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SN 32.55PTS SN 3.2561 min read

Gods of the Stormy Thunderclouds

Abbhavalāhakasutta

When the storm cloud gods decide to revel in their own element, the weather becomes stormy.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 32.55Linked Discourses 32.55
  • 0.21. Valāhakavagga1. Gods of the Thunderclouds

0.3AbbhavalāhakasuttaGods of the Stormy Thunderclouds

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, yenekadā abbhaṁ hotī”ti?“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why sometimes it becomes stormy?”

1.4“Santi, bhikkhu, abbhavalāhakā nāma devā.“Mendicant, there are what are called gods of the stormy thunderclouds.1.5Tesaṁ yadā evaṁ hoti:Sometimes they think:1.6‘yannūna mayaṁ sakāya ratiyā vaseyyāmā’ti, tesaṁ taṁ cetopaṇidhimanvāya abbhaṁ hoti.‘Why don’t we revel in our own kind of enjoyment?’ Then, in accordance with their wish, it becomes stormy.1.7Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yenekadā abbhaṁ hotī”ti.This is the cause, this is the reason why sometimes it becomes stormy.”

1.8Pañcapaññāsamaṁ.