Verses on truth as the sweetest of flavours, and on the four things — truth, Dhamma, steadfastness, generosity — that keep a householder from grief.
- When chanted
- Chanted at an occasion where truth is pledged, which is what the title's drinking of truth names.
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 title names an occasion rather than a subject: verses befitting the drinking of truth. The chant was therefore assembled for a rite at which an undertaking is sworn, and its contents were chosen to suit that rather than to expound a doctrine.
What holds the verses together is theme rather than provenance. Every one of them turns on truth, on faith, or on what a person living at home should stand on. The book prints its own reference for the group.
Meaning and purpose
It opens on its largest claim and does not build up to it: สัจจัง เว อะมะตา วาจา, truth indeed is deathless speech, and this is the ancient law. Deathless, not merely long-lasting — the word is the same one used of Nibbāna.
The middle sets out four bests in a row: faith is a person's best wealth, Dhamma well practised brings happiness, truth is the sweetest of flavours, and the life lived by wisdom is called the best life. Then it turns practical — doing what is fitting, bearing the burden, rising to the task — and says what those produce: wealth, renown, and friends bound by giving.
The close is the reason the verses suit their occasion. In the faithful householder in whom truth, Dhamma, steadfastness and generosity are found, he does not grieve when he has passed on. And then something rare in a chant: an invitation to check the claim. Come now, ask others also, the many ascetics and brahmins, whether anything greater than truth, self-control, generosity and patience is found here. It ends by inviting contradiction, which is a confident way to finish a pledge.
The chant
As the book prints it: page 29 and page 30 →
สัจจัง เว อะมะตา วาจา เอสะ ธัมโม สะนันตะโน
saccaṃ ve amatā vācā esa dhammo sanantano
Truth indeed is deathless speech; this is the ancient law.
สัจเจ อัตเถ จะ ธัมเม จะ อะหุ สันโต ปะติฏฐิตา.
sacce atthe ca dhamme ca ahu santo patiṭṭhitā.
In truth, in what is good, and in Dhamma the good stand established.
สัทธีธะ วิตตัง ปุริสัสสะ เสฏฐัง
saddhīdha vittaṃ purisassa seṭṭhaṃ
Faith is a man's best wealth here;
ธัมโม สุจิณโณ สุขะมาวะหาติ
dhammo suciṇṇo sukhamāvahāti
Dhamma well practised brings happiness;
สัจจัง หะเว สาธุตะรัง ระสานัง
saccaṃ have sādhutaraṃ rasānaṃ
truth is indeed the sweetest of flavours;
ปัญญาชีวีชีวิตะมาหุ เสฏฐัง.
paññājīvījīvitamāhu seṭṭhaṃ.
and the life of one living by wisdom they call the best.
สัททะหาโน อะระหะตัง ธัมมัง นิพพานะปัตติยา
saddahāno arahataṃ dhammaṃ nibbānapattiyā
Having faith in the Dhamma of the arahants, for the attainment of Nibbāna,
สุสสูสัง ละภะเต ปัญญัง อัปปะมัตโต วิจักขะโณ.
sussūsaṃ labhate paññaṃ appamatto vicakkhaṇo.
one who listens well gains wisdom — heedful and discerning.
ปะฏิรูปะการี ธุระวา อุฏฐาตา วินทะเต ธะนัง
paṭirūpakārī dhuravā uṭṭhātā vindate dhanaṃ
Doing what is fitting, bearing the burden, rising to the task, one finds wealth;
สัจเจนะ กิตติง ปัปโปติ ทะทัง มิตตานิ คันถะติ.
saccena kittiṃ pappoti dadaṃ mittāni ganthati.
by truth one wins renown; by giving one binds friends.
ยัสเสเต จะตุโร ธัมมา สัทธัสสะ ฆะระเมสิโน
yassete caturo dhammā saddhassa gharamesino
In the faithful householder in whom these four things are found —
สัจจัง ธัมโม ธิติ จาโค สะ เว เปจจะ นะ โสจะติ.
saccaṃ dhammo dhiti cāgo sa ve pecca na socati.
truth, Dhamma, steadfastness, generosity — he indeed does not grieve when he has passed on.
อิงฆะ อัญเญปิ ปุจฉัสสุ ปุถู สะมะณะพ๎ราห๎มะเณ
iṅgha aññepi pucchassu puthū samaṇabrāhmaṇe
Come now, ask others also, the many ascetics and brahmins,
ยะทิ สัจจา ทะมา จาคา ขันต๎ยา ภิยโยธะ วิชชะตีติ.
yadi saccā damā cāgā khantyā bhiyyodha vijjatīti.
whether anything greater than truth, self-control, generosity and patience is found here.
สัจจะปานะวิธ๎ยานุรูปะคาถา นิฏฐิตา
saccapānavidhyānurūpagāthā niṭṭhitā
Here end the Verses Befitting the Drinking of Truth.