Inviting the Devas (Sagge)

The verses for Inviting the Devas, called in some traditions "Sagge" (after their opening word), are the first piece of the paritta-chanting rite in the Thai–Sinhalese tradition. They serve as an "invitation" summoning the devas of every realm to come and hear the Dhamma, for it is believed that when the monks begin to chant the paritta, the devas who come to listen will rejoice, share in the merit, and join in protecting those within the ritual space.

In the chanting of the "Seven Discourses" (Chet Tamnan), these verses are chanted before all the rest, serving to transform the place of chanting (hall, home, or temple) into a temporary "Dhamma assembly" where humans, monks, and devas gather together — establishing a sacred setting before entering the actual text of the suttas.

Full Recitation Text

The continuous recitation of the whole piece, from the invitation to the monks to radiate loving-kindness, through the sweeping summons to the devas of every realm, to the threefold announcement that it is time to hear the Dhamma — ready to chant straight through.

Translation and Explanation

The following is the translation and explanation, section by section. The original Pali of each section has its own copy button. This piece divides clearly into 3 sections: the invitation to the reciting monks → the summons to the devas → the announcement that it is time to hear the Dhamma.

Section 1 — The Invitation to the Reciting Monks

The first section is addressed to the bhadantā (the venerable ones, that is, the fellow monks who chant together), calling them first to radiate loving-kindness, and then to recite the paritta with an avikkhitta-citta (an undistracted mind) — stressing that "loving-kindness" and "concentration" are the two components that give the paritta its power.

Section 2 — The Summons to the Devas

The middle section is a sweeping summons to the devas of every level, every realm, and every station, classified by their dwelling place.

• Devas of the upper realms — sagge kāme (the six heavens of the sensuous sphere), rūpe (the sixteen realms of the fine-material sphere in the Brahmā world)

• Devas dwelling in the landscape — on mountain peaks, on slopes, in celestial mansions in the sky

• Devas dwelling among human communities — in the continents, realms, villages, forests, houses, and fields (the earth-devas, or bhumma-devā)

• Non-human beings that are not true devas — the yakkhas, gandhabbas, and nāgas dwelling in the waters, on the land, and in the wilderness

This kind of sweeping summons expresses the view that the world-element is filled with unseen living beings; inviting them all to hear the Dhamma together is the "opening of a Dhamma assembly" on a cosmic scale.

Section 3 — The Announcement That It Is Time to Hear the Dhamma

The closing section, spoken 3 times, affirms that "now is the time to hear the Dhamma." These words carry the sense of a "bell opening the assembly," a signal for all parties to gather their attention together. Once this piece is finished, the monks can begin at once with the principal paritta chants.

Appendix — The Structure of the Inviting-the-Devas Verses

The Inviting-the-Devas verses divide clearly into 3 sections, as follows:

• Section 1 — The invitation to the reciting monks: to radiate loving-kindness first, then recite the paritta with an undistracted mind (loving-kindness + concentration)

• Section 2 — The summons to the devas: a sweeping summons to the devas of every level, every realm, and every station, including the yakkhas, gandhabbas, and nāgas, to come and hear the Dhamma together

• Section 3 — The announcement that it is time to hear the Dhamma: spoken 3 times as the signal that opens the Dhamma assembly, before entering the principal chants