The short request for a Dhamma teaching, recalling Brahmā Sahampati's request that the Buddha teach at all.
- When chanted
- Spoken by a lay person before a sermon, requesting 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
Four lines, and they are the most quoted request in Thai Buddhism. A sermon is asked for, not offered, and this is how it is asked.
The words do not ask on the assembly's own behalf. They recount somebody else's request — the one made after the awakening, when the Buddha was inclined not to teach.
Meaning and purpose
Brahmā Sahampati, lord of the world, with hands joined in reverence, made his request of the Excellent One. The posture is named, and it is the posture the person chanting is in.
The argument he made is given in one line: there are beings here with little dust in their eyes. Not that all will understand, only that some might — which is the smallest claim that could have worked.
And the request itself asks for compassion rather than instruction: may he teach the Dhamma, out of compassion for these people. Every sermon in this tradition is therefore requested in words that remember it might not have been given at all.
The chant
As the book prints it: page 250 →
page 250พ๎รัห๎มา จะ โลกาธิปะตี สะหัมปะติ
Brahmā ca lokādhipatī sahampati
Brahmā Sahampati, lord of the world,
กัตอัญชะลี อันธิวะรัง อะยาจะถะ
Katañjalī andhivaraṃ ayācatha
with hands joined in reverence, made his request of the Excellent One:
สันตีธะ สัตตาปะระชักขะชาติกา
Santīdha sattāparajakkhajātikā
there are beings here with little dust in their eyes;
เทเสตุ ธัมมัง อะนุกัมปิมัง ปะชัง.
Desetu dhammaṃ anukampimaṃ pajaṃ.
may he teach the Dhamma, out of compassion for these people.