prints this chant in Pali only, with no Thai translation. The English here is a working translation prepared for this edition — it is not the book's own, and has not yet been checked by a teacher.
Historical background
This introduction is unusual in naming an unsolved problem rather than a triumph. There are beings unconvinced of the Teaching, though it is held good, and they are forever doing harm.
The paritta that follows is presented as a practical response to that fact: not a way of converting such beings, but a way of being left alone by them.
Meaning and purpose
The phrase that carries it is อะปะสันนะ — unconvinced. The verse concedes at the outset that the Teaching does not persuade everyone, which is a candid thing for a devotional text to open with.
What was taught in response was taught for a purpose the verse states plainly: for the safety and protection of his assemblies. Not for their advancement, and not for anyone's conversion.
That makes this the most defensive text in the collection, and it is why the chant it introduces is essentially a long list of names. If a being cannot be reasoned with, what remains is knowing who they are and who outranks them.
The chant
As the book prints it: page 92 →
page 92อัปปะสันเนหิ นาถัสสะ สาสะเน สาธุสัมมะเต,
Appasannehi nāthassa sāsane sādhusammate,
By those unconvinced of the Protector's Teaching, though it is held good,
อะมะนุสเสหิ จัณเฑหิ สะทา กิพพิสะการิภิ,
Amanussehi caṇḍehi sadā kibbisakāribhi,
by fierce non-human beings, forever doing harm —
ปะริสานัญจะ ตัสสันนะมะหิงสายะ จะ คุตติยา,
Parisānañca tassannamahiṃsāya ca guttiyā,
and for the safety and protection of his assemblies,
ยันเทเสสิ มะหาวีโร ปะริตตันตัมภะณามะ เห.
Yandesesi mahāvīro parittantambhaṇāma he.
that which the Great Hero taught: that paritta let us now recite.