The Chant of Metta (YouTube video) 

Ahaṁ avero homi. Abyāpajjho homi. 

Anīgho homi. Sukhī-attānaṁ Pariharāmi. 

Ahaṁ avero homi
"May I be free from all hostility and danger."

• Ahaṁ: "I" (first-person singular pronoun).

• Avero: "Free from hostility," where a- means "without," and vero means "hostility" or "enmity."

• Homi: "I am" or "I become" (first-person singular verb).

Abyāpajjho homi
"May I be free from all mental suffering."

• Abyāpajjho: "Without mental suffering," combining a- (without) and byāpajjha (mental pain, affliction, or harm).

• Homi: Same as above, meaning "I am" or "I become."

Anīgho homi
"May I be free from all physical suffering."

• Anīgho: "Without physical pain," formed from a- (without) and nīgha (physical pain or distress).

• Homi: Again, meaning "I am" or "I become."

Sukhī-attānaṁ pariharāmi
"May I maintain myself in happiness and well-being."

• Sukhī: "Happy" or "peaceful."

• Attānaṁ: Reflexive pronoun, "myself."

• Pariharāmi: "I maintain" or "I take care of" (first-person singular verb).

Mama mātāpitu ācariyā ca ñātimittā ca

Sabrahma-cārino ca averā hontu, Abyāpajjhā 

hontu, Anīgha hontu, Sukhī-attānaṁ Pariharantu. 

Mama mātāpitu ācariyā ñātimittā ca
"May my mother, father, teachers, relatives, and friends…"

• Mama: "My."

• Mātāpitu: "Mother and father" (dual form combining mātā (mother) and pitaro (father)).

• Ācariyā: "Teachers."

• Ñātimittā: "Relatives and friends" (ñāti = relatives, mittā = friends).

• Ca: "And."

Sabrahma-cārino ca
"…and all those who practice the holy life (brahma-cariya)."

• Sabrahma-cārino: Those who practice the holy life, i.e., monks, nuns, or anyone following a spiritual path.

• Ca: "And."

Averā hontu
"May they be free from hostility."

• Averā: "Without hostility" (a- = without, verā = hostility).

• Hontu: "May they be" (third-person plural verb).

Abyāpajjhā hontu
"May they be free from mental suffering."

• Abyāpajjhā: "Without mental suffering" (a- = without, byāpajjha = affliction or harm).

• Hontu: Same as above.

Anīgha hontu
"May they be free from physical suffering."

• Anīgha: "Without physical suffering" (a- = without, nīgha = physical pain or distress).

• Hontu: Same as above.

Sukhī-attānaṁ pariharantu
"May they take care of themselves with happiness."

• Sukhi: "Happy" or "peaceful."

• Attānaṁ: "Themselves" (reflexive pronoun).

• Pariharantu: "May they take care of" (third-person plural verb).

Imasmiṁ ārāme sabbe yogino, Averā hontu, Abyāpajjhā hontu, Anīghā hontu, Sukhī-attānaṁ Pariharantu. 

Imasmiṁ ārāme sabbe yogino
"May all practitioners in this monastery…"

• Imasmiṁ ārāme: "In this monastery" (Imasmiṁ = "in this," ārāma = "monastery" or "retreat place").

• Sabbe yogino: "All practitioners" (sabbe = "all," yogino = "practitioners" or "those engaged in spiritual practice").

Averā hontu
"May they be free from hostility."

• Averā: "Without hostility" (a- = without, verā = hostility).

• Hontu: "May they be" (third-person plural verb).

Abyāpajjhā hontu
"May they be free from mental suffering."

• Abyāpajjhā: "Without mental affliction" (a- = without, byāpajjha = harm, mental suffering).

• Hontu: Same as above.

Anīghā hontu
"May they be free from physical suffering."

• Anīghā: "Without physical distress" (a- = without, nīgha = physical pain or illness).

• Hontu: Same as above.

Sukhī-attānaṁ pariharantu
"May they maintain themselves in happiness and well-being."

• Sukhī: "Happy" or "peaceful."

• Attānaṁ: "Themselves" (reflexive pronoun).

• Pariharantu: "May they take care of" (third-person plural verb).

Imasmiṁ ārāme sabbe bhikkhū sāmanerā ca 

upāsaka-upāsikāyo ca, Averā hontu, Abyāpajjhā hontu, 

Anīghā hontu, Sukhī-attānaṁ Pariharantu.

Imasmiṁ ārāme sabbe bhikkhū sāmanerā ca upāsaka-upāsikāyo ca
"May all monks, novice monks, male and female lay practitioners in this monastery…"

• Imasmiṁ ārāme: "In this monastery" (Imasmiṁ = "in this," ārāma = "monastery" or "retreat place").

• Sabbe bhikkhū: "All monks" (sabbe = "all," bhikkhū = monks).

• Sāmanerā ca: "And novice monks" (sāmanerā = novice monks, ca = and).

• Upāsaka-upāsikāyo ca: "And male and female lay practitioners" (upāsaka = male lay practitioners, upāsikāyo = female lay practitioners, ca = and).

Averā hontu
"May they be free from hostility."

• Averā: "Without hostility" (a- = without, verā = hostility).

• Hontu: "May they be" (third-person plural verb).

Abyāpajjhā hontu
"May they be free from mental suffering."

• Abyāpajjhā: "Without mental suffering" (a- = without, byāpajjha = affliction or harm).

• Hontu: Same as above.

Anīghā hontu
"May they be free from physical suffering."

• Anīghā: "Without physical pain" (a- = without, nīgha = physical suffering).

• Hontu: Same as above.

Sukhī-attānaṁ pariharantu
"May they maintain themselves in happiness and well-being."

• Sukhī: "Happy" or "peaceful."

• Attānam: "Themselves" (reflexive pronoun).

• Pariharantu: "May they take care of" or "maintain" (third-person plural verb).

Amhākaṃ catupaccaya-dāyakā, Averā hontu, 

Abyāpajjhā hontu, Anīghā hontu, 

Sukhī-attānaṁ Pariharantu.

Amhākaṃ catupaccaya-dāyakā
"May the donors of the four requisites to us…"

• Amhākaṃ: "To us" (possessive pronoun in the dative case, meaning "our" or "for us").

• Catupaccaya: "The four requisites," referring to the basic needs provided to monastics: food, clothing, shelter, and medicine.

• Dāyakā: "Donors" or "those who give."

• Averā: "Without hostility" (a- = without, verā = hostility).

• Hontu: "May they be" (third-person plural verb).

Abyāpajjhā hontu
"May they be free from mental suffering."

• Abyāpajjhā: "Without mental suffering" (a- = without, byāpajjha = affliction or harm).

• Hontu: Same as above.

Anīghā hontu
"May they be free from physical suffering."

• Anīghā: "Without physical pain" (a- = without, nīgha = physical suffering).

• Hontu: Same as above.

Sukhī-attānaṁ pariharantu
"May they maintain themselves in happiness and well-being."

• Sukhī: "Happy" or "peaceful."

• Attānam: "Themselves" (reflexive pronoun).

• Pariharantu: "May they take care of" or "maintain" (third-person plural verb).

Amhākaṃ ārakkha devatā, Imasmiṁ vihāre, 

Imasmiṁ āvāse, Imasmiṁ ārāme, Ārakkha devatā, 

Averā hontu, Abyāpajjhā hontu, Anīgha hontu, 

Sukhī-attānaṁ Pariharantu.

Amhākaṃ ārakkha devatā
"May the guardian deities who protect us…"

• Amhākaṃ: "To us" or "our" (possessive pronoun in the dative case).

• Ārakkha devatā: "Guardian deities" (ārakkha = protection, devatā = deities or celestial beings).

Imasmiṁ vihāre
"In this monastery…"

• Imasmiṁ: "InV this" (locative case of idam, meaning "this").

• Vihāre: "Monastery" or "dwelling place of monastics."

Imasmiṁ āvāse
"In this dwelling…"

• Āvāse: "Dwelling" or "residence."

Imasmiṁ ārāme
"In this grove or retreat place…"

• Ārāme: "Grove," "park," or "retreat place."

Ārakkha devatā
"May the guardian deities…" (repetition for emphasis).

• Averā: "Without hostility" (a- = without, verā = hostility).

• Hontu: "May they be" (third-person plural verb).

Abyāpajjhā hontu
"May they be free from mental suffering."

• Abyāpajjhā: "Without mental suffering" (a- = without, byāpajjha = affliction or harm).

• Hontu: Same as above.

Anīghā hontu
"May they be free from physical suffering."

• Anīghā: "Without physical pain" (a- = without, nīgha = physical suffering).

• Hontu: Same as above.

Sukhī-attānaṁ pariharantu
"May they maintain themselves in happiness and well-being."

• Sukhī: "Happy" or "peaceful."

• Attānam: "Themselves" (reflexive pronoun).

• Pariharantu: "May they take care of" or "maintain" (third-person plural verb).

Sabbe sattā, sabbe pānā, sabbe bhūta, sabbe puggalā, sabbe attabhāva pariyāpannā, sabbā itthiyo, sabbe purisā, sabbe ariyā, sabbe anariyā, sabbe devā, sabbe manussā, sabbe vinipātika, Averā hontu, Abyāpajjhā hontu, Anīghā hontu, Sukhī-attānaṁ Pariharantu. Dukkhā muccantu, Yathā laddhā saṁpattito, Māvigacchantu Kammassakā.

Sabbe sattā, sabbe pānā, sabbe bhūta, sabbe puggalā
"May all beings, all living creatures, all that have come into existence, and all individuals…"

• Sabbe sattā: "All beings" (sabbe = all, sattā = beings).

• Sabbe pānā: "All living creatures" (pānā = those who breathe).

• Sabbe bhūta: "All that have come into existence" (bhūta = beings or entities that exist).

• Sabbe puggalā: "All individuals" (puggalā = persons, individuals).

Sabbe attabhāva pariyāpannā
"May all those encompassed by a physical body…"

• Attabhāva: "Physical body" or "individual existence."

• Pariyāpannā: "Encompassed" or "included within."

Sabbā itthiyo, sabbe purisā, sabbe ariyā, sabbe anariyā
"May all women, all men, all noble ones, and all ordinary people…"

• Itthiyo: "Women."

• Purisā: "Men."

• Ariyā: "Noble ones" (those who have attained spiritual stages).

• Anariyā: "Ordinary people" (those not yet on the noble path).

Sabbe devā, sabbe manussā, sabbe vinipātikā
"May all devas (celestial beings), all humans, and all beings in lower realms…"

• Devā: "Celestial beings."

• Manussā: "Humans."

• Vinipātika: "Beings in lower realms" (vinipāta = states of misery).

Averā hontu, Abyāpajjhā hontu, Anīghā hontu, Sukhī-attānaṁ Pariharantu
"May they be free from hostility, free from mental and physical suffering, and may they maintain themselves in happiness and well-being."

• Averā: "Without hostility" (a- = without, verā = hostility).

• Abyāpajjhā: "Without mental affliction" (a- = without, byāpajjha = harm or affliction).

• Anīghā: "Without physical pain or distress" (a- = without, nīgha = physical suffering).

• Sukhī: "Happy" or "peaceful."

• Attanam: "Themselves" (reflexive pronoun).

• Pariharantu: "May they take care of" or "maintain" (third-person plural verb).

Dukkhā muccantu
"May they be free from suffering."

• Dukkhā: "Suffering."

• Muccantu: "May they be freed" (third-person plural imperative verb).

Yathā laddhā saṁpattito, Māvigacchantu
"May they not lose the success they have attained."

• Yathā laddhā saṁpattito: "From the success (or blessings) they have attained" (yathā = as, laddhā = obtained, saṁpattito = success or blessings).

• Māvigacchantu: "May they not be parted from" (mā- = not, vigacchantu = be separated).

Kammassakā
"All beings are the owners of their actions."

• Kammassakā: "Owners of karma" (kamma = actions or deeds, assakā = belonging to).

Puratthimāya disāya, Pacchimāya disāya, Uttarāya disāya, Dakkhināya disāya, Puratthimāya anudisāya, Pacchimāya anudisāya, Uttarāya anudisāya, Dakkhināya anudisāya, Heṭṭhimāya disāya, Uparimāya disāya, Sabbe sattā, sabbe pānā, sabbe bhūtā, sabbe puggalā, sabbe attabhāva pariyāpannā, sabbā itthiyo, sabbe purisā, sabbe ariyā, sabbe anariyā, sabbe devā, sabbe manussā, sabbe vinipātikā, Averā hontu, Abyāpajjhā hontu, Anīghā hontu, Sukhī-attānaṁ Pariharantu. Dukkhā muccantu, Yathā laddhā saṁpattito, Māvigacchantu Kammassakā.

Directional Blessings

Puratthimāya disāya, Pacchimāya disāya, Uttarāya disāya, Dakkhināya disāya
"In the eastern direction, the western direction, the northern direction, and the southern direction…"

• Puratthimāya disāya: "In the eastern direction" (puratthimāya = eastern, disāya = direction).

• Pacchimāya disāya: "In the western direction."

• Uttarāya disāya: "In the northern direction."

• Dakkhināya disāya: "In the southern direction."

Puratthimāya anudisāya, Pacchimāya anudisāya, Uttarāya anudisāya, Dakkhināya anudisāya
"In the intermediate directions—southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest…"

• Anudisāya: "In the intermediate direction" (literally, "secondary direction").

Heṭṭhimāya disāya, Uparimāya disāya
"In the downward direction and the upward direction…"

• Heṭṭhimāya disāya: "In the downward direction" (Heṭṭhimāya = below, downward).

• Uparimāya disāya: "In the upward direction" (uparimāya = above, upward).

Universal Loving-Kindness

Sabbe sattā, sabbe pānā, sabbe bhūtā, sabbe puggalā
"May all beings, all living creatures, all that have come into existence, and all individuals…"

• Sabbe sattā: "All beings" (sabbe = all, sattā = beings).

• Sabbe pānā: "All living creatures" (pānā = those who breathe).

• Sabbe bhūtā: "All that have come into existence" (bhūtā = beings or entities that exist).

• Sabbe puggalā: "All individuals" (puggalā = persons, individuals).

Sabbe attabhāva pariyāpannā
"May all those encompassed by a physical body…"

• Attabhāva: "Physical body" or "individual existence."

• Pariyāpannā: "Encompassed" or "included within."

Sabbā itthiyo, sabbe purisā, sabbe ariyā, sabbe anariyā
"May all women, all men, all noble ones, and all ordinary people…"

• Itthiyo: "Women."

• Purisā: "Men."

• Ariyā: "Noble ones" (those who have attained spiritual stages).

• Anariyā: "Ordinary people" (those not yet on the noble path).

Sabbe devā, sabbe manussā, sabbe vinipātikā
"May all devas (celestial beings), all humans, and all beings in lower realms…"

• Devā: "Celestial beings."

• Manussā: "Humans."

• Vinipātikā: "Beings in lower realms" (vinipāta = states of suffering or misery).

Aspirations for Well-being

Averā hontu, Abyāpajjhā hontu, Anīghā hontu, Sukhī-attānaṁ Pariharantu
"May they be free from hostility, free from mental and physical suffering, and may they maintain themselves in happiness and well-being."

• Averā: "Without hostility" (a- = without, verā = hostility).

• Abyāpajjhā: "Without mental affliction" (a- = without, byāpajjha = harm or affliction).

• Anīghā: "Without physical pain or distress" (a- = without, nīgha = physical suffering).

• Sukhī: "Happy" or "peaceful."

• Attānam: "Themselves" (reflexive pronoun).

• Pariharantu: "May they take care of" or "maintain" (third-person plural verb).

Dukkhā muccantu
"May they be free from suffering."

• Dukkhā: "Suffering."

• Muccantu: "May they be freed" (third-person plural imperative verb).

Yathā laddhā saṁpattito, Māvigacchantu
"May they not lose the success they have attained."

• Yathā laddhā saṁpattito: "From the success (or blessings) they have attained" (yathā = as, laddhā = obtained, saṁpattito = success or blessings).

• Mā vigacchantu: "May they not be parted from" (mā- = not, vigacchantu = be separated).

Kammassakā
"All beings are the owners of their actions."

• Kammassakā: "Owners of karma" (kamma = actions or deeds, assakā = belonging to).

Uddhaṃ yāva bhavaggā ca adho yāva avīcitto, samantā cakkavāḷesu, ye sattā pathavīcarā, abyāpajjhā niverā ca, niddhukkhā ca nupaddavā. 

Uddhaṃ yāva bhavaggā ca adho yāva avīitto, samantā cakkavāḷesu, ye sattā udakecarā, abyāpajjhā niverā ca, niddhukkhā ca nupaddavā. 

Uddham yāva bhavaggā ca adho yāva avīcitto, samantā cakkavāḷesu, ye satta ākāsecarā, abyāpajjhā niverā ca, niddhukkhā ca nupaddavā.

Uddhaṃ yāva bhavaggā ca adho yāva avīcitto
"From above, as high as the realm of existence (bhavagga), down to as low as the Avīci hell…"

• Uddhaṃ: "Above."

• Yāva bhavaggā ca: "As far as the highest realm of existence" (bhavagga = the highest level of existence, often referring to the Brahma worlds).

• Adho yāva avīcitto: "Down to as far as Avīci hell" (avīci = the lowest hell, itto = a form indicating direction or range).

Samantā cakkavāḷesu
"In all the world systems in every direction…"

• Samantā: "All around" or "in every direction."

• cakkavāḷesu: "In the world systems" (cakka = wheel, vāla = area, referring to the universe or cosmic system).

Ye sattā pathavīcarā
"May all beings who move on the earth…"

• Ye sattā: "All beings who…"

• Pathavīcarā: "Move on the earth" (pathavī = earth, carā = moving or walking).

Abyāpajjhā niverā ca, niddhukkhā ca nupaddavā
"May they be free from mental suffering, free from enmity, free from physical suffering, and free from misfortune."

• Abyāpajjhā: "Without mental suffering."

• Niverā ca: "Without hostility or enmity."

• Niddhukkhā ca: "Free from physical suffering."

• Nupaddavā: "Free from misfortune or calamity."

Second Part

Uddhaṃ yāva bhavaggā ca adho yāva avīcitto, samantā cakkavāḷesu, ye sattā udakecarā
"From above, as high as the realm of existence, down to as low as Avīci hell, in all the world systems, may all beings who move in the water…"

• Udakecarā: "Move in the water" (udaka = water, carā = moving).

Abyāpajjhā niverā ca, niddhukkhā ca nupaddavā
"May they be free from mental suffering, enmity, physical suffering, and misfortune."

• This phrase is repeated as in the first part.

Third Part

Uddham yāva bhavaggā ca adho yāva avīcitto, samantā cakkavāḷesu, ye sattā ākāsecarā
"From above, as high as the realm of existence, down to as low as Avīci hell, in all the world systems, may all beings who move in the sky…"

• Ākāsecarā: "Move in the sky" (ākāsa = sky or air, carā = moving).

Abyāpajjhā niverā ca, niddhukkhā ca nupaddavā
"May they be free from mental suffering, enmity, physical suffering, and misfortune."

• This phrase is repeated as in the previous parts.