RATANA SUTTA – JEWELS 405
me as a follower who has taken refuge from this very day to
life’s end.”
RATANA SUTTA — JewelsThe commentary gives a graphic description of the origin of this impor-
tant discourse.
It states that on one occasion the inhabitants of the prosperous city of
Vesáli were oppressed with three dangers—famine, evil spirits, and pes-
tilence. Famine visited them first, causing several deaths amongst the
poor folk. Attracted by the nauseating smell emanating from the decay-
ing corpses, evil spirits were attracted to the place. Finally there broke
out a pestilence resulting in many more deaths.
Faced with these dangers, driven to the limits of endurance, they
were in utter despair, not knowing what they should do to avert a final
catastrophe. It was at this critical moment that they suddenly conceived
the idea of inviting the Buddha, who was then temporarily residing at
Rájagaha, to visit the panic-stricken city of theirs.
Two Licchavi Nobles, accompanied by a powerful retinue, immedi-
ately set out for Rájagaha. When the object of their embassy had been
explained, the Buddha, divining the great benefits they would derive by
his visit, accepted their invitation. Surrounded by a large company of
Bhikkhus, including the Venerable Ánanda Thera, the Buddha left
Rájagaha and, crossing the river Ganges, arrived at the city of Vesáli.
No sooner the Buddha reached Vesáli a torrential downpour
occurred—the rain descending in such volume that all the putrefying
corpses were swept away and the polluted air was completely purified.
Thereupon the Buddha expounded this Ratana sutta to the Venerable
Ánanda and instructed him to tour through the city with the Licchavi
Nobles, reciting the sutta as a mark of protection for the inhabitants.
Accordingly the Venerable Ánanda paraded the streets, reciting this
sutta, and, at the same time, sprinkling sacred water from the Buddha's
own bowl. The commentator mentions that on the immediate utterance
of the words—yam kinci—by the Thera, all the evil spirits fled in terror
from the city. The pestilence also subsided. The Thera, after touring the
city and protecting the citizens in the foregoing manner, returned to the
Public Hall where the Buddha and his disciples had assembled awaiting
his arrival.