Suttas often chanted
The Satipaṭṭhāna passage
SatipaṭṭhānapāṭhaThe opening of the Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta, setting out the four foundations of mindfulness — often chanted to …
Suttas often chanted
Aṅgulimāla Paritta — the words of truth for a safe birth
Aṅgulimālaparittaṃ
The short words of truth that venerable Aṅgulimāla spoke to a woman in labour at the Buddha's suggestion, chanted today to give heart to women about to give birth.
When it is chanted
Chanted for a woman who is close to giving birth or already in labour, at home or in hospital. Sometimes a husband or relative chants it at the bedside; sometimes monks are invited to chant it before the due date.
The custom is three repetitions, but any number is fine. What it offers is steadiness and encouragement for everyone present; it does not replace the care of doctors and midwives. If anything seems wrong, tell the medical team straight away.
Some people also chant it before surgery or other frightening moments, which fits, because its heart is the honest statement that one does not harm others.
Background
Aṅgulimāla had been a killer before the Buddha met him and brought him to a halt. He went forth as a monk and later reached awakening.
One day, while walking for alms in Sāvatthī, he saw a woman far gone in pregnancy and in great distress. He went back and told the Buddha, who told him to go and speak words of truth to her. The first version was 'since I was born I do not recall intentionally killing a living being'. Aṅgulimāla said that would be a deliberate lie, since he had killed many. So the Buddha changed it to 'since I was born in the noble birth' — that is, since the day he went forth and his life changed.
So this chant is not about a magic power. It is about something that can now be said honestly: right now I harm no one. The story says the woman then gave birth safely, and Thai families have chanted it for expectant mothers ever since.
Pali
- Tenahi tvaṃ aṅgulimāla yena sā itthī tenupasaṅkama Aṅgulimāla, go then to that woman,
- Upasaṅkamitvā taṃ itthiṃ evaṃ vadehi and when you reach her, say this to her:
- Yatohaṃ bhagini ariyāya jātiyā jāto Sister, since I was born in the noble birth,
- Nābhijānāmi sañcicca pāṇaṃ jīvitā voropetā I do not recall ever intentionally taking the life of a living being.
- Tena saccena sotthi te hotu sotthi gabbhassāti By this truth, may you be well, and may your child be well.
- Atha kho sotthitthiyā ahosi sotthi gabbhassa And so the woman was safe, and her child was safe.
Where it comes from in the Tipiṭaka
Click to read the actual page it refers to
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Suttas often chanted
Verses on safe and unsafe refuge
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Suttas often chanted
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Suttas often chanted
The first words of the Buddha
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