The introductory verse to the discourse on the things that lead to no decline for a community.
- When chanted
- Chanted immediately before the Bhikkhu Aparihaṇiyadhamma Sutta, introducing it.
Historical background
Four lines, and it names its subject by a negative: อะปะริหานิยะ — the things that do not lead to decline. What is promised is the absence of a decline rather than a gain.
Like the other prefatory verses it states the occasion and hands over.
Meaning and purpose
The Buddha is described by motive rather than by epithet: of great compassion, seeking the welfare of his disciples, wishing only for their growth in the Dhamma. Nothing is said about his attainments.
What he declared is put as plainly as the title — the things that lead to no decline — and the audience is named as the monks, which the discourse itself will keep insisting on.
The closing is the standard one, and it asks for practice rather than merit: so that, having heard, we may practise accordingly.
The chant
As the book prints it: page 115 →
page 115มะหาการุณิโก พุทโธ สาวะกานัง หิเตสะโก
Mahākāruṇiko buddho sāvakānaṃ hitesako
The Buddha, of great compassion, seeking the welfare of his disciples,
วุฑฒิง อากังขะมาโนวะ ธัมเม สัมพุทธะเทสิเต.
Vuḍḍhiṃ ākaṅkhamānova dhamme sambuddhadesite.
wishing only for their growth in the Dhamma the Awakened One had taught,
ภิกขูนัง สัมมะทักขาสิ ธัมเม อะปะริหานิเย
Bhikkhūnaṃ sammadakkhāsi dhamme aparihāniye
rightly declared to the monks the things that lead to no decline;
สุต๎วานุปะฏิปัต๎ยัตถัง ตัง สุตตันตัง ภะณามะ เส.
Sutvānupaṭipatyatthaṃ taṃ suttantaṃ bhaṇāma se.
so that, having heard, we may practise accordingly — let us recite that discourse.