Pāli (पालि)

Pāli is the language of the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism,
(the Pāli Canon or the Tipitaka in Pāli), which
were written in Sri Lanka during the 1st century BC. Pāli has been
written in a variety of scripts, including Brahmi,
Devanāgarī and other Indic scripts,
and also using a version of the Latin alphabet devised by T. W. Rhys Davids of
the Pāli Text Society.

The name Pāli means “line” or “(canonical) text”, and probably comes
from the commentarial traditions, wherein the “Pāli” (in the sense of
the line of original text quoted) was distinguished from the commentary or
the vernacular following after it on the manuscript page. There are a number
of ways to spell the name of the language: Pali, Pāli, Paḷi,
Pāḷi, all four of which are found in textbooks.

Today Pāli is studied mainly by those who wish to read the original
Buddhist scriptures, and is frequently chanted in rituals. There are non-religious
text in Pāli including historical and medical texts. The main areas where
Pāli is studied are Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

Devanāgarī alphabet for Pāli

Sample text in Pāli (Romanized script)

Manopubbangamā dhammā, manosetthā manomayā;
Manasā ce padutthena, bhāsati vā karoti vā,
Tato nam dukkhamanveti, cakkam’va vahato padam.

Translation

Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all
mind-wrought. If with an impure mind a person speaks or acts suffering
follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox.

(Translated by Acharya Buddharakkhita)

Sample text in Pāli (Romanized script)

Appam pi ce saṃhitaṃ bhāsamāno dhammassa
hoti anudhammacārī, rāgañ ca dosañ
ca pahāya mohaṃ sammāppajāno suvimuttacitto,
anupādiyāno idha vā huraṃ vā sa
bhāgavā sāmaññassa hoti.

Translation

Even if he recites a little of scriptures, but lives in truth according
to the Dharma, having abandoned lust, hatred and delusion, has the right
knowledge, with a well emancipated mind, is not attached to anything, either
in this world, nor in the other one, he shares the [blessings of] monkshood.
(Source: of Digital Library & Museum of Buddhist studies)

Hear a recording of this text by Oscar A. Solari

The information on this page comes mainly from Oscar A. Solari.