Majjhima Nikāya 87

Translators: sujato

Middle Discourses 87

Piyajātikasutta

Born From the Beloved

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.

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa gahapatissa ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato hoti.
Now at that time a certain householder’s dear and beloved only child passed away.

Tassa kālaṅkiriyāya neva kammantā paṭibhanti na bhattaṁ paṭibhāti.
After their death he didn’t feel like working or eating.

So āḷāhanaṁ gantvā kandati:
He would go to the cremation ground and wail,

“kahaṁ, ekaputtaka, kahaṁ, ekaputtakā”ti.
“Where are you, my only child? Where are you, my only child?”

Atha kho so gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho taṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:
Then he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him,

“na kho te, gahapati, sake citte ṭhitassa indriyāni, atthi te indriyānaṁ aññathattan”ti.
“Your faculties, householder, are those of one who is unstable in their own mind; there is a deterioration in your faculties.”

“Kiñhi me, bhante, indriyānaṁ nāññathattaṁ bhavissati;
“And how, sir, could there be no deterioration of my faculties?

mayhañhi, bhante, ekaputto piyo manāpo kālaṅkato.
For my dear and beloved only child has passed away.

Tassa kālaṅkiriyāya neva kammantā paṭibhanti, na bhattaṁ paṭibhāti.
Since their death I haven’t felt like working or eating.

Sohaṁ āḷāhanaṁ gantvā kandāmi:
I go to the cremation ground and wail:

‘kahaṁ, ekaputtaka, kahaṁ, ekaputtakā’”ti.
‘Where are you, my only child? Where are you, my only child?’”

“Evametaṁ, gahapati, evametaṁ, gahapati.
“That’s so true, householder! That’s so true, householder!

Piyajātikā hi, gahapati, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā”ti.
For our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.”

“Kassa kho nāmetaṁ, bhante, evaṁ bhavissati:
“Sir, who on earth could ever think such a thing!

‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti?

Piyajātikā hi kho, bhante, ānandasomanassā piyappabhavikā”ti.
For our loved ones are a source of joy and happiness.”

Atha kho so gahapati bhagavato bhāsitaṁ anabhinanditvā paṭikkositvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.
Disagreeing with the Buddha’s statement, rejecting it, he got up from his seat and left.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā akkhadhuttā bhagavato avidūre akkhehi dibbanti.
Now at that time several gamblers were playing dice not far from the Buddha.

Atha kho so gahapati yena te akkhadhuttā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā akkhadhutte etadavoca:
That householder approached them and told them what had happened.

“idhāhaṁ, bhonto, yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁ. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho maṁ, bhonto, samaṇo gotamo etadavoca:

‘na kho te, gahapati, sake citte ṭhitassa indriyāni, atthi te indriyānaṁ aññathattan’ti.

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhonto, samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ etadavocaṁ:

‘kiñhi me, bhante, indriyānaṁ nāññathattaṁ bhavissati;

mayhañhi, bhante, ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato.

Tassa kālaṅkiriyāya neva kammantā paṭibhanti, na bhattaṁ paṭibhāti.

Sohaṁ āḷāhanaṁ gantvā kandāmi—

kahaṁ, ekaputtaka, kahaṁ, ekaputtakā’ti.

‘Evametaṁ, gahapati, evametaṁ, gahapati.

Piyajātikā hi, gahapati, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.

‘Kassa kho nāmetaṁ, bhante, evaṁ bhavissati—

piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā?

Piyajātikā hi kho, bhante, ānandasomanassā piyappabhavikā’ti.

Atha khvāhaṁ, bhonto, samaṇassa gotamassa bhāsitaṁ anabhinanditvā paṭikkositvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamin”ti.

“Evametaṁ, gahapati, evametaṁ, gahapati.
“That’s so true, householder! That’s so true, householder!

Piyajātikā hi, gahapati, ānandasomanassā piyappabhavikā”ti.
For our loved ones are a source of joy and happiness.”

Atha kho so gahapati “sameti me akkhadhuttehī”ti pakkāmi.
Thinking, “The gamblers and I are in agreement,” the householder left.

Atha kho idaṁ kathāvatthu anupubbena rājantepuraṁ pāvisi.
Eventually that topic of discussion reached the royal compound.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo mallikaṁ deviṁ āmantesi:
Then King Pasenadi addressed Queen Mallikā,

“idaṁ te, mallike, samaṇena gotamena bhāsitaṁ:
“Mallika, your ascetic Gotama said this:

‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’”ti.
‘Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.’”

“Sacetaṁ, mahārāja, bhagavatā bhāsitaṁ, evametan”ti.
“If that’s what the Buddha said, great king, then that’s how it is.”

“Evameva panāyaṁ mallikā yaññadeva samaṇo gotamo bhāsati taṁ tadevassa abbhanumodati:
“No matter what the ascetic Gotama says, Mallikā agrees with him:

‘Sacetaṁ, mahārāja, bhagavatā bhāsitaṁ evametan’ti.
‘If that’s what the Buddha said, great king, then that’s how it is.’

Seyyathāpi nāma, yaññadeva ācariyo antevāsissa bhāsati taṁ tadevassa antevāsī abbhanumodati:
You’re just like a pupil who agrees with everything their tutor says.

‘evametaṁ, ācariya, evametaṁ, ācariyā’ti.

Evameva kho tvaṁ, mallike, yaññadeva samaṇo gotamo bhāsati taṁ tadevassa abbhanumodasi:

‘Sacetaṁ, mahārāja, bhagavatā bhāsitaṁ evametan’ti.

Cara pire, mallike, vinassā”ti.
Go away, Mallikā, get out of here!”

Atha kho mallikā devī nāḷijaṅghaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ āmantesi:
Then Queen Mallikā addressed the brahmin Nāḷijaṅgha,

“ehi tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha:
“Please, brahmin, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.

‘mallikā, bhante, devī bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’ti;

evañca vadehi:
And then say:

‘bhāsitā nu kho, bhante, bhagavatā esā vācā—
‘Sir, did the Buddha make this statement:

piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.
“Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress”?’

Yathā te bhagavā byākaroti taṁ sādhukaṁ uggahetvā mama āroceyyāsi.
Remember well how the Buddha answers and tell it to me.

Na hi tathāgatā vitathaṁ bhaṇantī”ti.
For Realized Ones say nothing that is not so.”

“Evaṁ, bhotī”ti kho nāḷijaṅgho brāhmaṇo mallikāya deviyā paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied. He went to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho nāḷijaṅgho brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha,

“mallikā, bho gotama, devī bhoto gotamassa pāde sirasā vandati; appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchati;
“Mister Gotama, Queen Mallikā bows with her head to your feet. She asks if you are healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.

evañca vadeti:
And she asks whether

‘bhāsitā nu kho, bhante, bhagavatā esā vācā—
the Buddha made this statement:

piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’”ti.
‘Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.’”

“Evametaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evametaṁ, brāhmaṇa.
“That’s right, brahmin, that’s right!

Piyajātikā hi, brāhmaṇa, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikāti.
For our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.

Tadamināpetaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā.
And here’s a way to understand how our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.

Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarissā itthiyā mātā kālamakāsi.
Once upon a time right here in Sāvatthī a certain woman’s mother passed away.

Sā tassā kālakiriyāya ummattikā khittacittā rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha:
And because of that she went mad and lost her mind. She went from street to street and from square to square saying,

‘api me mātaraṁ addassatha, api me mātaraṁ addassathā’ti?
‘Has anyone seen my mother? Has anyone seen my mother?’

Imināpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikāti.
And here’s another way to understand how our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.

Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarissā itthiyā pitā kālamakāsi …
Once upon a time right here in Sāvatthī a certain woman’s father …

bhātā kālamakāsi …
brother …

bhaginī kālamakāsi …
sister …

putto kālamakāsi …
son …

dhītā kālamakāsi …
daughter …

sāmiko kālamakāsi.
husband passed away.

Sā tassa kālakiriyāya ummattikā khittacittā rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha:
And because of that she went mad and lost her mind. She went from street to street and from square to square saying,

‘api me sāmikaṁ addassatha, api me sāmikaṁ addassathā’ti?
‘Has anyone seen my husband? Has anyone seen my husband?’

Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarassa purisassa mātā kālamakāsi.
Once upon a time right here in Sāvatthī a certain man’s mother …

So tassā kālakiriyāya ummattako khittacitto rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha:

‘api me mātaraṁ addassatha, api me mātaraṁ addassathā’ti?

Imināpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikāti.

Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarassa purisassa pitā kālamakāsi …
father …

bhātā kālamakāsi …
brother …

bhaginī kālamakāsi …
sister …

putto kālamakāsi …
son …

dhītā kālamakāsi …
daughter …

pajāpati kālamakāsi.
wife passed away.

So tassā kālakiriyāya ummattako khittacitto rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha:
And because of that he went mad and lost his mind. He went from street to street and from square to square saying,

‘api me pajāpatiṁ addassatha, api me pajāpatiṁ addassathā’ti?
‘Has anyone seen my wife? Has anyone seen my wife?’

Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarā itthī ñātikulaṁ agamāsi.
Once upon a time right here in Sāvatthī a certain woman went to live with her relative’s family.

Tassā te ñātakā sāmikaṁ acchinditvā aññassa dātukāmā.
But her relatives wanted to divorce her from her husband and give her to another,

Sā ca taṁ na icchati.
who she didn’t want.

Atha kho sā itthī sāmikaṁ etadavoca:
So she told her husband about this.

‘ime, maṁ, ayyaputta, ñātakā tvaṁ acchinditvā aññassa dātukāmā.

Ahañca taṁ na icchāmī’ti.

Atha kho so puriso taṁ itthiṁ dvidhā chetvā attānaṁ upphālesi:
But he cut her in two and disemboweled himself, thinking,

‘ubho pecca bhavissāmā’ti.
‘We shall be together after death.’

Imināpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā”ti.
That’s another way to understand how our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.”

Atha kho nāḷijaṅgho brāhmaṇo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena mallikā devī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā yāvatako ahosi bhagavatā saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ mallikāya deviyā ārocesi. Atha kho mallikā devī yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ etadavoca:
Then Nāḷijaṅgha the brahmin, having approved and agreed with what the Buddha said, got up from his seat, went to Queen Mallikā, and told her of all they had discussed. Then Queen Mallikā approached King Pasenadi and said to him,

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja,
“What do you think, great king?

piyā te vajirī kumārī”ti?
Do you love Princess Vajirī?”

“Evaṁ, mallike, piyā me vajirī kumārī”ti.
“Indeed I do, Mallikā.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja,
“What do you think, great king?

vajiriyā te kumāriyā vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā”ti?
If she were to decay and perish, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress arise in you?”

“Vajiriyā me, mallike, kumāriyā vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā”ti?
“If she were to decay and perish, my life would fall apart. How could sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress not arise in me?”

“Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ:
“This is what the Buddha was referring to when he said:

‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.
‘Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.’

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja,
What do you think, great king?

piyā te vāsabhā khattiyā”ti?
Do you love Lady Vāsabhā? …

“Evaṁ, mallike, piyā me vāsabhā khattiyā”ti.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, vāsabhāya te khattiyāya vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā”ti?

“Vāsabhāya me, mallike, khattiyāya vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā”ti?

“Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ:

‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, piyo te viṭaṭūbho senāpatī”ti?
Do you love your son, General Viḍūḍabha? …

“Evaṁ, mallike, piyo me viṭaṭūbho senāpatī”ti.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, viṭaṭūbhassa te senāpatissa vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā”ti?

“Viṭaṭūbhassa me, mallike, senāpatissa vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā”ti?

“Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ:

‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, piyā te ahan”ti?
Do you love me?”

“Evaṁ, mallike, piyā mesi tvan”ti.
“Indeed I do love you, Mallikā.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja,
“What do you think, great king?

mayhaṁ te vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā”ti?
If I were to decay and perish, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress arise in you?”

“Tuyhañhi me, mallike, vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā”ti?
“If you were to decay and perish, my life would fall apart. How could sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress not arise in me?”

“Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ:
“This is what the Buddha was referring to when he said:

‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.
‘Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.’

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja,
What do you think, great king?

piyā te kāsikosalā”ti?
Do you love the realms of Kāsi and Kosala?”

“Evaṁ, mallike, piyā me kāsikosalā.
“Indeed I do, Mallikā.

Kāsikosalānaṁ, mallike, ānubhāvena kāsikacandanaṁ paccanubhoma, mālāgandhavilepanaṁ dhāremā”ti.
It’s due to the bounty of Kāsi and Kosala that we use sandalwood imported from Kāsi and wear garlands, fragrance, and makeup.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja,
“What do you think, great king?

kāsikosalānaṁ te vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā”ti?
If these realms were to decay and perish, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress arise in you?”

“Kāsikosalānañhi, mallike, vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā”ti?
“If they were to decay and perish, my life would fall apart. How could sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress not arise in me?”

“Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ:
“This is what the Buddha was referring to when he said:

‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’”ti.
‘Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.’”

“Acchariyaṁ, mallike, abbhutaṁ, mallike.
“It’s incredible, Mallikā, it’s amazing,

Yāvañca so bhagavā paññāya ativijjha maññe passati.
how far the Buddha sees with penetrating wisdom, it seems to me.

Ehi, mallike, ācamehī”ti.
Come, Mallikā, rinse my hands.”

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā tikkhattuṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then King Pasenadi got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha, and expressed this heartfelt sentiment three times:

“Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
“Homage to that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
Homage to that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassā”ti.
Homage to that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!”

Piyajātikasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ sattamaṁ.