Outside the WallsTirokuṭṭasutta

Outside the walls they stand and wait,Tirokuṭṭesu tiṭṭhanti, at the junctions and the crossroads.sandhisiṅghāṭakesu ca; Returning to their former homesDvārabāhāsu tiṭṭhanti, they wait beside the door posts.āgantvāna sakaṁ gharaṁ.

But when lavish food and drinkPahūte annapānamhi, of many kinds is set out,khajjabhojje upaṭṭhite; no one remembers them at all,Na tesaṁ koci sarati, because of those beings’s deeds.sattānaṁ kammapaccayā.

That’s why those who have compassionEvaṁ dadanti ñātīnaṁ, give to their relativesye honti anukampakā; food and drink at the right time,Suciṁ paṇītaṁ kālena, that’s clean, delicious, and suitable.kappiyaṁ pānabhojanaṁ.

“May this be for our relatives!Idaṁ vo ñātīnaṁ hotu, May our relatives be happy!”sukhitā hontu ñātayo; Those ghosts who have gathered there,Te ca tattha samāgantvā, the departed relatives who have comeñātipetā samāgatā.

for the lavish food and drinkPahūte annapānamhi, gratefully express appreciation:sakkaccaṁ anumodare; “May our relatives live long!Ciraṁ jīvantu no ñātī, For those to whom we owe this gain,yesaṁ hetu labhāmase.

who have given honor to us,Amhākañca katā pūjā, it will not be fruitless for the donor.”dāyakā ca anipphalā; There is no farming there,Na hi tattha kasī atthi, no cow pasture can be found;gorakkhettha na vijjati.

likewise there’s no trading,Vaṇijjā tādisī natthi, and no commerce in gold coin.hiraññena kayākayaṁ; The departed, the dead in that placeIto dinnena yāpenti, live on what is given here.petā kālagatā tahiṁ.

Just as water that rains on highUnname udakaṁ vuṭṭhaṁ, flows down to the plains,yathā ninnaṁ pavattati; so too what is given hereEvamevaṁ ito dinnaṁ, aids the departed ghosts.petānaṁ upakappati.

Just as the rivers fullYathā vārivahā pūrā, swell the ocean seasparipūrenti sāgaraṁ; so too what is given hereEvamevaṁ ito dinnaṁ, aids the departed ghosts.petānaṁ upakappati.

Thinking: “They gave to me, they did for me,Adāsi me akāsi me, they were my family, friend, comrade”,ñāti mittā sakhā ca me; give offerings to departed kin,Petānaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ dajjā, remembering past deeds.pubbe katamanussaraṁ.

For neither tears nor griefNa hi ruṇṇaṁ vā soko vā, or other lamentationsyā caññā paridevanā; are of any use to the departed,Na taṁ petānamatthāya, so long as their relatives stay like this.evaṁ tiṭṭhanti ñātayo.

This offering that has been given,Ayañca kho dakkhiṇā dinnā, well placed in the Saṅgha,saṅghamhi suppatiṭṭhitā; is for their lasting welfare,Dīgharattaṁ hitāyassa, and aids them right away.ṭhānaso upakappati.

The relative’s duty has now been shown:So ñātidhammo ca ayaṁ nidassito, how high honor to departed is performed,Petāna pūjā ca katā uḷārā; how the mendicants can be kept strong,Balañca bhikkhūnamanuppadinnaṁ, and how no little merit is produced by you.Tumhehi puññaṁ pasutaṁ anappakanti.