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Itivuttaka 83

Pañcapubbanimittasutta

Five Warning Signs · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Yadā, bhikkhave, devo devakāyā cavanadhammo hoti, pañcassa pubbanimittāni pātubhavanti—
mālā milāyanti, vatthāni kilissanti, kacchehi sedā muccanti, kāye dubbaṇṇiyaṁ okkamati, sake devo devāsane nābhiramatīti.
Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, devā ‘cavanadhammo ayaṁ devaputto’ti iti viditvā tīhi vācāhi anumodenti:
‘ito, bho, sugatiṁ gaccha.

“Mendicants, when a god is due to pass away from the realm of the gods, five harbingers appear. Their flower-garlands wither; their clothes become soiled; they sweat from the armpits; their physical appearance deteriorates; and they no longer delight in their heavenly throne. When the other gods know that that godling is due to pass away, they wish them well in three ways: ‘Sir, may you go from here to a good place!

Sugatiṁ gantvā suladdhalābhaṁ labha.

When you have gone to a good place, may you be blessed with good fortune!

Suladdhalābhaṁ labhitvā suppatiṭṭhito bhavāhī’”ti.

When you have been blessed with good fortune, may you become well grounded!’”

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“kiṁ nu kho, bhante, devānaṁ sugatigamanasaṅkhātaṁ.

When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha, “Sir, what do the gods reckon to be going to a good place?

Kiñca, bhante, devānaṁ suladdhalābhasaṅkhātaṁ.

What do they reckon to be blessed with good fortune?

Kiṁ pana, bhante, devānaṁ suppatiṭṭhitasaṅkhātan”ti?

What do they reckon to become well grounded?”

“Manussattaṁ kho, bhikkhu, devānaṁ sugatigamanasaṅkhātaṁ.

“It is human existence, mendicant, that the gods reckon to be going to a good place.

Yaṁ manussabhūto samāno tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye saddhaṁ paṭilabhati;
idaṁ kho, bhikkhu, devānaṁ suladdhalābhasaṅkhātaṁ.

When a human being gains faith in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One, that is what the gods reckon to be blessed with good fortune.

Sā kho panassa saddhā niviṭṭhā hoti mūlajātā patiṭṭhitā daḷhā asaṁhāriyā samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmiṁ;
idaṁ kho, bhikkhu, devānaṁ suppatiṭṭhitasaṅkhātan”ti.

When that faith in the Realized One is settled, rooted, and planted deep; when it’s strong and can’t be shifted by any ascetic or brahmin or god or Māra or divinity or by anyone in the world, that is what the gods reckon to become well grounded.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.
Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Yadā devo devakāyā,
cavati āyusaṅkhayā;
Tayo saddā niccharanti,
devānaṁ anumodataṁ.

“When, with the fading of life, a god passes from the realm of the gods, the gods utter three cries of well-wishing:

‘Ito bho sugatiṁ gaccha,
manussānaṁ sahabyataṁ;
Manussabhūto saddhamme,
labha saddhaṁ anuttaraṁ.

‘Go, worthy sir, from here to a good place, in the company of humans. As a human being, gain supreme faith in the true teaching.

Sā te saddhā niviṭṭhassa,
mūlajātā patiṭṭhitā;
Yāvajīvaṁ asaṁhīrā,
saddhamme suppavedite.

May that faith of yours be settled, with roots planted deep, unfaltering all life long in the true teaching so well proclaimed.

Kāyaduccaritaṁ hitvā,
vacīduccaritāni ca;
Manoduccaritaṁ hitvā,
yañcaññaṁ dosasañhitaṁ.

Having given up bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and whatever else is corrupt;

Kāyena kusalaṁ katvā,
vācāya kusalaṁ bahuṁ;
Manasā kusalaṁ katvā,
appamāṇaṁ nirūpadhiṁ.

and having done much good, by way of body, speech, and mind, limitless, free of attachments;

Tato opadhikaṁ puññaṁ,
katvā dānena taṁ bahuṁ;
Aññepi macce saddhamme,
brahmacariye nivesaya’.

then, having made much worldly merit by giving gifts, establish other colleagues in the true teaching, the spiritual life.’

Imāya anukampāya,
devā devaṁ yadā vidū;
Cavantaṁ anumodenti,
ehi deva punappunan”ti.

It is due to such sympathy that when the gods know a god is due to pass away, they wish them well: ‘Come back, god, again and again!’”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
Catutthaṁ.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

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