Linked Discourses 32.13–52 Saṁyutta Nikāya 32.13–52
1. Gods of the Thunderclouds 1. Valāhakavagga
How Giving Helps to Become a Warm Thundercloud God, Etc. Uṇhavalāhakadānūpakārasutta
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 of warm thunderclouds … “ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā uṇhavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ …pe…
stormy thunderclouds … abbhavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ …pe…
windy thunderclouds … vātavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ …pe…
rainy thunderclouds?” vassavalāhakānaṁ 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 of rainy thunderclouds are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’ ‘vassavalāhakā 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 of rainy thunderclouds!’ ‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā vassavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti.
They give food … So annaṁ deti …pe…
a lamp. padīpeyyaṁ deti.
When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of rainy thunderclouds. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā vassavalāhakānaṁ 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 of rainy thunderclouds.” Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā vassavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti.
Dvepaññāsamaṁ.