Six lines asking the Sangha to give a Dhamma talk, on the ground that today is one of the days appointed for hearing it.
- When chanted
- Chanted by the lay assembly before a sermon, to request 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
A sermon in this tradition is not simply delivered. It is asked for, and these are the words that ask. The same shape governs the precepts, which are also requested rather than administered unbidden.
The chant is short enough to be known by heart by people who chant little else, and it is heard at almost every occasion where a monk is about to speak.
Meaning and purpose
It opens by establishing the day rather than the need. The fourteenth, the fifteenth and the eighth of the fortnight are the times appointed by the Buddha for hearing the true Dhamma — so the request rests on a calendar, not on a mood.
Then the particular: now this fifteenth day has come, a day marked out for it, and therefore this assembly has gathered here to hear the Dhamma. The word therefore is doing the work. The gathering is presented as the consequence of the day, not as a favour being sought.
Only then the request itself, and it asks two things at once: that the Sangha would give a teaching, and that this whole assembly, giving it their full attention, would listen. The second half is the reason the chant is worth its six lines. The people asking commit themselves in the same breath, so nobody can request a sermon and then not attend to it.
The chant
As the book prints it: page 65 →
จาตุททะสี ปัณณะระสี ยา จะ ปักขัสสะ อัฏฐะมี
Cātuddasī paṇṇarasī yā ca pakkhassa aṭṭhamī
The fourteenth day, the fifteenth, and the eighth of the fortnight —
กาลา พุทเธนะ ปัญญัตตา สัทธัมมัสสะวะนัสสิเม.
Kālā buddhena paññattā saddhammassavanassime.
these are the times appointed by the Buddha for the hearing of the True Dhamma.
ปัณณะระสี อะยันทานิ สัมปัตตา อะภิลักขิตา
Paṇṇarasī ayandāni sampattā abhilakkhitā
Now this fifteenth day has come, a day marked out for it,
เตนายัง ปะริสา ธัมมัง โสตุง อิธะ สะมาคะตา.
Tenāyaṃ parisā dhammaṃ sotuṃ idha samāgatā.
and therefore this assembly has gathered here to hear the Dhamma.
สาธุ อัยโย ภิกขุสังโฆ กะโรตุ ธัมมะเทสะนัง
Sādhu ayyo bhikkhusaṅgho karotu dhammadesanaṃ
It would be well, venerable sir, if the Bhikkhu Sangha would give a teaching of the Dhamma,
อะยัญจะ ปะริสา สัพพา อัฏฐิกัต๎วา สุณาตุ ตันติ.
Ayañca parisā sabbā aṭṭhikatvā suṇātu tanti.
and if this whole assembly, giving it their full attention, would listen to it.