Itivuttaka 83

Tipitaka >> Sutta Pitaka >> Khuddaka Nikaya >> Itivuttaka >> '''83. Pancapubbanimittasuttam'''

Adapted From the Translation by Thanissaro Bhikkhu(Geoffrey DeGraff)

Compared with the Pali Tipitaka at www.tipitaka.org

83. Pancapubbanimittasuttam ( When Angels,Devas Time is over in Heaven)

This was said by the Lord Buddha(Bhagavata), said by the Arahant, so I have heard:

“Monks, when a deva(angel) is about to pass away from the company of devas(angels), five omens appear: his garlands wither, his clothes get soiled, sweat comes out of his armpits, a dullness descends on his body, he no longer delights in his own deva seat. The devas(angels), knowing from this that ‘This deva-son is about to pass away,’ encourage him with three sayings: ‘Go from here, honorable sir, to a good destination. Having gone to a good destination, gain the gain that is good to gain. Having gained the gain that is good to gain, become well-established.’” When this was said, a certain monk said to the Lord Buddha, “What, lord, is the devas’ reckoning of going to a good destination? What is their reckoning of the gain that is good to gain? What is their reckoning of becoming well-established?” “The human state, monks,[1] is the devas’ reckoning of going to a good

destination. Having become a human being, acquiring conviction in the Dhamma-&-Vinaya taught by the Tathagata(Buddha): this is the devas’ reckoning of the gain that is good to gain. When that conviction is settled within one—rooted, established, & strong, not to be destroyed by any brahman(priest) or ascetic(monk); deva(angel), Mara(deathlord), or Brahma(Archangel); or anyone else in the world: this is the devas’ reckoning of becoming well-established.”

When a deva(angel) passes away from the company of devas through his life-span’s ending, three sounds sound forth —the devas’ encouragement. ‘Go from here, honorable sir, to a good destiny, to companionship with human beings. On becoming a human being, acquire a conviction unsurpassed in True Dhamma. That conviction of yours in True Dhamma, well-taught, <p style="text-align:center;">should be settled, <p style="text-align:center;">rooted, <p style="text-align:center;">established, <p style="text-align:center;">—undestroyed <p style="text-align:center;">as long as you live. <p style="text-align:center;">Having abandoned <p style="text-align:center;">bodily misconduct, <p style="text-align:center;">verbal misconduct, <p style="text-align:center;">mental misconduct, <p style="text-align:center;">and whatever else is flawed; <p style="text-align:center;">having done with the body what’s skillful, <p style="text-align:center;">and much that is skillful with speech, <p style="text-align:center;">having done what’s skillful <p style="text-align:center;">with a heart without limit, <p style="text-align:center;">with no acquisitions(mental attributes/cravings), <p style="text-align:center;">then—having made much of the merit <p style="text-align:center;">that’s a ground for spontaneously arising [in heaven] <p style="text-align:center;">through giving donations— <p style="text-align:center;">establish other mortals <p style="text-align:center;">in True Dhamma & <p style="text-align:center;">the holy celibate life.’ <p style="text-align:center;">With this sympathy, the devas— <p style="text-align:center;">when they know a deva is passing away— <p style="text-align:center;">encourage him: <p style="text-align:center;">‘Come back, deva, <p style="text-align:center;">again & again.’

NOTE: 1. Reading bhikkhave with the Thai edition. The Burmese and Sri Lankan editions read bhikkhu, “monk.”