§ 83.

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.'