Karaniya Metta Sutta
Here is the complete Mettā Sutta (Discourse on Loving-Kindness), also known as the Karaniya Metta Sutta.
Below is the full Pali text followed by a line-by-line English interpretation.
Metta Sutta (Karaniya Metta Sutta)
Opening Section: The Ideal of the Peaceful One
| Line | Pali | English Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karaniyam atthakusalena, yantam santam padam abhisamecca | What should be done by one who is skilled in goodness, to attain that state of peace: |
| 2 | Sakko uju ca suju ca, suvaco cassa mudu anatimani | One should be able, upright, perfectly upright, obedient, gentle, and humble. |
| 3 | Santussako ca subharo ca, appakicco ca sallahukavutti | Contented, easily supported, with few duties, living lightly. |
| 4 | Santindriyo ca nipako ca, appagabbho kulesu ananugiddho | With senses calmed, prudent, not arrogant, not greedily attached to families. |
| 5 | Na ca khuddam samacare kinci, yena viññu pare upavadeyyum | One should not do any mean thing for which other wise ones might criticize. |
Core Section: Radiating Loving-Kindness
| Line | Pali | English Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Sukhino va khemino hontu, sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta | May all beings be happy and safe, may they be happy-minded. |
| 7 | Ye keci panabhutatthi, tasa va thavara va anavasesa | Whatever living beings there are — frail or firm, without exception — |
| 8 | Digha va ye va mahanta, majjhima rassaka anukathula | Long or large, medium, short, subtle, or gross, |
| 9 | Dittha va ye va adittha, ye va dure vasanti avidure | Seen or unseen, those dwelling far or near, |
| 10 | Bhuta va sambhavesi va, sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta | Those already born or those seeking birth — may all beings be happy-minded! |
Second Repetition: No Harm to Any Being
| Line | Pali | English Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Na paro param nikubbetha, natimaññetha katthacinam kanci | Let no one deceive another, nor despise anyone anywhere. |
| 12 | Byarosana patighasañña, nanna mannassa dukkham iccheyya | Through anger or resentment, let one not wish suffering upon another. |
The Unbounded Radiations
| Line | Pali | English Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Mata yatha niyam puttam, ayusa ekaputtamanurakkhe | Just as a mother would protect her only child with her very life, |
| 14 | Evampi sabbabhutesu, manasam bhavaye aparimanam | Even so, towards all beings, one should cultivate a boundless heart. |
| 15 | Mettañca sabbalokasmim, manasam bhavaye aparimanam | Loving-kindness towards the entire world — one should cultivate a boundless heart. |
| 16 | Uddham adho ca tiriyanca, asambadham averam asapattam | Above, below, and across — without obstruction, without hatred, without enmity. |
Standing, Walking, Sitting, Lying Down
| Line | Pali | English Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Tittham caram nisinno va, sayano va yavatassa vigatamiddho | Whether standing, walking, sitting, or lying down — as long as one is free from drowsiness — |
| 18 | Etam satim adhittheyya, brahmam etam viharam idhamahu | One should establish this mindfulness. This, they say, is the divine abiding here. |
Closing: The Highest Attainment
| Line | Pali | English Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Ditthiñca anupaggamma, silava dassanena sampanno | Not falling into wrong views, virtuous, endowed with vision, |
| 20 | Kamesu vineyya gedham, na hi jatu gabbhaseyyam puna reti | Having removed attachment to sense pleasures, one will never again lie in a womb. |
Full Chant (All 20 Lines Together)
Karaniyam atthakusalena, yantam santam padam abhisamecca Sakko uju ca suju ca, suvaco cassa mudu anatimani Santussako ca subharo ca, appakicco ca sallahukavutti Santindriyo ca nipako ca, appagabbho kulesu ananugiddho Na ca khuddam samacare kinci, yena viññu pare upavadeyyum
Sukhino va khemino hontu, sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta Ye keci panabhutathi, tasa va thavara va anavasesa Digha va ye va mahanta, majjhima rassaka anukathula Dittha va ye va adittha, ye va dure vasanti avidure Bhuta va sambhavesi va, sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta
Na paro param nikubbetha, natimaññetha katthacinam kanci Byarosana patighasañña, nanna mannassa dukkham iccheyya
Mata yatha niyam puttam, ayusa ekaputtamanurakkhe Evampi sabbabhutesu, manasam bhavaye aparimanam Mettañca sabbalokasmim, manasam bhavaye aparimanam Uddham adho ca tiriyanca, asambadham averam asapattam
Tittham caram nisinno va, sayano va yavatassa vigatamiddho Etam satim adhittheyya, brahmam etam viharam idhamahu
Ditthiñca anupaggamma, silava dassanena sampanno Kamesu vineyya gedham, na hi jatu gabbhaseyyam puna reti
Word-by-Word Glossary (Key Terms)
| Pali Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Mettā | Loving-kindness / benevolence / unconditional goodwill |
| Sutta | Discourse (literally “thread”) |
| Karaniya | What should be done |
| Atthakusalena | By one skilled in the good / one seeking welfare |
| Santam padam | The state of peace (Nibbana) |
| Sukhitatta | Happy-minded / inwardly happy |
| Satta | Beings |
| Panabhutathi | Living beings (those born) |
| Aparimanam | Boundless / immeasurable |
| Brahmam viharam | Divine abiding (one of the four Brahma-viharas) |
| Gabbhaseyyam | Lie in a womb (i.e., be reborn) |
How It Is Used
| Context | Practice |
|---|---|
| Daily chanting | Often recited once or three times in the morning or before meditation |
| Protection (Paritta) | Chanted for blessing a new home, before a journey, or for the sick |
| Meditation | The first 10-16 lines are used as a guided loving-kindness meditation |
| Funerals | Chanted to radiate goodwill to the deceased and all beings |
| Retreats | Chanted daily during intensive Vipassana or Metta retreats |
Pronunciation Guide (First Line Only)
| Pali | Approximate Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Karaniyam | kah-rah-NEE-yam |
| atthakusalena | aht-tah-koo-sah-LEY-nah |
| yantam | YAHN-tam |
| santam | SAHN-tam |
| padam | PAH-dam |
| abhisamecca | ah-bhee-sah-MAY-cheah |
Note: The “ñ” (e.g., viññu) is pronounced like the “ny” in “canyon.” The “c” is always soft, like the “ch” in “church.”
The Heart of the Sutta
The most famous and often-chanted verses are lines 6-10 and 13-16. Many laypeople memorize these core sections rather than the entire 20 lines. The essence is:
“May all beings be happy, safe, and peaceful. Just as a mother protects her only child, even so, towards all beings, cultivate a boundless heart.”