Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech.
Humble and not conceited,

not overly busy and living lightly;

calm, and wise, and unassuming;

not greedy with one's supporters.

Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.

Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,

Not proud and demanding in nature.

that wise people would criticize.

May all be at ease and safe,

May all beings be happy!

That the wise would later reprove.

Wishing: In gladness and in safety,

May all beings be at ease.

moving or stationary, omitting none,

whatever long or large,

medium, short or small,

Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,

The great or the mighty,

medium, short or small,

living far away or near,

those born and to-be-born,

May all beings be happy!

Those living near and far away,

Those born and to-be-born,

May all beings be at ease!

or despise any being anywhere.

one would not wish suffering on another

because of anger or ill-will.

Or despise any being in any state.

Let none through anger or ill-will

Wish harm upon another.

so too, for all beings
one would cultivate a boundless heart.

Her child, her only child,

So with a boundless heart

Should one cherish all living beings:

above, below, and across,

unrestricted and friendly, without hostility.

Spreading upwards to the skies,

And downwards to the depths;

Outwards and unbounded,

Freed from hatred and ill-will.

or lying down free from drowsiness,

one should sustain this mindfulness.

This, they say, is divine abiding here.

or lying down free from drowsiness,

One should sustain this recollection.

This is said to be the sublime abiding.

never again returning to a womb.^[2]

The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,

Being freed from all sense desires,

Is not born again into this world.

2. The last verse appears to be a later addition. See Sujato, 1st paragraph, last sentence.
Also the word gabbhaseyyaṃ ("returns to a womb") does not occur in any other suttas. [Go Back]