Maṅgala Sutta

The Maṅgala Sutta is a discourse (Pali: sutta) of Gautama Buddha on the subject of 'blessings' (mangala, also
translated as 'good omen' or 'auspices' or 'good fortune').[1] In this discourse, Gautama Buddha describes
'blessings' that are wholesome personal pursuits or attainments, identified in a progressive manner from the
mundane to the ultimate spiritual goal. In Sri Lanka, this sutta considered to be part of "Maha Pirith".
 Translations of

Maṅgala Sutta

English Discourse of 'good omen','auspices' or 'good fortune'

Sanskrit महामङ्गलसूत्र

mahāmaṅgalasūtra

Burmese မင်္ဂလသုတ်

(MLCTS: Mingala Thok)

Khmer មង្គលសូត្រ

(UNGEGN: Mongkolasot)

Sinhala මහා මංගල සූත්‍රය

(Maha Mangala Sutta)

Tibetan བཀྲ་ཤིས་ཆེན་པོའི་མདོ།

Thai มงคลสูตร

Glossary of Buddhism

This discourse is recorded in Theravada Buddhism's Pali Canon's Khuddaka Nikaya in two places: in the
Khuddakapāṭha (Khp 5), and in the Sutta Nipāta (Sn 2.4).[2] In the latter source, the discourse is called the
Mahāmangala Sutta. It is also traditionally included in books of 'protection' (paritta). It is also found in the Tibetan
Canon, in the Kangyur (བཀའ་འགྱུར།).

Content

The discourse was preached at Jetavana Temple in answer to a question asked by a deva as to which things in
this world could truly be considered blessings (mangalāni). The sutta describes thirty-eight blessings in ten
sections,[3] as shown in the table below:
Gp.1 Not associating with Associating with the Expressing respect
fools wise to those worthy of
respect

Gp.2 Living in an amenable Having meritorious Setting oneself up

location deeds (Good Karma) properly in life
in one's past

Gp.3 Learnedness Artfulness Self-discipline Artful speech

Gp.4 support father & Cherishing one's Cherishing one's Peaceful

mother children spouse occupations

Gp.5 Generosity Dhamma practice Caring for Blameless actions

extended family

Gp.6 Avoiding Not drinking Non-recklessness

unwholesomeness intoxicants in the Dhamma

Gp.7 Respect Humility Contentment Gratitude Listening

regularly to
Dhamma
teachings

Gp.8 Patience Be easily Sight of a True Regular discussion

admonished Monk of the Dhamma
 Gp.9 Practising Austerities Practising the Seeing the Four Attainment of
Brahma-faring Noble Truths Nirvana

Gp.10 Mind free of Worldly Sorrowlessness Free of Subtle Blissful Mind

Vicissitudes Defilements

Traditional context

The post-canonical Pali Commentary[4] explains that at the time the sutta was preached there was great
discussion over the whole of Jambudvipa regarding the definition of blessings. The devas heard the discussion
and argued among themselves till the matter spread to the highest Brahmā world. Then it was that Sakka
suggested that a deva should visit the Buddha and ask him about it.

This sutta is one of the suttas at the preaching of which countless devas were present and countless beings
realized the Truth.[5]

Uses

The sutta is often recited, and forms one of the commonest pieces of chanting used for the Paritta. To have it
written down in a book is considered an act of great merit.[6]

History
 y

King Dutugemnu of Anuradhapura preached the Mangala Sutta at the Lohapasada.[7]

The preaching of the Mangala Sutta was one of the incidents of the Buddha's life represented in the Relic Chamber
of the Ruwanwelisaya.[8]

See also

Four Noble Truths

Metta Sutta

Paritta - Traditional Buddhist "Protective Scriptures", including Mangala Sutta

Ratana Sutta

Sutta Nipata

References

1. For example, Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 513, entry for "Mangala" (retrieved 08-28-2008 from "U. Chicago" at
http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3740.pali ) translates mangala as 'good omen, auspices,
festivity.'

2. Sn, pp. 46f

 3. Khp.pp.2f

4. KhpA.vii.; SnA.i.300

5. SnA.i.174; BuA.243; AA.i.57,320

6. MA.ii.806

7. The Mahāvaṃsa XXXII. 43, translation by George Turnour (1837), read online : "The Mahavamsa.XXXII. : The Entrance Into the
Tusita-Heaven" (http://www.mahavamsa.org/mahavamsa/original-version/32-entrance-tusita-heaven) .
www.mahavamsa.org. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2021.

8. The Mahāvaṃsa XXX. 83, translation by George Turnour (1837), read online : "The Mahavamsa.XXX.: The Making of the Relic
Chamber" (http://mahavamsa.org/mahavamsa/original-version/30-making-relic-chamber/) . www.mahavamsa.org. 8
October 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2021.

Sources

Rhys Davids, T.W. & William Stede (eds.) (1921-5). The Pali Text Society's Pali–English Dictionary. Chipstead: Pali
Text Society. A general on-line search engine for the PED is available at
http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/ .

External links

Bhikkhu Ānandajoti (trans.). The Discourse on the Blessings (https://suttacentral.net/kp5) (Khp 5).
 Bhikkhu Brahmali (trans.) (2015). The Greatest Good Fortune (https://suttacentral.net/snp2.4/) (Sn 2.4).

Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1994). Mangala Sutta: Protection (Khp 5). Retrieved from "Access to Insight" on 08-
15-2008 at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/khp/khp.1-9.than.html#khp-5 .

Life’s Highest Blessings: The Maha-Mangala Sutta: Translation and Commentary (http://www.accesstoinsight.or
g/lib/authors/soni/wheel254.html) by Dr R.L.Soni

A Day of Practice and Discussion, Inspired by the Maṇgala Sutta (https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/article/a-day-

of-practice-and-discussion-inspired-by-the-ma%E1%B9%87gala-sutta/) , by Sharon Salzberg, Barre Center for
Buddhist Studies, Spring 2000

Mangala Suta Uannana (http://www.sangham.at/Div_uploads/Mangala_Suta_english.docx) by Ven. K.

Gunaratana Thera (docx- file 69kB)

[* Chandrabodhi chants the Mahamangala Sutta and other suttas in an 'Indian style' at [1] (http://www.freebuddhist
audio.com/talks/details?num=LOC27)
and Sangharakshita reads the Mahamangala and Karaniyametta suttas,
although with other readings from the Pali Canon at [2] (http://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/talks/details?num=S
01) both retrieved from freebuddhistaudio.com
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Maṅgala_Sutta&oldid=1099557179"

Last edited 2 months ago by Dhammapala Tan