Karaṇīya Mettā Sutta
The Discourse on Goodwill
Karaṇīyam-attha-kusalena
yantaṁ santaṁ padaṁ abhisamecca,
This is to be done by one skilled in aims appreciating the state of peace:
Sakko ujū ca suhujū ca
suvaco c’assa mudu anatimānī,
Be capable, upright, & straightforward, easy to instruct, gentle, & not conceited,
Santussako ca subharo ca
appakicco ca sallahuka-vutti,
content & easy to support, with few duties, living lightly,
Santindriyo ca nipako ca
appagabbho kulesu ananugiddho.
with peaceful faculties, masterful, modest, & no greed for supporters.
Na ca khuddaṁ samācare kiñci
yena viññū pare upavadeyyuṁ.
Do not do the slightest thing that the wise would later censure.
Sukhino vā khemino hontu
sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā.
Think: Happy & secure, may all beings be happy at heart.
Ye keci pāṇa-bhūtatthi
tasā vā thāvarā vā anavasesā,
Whatever beings there may be, weak or strong, without exception,
Dīghā vā ye mahantā vā
majjhimā rassakā aṇuka-thūlā,
long, large, middling, short, subtle, blatant,
Diṭṭhā vā ye ca adiṭṭhā
ye ca dūre vasanti avidūre,
seen & unseen, living near & far,
Bhūtā vā sambhavesī vā
sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā.
born & seeking birth: May all beings be happy at heart.
Na paro paraṁ nikubbetha
nātimaññetha katthaci naṁ kiñci,
Let no one deceive another or despise anyone anywhere,
Byārosanā paṭīgha-saññā
nāññam-aññassa dukkham-iccheyya.
or through anger or irritation wish for another to suffer.
Mātā yathā niyaṁ puttaṁ
āyusā eka-puttam-anurakkhe,
As a mother would risk her life to protect her child, her only child,
Evam-pi sabba-bhūtesu
māna-sambhāvaye aparimāṇaṁ.
even so should one cultivate the heart limitlessly with regard to all beings.
Mettañ-ca sabba-lokasmiṁ
māna-sambhāvaye aparimāṇaṁ,
With goodwill for the entire cosmos, cultivate the heart limitlessly:
Uddhaṁ adho ca tiriyañ-ca
asambādhaṁ averaṁ asapattaṁ.
above, below, & all around, unobstructed, without enmity or hate.
Tiṭṭhañ-caraṁ nisinno vā
sayāno vā yāvatassa vigata-middho,
Whether standing, walking, sitting, or lying down, as long as one’s drowsiness is gone,
Etaṁ satiṁ adhiṭṭheyya
brahmam-etaṁ vihāraṁ idham-āhu.
one should be resolved on this mindfulness.
This is called a sublime abiding here.
Diṭṭhiñ-ca anupagamma
sīlavā dassanena sampanno,
Not taken with views, but virtuous & consummate in vision,
Kāmesu vineyya gedhaṁ,
Na hi jātu gabbha-seyyaṁ punaretīti.
having subdued desire for sensual pleasures,
one never again will lie in the womb.
