Invocation /
Mangala Sutta

Ratana
Sutta

Metta
Sutta

Khandha
Sutta

Mora
Sutta

Vatta
Sutta

Dhajagga
Sutta

Atanatiya
Sutta

Angulimala
Sutta

Bojjhanga
Sutta

Pubbanha
Sutta

KHANDHA SUTTA PALI

uyyojanna

sabbasivisajatinam, dibbamantagadm viya;

yan naseti visam ghoram, sesancapi parissayam.

anakkhettamhi sabbattha, sabbada sabbapaninam;

sabbassopi nivareti, parittam tam bhanama he.

Virupakkhehi me mettam, mettam Erapathehi me;

Chabyaputtehi me mettam, mettam Kanhagotamakehi ca

apadakehi me mettam, mettam dvipadakehi me;

catuppadehi me mettam, mettam bahuppadehi me.

ma mam apadako himsi, ma mam himsi dvipadako;

ma mam catuppado himsi, ma mam himsi bahuppado.

sabbe satta sabbe pana, sabbe bhuta ca kevala;

sabbe bhadrani passantu, ma kanci papamagama.

appamano Buddho,

appamano Dhammo;

appamano Samgho,

pamanavantani sarisapani;

ahi vicchika satapadi, unnanabhi sarabu musika.

kata me rakkha, katam me parittam, patikkamantu bhutani;

soham namo Bhagavato, namo sattannam Sammasambuddhanam

Khandha Suttam Nitthitam

Vinaya Culavagga-245
Jataka vol. 1. 53-54.
Anguttara vol. 1. 384

1. Khandha Paritta Sutta

Discourse on Projection of the Aggregates

       This Khandha parittais the Buddhist spell, or wardrune, an example of Apotropaic Buddhism in Burma. According to the Vinaya pitaka literature in Cullavagga text (P.101-102), this is allegedly composed by the Lord Buddha when a certain monk in Savatthi died of snakebite. The Buddha declared that this would not have happened had that monk let his love radiate over the four royal breeds of serpents. And all the monks were advised to protect from snakes by means of love through the reciting of Khandha paritta which the Lord then composed for them.

       The same paritta is mentioned also in the Jataka stories, the Khandha Vatta Jataka. According to the story, the Bodhisatta (Buddha-to-be) was an ascetic in a previous birth who heard his friend ascetics complaining about the dangers they encountered from snakes. He therefore instructed them to recite the spell or wardrune in Pali, known as Khandha paritta.

       This paritta is nowadays recited for protection not only against dangerous snakes, for which it was originally composed, but even from other frightful creatures as well, including reptiles, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, lizards, rats and mice.

      The peculiar phenpmenon of this discourse is that Lord Buddha declared openly the power of reciting for personal safety, for personal preservation, and for personal protection (Parittam). This paritta sutta is composed of, according to the Burmese version, eight stanzas in Pali.

KHANDHA SUTTA

The Discourse Of Khandha

Introduction

   Just like the divine charms and divine drugs,

    this discourse of Khandha nullifies the baneful poison

   and the other perils of all the highly poisonous creatures.

   In this scope of (Buddha's) jurisdiction, everywhere,

   always, for all beings,

    and by all means, this discourse does prevent (the disasters).

   Oh thou! Let us recite this preventive discourse now.

    May my Love be with Virupakkha snakes; with Erapatha snakes may there be my love.

   May my love be with Chavyaputta snakes;

    with Kanhagotamaka snakes may there be my love too.

   With footless creatures may there be my love

   May my love be with bipeds;

   with quadrupeds may there be my love;

   May my love be with multipeds.

   May the foot-less hurt me not;

   May the bipeds not hurt me;

   the quadrupeds may not hurt me;

   the multipeds may hurt me not.

    All the sentient creature and all breathing ones,

   all beings without exception,

    all may see the happy sights,

   and may not befall into any sin.

   The Buddha is infinite:

   Infinite is the Dhamma;

   The Samgha is infinite;

   Finite and measurable are creeping things;

   snakes, scorpions, centipeds, spiders, lizards and rats.

   I have guarded myself; I have protected myself;

   Let all evil beings recede.

   Here I salute to the Glorious One.

   And to the Seven Buddhas do I honour.

First posted on 31-10-02