Vaṭṭaka Paritta
The Baby Quail’s Protection
Atthi loke sīla-guṇo
Saccaṁ soceyy’anuddayā
Tena saccena kāhāmi
Sacca-kiriyam-anuttaraṁ
There is in this world the quality of virtue,
truth, purity, tenderness.
In accordance with this truth I will make
an unsurpassed vow of truth.
Āvajjitvā dhamma-balaṁ
Saritvā pubbake jine
Sacca-balam-avassāya
Sacca-kiriyam-akāsa’haṁ
Sensing the strength of the Dhamma,
calling to mind the victors of the past,
in dependence on the strength of truth,
I made an unsurpassed vow of truth:
Santi pakkhā apattanā
Santi pādā avañcanā
Mātā pitā ca nikkhantā
Jāta-veda paṭikkama
Here are wings with no feathers;
here are feet that can’t walk.
My mother & father have left me.
Fire, go back!
Saha sacce kate mayhaṁ
Mahāpajjalito sikhī
Vajjesi soḷasa karīsāni
Udakaṁ patvā yathā sikhī
Saccena me samo n’atthi
Esā me sacca-pāramīti.
When I made my vow with truth,
the great crested flames
avoided the sixteen acres around me
as if they had come to a body of water.
My truth has no equal:
Such is my perfection of truth.