THE GREAT COMPASSION DHĀRAṆĪ - need help with pronunciation
johnathan
Canada Veteran
I have taken on memorizing the 84 lines of this mantra and could use some help... is my Pronunciation Guide correct? You would think AI was smart enough to sort it out to me but my own study keeps showing errors in it... Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Pronunciation and Compound Reading Guide
The conventions below are intended to keep the recitation steady, audible, and consistent. They describe the reading used in this guide rather than claiming a single universal English pronunciation.
Pronunciation conventions
a → “ah” (short, open) — Rat, Mah
ā → long “ahh” (held) — TRĀ, YĀ
i / ī → “ee” — dhee, NEE
u / ū → “oo” — Soo, Kah-roo
e → “eh” — YEH
o → pure long “oh” — Nah-moh, Ohm
ai → “eye” — ai is one diphthong-like syllable and sounds like “eye”
au → “ow” as in “how”
Consonant Clusters
trā → TRĀ (never “twa”)
tvā → TWĀ (t + v → “tw”)
svā → SWĀ
śva → SHWA
skritvā → Skrit-TWĀ (cluster preserved)
Pronunciation Guide — Additional Sounds
kr / dr / hr → keep consonants crisp and together
dh / bh / kh → retain the breathy quality
ś / śi / śu → SH / SHih / SHoo
hrih / hrīḥ → HREEH; keep the initial h+r cluster
dhr → DHR; keep d+h+r together
bh → breathy b; do not drop the h
dh → breathy d; do not drop the h
kh → breathy k; do not drop the h
ṇ → retroflex n; keep it distinct and crisp
ḥ → a light final breath
ṃ / ṁ → nasal resonance; colour the preceding vowel
r → light, quick r
v → light v/w-like quality; preserve it in clusters
Svāhā → keep the long ā in both syllables
Endings
-ya → “yah”
-yā → long “yahh”
-yāya → “YĀ-yah” / “yah-yah” in faster chanting
-sya → light “sya”
Continuous Compound Reading
Each unit is presented in four layers: Devanāgarī, transliteration, pronunciation, and the supplied English gloss.
नमो रत्न-त्रयाय
namo ratna-trayāya
Nah-moh ⬝ Rat-nah ⬝ TRĀ-yah-yah
[Homage to the Triple Jewel.]
नमो आर्यावलोकितेश्वराय
namo āryāvalokiteśvarāya
Nah-moh ⬝ ĀR-yah ⬝ Ah-vah-loh ⬝ keh-TÉSH ⬝ vah-rah-yah
[Homage to Noble Avalokiteśvara.]
बोधि सत्त्वाय
bodhi sattvāya
Boh-dhee ⬝ Sat-TWĀ-yah
[To the Bodhisattva.]
महा सत्त्वाय
mahā sattvāya
Mah-hah ⬝ Sat-TWĀ-yah
[To the Great Being (Mahāsattva).]
महा कारुणिकाय
mahā kāruṇikāya
Mah-hah ⬝ Kah-roo-NEE-kah-yah
[To the Greatly Compassionate One.]
ॐ
oṃ
Ohm
[Sacred syllable; an invocation of the sacred.]
सर्व रविये
sarva raviye
Sar-vah ⬝ Rah-vee-yeh
[For protection from all fears / obstacles.]
सुधनदस्य
sudhanadasya
Soo-dha-Nah-dah-sya
[Of Sudhanada.]
नमस्-कृत्वा इमं आर्यावलोकितेश्वर-रंधव
namas-kṛtvā imaṃ āryāvalokiteśvara-raṃdhava
Nah-moh ⬝ Skrit-TWĀ ⬝ Ee-mahm ⬝ ĀR-yah ⬝ Ah-vah-loh ⬝ keh-TÉSH ⬝ vah-rah ⬝ Rahm-dha-vah
[Homage after bowing to this noble Avalokiteśvara Ramdhava.]
नमो नरकिंदि
namo narakindi
Nah-moh ⬝ Nah-rah-KEEN-dee
[Homage to Nīlakaṇṭha.]
ह्रीः महा वात्-स्वामे
hrīḥ mahā vāt-svāme
HREEH ⬝ Mah-hah ⬝ vaht-SWĀ-meh
[Hrīḥ; Great Lord / great auspicious refuge.]
सर्व अर्थतो शुभं
sarva arthato śubhaṃ
Sar-vah ⬝ ar-thah-toh ⬝ SHOO-bhahm
[Auspicious good for the sake of all.]
अजेयं
ajeyaṃ
Ah-jay-yahm
[Unconquerable.]
सर्व सत्त्व नम वषट् नमो वाक
sarva sat nama vaṣaṭ namo vāka
Sar-vah ⬝ Sat-vah ⬝ Nah-moh ⬝ vah-sat-vah ⬝ Nah-moh ⬝ VĀ-kah
[Homage to all beings; homage to all that dwells; homage to speech.]
मविततो
mavitato
Mah-vee-TAH-toh
[May it be manifested / accomplished.]
तद्यथा
tadyathā
Tahd-yah-THAH
[Thus; namely.]
ॐ अवलोकी
oṃ avaloki
Ohm ⬝ Ah-vah-loh-kee
[Om, Avaloki.]
लोकते
lokate
Loh-kah-teh
[Who looks upon the world.]
क्रते
krate
Krah-teh
[Who acts / accomplishes.]
ए ह्रीः
e hrīḥ
Eh ⬝ HREEH
[E; Hrīḥ.]
महा बोधिसत्त्व
mahā bodhisattva
Mah-hah ⬝ boh-dhee-SAT-tvah
[Great Bodhisattva.]
सर्व सर्व
sarva sarva
Sar-vah ⬝ sar-vah
[All, all.]
मल मल
mala mala
Mah-lah ⬝ mah-lah
[Defilement / impurity, impurity.]
महिमा हृदयं
mahima hṛdayaṃ
Mah-hee ⬝ Mah-hee ⬝ Ri-dah-yahm
[Great, great heart.]
कुरु कुरु कर्मं
kuru kuru karmaṃ
Koo-roo ⬝ Koo-roo ⬝ Kar-mahm
[Do, do; accomplish the action / karma.]
धुरु धुरु विजयते
dhuru dhuru vijayate
Dhoo-roo ⬝ Dhoo-roo ⬝ Vee-jah-yah-teh
[Hold, hold; let victory prevail.]
महा विजयते
mahā vijayate
Mah-hah ⬝ vih-jah-yah-teh
[Great victory.]
धर धर
dhara dhara
Dha-rah ⬝ dha-rah
[Hold, hold; sustain.]
धृणी
dhṛnī
Dhrin-ee
[Bearer / holder.]
श्वाराय
śvarāya
SHvah-rah-yah
[To the Lord / sovereign.]
चल चल
cala cala
Chah-lah ⬝ chah-lah
[Move, move; proceed, proceed.]
मम विमल
mama vimala
Mah-mah ⬝ vee-mah-lah
[My pure / immaculate one.]
मुक्तेले
muktele
Mook-teh-leh
[For liberation / release.]
एहि एहि
ehi ehi
Eh-hee ⬝ eh-hee
[Come, come.]
शिन शिन
śina śina
SHih-nah ⬝ SHih-nah
[Destroy, destroy / remove, remove.]
आर्षं प्रसारि
ārṣaṃ prasari
ĀR-sahm ⬝ prah-sah-ree
[Extend / spread forth.]
विष विषं
viṣa viṣaṃ
Vee-shah ⬝ Vee-shahm
[All, everywhere; the whole.]
प्रसय
prasaya
Prah-sah-yah
[Cause to spread / bring forth.]
हुलु हुलु मार
hulu hulu mara
Hoo-loo ⬝ hoo-loo ⬝ mah-rah
[Hulu hulu; overcome Māra / obstructing forces.]
हुलु हुलु ह्रीः
hulu hulu hrīḥ
Hoo-loo ⬝ hoo-loo ⬝ HREEH
[Hulu hulu; Hrīḥ.]
सर सर
sara sara
Sah-rah ⬝ sah-rah
[Go forth, go forth.]
सिरि सिरि
siri siri
See-ree ⬝ see-ree
[Radiate / proceed, proceed.]
सुरु सुरु
suru suru
Soo-roo ⬝ soo-roo
[Flow / proceed, proceed.]
बोधिय बोधिय
bodhiya bodhiya
Boh-dhee-yah ⬝ boh-dhee-yah
[Awaken, awaken.]
बोधय बोधय
bodhaya bodhaya
Boh-dhah-yah ⬝ boh-dhah-yah
[Cause to awaken, cause to awaken.]
मैत्रेय
maitreya
My-tray-yah
[Maitreya; the Loving One.]
नरकिंदि
narakindi
Nah-rah-KEEN-dee
[Nīlakaṇṭha, the Blue-Throated One.]
धृष्णिन
dhṛṣṇina
Dh-reesh-nee-nah
[A mantra epithet; literal meaning uncertain.]
भयमन स्वाहा
bhayamana svāhā
Bhay-yah-mah-nah ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[Protecting from fear / making fearless. Hail! / May it be so.]
सिद्धाय स्वाहा
siddhāya svāhā
Seed-dhā-yah ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[To the accomplished / perfected one. Hail! / May it be so.]
महा सिद्धाय स्वाहा
mahā siddhāya svāhā
Mah-hah ⬝ seed-dhā-yah ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[To the Great Accomplished One. Hail! / May it be so.]
सिद्ध योगे श्वराय स्वाहा
siddha yoge śvarāya svāhā
Seed-dhah ⬝ yoh-geh ⬝ SHvah-rah-yah ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[To the accomplished master of yoga; to the Lord / sovereign. Hail! / May it be so.]
नरकिंदि स्वाहा
narakindi svāhā
Nah-rah-KEEN-dee ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[To Nīlakaṇṭha, the Blue-Throated One. Hail! / May it be so.]
मारणर स्वाहा
māraṇara svāhā
Mā-rah-nah-rah ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[To Māraṇara. Hail! / May it be so.]
शिर सिंह-मुखाय स्वाहा
śira siṃha-mukhāya svāhā
SHEE-rah ⬝ SEEM-hah ⬝ moo-KHĀ-yah ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[To the One whose face is the head of a lion. Hail! / May it be so.]
सर्व महा असिद्धाय स्वाहा
sarva mahā asiddhāya svāhā
Sar-vah ⬝ mah-hah ⬝ ah-seed-dhah-yah ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[To the great accomplished one in all things. Hail! / May it be so.]
चक्र असिद्धाय स्वाहा
cakra asiddhāya svāhā
Chah-krah ⬝ ah-seed-dhā-yah ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[To the one accomplished with the discus / wheel. Hail! / May it be so.]
पद्म-हस्ताय स्वाहा
padma-hastāya svāhā
Pad-mah ⬝ has-TĀ-yah ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[To the one with the lotus in hand. Hail! / May it be so.]
नरकिंदि वगलाय स्वाहा
narakindi vagalāya svāhā
Nah-rah-KEEN-dee ⬝ vah-gah-LĀ-yah ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[To Nīlakaṇṭha. Hail! / May it be so.]
मवरि शङ्खराय स्वाहा
mavari śaṅkharāya svāhā
Mah-vah-ree ⬝ SHAHN-khah-rā-yah ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[Hail! / May it be so.]
नमो रत्न-त्रायाय नमो आर्यावलोकितेश्वराय स्वाहा
namo ratna-trāyāya namo āryāvalokiteśvarāya svāhā
Nah-moh ⬝ Rat-nah ⬝ TRĀ-yah-yah ⬝ Nah-moh ⬝ ĀR-yah ⬝ Ah-vah-loh ⬝ keh-TÉSH ⬝ vah-rah-yah ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[Homage to the Triple Jewel; homage to Noble Avalokiteśvara; svāhā.]
ॐ सिध्यन्तु मन्त्र पदाय स्वाहा
oṃ sidhyantu mantra padāya svāhā
Ohm ⬝ Seed-dhyan-too ⬝ MAHN-trah ⬝ Pah-dā-yah ⬝ SWĀ-hah
[Om; may the mantra words/syllables be accomplished; svāhā.]
Comments
At times in my life mantra practice was a meaningful component. All those phonetics sound like the sounds I would make.
I did a quick search and found several videos. The one I clicked seemed like it might have been a different mantra, but I would imagine there is some recording of this.