Paritta (protective chants)
Vaṭṭaka Paritta — the quail’s protection
VaṭṭakaparittaṃThe act of truth of a fledgling quail who could neither fly nor walk, speaking the plain truth to an oncoming …
Paritta (protective chants)
Khandha Paritta — goodwill towards snakes and creatures
Khandhaparittaṃ
A short chant of goodwill towards snakes and all creatures, which the Buddha allowed monks to use to look after themselves in the forest.
When it is chanted
Chanted before going into forest or wild country, before sleeping outdoors, or in an unfamiliar place. It is one of the seven traditional protective chants.
It is short enough to memorise whole and takes less than a minute.
Background
The source of this chant is in the Aṅguttara Nikāya, Book of Fours, and again in the Vinaya, Cūḷavagga. A monk had died of snakebite, and the Buddha said he could not have extended goodwill to the four royal families of snakes. He then allowed monks to radiate loving-kindness in this way, for their own guarding, protection and safety.
Notice that the teaching is not a spell that commands animals. It first sets the intention not to be an enemy to any living thing, and only then asks not to be harmed. The closing lines recall that the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha are without measure, while creeping things are measurable — that is, limited.
It is worth saying plainly that this does not replace ordinary care. If you are going somewhere with snakes, you still wear boots, carry a light and watch where you step. What the chanting gives is a mind that is not panicking and that is not looking to kill.
The Pali here is taken from the Pali Tipiṭaka in this site's database, volume 21.
Pali
- Virūpakkhehi me mettaṃ mettaṃ erāpathehi me May there be friendship between me and the Virūpakkha snakes, and the Erāpatha snakes.
- Chabyāputtehi me mettaṃ mettaṃ kaṇhāgotamakehi ca May there be friendship between me and the Chabyāputta snakes, and the Kaṇhāgotamaka snakes.
- Apādakehi me mettaṃ mettaṃ dipādakehi me May there be friendship between me and creatures without feet, and creatures with two feet.
- Catuppadehi me mettaṃ mettaṃ bahuppadehi me May there be friendship between me and creatures with four feet, and creatures with many feet.
- Mā maṃ apādako hiṃsi mā maṃ hiṃsi dipādako May no footless creature harm me; may no two-footed creature harm me.
- Mā maṃ catuppado hiṃsi mā maṃ hiṃsi bahuppado May no four-footed creature harm me; may no many-footed creature harm me.
- Sabbe sattā sabbe pāṇā sabbe bhūtā ca kevalā May all beings, all breathing things, all creatures whatsoever
- Sabbe bhadrāni passantu mā kiñci pāpamāgamā meet with good fortune; may nothing bad come to anyone.
- Appamāṇo buddho appamāṇo dhammo appamāṇo saṅgho The Buddha is without limit, the Dhamma is without limit, the Saṅgha is without limit.
- Pamāṇavantāni siriṃsapāni ahi vicchikā satapadī Creeping things are limited: snakes, scorpions, centipedes,
- Uṇṇānābhī sarabū mūsikā spiders, lizards and mice.
- Katā me rakkhā katā me parittā paṭikkamantu bhūtāni I have made my guard, I have made my protection; may these creatures go their way.
- Sohaṃ namo bhagavato namo sattannaṃ sammāsambuddhānanti I pay homage to the Blessed One, homage to the seven perfectly awakened ones.
Where it comes from in the Tipiṭaka
Click to read the actual page it refers to
Other chants
Paritta (protective chants)
Abhaya Paritta — the chant for freedom from fear
AbhayaparittaṃA short chant for after a bad dream or an unsettling sign, asking that the unease dissolve through the power o…
Paritta (protective chants)
Mora Paritta — the peacock’s protection
MoraparittaṃThe verses of the golden peacock in the Mora Jātaka: a morning verse as the sun rises, an evening verse as it …
Paritta (protective chants)
Namakāra-siddhi Gāthā — verses of successful homage
NamakārasiddhigāthāVerses of homage to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha in turn, each one saying why that refuge is worth bo…