Linked Discourses 31.13–22 Saṁyutta Nikāya 31.13–22
1. Centaurs 1. Gandhabbavagga
Ten Discourses On How Giving Helps Rebirth in Fragrant Roots Mūlagandhadānūpakārasuttadasaka
At Sāvatthī. Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha: Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the gods who live in fragrant roots?” “ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā mūlagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti?
“Mendicant, it’s when someone does good things by way of body, speech, and mind. “Idha, bhikkhu, ekacco kāyena sucaritaṁ carati, vācāya sucaritaṁ carati, manasā sucaritaṁ carati.
And they’ve heard: Tassa sutaṁ hoti:
‘The gods who live in fragrant roots are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’ ‘mūlagandhe adhivatthā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti.
They think: Tassa evaṁ hoti:
‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods who live in fragrant roots!’ ‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā mūlagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti.
They give food … So annaṁ deti …pe…
drink … pānaṁ deti …
clothing … vatthaṁ deti …
a vehicle … yānaṁ deti …
a garland … mālaṁ deti …
fragrance … gandhaṁ deti …
makeup … vilepanaṁ deti …
a bed … seyyaṁ deti …
a house … āvasathaṁ deti …
a lamp. padīpeyyaṁ deti.
When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods who live in fragrant roots. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā mūlagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.
This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the gods who live in fragrant roots.” Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā mūlagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti.
Bāvīsatimaṁ.