I bow to the Great Compassionate One, Who has pity for all beings. His face is full like the morning sun, His eyes pure like blue lotuses.

The Buddha was born in the family of discipline, His disciples are a multitude of the disciplined; Discipline removes all faults, I pay homage to the honored one in the Dharma.

The Buddha taught the threefold collection of teachings, With the Vinaya as the foremost; Within this teaching, I shall briefly offer my praise.

Just as the root is supreme for a tree, From which branches and trunk grow; The Buddha declared discipline as the foundation, Which gives rise to all wholesome qualities.

Like a great dam, That cannot be crossed by torrents; So too is the teaching of discipline, Able to prevent transgressions.

All Buddhas attain enlightenment, Solitary sages find peace of body and mind; And the Arhats as well, All are perfected through the practice of discipline.

The wise and noble ones of the three times, Free from the bonds of conditioned existence; All take discipline as their foundation, To reach the place of safety.

If this teaching of discipline, Abides in the world; Then the true Dharma treasury of the Tathagatas, Will not perish.

Discipline is what establishes, The true Dharma lamp of the Tathagatas; Without it, there is no path, To the safety of Nirvana.

The Buddha traveled in the world, Teaching the Dharma everywhere; The Vinaya teaching is not like this, Thus it is hard to encounter.

Like the earth supports all beings, And makes grasses and trees grow; So too the teaching of discipline, Gives rise to blessings and wisdom.

The Buddha said that through the teaching of discipline, All virtues arise; By upholding it, one attains liberation, By breaking it, one falls into miserable realms.

If elephants and horses are untamed, They are controlled with hooks and whips; So too the teaching of discipline, Tames the untamed and makes them gentle.

Like a city with moats and walls, That can ward off enemies; So too the teaching of discipline, Can guard against breaking the precepts.

Just as ocean water, Can wash away dead bodies; So too the teaching of discipline, Can remove all transgressions.

Discipline is the king of the Dharma, The foremost guide of all Buddhas; Monks are like merchants, And this is their priceless treasure.

Breaking precepts is worse than snake venom, Discipline is like a universal remedy; The strong and youthful mind is hard to tame, Discipline is its bridle and reins.

Discipline, on the path of goodness, Always serves as a bridge; And in the ocean of miserable realms, It serves as a raft.

When walking a dangerous road, Discipline is the good guide; When ascending the city of fearlessness, Discipline is the ladder and steps.

The supreme and honored Teacher, Personally taught the Vinaya; These two are not different, All should pay homage.

The Buddha and his noble disciples, All abide by the teaching of discipline; With reverence for the precepts, I therefore pay homage.

I praise according to the Vinaya, This teaching should be respected; With initial homage and refuge, May auspicious deeds be accomplished.

The great ocean of Vinaya, Its shores are vast and hard to know; Its distinctions are endless, How could I fully comprehend them!

The ocean of the Teacher's Vinaya teaching, Is profound and hard to fathom; Now, according to my ability, I shall briefly praise a small part.

When the World-Honored One entered Nirvana, He told the great assembly: "After my passing, You should all respect the precepts."

Therefore, I offer this praise, Wishing to explain the Vinaya; You, virtuous ones, should listen wholeheartedly, And well heed this teaching of discipline.

It is rare to hear the scriptures on liberation, Rarer still across countless eons; To read, recite, and uphold them is likewise rare, But rarer yet are those who practice as taught.

There is joy when Buddhas appear in the world, Joy when they teach the subtle, true Dharma; Joy when the Sangha is united in view, Joy when they harmoniously strive with vigor.

There is joy in meeting the noble ones, And joy in dwelling together with them; There is joy in not encountering the foolish— This is called enduring joy.

There is joy in seeing the virtuous, Joy in meeting the learned; There is joy in seeing the Arhats— For in them, no future birth arises.

There is joy at the ford of the river, at the excellent steps, Joy in conquering foes through the Dharma; There is joy when the fruit of right wisdom is born, Joy when pride is utterly removed.

If one can be resolute in intent, Taming the senses, full of learning, Dwelling from youth to old age in the forest, There is joy in the quiet, secluded hermitage.