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This was said by the Blessed One,
said by the Arahant, so I have heard:
"When a deva is about to pass
away from the company of devas, five omens appear: his garlands wither, his
clothes get soiled, sweat comes out of his armpits, a dullness descends on his
body, he no longer delights in his own deva-seat. The devas, knowing from this
that 'This deva-son is about to pass away,' encourage him with three sayings:
'Go from here, honorable sir, to a good destination. Having gone to a good
destination, gain the gain that is good to gain. Having gained the gain that is
good to gain, become well-established.'"
When this was said, a certain monk
said to the Blessed One, "What, lord, is the devas' reckoning of going to
a good destination? What is their reckoning of the gain that is good to gain?
What is their reckoning of becoming well-established?"
"The human state, monks, is the
devas' reckoning of going to a good destination. Having become a human being,
acquiring conviction in the Dhamma-&-Vinaya taught by the Tathagata: this
is the devas' reckoning of the gain that is good to gain. When that conviction
is settled within one -- rooted, established, & strong, not to be destroyed
by any priest or contemplative; deva, Mara, or Brahma; or anyone else in the
world: this is the devas' reckoning of becoming well-established."
When a deva passes away
from the company of devas
through his life-span's ending,
three sounds sound forth
-- the devas' encouragement.
'Go from here,
honorable sir,
to a good destination,
to companionship
with human beings.
On becoming a human being,
acquire a conviction
unsurpassed
in True Dhamma.
That conviction of yours
in True Dhamma, well-taught,
should be settled,
rooted,
established,
-- undestroyed
as long as you live.
Having abandoned
bodily misconduct,
verbal misconduct,
mental misconduct,
and whatever else is flawed;
having done with the body what's skillful,
and much that is skillful with speech,
having done what's skillful
with a heart without limit,
with no acquisitions,
then -- having made much
of that basis of merit
through generosity --
establish other mortals
in True Dhamma &
the holy life.'
With this sympathy, the devas --
when they know a deva is passing away --
encourage him:
'Come back, deva,
again & again.'
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