Without the Walls · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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outside·wallTirokuṭṭesu
they standtiṭṭhanti,
junction·crossroadssandhisiṅghāṭakesu
andca;
door·postDvārabāhāsu
they standtiṭṭhanti,
to·comeāgantvāna
their ownsakaṁ
homegharaṁ.
Outside the walls they stand and wait, at the junctions and the crossroads. Returning to their former homes they wait beside the door posts.
lavishPahūte
food·drinkannapānamhi,
chewable·ediblekhajjabhojje
set outupaṭṭhite;
notNa
themtesaṁ
anyonekoci
rememberssarati,
of beingssattānaṁ
kamma·conditionkammapaccayā.
But when lavish food and drink of many kinds is set out, no one remembers them at all, because of those beings’s deeds.
thusEvaṁ
they givedadanti
to relativesñātīnaṁ,
whoye
arehonti
along·compassionanukampakā;
cleanSuciṁ
deliciouspaṇītaṁ
at the right timekālena,
suitablekappiyaṁ
drink·foodpānabhojanaṁ.
That’s why those who have compassion give to their relatives food and drink at the right time, that’s clean, delicious, and suitable.
thisIdaṁ
for youvo
of relativesñātīnaṁ
may it behotu,
happysukhitā
may they behontu
relativesñātayo;
thoseTe
andca
theretattha
having gatheredsamāgantvā,
relative·departedñātipetā
gatheredsamāgatā.
“May this be for our relatives! May our relatives be happy!” Those ghosts who have gathered there, the departed relatives who have come
lavishPahūte
in food and drinkannapānamhi,
gratefullysakkaccaṁ
express appreciationanumodare;
longCiraṁ
may they livejīvantu
ourno
relativesñātī,
of whomyesaṁ
for the sakehetu
we obtainlabhāmase.
for the lavish food and drink gratefully express appreciation: “May our relatives live long! For those to whom we owe this gain,
us·andAmhākañca
do·past participlekatā
honorpūjā,
give·agent pluraldāyakā
andca
not fruitlessanipphalā;
notNa
indeedhi
theretattha
farmingkasī
isatthi,
cow pasture + theregorakkhettha
notna
is foundvijjati.
who have given honor to us, it will not be fruitless for the donor.” There is no farming there, no cow pasture can be found;
tradingVaṇijjā
suchtādisī
not·benatthi,
gold·withhiraññena
commercekayākayaṁ;
from hereIto
give·withdinnena
sustain·theyyāpenti,
the departedpetā
death·gonekālagatā
in that placetahiṁ.
likewise there’s no trading, and no commerce in gold coin. The departed, the dead in that place live on what is given here.
on highUnname
waterudakaṁ
rainedvuṭṭhaṁ,
just asyathā
to the plainsninnaṁ
flows downpavattati;
so tooEvamevaṁ
from hereito
what is givendinnaṁ,
the departed ghostspetānaṁ
aidsupakappati.
Just as water that rains on high flows down to the plains, so too what is given here aids the departed ghosts.
just asYathā
water·carryingvārivahā
fullpūrā,
around·fillparipūrenti
the oceansāgaraṁ;
so tooEvamevaṁ
hereito
what is givendinnaṁ,
of the departed ghostspetānaṁ
aidsupakappati.
Just as the rivers full swell the ocean seas so too what is given here aids the departed ghosts.
past·giveAdāsi
to meme
past·doakāsi
for meme,
familyñāti
friendmittā
comradesakhā
andca
they were myme;
to departed kinPetānaṁ
offeringsdakkhiṇaṁ
one should givedajjā,
in the pastpubbe
remembering past deedskatamanussaraṁ.
Thinking: “They gave to me, they did for me, they were my family, friend, comrade”, give offerings to departed kin, remembering past deeds.
notNa
forhi
tearsruṇṇaṁ
orvā
griefsoko
or,vā,
whichyā
and othercaññā
lamentationsparidevanā;
notNa
thattaṁ
for the departedpetānamatthāya,
like thisevaṁ
they staytiṭṭhanti
relativesñātayo.
For neither tears nor grief or other lamentations are of any use to the departed, so long as their relatives stay like this.
this·andAyañca
indeedkho
offeringdakkhiṇā
givendinnā,
in the Saṅghasaṅghamhi
well·placedsuppatiṭṭhitā;
for a long timeDīgharattaṁ
for their welfarehitāyassa,
right awayṭhānaso
near·aidupakappati.
This offering that has been given, well placed in the Saṅgha, is for their lasting welfare, and aids them right away.
the relative’s dutySo
relative·dutyñātidhammo
andca
thisayaṁ
shownnidassito,
to the departedPetāna
honorpūjā
andca
performedkatā
highuḷārā;
and strengthBalañca
for the mendicants is givenbhikkhūnamanuppadinnaṁ,
by youTumhehi
meritpuññaṁ
producedpasutaṁ
not littleanappakanti.
The relative’s duty has now been shown: how high honor to departed is performed, how the mendicants can be kept strong, and how no little merit is produced by you.
beyond·wall·discourseTirokuṭṭasuttaṁ.
The Discourse on Beyond the Walls.
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