The homage and the threefold going for refuge as they are given at an ordination, closing with the monk confirming that refuge is complete.
- When chanted
- Repeated after the monk at the giving of the refuges, before the precepts.
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
The homage and the refuges again, but printed here in the form used when they are being administered rather than chanted. That is why the last line is an exchange and not a verse.
Its place in the book is among the ordination material, so what follows for the person saying it is not a service but a change of standing.
Meaning and purpose
The first three lines are the homage, said three times as always. Then the three refuges, and then the same three twice more — nine statements in all, one to a line, as the paritta printing also sets them.
The closing line is the part that only appears in this setting. The monk says that the going for refuge is completed, and the answer comes back: yes, venerable sir.
Nothing in the words themselves has changed, and yet that confirmation is what makes the difference. Refuge chanted in a service is a recollection. Refuge confirmed by somebody who was listening is a fact about the person who said it.
The chant
As the book prints it: page 299 and page 300 →
page 299นะโม ตัสสะ ภะคะวะโต อะระหะโต สัมมาสัมพุทธัสสะ.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One.
นะโม ตัสสะ ภะคะวะโต อะระหะโต สัมมาสัมพุทธัสสะ.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One.
นะโม ตัสสะ ภะคะวะโต อะระหะโต สัมมาสัมพุทธัสสะ.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One.
พุทธัง สะระณัง คัจฉามิ.
Buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
I go to the Buddha for refuge.
ธัมมัง สะระณัง คัจฉามิ.
Dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
สังฆัง สะระณัง คัจฉามิ.
Saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
I go to the Saṅgha for refuge.
ทุติยัมปิ พุทธัง สะระณัง คัจฉามิ.
Dutiyampi buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
For a second time I go to the Buddha for refuge.
ทุติยัมปิ ธัมมัง สะระณัง คัจฉามิ.
Dutiyampi dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
For a second time I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
ทุติยัมปิ สังฆัง สะระณัง คัจฉามิ.
Dutiyampi saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
For a second time I go to the Saṅgha for refuge.
ตะติยัมปิ พุทธัง สะระณัง คัจฉามิ.
Tatiyampi buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
For a third time I go to the Buddha for refuge.
ตะติยัมปิ ธัมมัง สะระณัง คัจฉามิ.
Tatiyampi dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
For a third time I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
ตะติยัมปิ สังฆัง สะระณัง คัจฉามิ.
Tatiyampi saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
For a third time I go to the Saṅgha for refuge.
(พระท่านว่า) ติสะระณะคะมะนัง นิฏฐิตัง. (รับว่า) อามะ ภันเต.
Tisaraṇagamanaṃ niṭṭhitaṃ. Āma bhante.
(The monk says:) The going for refuge is completed. (The response:) Yes, venerable sir.