Division Iii –– Khandhaka Book 31 –– Valāhaka Saṃyutta Chapter 1 –– Valāhaka Vagga

Sutta Pitaka
Saṃyutta Nikāya
Division III –– Khandhaka
Book 31 –– Valāhaka Saṃyutta
Chapter 1 –– Valāhaka Vagga

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā sambudhassa

 

31. 1. 1. Desana –– The Exposition

1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi.

2. The Blessed One addressed the monks from there:

3. “Monks, I will tell you about the groups of cloud gods. Listen carefully to it.

4. “Monks, who are the groups of cloud gods? There are groups of cold cloud gods, warm cloud gods, dark cloud gods, windy cloud gods, and rainy cloud gods.

5. “Monks, these are the groups of cloud gods.”

 

31. 1. 2. Sucaritaṃ –– Good Conduct

1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi.

2. Then a certain monk approached the Blessed One, worshipped, and sat on a side.

3. Sitting, that monk said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, how is it that a certain one, after death, is born with the groups of cloud gods?”

4. “Here, monk, a certain one develops good conduct by body, speech, and mind. He learns that the groups of cloud gods enjoy long life, beauty, and much pleasantness.

5. “Then it occurs to him, ‘May I be born with the groups of cloud gods, after death.’ After the breakup of the body, after death, he is born with the groups of cloud gods.

6. “Monk, this is the reason for a certain one to be born with the groups of cloud gods.”

 

Dānupakara I, II, III, IV, and V –– By Giving Gifts I, II, III, IV, and V

(The next fifty suttas consist of five groups of ten suttas. Each sutta describes a type of gift-giving. The group of ten suttas is repeated for rebirth among the cold cloud gods—sītavalāhaka , warm cloud gods—uṇhavalāhaka, dark cloud gods—abbhavalāhaka, windy cloud gods—abbhavalāhaka, and rainy cloud gods—vassavalāhaka.)

31. 1. 3. Annadāyaka sītavalāhaka –– Gifts of Eatables/Cold Cloud Gods

1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi.

2. Then a certain monk approached the Blessed One, worshipped, and sat on a side.

3. Sitting, that monk said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, how is it that a certain one, after death, is born with the groups of cold cloud gods?”

4. “Here, monk, a certain one develops good conduct by body, speech, and mind. He learns that the groups of cold cloud gods enjoy long life, beauty, and much pleasantness.

5. “Then it occurs to him, ‘May I be born with the groups of cold cloud gods, after death.’ He gives eatables. After the breakup of the body, after death, he is born with the groups of cold cloud gods.

6. “Monk, this is the reason for a certain one to be born with the groups of cold cloud gods”

 

(31. 1. 4) … re … “He gives drinks … re … with the cold cloud gods, after death.”

(31. 1. 5) … re … “He gives clothes … re … with the old cloud gods, after death.”

(31. 1. 6) … re … “He gives conveyances … re … with the cold cloud gods, after death.”

(31. 1. 7) … re … “He gives flowers … re … with the cold cloud gods, after death.”

(31. 1. 8) … re … “He gives scents … re … with the cold cloud gods, after death.”

(31. 1. 9) … re … “He gives anointments … re … with the cold cloud gods, after death.”

(31. 1. 10) … re … “He gives beds … re … with the cold cloud gods, after death.”

(31. 1. 11) … re … “He gives dwellings … re … with the cold cloud gods, after death.”

(31. 1. 12) … re … “He gives lights … re … with the cold cloud gods, after death.”

(Suttas 13 through 22 repeat as above for warm cloud gods.)

(Suttas 23 through 32 repeat as above for dark cloud gods.)

(Suttas 33 through 42 repeat as above for windy cloud gods.)

(Suttas 43 through 52 repeat as above for rainy cloud gods.)

 

31. 1. 53. Sītaṃ –– Cold

1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi.

2. Then a certain monk approached the Blessed One, worshipped, and sat on a side.

3. Sitting, that monk said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, why is it cold on a certain day?”

4. “Monk, there are gods named cold clouds. On a certain day it occurs to them: ‘What if we delight as much as we like?’ According to their intention it becomes cold.

5. “Monks, as a result a certain day becomes cold.”

 

31. 1. 54. Uṇhaṃ –– Warm

1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi.

2. Then a certain monk approached the Blessed One, worshipped, and sat on a side.

3. Sitting, that monk said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, why is it warm on a certain day?”

4. “Monk, there are gods named warm clouds. On a certain day it occurs to them: ‘What if we delight as much as we like?’ According to their intention it becomes warm.

5. “Monks, as a result a certain day becomes warm.”

 

31. 1. 55. Abbhaṃ –– Dark

1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi.

2. Then a certain monk approached the Blessed One, worshipped, and sat on a side.

3. Sitting, that monk said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, why is it dark on a certain day?”

4. “Monk, there are gods named dark clouds. On a certain day it occurs to them: ‘What if we delight as much as we like?’ According to their intention it becomes dark.

5. “Monks, as a result a certain day becomes dark.”

 

31. 1. 56. Vāta –– Windy

1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi.

2. Then a certain monk approached the Blessed One, worshipped, and sat on a side.

3. Sitting, that monk said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, why is it windy on a certain day?”

4. “Monk, there are gods named windy clouds. On a certain day it occurs to them: ‘What if we delight as much as we like?’ According to their intention it becomes windy.

5. “Monks, as a result a certain day becomes windy.”

 

31. 1. 57. Vassa –– Rainy

1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi.

2. Then a certain monk approached the Blessed One, worshipped, and sat on a side.

3. Sitting, that monk said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, why is it rainy on a certain day?”

4. “Monk, there are gods named rainy clouds. On a certain day it occurs to them: ‘What if we delight as much as we like?’ According to their intention it rains.

5. “Monks, as a result on a certain day it rains.”