The Great Reverence Text
Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa (3x)
Reverence to him, the Fortunate One, the Worthy One, the Perfect Sambuddha
Sugataṁ sugataṁ seṭṭhaṁ, kusalaṁ ‘kusalaṁ jahaṁ,
The one who is happy and happily excellent, who has given up wholesome and unwholesome deeds,
Amataṁ amataṁ santaṁ, Asamaṁ Asamaṁ dadaṁ,
Who found the deathless peace of the Deathless, who found the Matchless (Nibbāna), and gives the Matchless (to others),
Saraṇaṁ saraṇaṁ lokaṁ, araṇaṁ araṇaṁ karaṁ
Who found the Refuge, and is the refuge for the world, the one without passions, who makes the passions fade,
Abhayaṁ abhayaṁ ṭhānaṁ nāyakaṁ: Nāyakaṁ name.
The one without fear, who leads to that fearless place: I will revere (Lord Buddha), the Leader. [1]
Nayanasubhagakāyaṅgaṁ,
Having body and limbs lovely to the eyes,
Madhuravarasaropetaṁ,
Endowed with a noble and sweet voice,
Amitaguṇagaṇādhāraṁ:
The receptacle of many measureless virtues:
Dasabalam-atulaṁ vande.
I worship that incomparable One of Ten Powers. [2]
Yo Buddho dhitimāññadhārako,
He who is Buddha, the bearer of steadfast knowledge,
Saṁsāre anubhosi kāyikaṁ
Who underwent in the continual round of existence, both bodily
Dukkhaṁ cetasikañ-ca lokato:
And mental suffering for the sake of the world:
Taṁ vande naradevamaṅgalaṁ.
I worship Him, who is a blessing for men and gods. [3]
Bāttiṁsatilakkhaṇacitradehaṁ,
He who has the thirty-two beautiful marks on his body,
Dehajjutiniggatapajjalantaṁ
Whose body shines with an effulgence of light,
Paññādhitisīlaguṇoghavindaṁ:
Who possesses an ocean of wisdom, steadfastness, morality and virtue:
Vande Munim-antimajātiyuttaṁ.
I worship that Sage who is in his final birth. [4]
Pātodayaṁ bāladivākaraṁ va,
Like a fresh sun rising in the morning,
Majjhe yatīnaṁ lalitaṁ sirīhi,
With charming grace in the midst of those who strive,
Puṇṇindusaṅkāsamukhaṁ, anejaṁ:
Having a face like a full moon, lust-free:
Vandāmi sabbaññum-ahaṁ Munindaṁ.
I worship the omniscient Lord of Sages. [5]
Upetapuñño, varabodhimūle
Endowed with merit, at the root of the Bodhi tree
Sasenamāraṁ Sugato jinitvā,
the Happy One, after defeating Māra and his army,
Abojjhi Bodhiṁ aruṇodayamhi:
Awoke to Wisdom as the dawn broke:
Namāmi Taṁ mārajinaṁ abhaṅgaṁ.
I revere Him, the unbroken one, who defeated the (five) deaths. [6]
Rāgādichedāmalañāṇakhaggaṁ,
That one having the sword of undefiled knowledge that cuts off passion and so on,
Satīsamaññāphalakābhigāhaṁ,
Who holds up the shield known as mindfulness,
Sīloghalaṅkāravibhūsitaṁ: Taṁ
Who is adorned with the decoration of an ocean of morality: Him
Namāmi ‘bhiññāvaram-iddhupetaṁ.
I revere, the one endowed with noble knowledge and psychic power. [7]
Dayālayaṁ sabbadhi dukkaraṁ karaṁ,
That abode of sympathy, who (overcoming) difficulties everywhere,
Bhavaṇṇavātikkamam-aggataṁ gataṁ,
And, overcoming the ocean of existence, attained the highest,
Tilokanāthaṁ susamāhitaṁ hitaṁ:
The well-composed Lord of the Three Worlds who is a benefit (to others):
Samantacakkhuṁ paṇamāmi Taṁ ‘mitaṁ.
I bow down to the measureless All-Seeing One. [8]
Tahiṁ tahiṁ pāramisañcayaṁ cayaṁ,
In this place and that place he accumulated a store of perfections,
Gataṁ gataṁ sabbhisukhappadaṁ padaṁ,
He has attained the happy resting place of the virtuous,
Narānarānaṁ sukhasambhavaṁ bhavaṁ,
And is the origin and source of happiness for men and gods,
Namānamānaṁ Jinapuṅgavaṁ gavaṁ.
I revere the noble Victor, who (overcame) the disrespectful fools. [9]
Maggaṅganāvaṁ Munidakkhanāviko,
The Sage and skilful mariner ascended the ship of the Path-factors,
Īhāphiyaṁ ñāṇakarena gāhako,
Grasped with the hand of knowledge the oar of exertion,
Āruyha yo tāya bahū bhavaṇṇavā:
And crossed over the manifold ocean of existence:
Tāresi Taṁ buddham-aghappahaṁ name.
I revere Him, who understood, abandoned distress and crossed over. [10]
Samatiṁsatipāramisambharaṇaṁ,
He who fulfilled the thirty perfections equally,
Varabodhidume Catusaccadasaṁ,
Who, under the noble Bodhi tree, saw the Four Truths,
Varam-iddhigataṁ naradevahitaṁ:
Attained the noble psychic powers, which benefit gods and men:
Tibhavūpasamaṁ paṇamāmi Jinaṁ.
I bow down to the Victor, who stilled (rebirth in) the three (planes of) existence. [11]
Satapuññajalakkhaṇikaṁ, virajaṁ,
Having the marks that arose because of hundreds of merits, passionless,
Gaganūpamadhiṁ, dhiti-Merusamaṁ,
Superior like the sky, firm like (Mount) Meru,
Jalajūpamasītalasīlayutaṁ,
Cool, like the lotus, endowed with morality,
Pathavīsahanaṁ: paṇamāmi Jinaṁ.
who endures (like) the Earth: I bow down to the Victor. [12]
Yo Buddho sumati, dive divākaro va,
He who is the wise Buddha, like the sun shining in the day,
Sobhanto ratijanane silāsanamhi,
o Resplendent, producing delight, while sitting on his stone throne,
Āsīno sivasukhadaṁ adesi Dhammaṁ,
Taught the Abhidhamma, which gives the happiness of safety,
Devānaṁ: Tam-Asadisaṁ namāmi niccaṁ.
to the gods: I always revere Him who is Matchless. [13]
Yo pādapaṅkajamuduttalarājikehi,
He who has tender skin on his lotus feet,
Lokehi tīhi ‘vikalehi nirākulehi,
Who is unconfused, not lacking (in knowledge) about the three worlds,
Sampāpuṇe nirupameyyatam-eva, Nātho
Who has attained the incomparable, the Lord
Taṁ sabbalokamahitaṁ asamaṁ namāmi.
Who is unequalled and honoured by the whole world: I revere Him. [14]
Buddhaṁ narānarasamosaraṇaṁ dhitattaṁ,
The Buddha with steady mind, who brought together men and gods,
Paññāpadīpajutiyā vihatandhakāraṁ,
Who, with the lustre of the light of wisdom destroyed the darkness (of ignorance),
Atthābhikāmanaradevahitāvahaṁ, Taṁ
He who greatly desires the welfare and benefit of men and gods, Him
Vandāmi, kāruṇikam-aggam-anantañāṇaṁ.
I worship, the great compassionate (Buddha), with infinite knowledge. [15]
Akhilaguṇanidhāno yo Munindopagantvā
The deposit of all virtues, the Lord of Sages, who, after approaching
Vanam-Isipatanavhaṁ, saññatānaṁ niketaṁ,
The Wood called Isipatana, the abode of those restrained,
Tahim-akusalachedaṁ Dhammacakkaṁ pavatto:
And rolling the Dhamma-Wheel, which cut off unwholesomeness in that place:
Tam-atulam-abhikantaṁ vandaneyyaṁ namāmi.
I revere Him of incomparable beauty, who should be worshipped. [16]
Suciparivāritaṁ, surucirappabhāhi rattaṁ,
Surrounded by the pure, brilliant with beautiful radiance,
Sirivisarālayaṁ gupitam-indriyeh’ upetaṁ,
The abode of many glories, endowed with guarded senses,
Ravisasimaṇḍalappabhutilakkhaṇopacittaṁ:
And beautiful marks beginning with the disk of the sun and the moon:
Suranarapūjitaṁ Sugatam-ādaraṁ namāmi.
I revere with respect the Happy One, worshipped by gods and men. [17]
Maggoḷumpena muhapaṭighāsādi-ullolavīciṁ
o With the raft of the Path, he crossed over the waves and currents of delusion, anger and desire
Saṁsāroghaṁ tari; tam-abhayaṁ pārapattaṁ, pajānaṁ
o The ocean of existences; the fearless one fully crossed over, and he established humanity’s
Tāṇaṁ leṇaṁ asamasaraṇaṁ ekatitthaṁ patiṭṭhaṁ:
Shelter, safety and unequalled refuge, the one (true) haven:
Puññakkhettaṁ paramasukhadaṁ Dhammarājaṁ namāmi.
I revere the King of the Dhamma, that field of merit, who gives the ultimate bliss. [18]
Kaṇḍambaṁ mūle parahitakaro yo Munindo nisinno,
The Lord of Sages sitting at the root of the Kaṇḍamba tree, seeking the benefit of others,
Accheraṁ sīghaṁ nayanasubhagaṁ ākulaṇṇaggijālaṁ,
o Quickly wrought a wonder by scattering water and fire that was pleasing to the eyes,
Dujjāladdhaṁsaṁ, Munibhi ‘jahitaṁ pāṭiheraṁ akāsi:
Destroying the false net (of views), this miracle was not left undone by the Sage:
Vande Taṁ, seṭṭhaṁ paramaratijaṁ iddhidhammeh’ upetaṁ.
I worship Him, the praised origin of supreme delight, endowed with psychic power. [19]
Munindakko yeko dayudayaruṇo ñāṇavitthiṇṇabimbo,
That clever Sage, who is the rising dawn of compassion, having extensive knowledge,
Vineyyappāṇoghaṁ kamalakathitaṁ Dhammaraṁsīvarehi,
Who leads over the watery ocean what are called lotuses with the noble rays of his Dhamma,
Subodhesī suddhe tibhavakuhare byāpitakkittinañ-ca,
And awakens the pure of heart in the pit of the three worlds, widely-renowned,
Tilokekaccakkhuṁ dukham-asahanaṁ: Taṁ Mahesiṁ namāmi.
The one (wisdom) eye of the three worlds, who endured suffering: I revere Him, the Great Sage. [20]
Yo Jino anekajātiyaṁ, saputtadāram-aṅgajīvitam-pi,
o That Victor who, in countless lives, gave both his children and wife, his limbs and life,
Bodhipemato alaggamānaso adāsi yeva atthikassa,
Without a clinging mind, for love of Awakening, to he who desired it,
Dānapāramiṁ tato paraṁ apūri sīlapāramādikam-pi,
And after the perfection of generosity fulfilled the others, like the perfection of virtue and so on,
Tāsam-iddhiyopayātam-Aggataṁ: Tam-Ekadīpakaṁ namāmi.
And reached the Highest through their (inherent) power: I revere Him, the one (true) Island. [21]
Devādevātidevaṁ nidhanavapudharaṁ mārabhaṅgaṁ abhaṅgaṁ
The Great God above all gods, bearing his last body, having broken the (five) killers, unbroken (himself),
Dīpaṁ dīpaṁ pajānaṁ, jayavarasayane Bodhipattaṁ ‘dhipattaṁ
Who spread the light of wisdom on people, and attained Awakening on the noble victory seat,
Brahmābrahmāgatānaṁ varagirakathikaṁ pāpahīnaṁ pahīnaṁ
Surrounded by brahmas and others, speaking with a noble voice, having given up low actions,
Lokālokābhirāmaṁ: satatam-abhiname Taṁ Munindaṁ Munindaṁ.
Greatly delighting the worlds: I always greatly revere Him, the Lord of Sages, the Lord of the (five) Sages. [22]
Buddho nigrodhabimbo mudukaracaraṇo brahmaghoseṇijaṅgho,
The Buddha, having a form like the banyan tree, soft hands and feet, a voice like brahma, calves like an antelope,
Kosacchādaṅgajāto, punar-api Sugato suppatiṭṭhitapādo,
And a foreskin that covers the organ, the Happy One, with steady feet,
Mūdodātuṇṇalomo, atham-api Sugato brahmujuggattabhāvo,
Soft hair between the brows, the Happy One, straight-limbed (like) a brahma,
Nīlakkhī dīghapaṇhī sukhumamalachavī, thomyarasaggasaggī,
Having blue eyes, long heels, exquisite skin, whose taste buds are the very best, [23]
Cattālīsaggadanto samakalapanajo antaraṁsappapīno,
Having forty of the best teeth, even teeth, a full back between the shoulders,
Cakkenaṅkītapādo aviraḷadasano, Māraj’ ussaṅkhapādo,
Wheel-marked feet, unflawed teeth, He who defeated the killers, having high ankles,
Tiṭṭhanto nonamanto ‘bhayakaramudunā jaṇṇukānāmasanto,
Who, while standing, without bending, with both his soft hands, can touch his knees,
Vaṭṭakkhandho, Jino gotaruṇapakhumako sīhapubbaḍḍhakāyo,
Whose body is round, the Victor, having eyelashes like an ox, the upper half of whose body is like a lion, [24]
Sattappīno ca dīghaṅguli-m-atha Sugato lomakūpekalomo,
Having seven fat areas, long fingers, the Happy One, with one hair to a vesicle,
Sampannodātadāṭho kanakasamataco nīlamuddhaggalomo,
Full white teeth, smooth, golden skin, with black hair on the top of his head,
Sambuddho, thūlajivho atha sīhahanuko jālikappādahattho,
The Sambuddha, having a broad tongue, then a lion-like jaw, webbed feet and hands,
Nātho uṇhīsasīso itiguṇasahitaṁ: Taṁ Mahesiṁ namāmi.
Whose head has a crown, the Lord endowed with these (thirty-two) qualities: I revere Him, the Great Sage. [25]
“Buddho, Buddho” ti ghoso atidulabhataro kā kathā Buddhabhāvo?
o The sound, “Buddha, Buddha” is extremely rare in the world, what to say of Buddhahood?
Loke tasmā vibhāvī vividhahitasukhaṁ sādhavo patthayantā,
Therefore the wise and good, wishing for various sorts of benefit and happiness,
Iṭṭhaṁ atthaṁ vahantaṁ suranaramahitaṁ nibbhayaṁ dakkhiṇeyyaṁ,
o Desiring their (true) welfare, should always revere Him, who is fearless, worthy, honoured by gods and men,
Lokānaṁ nandivaḍḍhaṁ Dasabalam-asamaṁ, Taṁ namassantu niccaṁ.
The incomparable One of Ten Powers, who increases the happiness of the world. [26]