Appāyukasutta

Udāna 5.2

Heartfelt Sayings 5.2

Appāyukasutta

Short-lived

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.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Ānanda came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante.

“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!

Yāva appāyukā hi, bhante, bhagavato mātā ahosi, sattāhajāte bhagavati bhagavato mātā kālamakāsi, tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapajjī”ti.

How short-lived was the Blessed One’s mother! For seven days after the Blessed One was born, his mother passed away and was reborn in the host of joyful gods.”

“Evametaṁ, ānanda, appāyukā hi, ānanda, bodhisattamātaro honti.

“That’s so true, Ānanda! For the mothers of beings intent of awakening are short-lived.

Sattāhajātesu bodhisattesu bodhisattamātaro kālaṁ karonti, tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapajjantī”ti.

Seven days after the beings intent on awakening are born, their mothers pass away and are reborn in the host of joyful gods.”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Ye keci bhūtā bhavissanti ye vāpi,

“Whether born or to be born,

Sabbe gamissanti pahāya dehaṁ;

all depart, leaving the body behind.

Taṁ sabbajāniṁ kusalo viditvā,

The skillful, understanding that all is lost,

Ātāpiyo brahmacariyaṁ careyyā”ti.

would keenly practice the spiritual life.”

Dutiyaṁ.