The Ratana Sutta, the Discourse on Gems, is one of the great chants of Theravāda Buddhism. Its verses praise the three jewels, the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha, and nearly every verse ends with the same wish: etena saccena suvatthi hotu, "by this truth, may you be well!" Here is the full text in Pāli and English.
How the discourse works
- An invitation (verses 1–2). All beings gathered here, on the ground or in the sky, are asked to listen with a happy heart and to protect humankind.
- The jewels (verses 3–15). Each verse names something precious in the Buddha, the Dhamma or the Saṅgha, and on the strength of that truth wishes everyone well.
- Homage (verses 16–18). Three closing verses bow to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha: "May you be safe!"
The full text in Pāli and English
| Pāli | English |
|---|---|
| Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni, Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe; Sabbeva bhūtā sumanā bhavantu, Athopi sakkacca suṇantu bhāsitaṁ. | Whatever beings have gathered here, on the ground or in the sky: may beings all be of happy heart, and listen carefully to what is said. |
| Tasmā hi bhūtā nisāmetha sabbe, Mettaṁ karotha mānusiyā pajāya; Divā ca ratto ca haranti ye baliṁ, Tasmā hi ne rakkhatha appamattā. | So pay heed, all you beings, have love for humankind, who day and night bring offerings; please protect them diligently. |
| Yaṁ kiñci vittaṁ idha vā huraṁ vā, Saggesu vā yaṁ ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ; Na no samaṁ atthi tathāgatena, Idampi buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ; Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. | There’s no wealth in this life or the next, no sublime gem in the heavens, that equals the Realized One. This sublime gem is in the Buddha: by this truth, may you be well! |
| Khayaṁ virāgaṁ amataṁ paṇītaṁ, Yadajjhagā sakyamunī samāhito; Na tena dhammena samatthi kiñci, Idampi dhamme ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ; Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. | Ending, dispassion, the undying, the sublime, attained by the Sakyan Sage immersed in samādhi; there is nothing equal to that Dhamma. This sublime gem is in the Dhamma: by this truth, may you be well! |
| Yaṁ buddhaseṭṭho parivaṇṇayī suciṁ, Samādhimānantarikaññamāhu; Samādhinā tena samo na vijjati, Idampi dhamme ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ; Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. | The purity praised by the highest Buddha is said to be the “immersion with immediate fruit”; no equal to that immersion is found. This sublime gem is in the Dhamma: by this truth, may you be well! |
| Ye puggalā aṭṭha sataṁ pasatthā, Cattāri etāni yugāni honti; Te dakkhiṇeyyā sugatassa sāvakā, Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni; Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ, Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. | The eight individual persons praised by the good are the four pairs of the Holy One’s disciples; they are worthy of religious donations, what’s given to them is very fruitful. This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha: by this truth, may you be well! |
| Ye suppayuttā manasā daḷhena, Nikkāmino gotamasāsanamhi; Te pattipattā amataṁ vigayha, Laddhā mudhā nibbutiṁ bhuñjamānā; Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ, Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. | Dedicated to Gotama’s dispensation, strong-minded, free of sense desire, they’ve attained the goal, plunged into freedom from death, and enjoy the quenching they’ve freely gained. This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha: by this truth, may you be well! |
| Yathindakhīlo pathavissito siyā, Catubbhi vātehi asampakampiyo; Tathūpamaṁ sappurisaṁ vadāmi, Yo ariyasaccāni avecca passati; Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ, Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. | As Indra’s pillar rooted in earth is not shaken by the four winds, I say a true person is like this, who sees the noble truths in experience. This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha: by this truth, may you be well! |
| Ye ariyasaccāni vibhāvayanti, Gambhīrapaññena sudesitāni; Kiñcāpi te honti bhusaṁ pamattā, Na te bhavaṁ aṭṭhamamādiyanti; Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ, Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. | Those who fathom the noble truths taught by the one of deep wisdom, do not take an eighth life, even if they are hugely negligent. This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha: by this truth, may you be well! |
| Sahāvassa dassanasampadāya, Tayassu dhammā jahitā bhavanti; Sakkāyadiṭṭhī vicikicchitañca, Sīlabbataṁ vāpi yadatthi kiñci. | When they attain to vision they give up three things: substantialist view, doubt, and any attachment to precepts and observances. |
| Catūhapāyehi ca vippamutto, Chaccābhiṭhānāni abhabba kātuṁ; Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ, Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. | They’re freed from the four places of loss, and cannot do six things. This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha: by this truth, may you be well! |
| Kiñcāpi so kamma karoti pāpakaṁ, Kāyena vācā uda cetasā vā; Abhabba so tassa paṭicchadāya, Abhabbatā diṭṭhapadassa vuttā; Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ, Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. | Even if they do a bad deed by body, speech, or mind, they are unable to conceal it; this, it’s said, is the inability of one who has seen the truth. This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha: by this truth, may you be well! |
| Vanappagumbe yatha phussitagge, Gimhānamāse paṭhamasmiṁ gimhe; Tathūpamaṁ dhammavaraṁ adesayi, Nibbānagāmiṁ paramaṁ hitāya; Idampi buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ, Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. | Like a tall forest tree crowned with flowers in the first month of summer; that’s how he taught the superb Dhamma, leading to extinguishment, the ultimate benefit. This sublime gem is in the Buddha: by this truth, may you be well! |
| Varo varaññū varado varāharo, Anuttaro dhammavaraṁ adesayi; Idampi buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ, Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. | The superb, knower of the superb, giver of the superb, bringer of the superb; taught the superb Dhamma supreme. This sublime gem is in the Buddha: by this truth, may you be well! |
| Khīṇaṁ purāṇaṁ nava natthi sambhavaṁ, Virattacittāyatike bhavasmiṁ; Te khīṇabījā avirūḷhichandā, Nibbanti dhīrā yathāyaṁ padīpo; Idampi saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ, Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. | The old is ended, nothing new is produced; their minds have no desire for future rebirth. Withered are the seeds, there’s no desire for growth, those attentive ones are extinguished like this lamp. This sublime gem is in the Saṅgha: by this truth, may you be well! |
| Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni, Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe; Tathāgataṁ devamanussapūjitaṁ, Buddhaṁ namassāma suvatthi hotu. | Whatever beings have gathered here, on the ground or in the sky: the Realized One is honored by gods and humans! We bow to the Buddha! May you be safe! |
| Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni, Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe; Tathāgataṁ devamanussapūjitaṁ, Dhammaṁ namassāma suvatthi hotu. | Whatever beings have gathered here, on the ground or in the sky: the Realized One is honored by gods and humans! We bow to the Dhamma! May you be safe! |
| Yānīdha bhūtāni samāgatāni, Bhummāni vā yāni va antalikkhe; Tathāgataṁ devamanussapūjitaṁ, Saṅghaṁ namassāma suvatthi hotu. | Whatever beings have gathered here, on the ground or in the sky: the Realized One is honored by gods and humans! We bow to the Saṅgha! May you be safe! |
Pāli and English from Snp 2.1, translated by Bhikkhu Sujato. Thai chanting books use the same verses with small spelling differences, and the Ratana Sutta also appears in the Khuddakapāṭha (Kp 6).
Lines worth remembering
"As Indra's pillar rooted in earth is not shaken by the four winds, I say a true person is like this, who sees the noble truths in experience."
A steady mind, rooted like a pillar, unshaken by the winds of praise and blame, gain and loss. And near the end, an image monks often point to while chanting by lamplight: "those attentive ones are extinguished like this lamp."
Why it is chanted for protection
The Ratana Sutta is one of the main paritta, protective chants. Tradition tells that the Buddha taught it when the city of Vesālī was struck by famine, disease and fear, and that peace returned. Today monks chant it at blessings, new homes and in times of trouble, sometimes while sprinkling blessed water. We share this as tradition. The verses themselves work as an act of truth: a sincere wish for others' wellbeing, made on the strength of what is true and good.
How to use it
- Learn the refrain first: Etena saccena suvatthi hotu, "by this truth, may you be well." It is a beautiful wish to say for someone who is ill or struggling.
- Read one verse a day for 17 days and let it stay with you.
- Pair it with the other great chants: the Mangala Sutta on blessings and the Karaniya Metta Sutta on loving-kindness. Together they are the three best-known protective chants.
Questions people ask
What is the Ratana Sutta?
A discourse of 17 verses in the Sutta Nipāta (Snp 2.1) praising the three jewels, the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha, with the refrain 'by this truth, may you be well'.
What does ratana mean?
Ratana means gem or jewel. The 'three jewels' of Buddhism are the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha.
Why is the Ratana Sutta chanted for protection?
It is one of the main paritta, or protective chants. Tradition tells that the Buddha taught it when the city of Vesālī was struck by famine and disease. ANEW shares this as tradition; the verses themselves are an act of truth about the qualities of the three jewels.
What is an act of truth?
Each verse states something true about the Buddha, Dhamma or Saṅgha and then says 'by this truth, may you be well.' Wishing well on the strength of a truth is called an act of truth (saccakiriyā).