SamanSuttam

3. Sanghasutra

Precepts Of Religious Order

Samgho gunasamghao, samgho ya vimocao ya kammanam.

Damsanananacaritte, samghayanto have samgho. (25)

A religious order is accumulation of virtues: a religious order frees people from the pollution of Karmas and conjoins together Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. (25)

Rayanattayameva ganam, gaccham gamanassa mokkhamaggassa.

Samgho guna samghado, samayo khalu nimmalo appa. (26)

The (said) three jewels alone constitute a gana, what leads to the path of Salvation constitutes a gaccha: the accumulation of virtues is Sangha and a pure soul is "Samaya" (right docrine). (26)

Asaso visaso, siyagharasamo ya hoi ma bhahi.

Ammapitisamano, samgho saranam tu savvesim. (27)

The Sangha grants assurance, evokes confidence and gives peace like a cool chamber. It is affectionate like the parents and affords shelter to all living beings so be not afraid of the Sangha. (27)

Nanassa hoi bhagi, thirayarao damsane caritte ya.

Dhana gurukulavasam, avakahae na muncanti. (28)

Blessed are those who reside life-long in their preceptor's entourage as they acquire knowledge and specially attain stability in faith and conduct. (28)


Jassa gurummi na bhatti, na ya bahumano na gauravam na bhayam.

Na vi lajja na vi neho, gurukulavasena kim tassa? (29)

What is the use of residing in the preceptor's entourage for him who does not have a sense of devotion, respect, reverence, regard and affection and feels no awe of his preceptor. (29)

Kammarayajalohaviniggayassa, suyarayanadihanalassa.

Pancamahavvayathirakanniyassa, gunakesaralassa.

Savagajanamahuyaraparivudassa, jinasurateyabuddhassa.

Samghapaumassa bhaddam, samanaganasahassapattassa. (30-31)

May the lotus like Sangha prosper which keeps itself aloof from the Karmic-dirt just as a lotus keeps itself away from the mud and water. The Sangha is a lotus whose long stalk is scriptures, the paricarp is the five great vows the filoments are the other virtues and petals are the munis (monks) As the black bees move around the lotus similarly the house-holders frequent the Sanghs. As the lotus blossoms on account of the sunrays, similarly the Sangha grows on account of the precepts of Jina. (30-31)