Pubbabhāga-namakāra (Preliminary Homage)

The Pubbabhāga-namakāra (pubba + bhāga + namakāra = homage at the outset) is the "opening of the door" for every Buddhist rite — from daily devotions and chanting to the taking of the precepts and ordination. It consists of two parts: the Namo Tassa (paying homage to the Fully Self-Awakened One three times) and the Three Refuges (Tisaraṇa — taking the Triple Gem as refuge three times).

In the context of chanting the paritta, this passage serves to "set the heart straight and clean" before entering the verses of praise and the suttas, for it is believed that the paritta has power only when the reciter's faith is firmly grounded in the Triple Gem.

Full Recitation Text

A continuous recitation of the whole passage, from the Namo Tassa three times through to the Three Refuges completed three rounds — ready to chant straight through.

Translation and Explanation

The following is the translation and explanation of the meaning, arranged in two parts according to the structure of the passage. The original Pali of each part has its own copy button.

Part 1 — The Namo Tassa (Homage to the Buddha)

The Namo Tassa is the phrase uttered by the brahmin lady Dhanañjānī (the wife of the brahmin Bhāradvāja) when she stumbled and called to mind the virtues of the Buddha; later the yakkha Sātāgira repeated it as the Buddha passed by. It is thus regarded as the "praise of the Buddha by deva, human, and yakkha alike." The key words in this passage:

• bhagavā (the Blessed One) — the Blessed One (one of great fortune, one of great merit).

• arahā (the arahant) — the arahant (one far removed from the defilements).

• sammāsambuddha (the fully self-awakened) — one who awakened rightly by himself (not learning it from anyone).

Reciting it 3 times expresses homage with body, speech, and mind all at once.

Part 2 — The Three Refuges (Taking the Triple Gem as Refuge)

The passage of refuge is a "declaration of taking up" the Triple Gem as refuge. The word saraṇa (refuge) means "a support, a thing to recall, a remover of danger" — encompassing all three senses. In taking refuge, the reciter therefore declares:

• to make the Buddha the model and the focal point of faith;

• to make the Dhamma the guide and the remover of danger within;

• to make the Sangha (the noble Sangha) a good friend and the assurance that the path and its fruit are real.

Reciting it 3 rounds (first → second [tutiyampi] → third [tatiyampi]) carries the ritual meaning of "driving home the intention three times" so that it is certain and unwavering, following the custom laid down in the Vinaya for the rites of ordination and taking the precepts in the Buddha's time — once recited three times over, the faith is held to be firmly established in the Triple Gem.

Appendix — The Structure of the Pubbabhāga-namakāra

The Pubbabhāga-namakāra consists of two parts, as follows:

• Part 1 — the Namo Tassa (recited 3 times): homage to the Fully Self-Awakened One, with body, speech, and mind all at once.

• Part 2 — the Three Refuges (recited 3 rounds): declaring the taking of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha as refuge, driving home the intention until it is certain.