四大天王承诺能保护佛陀的弟子。
ATANATIYA SUTTA
- Appasannehi nathassa,
sasane sadhusammate;
amanussehi candehi,
sada kibbisakaribhi.
Demons (in-human beings) and others who have no faith in the well-esteemed Dispensation of the Buddha always commit evil.
- Parisanam catassannam,
ahimsaya ca guttiya;
yam desesi mahaviro,
parittam tam bhanama he.
The Great Courageous One preached this sutta so that it wouldprotect them from dangers and no harm would fall on the four socialclasses of people. Oh, noble ones! Let us recite the sutta.
- Vipassissa ca namatthu,
cakkhumantassa sirimato;
sikkhissapi ca namatthu,
sabbabhuta-nukampino.
Homage to the Vipassi Buddha, possessed of the eye of wisdom andglory; homage to Sikhi Buddha, the great compassionate towards allbeings.
- Vessabhussa ca namatthu,
nhatakassa tapassino;
namatthu kakusandhassa,
marasena-pamaddinno.
Homage to Vessabhu Buddha who has washed away all the defilementsand who possesses good ascetic practices. Homage to Kakusandha Buddhawho defeated the army of Mara (evil one).
- Konagamanassa namatthu,
brahmanassa vusimato;
kassapassa ca namatthu,
vippamuttassa sabbadhi.
Homage to Konagamana Buddha who had eradicated all evil and livedthe noble life. Homage to Kassapa Buddha who was freed from alldefilements.
- Angirasassa namatthu,
sakyaputtassa sirimato;
yo imam dhammam desesi,
sabbadukkha-panudanam.
Gotama the Buddha preached this Dhamma which removed all suffering.Homage to this son of Sakyas (Gotama Buddha) from whose body issuedrays of light and who was glorious.
- Ye capi nibbuta loke,
yathabhutam vipassisum;
te jana apisunatha,
mahanta vitasarada.
In this world, those who have extinguished all the flames ofpassions and have thoroughly seen things as they really are - thesepersons being Arahants never slander. They are great and free fromfear.
- Hitam deva manussanam,
yam namassanti gotamam;
vijjacaranasampannam,
mahantam vitasaradam.
They pay homage to Gotama Buddha who works for the benefit of godsand men, who is endowed with wisdom and good conduct, who is great andfree from fear.
- Ete canne ca sambuddha,
Aneka satakotiyo;
sabbe buddha samasama,
sabbe buddha mahiddhika.
Those seven Buddhas and the other hundreds of crores of Buddha- allthese Buddhas are equal only to the Former Ones, all these Buddhas havegreat power.
- Sabbe dasa balupeta,
vesarajjeh-upagata;
sabbe te patijananti,
asabham thana muttamam.
All these Buddhas are endowed with ten kinds of strength and wisdomof fearlessness. All these Buddhas proclaim that they possess the stateof Omniscience.
- Sihanadam nadante-te,
parisasu visarada;
brahma cakkam pavattenti,
loke appativattiyam.
These Buddhas, being fearless among the eight kinds of audience,roar the lion’s roar, and they set in motion the Wheel of Dhamma in theworld without turning back.
- Upeta buddha dhammehi,
attharasahi nayaka;
battimsa lakkhanupeta,
sita nubyanjana dhara.
These leaders of the world are endowed with eighteen specialqualities of virtues in the Buddhas. They possess thirty-two majormarks and eighty minor marks of ‘a great man’.
- Byama ppabhaya suppabha,
sabbe te muni kunjara;
buddha sabbannuno ete,
sabbe khinasava jina.
All these Supreme Sages shine with surrounding halos; all theseBuddhas are Omniscient. All these Buddhas have extinguished thedefilements and they are conquerors.
- Mahapabha mahateja,
mahapanna mahabbala;
mahakarunika dhira,
sabbesanam sukhavaha.
These Buddhas possess a radiant light, great power, great wisdomand great strength, great compassion and steadfast concentration. Theyfulfill the happiness of all beings.
- Dipa natha patittha ca,
tana lena ca paninam;
gati bandhu mahessasa,
sarana ca hitesino.
They are the islands for beings, the lords, the supporting ground,the protectors, the shelters, the havens, the friends, the glorioussaviours, the refuges, and they seek the welfare of all beings.
- Sadevakassa lokassa,
sabbe ete parayana;
tesa'ham sirasa pade,
vandami purisuttame.
All these Buddhas are the gracious refuges for the world of godsand men. I respectfully bow my head at the feet of these Supreme Ones.
- Vacasa manasa ceva,
vandam-ete tathagate;
sayane asane thane,
gamane capi sabbada.
I pay homage to these Accomplished Ones by words and by thoughts, whenever I am lying down or sitting or standing or walking.
- Sada sukkhena rakkhantu,
buddha santikara tuvam;
tehi tvam rakkhito santo,
mutto sabbabhayehi ca.
May the Buddhas who are peacemakers protect you always so that youare happy. Being protected by them, may you be free from all dangers.
- Sabbaroga vinimutto,
sabbasantapa vajjito;
sabbaveram-atikkanto,
nibbuto ca tuvam bhava.
May you be free from all diseases, may you be free from worry and anxiety. May you overcome all enemies and may you be peaceful.
- Tesam saccena silena,
khanti metta balena ca;
tepi amhe-nurakkhantu,
arogena sukhena ca.
By the power of their truthfulness, virtue, patience andloving-kindness, may those Buddhas protect us so that we are free fromall diseases and be happy.
- Puratthimasmim disabhage,
santi bhuta mahiddhika;
tepi amhe-nurakkhantu,
arogena sukhena ca.
There are in the eastern direction divine beings called Gandhabbaswho have great power. May they also protect us so that we are free fromall diseases and be happy.
- Dakkhinasamim disabhage,
santi deva mahiddhika;
tepi amhe-nurakkhantu,
arogena sukhena ca.
There are in the southern direction divine beings called Kumbhandaswho have great power. May they also protect us so that we are free fromall diseases and be happy.
- Pacchimasmim disabhage,
santi naga mahiddhika;
tepi amhe-nurakkhantu,
arogena sukhena ca.
There are in the western direction Nagas (divine dragons) who havegreat power. May they also protect us so that we are free from alldiseases and be happy.
- Uttarasmim disabhage,
santi yakkha mahiddhika;
tepi amhe-nurakkhantu,
arogena sukkhena ca.
There are in the northern direction divine beings called Yakkhaswho have great power. May they also protect us so that we are free fromall diseases and be happy.
- Puratthimena dhatarattho,
dakkhinena virulhako;
pacchimena virupakkho,
kuvero uttaram disam.
There is Dhatarattha in the east, Virulhaka in the south, Virupakkha in the west, and Kuvera in the north.
- Cattaro te maharaja,
lokapala yasassino;
tepi amhe-nurakkhantu,
arogena sukhena ca.
These four divine Kings are the guardians of the world with thelarge retinues. May they also protect us so that we are free from alldiseases and to be happy.
- Akasattha ca bhumattha,
deva naga mahiddhika;
tepi amhe-nurakkhantu,
arogena sukhena ca.
There are mighty deities and dragons, residing in the sky and onthe earth. May they also protect us so that we are free from alldiseases and be happy.
- Iddhimanto ca ye deva,
vasanta idha sasane;
tepi amhe-nurakkhantu,
arogena sukhena ca.
There are deities of great power who live within the range of theBuddha’s Dispensation. May they also protect us so that we are freefrom all diseases and be happy.
- Sabbitiyo vivajjantu,
soko rogo vinassatu;
ma te bhavantv-antaraya,
sukhi dighayuko bhava.
May all calamities be away from you. May sorrow and disease bedestroyed. May you never face any dangers. May you have happiness and along life.
- Abhivadana silissa,
niccam vuddhapacayino;
cattaro dhamma vaddhanti,
ayu vanno sukham balam.
For those, who are endowed with a pious culture and are alwaysrespecting the elders, these four gifted things grow: longevity,beauty, happiness and strength.
Atanatiya Suttam Nitthitam.
Here ends the Discourse on the Protection at the Divine City of Atanata.
一次佛陀居住在离开拉加各哈不远的兀鹰顶时, 四个宇宙守护神（众神的大王）分别从东南西北四个方向来见佛陀,告诉他很多妖魔和凡间生灵都不尊敬佛陀和他的教导。他们攻击僧人和凡人，并在他们静坐时吓唬他们。
其中一个王维沙瓦那（古维那）问佛陀是否可以把阿塔那提亚经的经文传授给人类，以便让他们在独自静坐时可以念这段经文保护自己。佛陀默许了。
根据注释，这段经文是根据宇宙四大守护神齐集念诵这段经文的阿塔那提亚城的名字命名的。
人们通常念这段经文来摆脱恶魔妖怪，祈求身体健康和快乐。
这篇经文出自苦达卡 尼卡亚经的帕帝卡瓦卡，迪加尼卡亚和达马帕达
