Visākhāsuttaṃ [Ud 8.8, PTS 92]

8.

The Discourse to Visākhā

78. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in the Eastern Park, in Migāramātā's mansion. Now at that time Visākhā, Migāra's mother's granddaughter had died, dear and agreeable. Then Visākhā, Migāra's mother, with wet clothes and wet hair, during the day, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To Visākhā, Migāra's mother, seated to one side, the Blessed One said this:

"Well now, from where are you coming, Visākhā, with wet clothes and wet hair, having come here in the middle of the day?" "My granddaughter, venerable sir, dear and agreeable, has died. Therefore I have come here with wet clothes and wet hair in the middle of the day." "Would you wish, Visākhā, to have as many sons and grandsons as there are people in Sāvatthī?" "I would wish, Blessed One, to have as many sons and grandsons as there are people in Sāvatthī."

"But how many people, Visākhā, die daily in Sāvatthī?" "Even ten people, venerable sir, die daily in Sāvatthī; even nine, venerable sir... even eight, venerable sir... even seven, venerable sir... even six, venerable sir... even five, venerable sir... even four, venerable sir... even three, venerable sir... even two people, venerable sir, die daily in Sāvatthī. Even one person, venerable sir, dies daily in Sāvatthī. Sāvatthī is not devoid, venerable sir, of people dying."

"What do you think, Visākhā, would you ever at any time be without wet clothes or without wet hair?" "No, Venerable Sir. Enough for me, venerable sir, with so many sons and grandsons."

"For those, Visākhā, who have a hundred dear ones, there are a hundred sufferings; for those who have ninety dear ones, there are ninety sufferings; for those who have eighty dear ones, there are eighty sufferings; for those who have seventy dear ones, there are seventy sufferings; for those who have sixty dear ones, there are sixty sufferings; for those who have fifty dear ones, there are fifty sufferings; for those who have forty dear ones, there are forty sufferings; for those who have thirty dear ones, there are thirty sufferings; for those who have twenty dear ones, there are twenty sufferings; for those who have ten dear ones, there are ten sufferings; for those who have nine dear ones, there are nine sufferings; for those who have eight dear ones, there are eight sufferings; for those who have seven dear ones, there are seven sufferings; for those who have six dear ones, there are six sufferings; for those who have five dear ones, there are five sufferings; for those who have four dear ones, there are four sufferings; for those who have three dear ones, there are three sufferings; for those who have two dear ones, there are two sufferings; for those who have one dear one, there is one suffering; for those who have no dear one, there is no suffering - they are free from sorrow, stainless, without anguish, I say."

Then the Blessed One, having understood this matter, at that time uttered this inspired utterance -