An Only Son · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa upāsakassa ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato hoti.
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time a certain lay follower’s dear and beloved only child passed away.
Atha kho sambahulā upāsakā allavatthā allakesā divā divassa yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te upāsake bhagavā etadavoca: “kiṁ nu kho tumhe, upāsakā, allavatthā allakesā idhūpasaṅkamantā divā divassā”ti?
Then in the middle of the day several lay followers with wet clothes and hair went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to them: “Why, lay followers, have you come here in the middle of the day with wet clothes and hair?”
Evaṁ vutte, so upāsako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “mayhaṁ kho, bhante, ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato. Tena mayaṁ allavatthā allakesā idhūpasaṅkamantā divā divassā”ti.
The lay follower replied, “Sir, my dear and beloved only child has passed away. That’s why we came here in the middle of the day with wet clothes and hair.”
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
“Piyarūpassādagadhitāse, Devakāyā puthu manussā ca; Aghāvino parijunnā, Maccurājassa vasaṁ gacchanti.
“Hosts of gods and most human beings are bound to what seems dear and pleasant. Gloomy and exhausted, they fall under the sway of the King of Death.
Ye ve divā ca ratto ca, Appamattā jahanti piyarūpaṁ; Te ve khaṇanti aghamūlaṁ, Maccuno āmisaṁ durativattan”ti. Sattamaṁ.
The diligent, who day and night give up what seems pleasant, dig out the root of gloom— Death’s bait so hard to escape.”
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