http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.01.piya.html
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The occasion for this discourse, in brief, according to the
commentary, is as follows: The city of Vesali was afflicted by a
famine, causing death, especially to the poor folk. Due to the
presence of decaying corpses the evil spirits began to haunt the
city; this was followed by a pestilence. Plagued by these three
fears of famine, non-human beings and pestilence, the citizens
sought the help of the Buddha who was then living at Rajagaha.
Followed by a large number of monks including the Venerable
Ananda, his attendant disciple, the Buddha came to the city of
Vesali. With the arrival of the Master, there were torrential rains
which swept away the putrefying corpses. The atmosphere became
purified, the city was clean.
Thereupon the Buddha delivered this Jewel Discourse (Ratana
sutta[1]) to the Venerable Ananda,
and gave him instructions as to how he should tour the city with
the Licchavi citizens reciting the discourse as a mark of
protection to the people of Vesali. The Venerable Ananda followed
the instructions, and sprinkled the sanctified water from the
Buddha's own alms bowl. As a consequence the evil spirits were
exorcised, the pestilence subsided. Thereafter the Venerable Ananda
returned with the citizens of Vesali to the Public hall where the
Buddha and his disciples had assembled awaiting his arrival. There
the Buddha recited the same Jewel Discourse to the gathering:
1. "Whatever beings (non-humans) are assembled here, terrestrial
or celestial, may they all have peace of mind, and may they listen
attentively to these words:
2. "O beings, listen closely. May you all radiate
loving-kindness to those human beings who, by day and night, bring
offerings to you (offer merit to you). Wherefore, protect them with
diligence.
3. "Whatever treasure there be either here or in the world
beyond, whatever precious jewel there be in the heavenly worlds,
there is nought comparable to the Tathagata (the perfect One). This
precious jewel is the Buddha.[2] By this (asseveration of
the) truth may there be happiness.
4. "That Cessation, that Detachment, that Deathlessness
(Nibbana) supreme, the calm and collected Sakyan Sage (the Buddha)
had realized. There is nought comparable to this (Nibbana) Dhamma.
This precious jewel is the Dhamma.[3] By this (asseveration of
the) truth may there be happiness.
5. "The Supreme Buddha extolled a path of purity (the Noble
Eightfold Path) calling it the path which unfailingly brings
concentration. There is nought comparable to this concentration.
This precious jewel is the Dhamma. By this (asseveration of the)
truth may there be happiness.
6. "The eight persons extolled by virtuous men constitute four
pairs. They are the disciples of the Buddha and are worthy of
offerings. Gifts given to them yield rich results. This precious
jewel is the Sangha.[4] By this (asseveration of
the) truth may there be happiness.
7. "With a steadfast mind, and applying themselves well in the
dispensation of the Buddha Gotama, free from (defilements), they
have attained to that which should be attained (arahantship)
encountering the Deathless. They enjoy the Peace of Nibbana freely
obtained.[5] This precious jewel is the
Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be
happiness.
8. "As a post deep-planted in the earth stands unshaken by the
winds from the four quarters, so, too, I declare is the righteous
man who comprehends with wisdom the Noble Truths. This precious
jewel is the Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there
be happiness.
9. "Those who realized the Noble Truths well taught by him who
is profound in wisdom (the Buddha), even though they may be
exceedingly heedless, they will not take an eighth existence (in
the realm of sense spheres).[6] This precious jewel is the
Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be
happiness.
10. "With his gaining of insight he abandons three states of
mind, namely self-illusion, doubt, and indulgence in meaningless
rites and rituals, should there be any. He is also fully freed from
the four states of woe, and therefore, incapable of committing the
six major wrongdoings.[7] This precious jewel is the
Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be
happiness.
11. "Any evil action he may still do by deed, word or thought,
he is incapable of concealing it; since it has been proclaimed that
such concealing is impossible for one who has seen the Path (of
Nibbana).[8] This precious jewel is the
Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be
happiness.
12. "As the woodland groves though in the early heat of the
summer month are crowned with blossoming flowers even so is the
sublime Dhamma leading to the (calm) of Nibbana which is taught (by
the Buddha) for the highest good. This precious jewel is the
Buddha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be
happiness.
13. "The Peerless Excellent one (the Buddha) the Knower (of
Nibbana), the Giver (of Nibbana), the Bringer (of the Noble Path),
taught the excellent Dhamma. This precious jewel is the Buddha. By
this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.
14. "Their past (kamma) is spent, their new (kamma) no more
arises, their mind to future becoming is unattached. Their germ (of
rebirth-consciousness) has died, they have no more desire for
re-living. Those wise men fade out (of existence) as the flame of
this lamp (which has just faded away). This precious jewel is the
Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be
happiness.
15. "Whatever beings (non-human) are assembled here, terrestrial
or celestial, come let us salute the Buddha, the Tathagata (the
perfect One), honored by gods and men. May there be
happiness.[9]
16. "Whatever beings are assembled here, terrestrial or
celestial, come let us salute the perfect Dhamma, honored by gods
and men. May there be happiness.
17. "Whatever beings are assembled here, terrestrial or
celestial, come let us salute the perfect Sangha, honored by gods
and men. May there be happiness."