Ayyika Sutta

Translation by Bhikkhuni Uppalavanna

1. The origin is Sàvatthi.

2. King Pasenadi of Kosala approached the Blessed One daily, worshipped and sat on a side. Then the Blessed One asked king Pasenadi of Kosala, "Great king, why do you come to see me daily?"

3. "Venerable sir, my grandfather who is decayed, aged, lived one hundred and twenty years, has died.

4. "Venerable sir, my grandfather was a dear one. I would gain the jewel of an elephant. Yet, I do not want my grandfather to die. I would give away the jewel of an elephant, if my grandfather would not die. I would gain the jewel of a horse. Yet, I do not want my grandfather to die. I would give away the jewel of a horse, if my grandfather would not die. I would gain the grant of a village. Yet, I do not want my grandfather to die. I would give away the grant of a village, if my grandfather would not die. I would be the gainer of a state. Yet, I do not want my grandfather to die. I would give away, even the state, if my grandfather would not die."

5. "Great king, all beings die. Death is the end and none have gone beyond death."

6. "Indeed, venerable sir, these words are wonderful and surprising. `All beings die. Death is the end and none have gone beyond death.'"

7. "Great king, that happens. All beings die. Death is the end and none have gone beyond death. Just as whatever vessels made by the potter, whether baked or not baked, all of them break up, they have not gone beyond breaking up. In the same manner all beings die. Death is the end and none have gone beyond death."

8. All beings die, death is the end of life,
 * They go according to their actions,
 * As merit and demerit bear fruit
 * Doing demerit go to hell and doing merit to heaven.
 * Therefore do good, accumulating for the other world.
 * Merit establishes beings in the next world."