Vandana
Here is the complete Vandana (Homage) in Pali, followed by a line-by-line English interpretation.
Vandana (Homage)
| Line | Pali | English Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma-Sambuddhassa. | Homage to Him, the Blessed One, the Exalted One, the Fully Enlightened One. |
(This single line is chanted three times in succession.)
The Full Chant as Usually Recited
Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma-Sambuddhassa.
Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma-Sambuddhassa.
Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma-Sambuddhassa.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
| Pali Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Namo | Homage / Honor / Respect |
| Tassa | To Him / That |
| Bhagavato | The Blessed One / The Fortunate One (possessing supreme good fortune) |
| Arahato | The Worthy One / The Exalted One (one who has eliminated all defilements) |
| Samma-Sambuddhassa | The Perfectly Self-Enlightened One (one who has awakened by his own efforts) |
Meaning and Context
This short but profound chant honors the Buddha through three key epithets :
| Epithet | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bhagavato | The Blessed One — one who possesses the six supreme qualities (power, glory, majesty, beauty, fame, and wisdom) |
| Arahato | The Worthy One — one who has destroyed all mental defilements and is free from the cycle of rebirth |
| Samma-Sambuddhassa | The Perfectly Self-Enlightened One — one who has attained full awakening without a teacher, by his own effort |
The repetition three times signifies deepening devotion and mindfulness .
Pronunciation Guide (Approximate)
| Pali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Namo | NAH-moe |
| Tassa | TAH-sah |
| Bhagavato | bah-gah-VAH-toe (soft ‘g’) |
| Arahato | ah-rah-HAH-toe |
| Samma-Sambuddhassa | SAHM-mah - sahm-bood-DHAH-sah |
Note: The “dh” sound is pronounced like the “th” in “that” or “father” (voiced), not like the “th” in “think” .
A Note on Variations
Some chant books and traditions may write the first word as “Namô” (with a long ‘o’) instead of “Namo” . This is a minor variation in diacritical marking and does not change the pronunciation or meaning . Both forms are equally correct.