Four lines chanted as the victory candle is lit, naming the Three Jewels and asking that dangers perish.
- When chanted
- Chanted at the lighting of the victory candle, at the start of a major auspicious ceremony.
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
เทียนชัย is the victory candle: a large candle lit at the beginning of a great ceremony and kept burning throughout, then quenched at the end with its own chant.
The pair of chants — lighting and quenching — bracket the occasion, and the difference in their length is striking. Four lines to light it, forty-one to put it out.
Meaning and purpose
The lighting verse does the minimum. It names each of the Three Jewels with one epithet: the Buddha whose knowing is all-knowing, the Dhamma supreme and beyond the world, the Sangha standing in the paths and their fruits.
Then the consequence, in the form the book uses everywhere: by the power of these, may all sufferings and misfortunes and dangers perish, and may every blessing be yours.
Nothing is said about the candle. What is being marked is not the flame but the start, and the words could open any ceremony at all — which is presumably why they are short enough to say while somebody is holding a taper.
The chant
As the book prints it: page 254 →
page 254พุทโธ สัพพัญญุตะญาโณ ธัมโม โลกุตตะโร วะโร
Buddho sabbaññutañāṇo dhammo lokuttaro varo
The Buddha, whose knowing is all-knowing; the Dhamma, supreme and beyond the world;
สังโฆ มัคคะผะลัฏโฐ จะ อิจเจตัง ระตะนัตตะยัง.
Saṅgho maggaphalaṭṭho ca iccetaṃ ratanattayaṃ.
and the Saṅgha, standing in the paths and their fruits — these are the Three Jewels.
เอตัสสะ อานุภาเวนะ สัพพะทุกขา อุปัททะวา
Etassa ānubhāvena sabbadukkhā upaddavā
By the power of these, may all sufferings and misfortunes,
อันตะรายา จะ นัสสันตุ สัพพะโสตถี ภะวันตุ เต.
Antarāyā ca nassantu sabbasotthī bhavantu te.
and all dangers, perish; and may every blessing be yours.