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SN 31.13–221 min read

Ten Discourses On How Giving Helps Rebirth in Fragrant Roots

Mūlagandhadānūpakārasuttadasaka

Someone of good conduct and appropriate aspiration may be reborn as a god living in fragrant roots if they give various gifts.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 31.13–22Linked Discourses 31.13–22
  • 0.21. Gandhabbavagga1. Centaurs

0.3MūlagandhadānūpakārasuttadasakaTen Discourses On How Giving Helps Rebirth in Fragrant Roots

1.1Sāvatthinidānaṁ.At Sāvatthī.

1.2Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:

1.3“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā mūlagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti?“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the gods who live in fragrant roots?”

1.4“Idha, bhikkhu, ekacco kāyena sucaritaṁ carati, vācāya sucaritaṁ carati, manasā sucaritaṁ carati.“Mendicant, it’s when someone does good things by way of body, speech, and mind.1.5Tassa sutaṁ hoti:And they’ve heard:1.6‘mūlagandhe adhivatthā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti.‘The gods who live in fragrant roots are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’1.7Tassa evaṁ hoti:They think:1.8‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā mūlagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti.‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods who live in fragrant roots!’1.9So annaṁ deti …pe…They give food …1.10pānaṁ deti …drink …1.11vatthaṁ deti …clothing …1.12yānaṁ deti …a vehicle …1.13mālaṁ deti …a garland …1.14gandhaṁ deti …fragrance …1.15vilepanaṁ deti …makeup …1.16seyyaṁ deti …a bed …1.17āvasathaṁ deti …a house …1.18padīpeyyaṁ deti.a lamp.1.19So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā mūlagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods who live in fragrant roots.1.20Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā mūlagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti.This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the gods who live in fragrant roots.”

1.21Bāvīsatimaṁ.