11.

Commentary on the Valāhaka Connected Discourses

550-606. In the Valāhaka Connected Discourses, "belonging to the rain cloud host" means gods who travel through space, arisen in the group of gods named rain cloud. "Cold rain cloud gods" means rain clouds that produce cold. The same method applies to the remaining terms as well. "Following the mental aspiration" means on account of the resolution of the mind. "There is cold" means whatever cold there is in the rainy season or in winter, that is merely temperature-originated. But whatever is excessively cold even in the cold season, and cold that has arisen in summer, that is called cold produced by the power of deities. "There is heat" means whatever heat there is in summer, that is temperature-originated and merely natural. But whatever is excessively hot even in the hot season, and heat that has arisen in the cold season, that is called heat produced by the power of deities. "There is cloud" means there is a canopy of cloud. Here too, whatever cloud arises in the rainy season and in the cool season, that is temperature-originated and merely natural. But whatever is excessively cloudy even in the cloudy season, covering the moon and sun for even seven weeks and making complete darkness, and whatever cloud there is in the months of Citta and Vesākha, that is called cloud arisen by the power of deities. "There is wind" means whatever natural wind from the north, south, and so on there is in each and every season, this is merely temperature-originated. But whatever excessive wind there is that splits tree trunks and so on, both this, and whatever other untimely wind there is, this is called produced by the power of deities. "It rains" means whatever rain there is during the four months of the rainy season, that is merely temperature-originated. But whatever is excessive rain even in the rainy season, and whatever rain there is in the months of Citta and Vesākha, that is called produced by the power of deities.

Herein is this story - It is said that a certain young god of the rain rain clouds, having gone to the presence of an elder who was one who had eliminated the mental corruptions and who dwelt at Talakūṭaka, having paid homage, stood there. The elder asked: "Who are you?" "I, venerable sir, am a young god of the rain rain clouds." "Is it true that it rains by your mind?" "Yes, venerable sir." "We wish to see." "You will get wet, venerable sir." "Neither the head of a cloud nor thunder is evident; how shall we get wet?" "Venerable sir, it rains by our mind; you enter the hermitage." "Good, young god." He, having washed his feet, entered the hermitage. Just as he was entering, the young god, having sung one song, raised his hand. All around for a distance of three yojanas there was a single mass of cloud. The elder had entered the hermitage half-wet. Furthermore, it rains for eight reasons: by the power of serpents, by the power of supaṇṇas, by the power of deities, by a declaration of truth, by temperature-origination, by the working of Māra, by supernormal power, and by a cloud of destruction.

The commentary on the Valāhaka Saṃyutta is finished.