iti83:0.1So It Was Said 83
iti83:0.2The Book of the Threes
iti83:0.3Chapter Four
iti83:0.4Five Harbingers
iti83:1.1This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
iti83:2.1“Mendicants, when a god is due to pass away from the realm of the gods, five harbingers appear.
iti83:2.2Their flower-garlands wither; their clothes become soiled; they sweat from the armpits; their physical appearance deteriorates; and they no longer delight in their heavenly throne.
iti83:2.3When the other gods know that that godling is due to pass away, they wish them well in three ways:
iti83:2.4‘Sir, may you go from here to a good place!
iti83:3.1When you have gone to a good place, may you be blessed with good fortune!
iti83:4.1When you have been blessed with good fortune, may you become well grounded!’”
iti83:5.1When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha,
iti83:5.2“Sir, what do the gods reckon to be going to a good place?
iti83:6.1What do they reckon to be blessed with good fortune?
iti83:7.1What do they reckon to become well grounded?”
iti83:8.1“It is human existence, mendicant, that the gods reckon to be going to a good place.
iti83:9.1When a human being gains faith in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One,
iti83:9.2that is what the gods reckon to be blessed with good fortune.
iti83:10.1When that faith in the Realized One is settled, rooted, and planted deep; when it’s strong and can’t be shifted by any ascetic or brahmin or god or Māra or divinity or by anyone in the world,
iti83:10.2that is what the gods reckon to become well grounded.”
iti83:11.1The Buddha spoke this matter.
iti83:11.2On this it is said:
iti83:12.1“When, with the fading of life,
iti83:12.2a god passes from the realm of the gods,
iti83:12.3the gods utter three cries
iti83:12.4of well-wishing:
iti83:13.1‘Go, worthy sir, from here to a good place,
iti83:13.2in the company of humans.
iti83:13.3As a human being, gain supreme faith
iti83:13.4in the true teaching.
iti83:14.1May that faith of yours be settled,
iti83:14.2with roots planted deep,
iti83:14.3unfaltering all life long
iti83:14.4in the true teaching so well proclaimed.
iti83:15.1Having given up bad conduct
iti83:15.2by way of body,
iti83:15.3speech, and mind,
iti83:15.4and whatever else is corrupt;
iti83:16.1and having done much good,
iti83:16.2by way of body,
iti83:16.3speech, and mind,
iti83:16.4limitless, free of attachments;
iti83:17.1then, having made much worldly merit
iti83:17.2by giving gifts,
iti83:17.3establish other colleagues
iti83:17.4in the true teaching, the spiritual life.’
iti83:18.1It is due to such sympathy
iti83:18.2that when the gods know a god
iti83:18.3is due to pass away, they wish them well:
iti83:18.4‘Come back, god, again and again!’”
iti83:19.1This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.