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Khuddakapāṭha 7

Tirokuṭṭasutta

Without the Walls · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Tirokuṭṭesu tiṭṭhanti,
sandhisiṅghāṭakesu ca;
Dvārabāhāsu tiṭṭhanti,
āgantvāna sakaṁ gharaṁ.

Outside the walls they stand and wait, at the junctions and the crossroads. Returning to their former homes they wait beside the door posts.

Pahūte annapānamhi,
khajjabhojje upaṭṭhite;
Na tesaṁ koci sarati,
sattānaṁ kammapaccayā.

But when lavish food and drink of many kinds is set out, no one remembers them at all, because of those beings’s deeds.

Evaṁ dadanti ñātīnaṁ,
ye honti anukampakā;
Suciṁ paṇītaṁ kālena,
kappiyaṁ pānabhojanaṁ.

That’s why those who have compassion give to their relatives food and drink at the right time, that’s clean, delicious, and suitable.

Idaṁ vo ñātīnaṁ hotu,
sukhitā hontu ñātayo;
Te ca tattha samāgantvā,
ñātipetā samāgatā.

“May this be for our relatives! May our relatives be happy!” Those ghosts who have gathered there, the departed relatives who have come

Pahūte annapānamhi,
sakkaccaṁ anumodare;
Ciraṁ jīvantu no ñātī,
yesaṁ hetu labhāmase.

for the lavish food and drink gratefully express appreciation: “May our relatives live long! For those to whom we owe this gain,

Amhākañca katā pūjā,
dāyakā ca anipphalā;
Na hi tattha kasī atthi,
gorakkhettha na vijjati.

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;

Vaṇijjā tādisī natthi,
hiraññena kayākayaṁ;
Ito dinnena yāpenti,
petā kālagatā tahiṁ.

likewise there’s no trading, and no commerce in gold coin. The departed, the dead in that place live on what is given here.

Unname udakaṁ vuṭṭhaṁ,
yathā ninnaṁ pavattati;
Evamevaṁ ito dinnaṁ,
petānaṁ upakappati.

Just as water that rains on high flows down to the plains, so too what is given here aids the departed ghosts.

Yathā vārivahā pūrā,
paripūrenti sāgaraṁ;
Evamevaṁ ito dinnaṁ,
petānaṁ upakappati.

Just as the rivers full swell the ocean seas so too what is given here aids the departed ghosts.

Adāsi me akāsi me,
ñāti mittā sakhā ca me;
Petānaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ dajjā,
pubbe katamanussaraṁ.

Thinking: “They gave to me, they did for me, they were my family, friend, comrade”, give offerings to departed kin, remembering past deeds.

Na hi ruṇṇaṁ vā soko vā,
yā caññā paridevanā;
Na taṁ petānamatthāya,
evaṁ tiṭṭhanti ñātayo.

For neither tears nor grief or other lamentations are of any use to the departed, so long as their relatives stay like this.

Ayañca kho dakkhiṇā dinnā,
saṅghamhi suppatiṭṭhitā;
Dīgharattaṁ hitāyassa,
ṭhānaso upakappati.

This offering that has been given, well placed in the Saṅgha, is for their lasting welfare, and aids them right away.

So ñātidhammo ca ayaṁ nidassito,
Petāna pūjā ca katā uḷārā;
Balañca bhikkhūnamanuppadinnaṁ,
Tumhehi puññaṁ pasutaṁ anappakanti.

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.

Tirokuṭṭasuttaṁ.

The Discourse on Beyond the Walls.

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