Ekaputtakasutta

Udāna 2.7

Heartfelt Sayings 2.7

Ekaputtakasutta

An Only Son

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa upāsakassa ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato hoti.

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:

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:

“kiṁ nu kho tumhe, upāsakā, allavatthā allakesā idhūpasaṅkamantā divā divassā”ti?

“Why, lay followers, have you come here in the middle of the day with wet clothes and hair?”

Evaṁ vutte, so upāsako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

The lay follower replied,

“mayhaṁ kho, bhante, ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato.

“Sir, my dear and beloved only child has passed away.

Tena mayaṁ allavatthā allakesā idhūpasaṅkamantā divā divassā”ti.

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,

“Hosts of gods and most human beings are bound

Devakāyā puthu manussā ca;

to what seems dear and pleasant.

Aghāvino parijunnā,

Miserable and exhausted,

Maccurājassa vasaṁ gacchanti.

they fall under the sway of the King of Death.

Ye ve divā ca ratto ca,

The diligent, who day and night

Appamattā jahanti piyarūpaṁ;

give up what seems pleasant,

Te ve khaṇanti aghamūlaṁ,

dig out the root of gloom—

Maccuno āmisaṁ durativattan”ti.

Death’s bait so hard to escape.”

Sattamaṁ.