sutta.stream

‹ Library

Sutta Nipāta 1.8

Karaṇīyamettā Sutta

The Discourse on Loving-Kindness

Parallels & more translations on SuttaCentral

Glosses: Fluent · Literal · Off
Translation: Hide · Show

Tap any word for its dictionary entry.

to be done by one skilled in goodKaraṇīyamatthakusalena, that whichyantaṃ peacefulsantaṃ statepadaṃ having fully understoodabhisamecca;
ableSakko uprightujū andca thoroughly uprightsuhujū andca, easy to speak tosuvaco and he should becassa gentlemudu not conceitedanatimānī.

This should be done by one skilled in the good, having understood that peaceful state: one should be able, upright, thoroughly upright, easy to instruct, gentle, and not conceited.

contentSantussako andca easy to supportsubharo andca, with few dutiesappakicco andca of frugal wayssallahukavutti;
with calmed sensesSantindriyo andca prudentnipako andca, not impudentappagabbho not greedy among familieskulesvananugiddho.

Content and easy to support, with few duties and frugal habits, with calmed senses and prudent, not impudent, not greedy among the families that support him.

notNa andca should do a mean thingkhuddamācare anythingkiñci, by whichyena the wiseviññū otherspare might reproachupavadeyyuṃ;
happySukhino indeedva securekhemino may they behontu, all beingssabbasattā may they becomebhavantu happy in heartsukhitattā.

And let one not do the slightest thing for which the wise might reproach one. May all beings be happy and secure; may all beings be happy at heart.

whateverYe whatsoeverkeci living beings there arepāṇabhūtatthi, tremblingtasā or firmthāvarā or without exceptionanavasesā;
longDīghā or whichye orva greatmahantā, middle-sizedmajjhimā shortrassakā minute or bulkyaṇukathūlā.

Whatever living beings there are — frail or firm, without exception — the long or the large, the middle-sized, the short, the subtle or the gross.

seenDiṭṭhā or those whichye orva unseenadiṭṭhā, those whichye orva fardūre dwellvasanti nearavidūre;
bornBhūtā orva seeking birthsambhavesī orva, all beingssabbasattā may they becomebhavantu happy in heartsukhitattā.

Seen or unseen, dwelling far or near, born or seeking birth — may all beings be happy at heart.

notNa oneparo anotherparaṃ should deceivenikubbetha, should not despisenātimaññetha anywherekatthaci notna anyonekañci;
out of angerByārosanā with thoughts of aversionpaṭighasaññā, not for one anothernāññamaññassa should wish sufferingdukkhamiccheyya.

Let none deceive another, nor despise anyone anywhere; let none through anger or thoughts of aversion wish suffering upon another.

a motherMātā just asyathā her ownniyaṃ child, with her lifeputtamāyusā would protect her only childekaputtamanurakkhe;
even soEvampi toward all beingssabbabhūtesu, a mindmānasaṃ one should cultivatebhāvaye boundlessaparimāṇaṃ.

Just as a mother would protect her only child with her own life, even so let one cultivate a boundless mind toward all beings.

and loving-kindnessMettañca toward the whole worldsabbalokasmi, a mindmānasaṃ one should cultivatebhāvaye boundlessaparimāṇaṃ;
aboveUddhaṃ belowadho andca and acrosstiriyañca, unobstructedasambādhaṃ without enmity or rivalryaveramasapattaṃ.

Let one cultivate a boundless mind of loving-kindness toward the whole world: above, below, and across — unobstructed, without enmity, without rivalry.

standingTiṭṭhaṃ walkingcaraṃ sittingnisinno orva, lying downsayāno as long as one isyāvatāssa free from drowsinessvitamiddho;
thisEtaṃ mindfulnesssatiṃ one should resolve uponadhiṭṭheyya, this a divinebrahmametaṃ abiding here they callvihāramidhamāhu.

Standing, walking, sitting, or lying down, as long as one is free of drowsiness, let one resolve upon this mindfulness: this, they say, is the divine abiding here and now.

and to viewsDiṭṭhiñca not resortinganupaggamma, virtuoussīlavā with insightdassanena endowedsampanno;
toward sense pleasuresKāmesu having removedvinaya greedgedhaṃ, notna indeedhi surely to a wombjātuggabbhaseyya does one come againpunaretīti.

Not falling into views, virtuous, endowed with insight, having subdued greed for sense pleasures — one surely comes no more to lie in a womb.

Lite mode — plain HTML for e-readers and old browsers. Full version