This article explores the concept of refuge (*śaraṇa*/*saraṇa*) by tracing its development from Vedic to Pāli Buddhist texts, arguing that while the motif of a "triple refuge" existed in the *Ṛgveda* and later Vedic literature, it was primarily a ritualistic or protective formula for seeking shelter from gods like Indra. In contrast, early Buddhism repurposed this concept, imbuing it with a profound, personal, and transformative significance. Citing Pāli narratives such as those of Sumanā, Ubbirī, and Aṅgulimāla, the author demonstrates that for Buddhists, "going for refuge" was not merely a formal act but a pivotal "change of heart" marking a dramatic discontinuity in one's life, linked to inner realization, overcoming suffering, and renouncing a sinful past. This shift from a functional, ritualistic notion to an experience of profound personal conversion represents the key Buddhist innovation on the pre-existing Vedic motif.
