Now at that time the householder Citta was sick, suffering, gravely ill. Tena kho pana samayena citto gahapati ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.

Then several deities of the parks, forests, trees, and those who haunt the herbs, grass, and big trees came together and said to Citta, Atha kho sambahulā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā saṅgamma samāgamma cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavocuṁ: “Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!” “paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī”ti.

When they said this, Citta said to them, Evaṁ vutte, citto gahapati tā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā etadavoca: “That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!” “tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan”ti.

When he said this, his friends and colleagues, relatives and kin said, Evaṁ vutte, cittassa gahapatino mittāmaccā ñātisālohitā cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavocuṁ: “Be mindful, master! Don’t babble.” “satiṁ, ayyaputta, upaṭṭhapehi, mā vippalapī”ti.

“What have I said that makes you say that?” “Kiṁ tāhaṁ vadāmi yaṁ maṁ tumhe evaṁ vadetha: ‘satiṁ, ayyaputta, upaṭṭhapehi, mā vippalapī’”ti?

“It’s because you said: “Evaṁ kho tvaṁ, ayyaputta, vadesi: ‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’” ‘tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.

“Oh, well, that’s because the deities of the parks, forests, trees, and those who haunt the herbs, grass, and big trees said to me: “Tathā hi pana maṁ ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā evamāhaṁsu: ‘Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!’ ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti. So I said to them: Tāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’” ‘tampi aniccaṁ …pe… tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.

“But what reason do they see for saying that to you?” “Kiṁ pana tā, ayyaputta, ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā atthavasaṁ sampassamānā evamāhaṁsu: ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’”ti?

“They think: “Tāsaṁ kho ārāmadevatānaṁ vanadevatānaṁ rukkhadevatānaṁ osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthānaṁ devatānaṁ evaṁ hoti: ‘This householder Citta is ethical, of good character. ‘ayaṁ kho citto gahapati, sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo. If he makes a wish to Sace paṇidahissati—become a wheel-turning monarch in the future, his heart’s wish will succeed because of the purity of his ethics. And then as a proper, principled king he will provide proper spirit-offerings.’ anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti, ‘tassa kho ayaṁ ijjhissati, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi visuddhattā dhammiko dhammikaṁ phalaṁ anupassatī’ti. That’s the reason they see for saying to me: Imaṁ kho tā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā atthavasaṁ sampassamānā evamāhaṁsu: ‘Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!’ ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti. So I said to them: Tāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’” ‘tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.

“Then, master, advise us!” “Tena hi, ayyaputta, amhepi ovadāhī”ti.

“So you should train like this: “Tasmā hi vo evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ—

We will have experiential confidence in the Buddha: buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

We will have experiential confidence in the teaching: Dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’ ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.

We will have experiential confidence in the Saṅgha: Saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’ ‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti.

And we will share without reservation all the gifts available to give in our family with those who are ethical and of good character.” Yaṁ kho pana kiñci kule deyyadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ appaṭivibhattaṁ bhavissati sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehīti evañhi vo sikkhitabban”ti.

Then, after Citta had encouraged his friends and colleagues, relatives and kin in the Buddha, the teaching, the Saṅgha, and generosity, he passed away. Atha kho citto gahapati mittāmacce ñātisālohite buddhe ca dhamme ca saṅghe ca cāge ca samādapetvā kālamakāsīti.

Cittavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Saṁyojanaṁ dve isidattā, Mahako kāmabhūpi ca; Godatto ca nigaṇṭho ca, Acelena gilānadassananti.

The Linked Discourses on Citta the Householder are complete. Cittasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.