DISCOURSE ON LOVING-FRIENDLINESS BY THE BUDDHA
Karaṇīyametta Sutta
Pali Canon, Sutta Nipāta, 25-26 [§143-152]


(ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

One skilled in good, wishing to attain
That state of peace, should act thus:
One should be able, straight, upright,
Obedient, gentle, and humble.

One should be content, easy to support,
With few duties, living lightly,
Controlled in senses, discreet,
Not impudent, unattached to families.

One should not do any slight wrong
Which the wise might censure.
May all beings be happy and secure.
May all beings have happy minds.

Whatever living beings there may be,
Without exception: weak or strong,
Long or large,
Medium, short, subtle or gross,

Visible or invisible,
Living near or far,
Born or coming to birth—
May all beings have happy minds.

Let no one deceive another,
Nor despise anyone anywhere.
Neither from anger nor ill will
Should anyone wish harm to another.

As a mother would risk her own life
To protect her only child,
Even so towards all living beings,
One should cultivate a boundless heart.

One should cultivate for all the world
A heart of boundless loving-friendliness,
Above, below, and all around,
Unobstructed, without hatred or resentment.

Whether standing, walking, or sitting,
Lying down or whenever awake,
One should develop this mindfulness.
This is called divinely dwelling here.

Not falling into erroneous views,
But virtuous and endowed with vision,
Removing desire for sensual pleasures,
One comes never again to birth in the womb.


(PALI ORIGINAL)

Karaṇīyam atthakusulena
Yaṃ taṃ santaṃ padaṃ abhisamecca
Sakko ujū ca sūjū ca
Suvaco c’assa mudu anatimānī.

Santussako ca subharo ca
Appakicco ca sallahukavutti
Santindriyo ca nipako ca
Appagabbho kulesu ananugiddho.

Na ca khuddaṃ samācare kiñci
Yena viññū pare upavadeyyuṃ
Sukhino vā khemino hontu
Sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā.

Ye keci pāṇabhūt’atthi
Tasā vā thāvarā vā anavasesā
Dīghā vā ye mahantā vā
Majjhimā rassakā aṇuka‧thūlā.

Diṭṭhā vā yeva addiṭṭhā
Ye ca dūre vasanti avidūre
Bhūtā vā sambhavesī vā
Sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā.

Na paro paraṃ nikubbetha
N’ātimaññetha katthacinaṃ kañci
Byārosanā paṭighasaññā
Nāññam‧aññassa dukkham iccheyya.

Mātā yathā niyaṃ puttaṃ
Āyusā ekaputtam anurakkhe
Evam pi sabba‧bhūtesu
Mānasaṃ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ.

Mettañ ca sabbalokasmiṃ
Mānasaṃ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ
Uddhaṃ adho ca tiriyañ ca
Asambādhaṃ averaṃ asapattaṃ.

Tiṭṭhaṃ caraṃ nisinno vā
Sayāno vā yāvat’assa vigatamiddho
Etaṃ satiṃ adhiṭṭheyya
Brahmam etaṃ vihāram idhamāhu.

Diṭṭhiñ ca anupagamma sīlavā
Dassanena sampanno
Kāmesu vineyya gedhaṃ
Na hi jātu gabbhaseyyaṃ punar etī’ti.


Dated c. 500 BCE
From accesstoinsight.org
Inscribed by etching.net
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