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ติโรกุฑฑะกัณฑะปัจฉิมภาค The Latter Part of the Tirokuḍḍa Kaṇḍa Chanted in the anumodanā at a funeral or memorial, where merit is being dedicated to somebody who has died. page 273 10 verses

Verses on giving for the dead: that weeping does not reach them, and a gift established in the Sangha does.

When chanted
Chanted in the anumodanā at a funeral or memorial, where merit is being dedicated to somebody who has died.

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 Tirokuvvḍa Kaṇḍa is the discourse on those standing outside the walls — the departed who come to their old houses. This is its closing part, printed on its own because that is the part chanted.

The book's procedure page names it directly: at an inauspicious occasion, chant these verses. It is the funeral counterpart of the blessing verses used at happy ones.

Meaning and purpose

It opens by giving the mourner their own words: he gave to me, he acted for me, he was my kinsman, friend and companion. The verse starts from what a person is actually thinking.

Then the hard line, and it is not softened: weeping, or sorrow, or any other lamentation is of no use to the departed, though the relatives go on so. Said at a funeral, to people who are weeping.

And immediately the alternative, which is why the hardness is bearable: but this gift, given and well established in the Sangha, serves for their long-lasting welfare, and at once. Something useless has been named and something useful put in its place. The verses end by telling the donors what they have done — strength has been given to the bhikkhus, and no small merit gathered by you.

The chant

As the book prints it: page 273 →

page 273
1

อะทาสิ เม อะกาสิ เม ญาติมิตตา สะขา จะ เม

Adāsi me akāsi me ñātimittā sakhā ca me

'He gave to me, he acted for me; he was my kinsman, friend and companion' —

2

เปตานัง ทักขิณัง ทัชชา ปุพเพ กะตะมะนุสสะรัง

Petānaṃ dakkhiṇaṃ dajjā pubbe katamanussaraṃ

recalling what was done before, one should give a gift for the departed.

3

นะ หิ รุณณัง วา โสโก วา ยา วัญญา ปะริเทวะนา

Na hi ruṇṇaṃ vā soko vā yā vaññā paridevanā

For weeping, or sorrow, or any other lamentation,

4

นะ ตัง เปตานะมัตถายะ เอวัง ติฏฐันติ ญาตะโย

Na taṃ petānamatthāya evaṃ tiṭṭhanti ñātayo

is of no use to the departed, though the relatives go on so.

5

อะยัญจะ โข ทักขิณา ทินนา สังฆัม๎หิ สุปะติฏฐิตา

Ayañca kho dakkhiṇā dinnā saṅghamhi supatiṭṭhitā

But this gift, given and well established in the Saṅgha,

6

ทีฆะรัตตัง หิตายัสสะ ฐานะโส อุปะกัปปะติ

Dīgharattaṃ hitāyassa ṭhānaso upakappati

serves for their long-lasting welfare, and at once.

7

โส ญาติธัมโม จะ อะยัง นิทัสสิโต

So ñātidhammo ca ayaṃ nidassito

This duty to kin has now been shown,

8

เปตานะ ปูชา จะ กะตา อุฬารา

Petāna pūjā ca katā uḷārā

and lofty honour has been done to the departed;

9

พะลัญจะ ภิกขูนะมะนุปปะทินนัง

Balañca bhikkhūnamanuppadinnaṃ

strength has been given to the bhikkhus too,

10

ตุมเหหิ ปุญญัง ปะสุตัง อะนัปปะกันติ.

Tumhehi puññaṃ pasutaṃ anappakanti.

and no small merit has been gathered by you.

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