Linked Discourses 32.3–12 Saṁyutta Nikāya 32.3–12
1. Gods of the Thunderclouds 1. Valāhakavagga
Ten Discourses On How Giving Helps to Become a Cool Thundercloud God Sītavalāhakadānūpakārasuttadasaka
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 cool thunderclouds?” “ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sītavalāhakānaṁ 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 cool thunderclouds are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’ ‘sītavalāhakā 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 the cool thunderclouds!’ ‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sītavalāhakānaṁ 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 cool thunderclouds. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sītavalāhakānaṁ 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 cool thunderclouds.” Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sītavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti.
Dvādasamaṁ.