This sutta is the consolidated discourse on three similar events experienced by Venerable Maha Kassapa, Venerable Moggallana and Lord Buddha himself. These three were afflicted with disease, and were seriously ill. And by the magical power of recitation of the Bojjhanga Sutta, each of them recovered from affliction and illness.
On one occasion, the Lord Buddha was staying at Rajagaha, in the Bamboo grove, the feeding-ground of black squirrels. At that time Venerable Maha Kassapa was dwelling in the Pipphali Cave, afflicted with a disease, and was seriously ill. The Lord visited him and expounded the doctrine of Seven Factors of Enlightenment. At the end of the preaching the Elder Kassapa recovered from affliction, and illness disappeared. This is the first instance.
On another occasion, the Lord was staying in the same place at Rajagaha, in the Bamboo grove where the black squirrels were fed. Thereupon Venerable Maha Moggallana residing on the Gujjhakuta Hill, the Vultures' Peak, was afflicted with a disease and was gravely sick. So the Lord visited him and preached the same doctrine of Seven Factors of Enlightenment to him. The Elder listened with due respect to him and recovered from that affliction. This is the second instance.
On the third occasion, while Lord Buddha was residing at the same town in the same Bamboo grove, he himself was afflicted with a disease and suffered seriously. Then the Elder Maha Cunda approached the Lord, saluted him and attended him. The Lord requested the Elder Cunda to recite the Seven Factors of Enlightenment as usually expounded by the Lord Buddha. And the Elder Cunda obeyed and recited.
"These seven factors of Enlightenment are lucidly expounded, are cultivated and are fully developed by the Blessed One. They are Mindfulness, Investigation of the Dhamma, Persevering effort, Rapture, Tranquility, Concentration, and Equanimity. These seven factors of Enlightenment conduce to perfect understanding, to full realization and to Nibbana."
At the end, Lord Buddha approved the recitation. Then the Lord recovered from his affliction, and thus his illness disappeared.
These three cases are put forth to indicate and to recommend the magical healing power of the recitation of the Parittas and the Oath of Truth. Hence the Burmese medicine-men practised and used to recite this Bojjhanga Sutta to help the patients recover quickly from their illness, and to initiate successful medical treatments.
As a matter of fact the original suttas are found expounded in prose form by the Lord Buddha, in Mahavagga Samyutta Pali. How ever the ancient Burmese monks who were expert in Pili language composed the consolidated discourse into verse form to be known as the
Bojjhanga paritta sutta of eleven stanzas.
samsare samsarantanatam, sabbadukkhavinasane
satta dhamme ca bojjhange, marasenapamaddane
These seven dhammas are the factors of enlightenment, which eradicate all the suffering of the creatures who are transmigrating in the universal flux, and which suppress the army of Death.
bujjhitva ye cime satta, tibhava muttakuttama
ajatimajarabyadhim, amatam nibbhayam gata
Having realised these seven dhammas the creatures had attained the Immortality, the Fearlessness, Birthless, decay-less and sickless stage; they be came transcendental and liberated from three existences
Oh thou! Let us recite this doctrine of Factors of Enlightenment
evamadigunupetam, anekagunasangaham;
osadhanca imam mantam, bojjhanganca bhanama he
Endowed with such and other qualifications altogether with innumerable qualities, this is a medicinal spell
bojjhango sati sankhato, dhammanam vicayo tatha;
viriyam piti pasaddhi, bojjhanga ca tathapare
The factors of enlightenment are Mindfulness, Investigation of the Dhamma and also Effort, Rapture, Tranquility, and other factors of enlightenment
samadh-upekkha bojjahanga, satte'te sabbadassina;
Munina sammadakkhata, bhavita bahulikata
The factor of concentration, and Equanimity. All these seven are well expounded by the Allseer; cultivated and amplified repeatedly by the Sage
samvattanti abhinnaya, nibbanaya ca bodhiya;
etena saccavajjena, sotthi te hotu sabbada
in order to discern profoundly, to realise the wisdom, and to attain Nibbana;
By this asseveration of this truth, may you be happy forever
ekasmim sarnaye Natho, Moggallananca Kassapam;
gilane dukkhite disva, bojjhange satta desayi
At one time, the Lord saw Venerable Moggallana and Venerable Kassapa suffering and sick, and he expounded the Seven Factors of Enlightenment
te ca taib abbinanditva, roga muccimsu tankhane;
etena saccavajjena, sotthi te hotu sabbada
The two Elders also were delighted thereat; and at that very moment were liberated from the sickness.
By this asseveration of Truth, may you be happy forever
ekada Dhammarajapi, gelannena'bhipilito,
Cundattherena tamyeva, bhanapetvana sadaram
Once even the King of Dhamma the Buddha himself was, afflicted by sickness, then the Elder Cunda was requested to recite that very doctrine with due reference
sammoditvana abadha, tamha vutthasi thanaso, etena saccavajjena, sotthi te hotu sabbada
Having delighted the Lord rose up thereupon from that sickness.
By this asseveration of Truth, may you be happy forever
pahina te ca abadha, tinnannampi mahesinam; maggahata kilesava, patta'nuppattidhammatam; etena saccavajjena, sotthi te hotu sabbada
Just as the defilements, annihilated by Magga-conscious, can arise again no more, in like manner these ailments were eradicated from the three Great Sages
By this asseveration of Truth, may you be happy forever
https://youtu.be/gf7BJJPAingMahāmoggallānattherabojjhaṅgaṁ
evaṁ me sutaṁ:
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. tena kho pana samayena āyasmā mahāmoggallāno Gijjhakūṭe pabbate viharati, ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ patisallānā vuṭṭhito, yenāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tenupasaṅkami, upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ etad-avoca:
“kacci te moggallāna khamanīyaṁ? kacci yāpanīyaṁ? kacci dukkhā vedanā paṭikkamanti no abhikkamanti? paṭikkamosānaṁ paññāyati no abhikkamo?” ti
“na me bhante khamanīyaṁ na yāpanīyaṁ, bāḷhā me dukkhā vedanā abhikkamanti no paṭikkamanti, abhikkamosānaṁ paññāyati no paṭikkamo” ti.
“sattime moggallāna bojjhaṅgā mayā sammad-akkhātā, bhāvitā bahulīkatā abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattanti. katame satta?
satisambojjhaṅgo kho moggallāna mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo kho moggallāna mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
viriyasambojjhaṅgo kho moggallāna mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
pītisambojjhaṅgo kho moggallāna mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
passaddhisambojjhaṅgo kho moggallāna mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
samādhisambojjhaṅgo kho moggallāna mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo kho moggallāna mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
ime kho moggallāna satta bojjhaṅgā mayā sammad-akkhātā, bhāvitā bahulīkatā abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattantī” ti. “taggha bhagava bojjhaṅgā! taggha sugata bojjhaṅgā!” ti.
idam-avoca bhagavā, attamano āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandi, vuṭṭhāhi cāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tamhā ābādhā, tathā pahīno cāyasmato mahāmoggallānassa so ābādho ahosī ti.
https://youtu.be/0ossMWPeTuwMahācundattherabojjhaṅgaṁ
evaṁ me sutaṁ:
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. tena kho pana samayena bhagavā ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. atha kho āyasmā mahācundo sāyanhasamayaṁ patisallānā vuṭṭhito, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami, upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā, ekam-antaṁ nisīdi.
ekam-antaṁ nissinaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ mahācundaṁ bhagavā etad-avoca: “paṭibhantu taṁ cunda bojjhaṅgā” ti.
“sattime bhante bojjhaṅgā bhagavatā sammad-akkhātā, bhāvitā bahulīkatā abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattanti. katame satta?
satisambojjhaṅgo kho bhante bhagavatā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo kho bhante bhagavatā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
viriyasambojjhaṅgo kho bhante bhagavatā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
pītisambojjhaṅgo kho bhante bhagavatā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
passaddhisambojjhaṅgo kho bhante bhagavatā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
samādhisambojjhaṅgo kho bhante bhagavatā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo kho bhante bhagavatā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
ime kho bhante satta bojjhaṅgā bhagavatā sammad-akkhātā, bhāvitā bahulīkatā abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattantī” ti.
“taggha cunda bojjhaṅgā! taggha cunda bojjhaṅgā!” ti.
idam-avoca āyasmā mahācundo, samanuñño satthā ahosi, vuṭṭhāhi ca bhagavā tamhā ābādhā, tathā pahīno ca bhagavato so ābādho ahosī ti.
etena saccavajjena sotthi te hotu sabbadā!
etena saccavajjena hotu te jayamaṅgalaṁ!
etena saccavajjena sabbarogo vinassatu!
https://youtu.be/hGNuLD2htEsMahākassapattherabojjhaṅgaṁ
evaṁ me sutaṁ:
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. tena kho pana samayena āyasmā mahākassapo pipphalīguhāyaṁ viharati, ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ patisallānā vuṭṭhito, yenāyasmā mahākassapo tenupasaṅkami, upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ mahākassapaṁ etad-avoca:
“kacci te kassapa khamanīyaṁ? kacci yāpanīyaṁ? kacci dukkhā vedanā paṭikkamanti no abhikkamanti? paṭikkamosānaṁ paññāyati no abhikkamo?” ti
“na me bhante khamanīyaṁ na yāpanīyaṁ, bāḷhā me dukkhā vedanā abhikkamanti no paṭikkamanti, abhikkamosānaṁ paññāyati no paṭikkamo” ti.
“sattime kassapa bojjhaṅgā mayā sammad-akkhātā, bhāvitā bahulīkatā abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattanti. katame satta?
satisambojjhaṅgo kho kassapa mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo kho kassapa mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
viriyasambojjhaṅgo kho kassapa mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
pītisambojjhaṅgo kho kassapa mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
passaddhisambojjhaṅgo kho kassapa mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
samādhisambojjhaṅgo kho kassapa mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo kho kassapa mayā sammad-akkhāto, bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
ime kho kassapa satta bojjhaṅgā mayā sammad-akkhātā, bhāvitā bahulīkatā abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattantī” ti. “taggha bhagava bojjhaṅgā! taggha sugata bojjhaṅgā!” ti.
idam-avoca bhagavā, attamano āyasmā mahākassapo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandi, vuṭṭhāhi cāyasmā mahākassapo tamhā ābādhā, tathā pahīno cāyasmato mahākassapassa so ābādho ahosī ti.
etena saccavajjena sotthi te hotu sabbadā!
etena saccavajjena hotu te jayamaṅgalaṁ!
etena saccavajjena sabbarogo vinassatu!