Buddhànussati, mettà ca, ~ asubhaü, maraõassati
Recollection of the Buddha, friendliness, ~ unattractiveness, and mindfulness of death -

iti imà caturàrakkhà ~ bhikkhu bhàveyya sãlavà.
these are the four protective meditations ~ that a virtuous monk should develop.

Anantavitthàraguõaü ~ guõatonussaraü Muniü,
Recollecting the Sage's virtue, and his endless, extensive, good qualities,

bhàveyya buddhimà bhikkhu ~ Buddhànussati-m-àdito.
the wise monk should develop ~ the recollection of the Buddha first.

1. Savàsane kilese so ~ eko sabbe nighàtiya,
Alone he destroyed all the corruptions, and (bad) predispositions,

ahå susuddhasantàno ~ påjànaü ca sadàraho.
and being continually and fully pure ~ he is worthy of worship at all times.

2. Sabbakàlagate dhamme ~ sabbe sammà sayaü Muni
^o The Sage by himself has, in every way, completely awakened to all things

sabbàkàrena bujjhitvà, ~ eko sabbaÿÿutaü gato.
throughout the whole of time, ~ and alone he has arrived at omniscience.

3. Vipassanàdi vijjàhi ~ sãlàdi caraõehi ca,
^o Being endowed with great psychic power, good conduct, virtue, and so on,

susamiddhehi sampanno, ~ gaganàbhehi nàyako.
true understanding, insight, and so on, ~ the leader was like the shining sky.

4. Sammàgato subhaü ñhànaü ~ amoghavacano ca so,
He who never spoke foolish words, has arrived at that glorious state (Nibbàna),

tividhassàpi lokassa ~ ÿàtà niravasesato.
he knew the threefold world system (completely) without leaving anything out.

5. Anekehi guõoghehi ~ sabbasattuttamo ahå,
Overflowing with countless good qualities ~ he is supreme among all beings,

anekehi upàyehi ~ naradamme damesi ca.
with countless skilful means ~ he tamed those men who could be tamed.

6. Eko sabbassa lokassa ~ sabbamatthànusàsako,
He alone, to the whole world ~ was the teacher of everything good,

bhàgyaissariyàdãnaü ~ guõànaü paramo nidhã.
he is the highest treasure, having qualities such as good fortune, mastery, and so on.

7. Paÿÿàssa sabbadhammesu ~ karuõà sabbajantusu,
Being wise in regard to all things ~ compassionate to everybody,

attatthànaü paratthànaü ~ sàdhikà guõajeññhikà.
he exceeded (others) in the best qualities, (knowing) what was for his own and others' good.

8. Dayàya pàramã citvà ~ paÿÿàyattànam-uddharã,
Through sympathy he set his mind on the perfections ~ through wisdom he raised himself up,

uddharã sabbadhamme ca, ~ dayàyaÿÿe ca uddharã.
he raised himself above all things, ~ through sympathy he raised others too.

9. Dissamàno pi tàvassa ~ råpakàyo acintayo,
Even his visible form-body was beyond thought,

asàdhàraõaÿàõaóóhe ~ dhammakàye kathà vakàti?
what can be said of his spiritual body, which was unique, having powerful knowledge?

1. Attåpamàya sabbesaü ~ sattànaü sukhakàmataü,
In a similar way to oneself, all ~ beings desire happiness,

passitvà kamato mettaü ~ sabbasattesu bhàvaye.
having seen that one should gradually develop friendliness towards all beings.

2. Sukhã bhaveyyaü niddukkho, ~ ahaü niccaü, aham viya
May I constantly be happy, free from suffering, and like myself

hità ca me sukhã hontu, ~ majjhattà càtha verino.
may my benefactors be happy, ~ neutral persons, and foes also.

3. Imamhi gàmakkhettamhi, ~ sattà hontu sukhã sadà,
In this village, and its surrounding fields, ~ may beings always be happy,

tato paraÿ-ca rajjesu, ~ cakkavàlesu jantuno.
and those in other countries, ~ and people throughout the universe.

4. Samantà cakkavàlesu ~ sattànantesu pàõino,
^o Throughout the entire universe ~ may the countless beings, creatures,

sukhino puggalà bhåtà ~ attabhàvagatà siyuü,
persons, and bhåtas, who have attained individuality, be happy,

5. tathà itthã pumà ceva ~ ariyà anariyà pi ca,
and so too (all) women, men, ~ noble ones, and also ignoble ones,

devà narà apàyaññhà, ~ tathà dasadisàsu càti.
gods, humans, and fallen creatures, ~ and likewise (all beings) in the ten directions.

1. Aviÿÿàõasubhanibhaü ~ saviÿÿàõasubhaü imaü,
With consciousness it is unattractive, just as it is without (i.e. dead),

kàyaü asubhato passaü, ~ asubhaü bhàvaye yati.
seeing this body as unattractive, ~ a monk should develop (the recollection) of the unattractive.

2. Vaõõasaõñhànagandhehi ~ àsayokàsato tathà,
Thus by way of colour, shape, smell, location, and appearance,

pañikkålàni kàye me ~ kuõapàni dvisoëasa.
the thirty-two (parts) in my body (are like) repulsive corpses.

3. Patitamhà pi kuõapà, ~ jegucchaü kàyanissitaü,
The (parts) that depend on this body are contemptible, as is what falls from a corpse,

àdhàro hi 'suci tassa, ~ kàye tu kuõape ñhitaü.
for their recepticle is impure, ~ they are situated in this corpse of a body.

4. Mãlhe kimi va kàyoyaü ~ asucimhi samuññhito,
Like a worm in excrement this body ~ arose in what is impure (i.e. the womb),

anto asucisampuõõo ~ puõõavaccakuñã viya.
inside it is full of impurities ~ just like a full lavatory.

5. Asucisandate niccaü ~ yathà medakathàlikà,
Always the impurities overflow ~ like fat (overflows) from a frying pan,

nànàkimikulàvàso, ~ pakkhacandanikà viya.
various kinds of worms dwell in it, ~ the same as in a cesspool.

6. Gaõóabhåto, rogabhåto, ~ vaõabhåto, samussayo,
This bodily heap is like a boil, like a disease, or like a sore,

atekiccho ti jeguccho ~ pabhinnakuõapåpamo ti.
it is incurable, contemptible, ~ just like a rotting corpse.

1. Pavàtadãpatulyàya, ~ sàyusantatiyà khayaü,
By comparing a lamp in a breeze, ~ with the destruction of the life continuum,

paråpamàya sampassaü, ~ bhàvaye maraõassatiü.
through seeing oneself as similar to others, ~ one should develop mindfulness of death.

2. Mahàsampattisampattà ~ yathà sattà matà idha,
Just as people who have attained great good fortune here have died,

tathà ahaü marissàmi ~ maranaü mama hessati.
in the same way will I die ~ death is (surely) coming to me.

3. Uppattiyà sahevedaü ~ maraõaü àgataü sadà,
Indeed death always comes along with that which has arisen,

maraõatthàya okàsaü ~ vadhako viya esati.
it is like a murderer who is seeking an opportunity to kill.

4. äsakaü anivattaü taü ~ satataü gamanussukaü,
^o This life is slowly, without turning back, continually, eagerly,

jãvitaü udayà atthaü ~ suriyo viya dhàvati.
going its way, it rises and falls ~ just as the sun runs its course (and sets).

5. Vijjububbulaussàva, ~ jalaràjã parikkhayaü,
(Like) lightning, a bubble, dew, ~ a line drawn on water, life (quickly goes to) destruction,

ghàtako varipåtassa ~ sabbatthà pi avàriyo.
like an executioner in regard to his rival ~ (death) can never be constrained.

6. Suyasatthàmapuÿÿiddhã ~ buddhivuddhã Jinadvayaü,
Even the two kinds of Victors, who are famous, strong, meritorious, powerful, and of great intelligence,

ghàtesi maraõaü khippaü, ~ kà tu màdisake kathà?
were quickly slaughtered by death, ~ so what to say about one like me?

7. Paccayànaÿ-ca vekalyà ~ bàhirajjhattupaddavà,
When conditions fail ~ there are internal and external adversities,

maràmoraü nimesà pi ~ maramàno anukkhaõan-ti.
dying at each and every moment I will die in less (time) than a blink of an eye.

1. Bhàvetvà caturàrakkhà ~ àvajjeyya anantaraü
Having developed these four protections ~ one should consider next

mahàsaüvegavatthåni, ~ aññha aññhitavãriyo.
the eight great bases for urgency, having non-stop energy.

3. Pàto ca sàyamapi ceva imaü vidhiÿÿo,
If, in the morning and in the evening, one who knows the way,

àsevate satatamatta hitàbhilàsi,
who desires his own benefit, practises (these meditations) continually,

pappoti so ti vipulaü hata pàripantho,
^o then after destroying (even) extensive obstacles, that sage

seññhaü sukhaü muni visiññhamataü sukhena càti.
easily attains great happiness, and the distinction of the deathless.