Bahuṃ ve saraṇaṃ yanti

(LEADER):

Handa mayaṃ khemākhema-saraṇa-gamana- paridīpikā-gāthāyo bhaṇāma se:

(ALL):

Bahuṃ ve saraṇaṃ yanti

Pabbatāni vanāni ca,

Ārāma-rukkha-cetyāni

Manussā bhaya-tajjitā.

Many are those who go for refuge

to mountains, forests,

Parks, trees, & shrines:

People threatened with danger.

N'etaṃ kho saraṇaṃ khemaṃ

N'etaṃ saraṇam-uttamaṃ,

N'etaṃ saraṇam-āgamma,

Sabba-dukkhā pamuccati.

That is not the secure refuge,

That is not the highest refuge,

That is not the refuge, having gone to which,

One gains release from all suffering.

Yo ca buddhañca dhammañca

Saṅghañca saraṇaṃ gato,

Cāttāri ariya-saccāni

Sammappaññāya passati:

But a person who, having gone to the Buddha,

Dhamma, & Saṅgha for refuge,

Sees the four Noble Truths

with right discernment:

Dukkhaṃ dukkha-samuppādaṃ,

Dukkhassa ca atikkamaṃ,

Ariyañc'aṭṭhaṅgikaṃ maggaṃ,

Dukkhūpasama-gāminaṃ.

Stress, the cause of stress,

The transcending of stress,

And the Noble Eightfold Path,

The way to the stilling of stress.

Etaṃ kho saraṇaṃ khemaṃ

Etaṃ saraṇam-uttamaṃ,

Etaṃ saraṇam-āgamma,

Sabba-dukkhā pamuccati.

That is the secure refuge,

That is the highest refuge,

That is the refuge, having gone to which,

One gains release from all suffering.