ud2.7:0.1Heartfelt Sayings 2.7
ud2.7:0.2An Only Son
ud2.7:1.1So I have heard.
ud2.7:1.2At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
ud2.7:1.3Now at that time a certain lay follower’s dear and beloved only child passed away.
ud2.7:2.1Then 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:
ud2.7:2.2“Why, lay followers, have you come here in the middle of the day with wet clothes and hair?”
ud2.7:3.1The lay follower replied,
ud2.7:3.2“Sir, my dear and beloved only child has passed away.
ud2.7:3.3That’s why we came here in the middle of the day with wet clothes and hair.”
ud2.7:4.1Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
ud2.7:5.1“Hosts of gods and most human beings are bound
ud2.7:5.2to what seems dear and pleasant.
ud2.7:5.3Gloomy and exhausted,
ud2.7:5.4they fall under the sway of the King of Death.
ud2.7:6.1The diligent, who day and night
ud2.7:6.2give up what seems pleasant,
ud2.7:6.3dig out the root of gloom—
ud2.7:6.4Death’s bait so hard to escape.”