The Devatā-uyyojana Gāthā

The Devatā-uyyojana Gāthā are the verses for "closing the Dhamma assembly," the counterpart to the Chumnum Thewada (assembling the devas) at the opening — once the paritta has been chanted, one must "send the devas back" respectfully, radiating loving-kindness and compassion to all beings, dedicating merit, and binding a protective ward with the majesty of the Buddhas, the Paccekabuddhas, and the Arahants.

It is the "rite that closes the paritta assembly," which at one and the same time sends the devas back and forges a protective ward for the reciter. It falls into 3 parts: the words radiating goodwill · the words dedicating merit and sending the devas back · the binding of the protective ward.

Full Recitation Text

The whole passage in continuous form, from the words radiating goodwill to all beings, through the dedication of merit and the sending back of the devas, to the binding of the protective ward with the majesty of those who have attained the Dhamma — ready to chant straight through.

Translation and Explanation

The following is the translation and explanation of the meaning, part by part. The original Pali of each part has its own copy button. This passage falls into 3 parts: the words radiating goodwill → the words dedicating merit and sending the devas back → the binding of the protective ward.

Part 1 — The Words Radiating Goodwill (the Boundless States)

The first part is a short formula for radiating loving-kindness that covers 3 of the 4 brahmavihāras, extending its reach over sabbepi pāṇino (sabbepi pāṇino) = all living beings.

• Dukkhappattā ca niddukkhā (dukkhappattā ca niddukkhā) = may the suffering be free from suffering (loving-kindness–compassion)

• Bhayappattā ca nibbhayā (bhayappattā ca nibbhayā) = may the fearful be free from fear (compassion)

• Sokappattā ca nissokā (sokappattā ca nissokā) = may the sorrowful be free from sorrow (compassion)

Part 2 — The Words Dedicating Merit and Sending the Devas Back

The middle part is the words dedicating merit and sending the devas back.

• Dedicating merit to the devas — inviting the devas to rejoice in the merit accumulated from this chanting of the paritta.

• The request that the devas practice the Dhamma — asking the devas to give gifts, keep the precepts, and delight in meditation (just as humans do) — this is the device of "turning the merit dedicated to the devas into an occasion for the devas to accumulate merit further."

• Gacchantu devatā-gatā = "may the devas who have come now return" — a courteous send-off, not a "driving away," but a notice that the assembly has ended.

Part 3 — The Binding of the Protective Ward

Before closing the recitation, the reciter resolves to draw upon the majesty of three tiers as a ward.

• The majesty of all the Buddhas — sabbe buddhā (the millions of Perfectly Enlightened Buddhas spoken of in the Sambuddhe)

• The majesty of the Paccekabuddhas — Buddhas who awaken by themselves but do not teach, in an age empty of a Buddha's dispensation

• The majesty of the Arahants — the disciples who have attained the fruit of arahantship

The phrase "rakkhaṃ bandhāmi sabbaso" = "I bind a protection all around" — carries the metaphor of "weaving a protective ward around the body" with the majesty of all three kinds of those who have attained the Dhamma. This is the "rite that closes the paritta assembly," which at one and the same time sends the devas back and forges a protective ward for the reciter.

Appendix — The Structure of the Devatā-uyyojana Gāthā

The Devatā-uyyojana Gāthā (devatā + uyyojana + gāthā = the verses for sending the devas back) fall into 3 parts as follows:

• Part 1 — The words radiating goodwill: radiating loving-kindness and compassion so that all beings may be free from suffering, free from fear, and free from sorrow.

• Part 2 — The words dedicating merit and sending the devas back: dedicating merit for the devas to rejoice in, then sending the devas back courteously.

• Part 3 — The binding of the protective ward: binding a protection all around with the majesty of the Buddhas, the Paccekabuddhas, and the Arahants.