Visākhāsutta

Udāna 8.8

Heartfelt Sayings 8.8

Visākhāsutta

With Visākhā

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena visākhāya migāramātuyā nattā kālaṅkatā hoti piyā manāpā.

Now at that time the dear and beloved granddaughter of Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, had just passed away.

Atha kho visākhā migāramātā allavatthā allakesā divā divassa yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Then, in the middle of the day, Visākhā with wet clothes and hair went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho visākhaṁ migāramātaraṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said to her,

“Handa kuto nu tvaṁ, visākhe, āgacchasi allavatthā allakesā idhūpasaṅkantā divā divassā”ti?

“So, Visākhā, where are you coming from in the middle of the day with wet clothes and hair?”

“Nattā me, bhante, piyā manāpā kālaṅkatā.

“Sir, my beloved granddaughter has just passed away.

Tenāhaṁ allavatthā allakesā idhūpasaṅkantā divā divassā”ti.

That’s why I came here in the middle of the day with wet clothes and hair.”

“Iccheyyāsi tvaṁ, visākhe, yāvatikā sāvatthiyā manussā tāvatike putte ca nattāro cā”ti?

“Visākhā, would you like as many children and grandchildren as there are people in the whole of Sāvatthī?”

“Iccheyyāhaṁ, bhagavā, yāvatikā sāvatthiyā manussā tāvatike putte ca nattāro cā”ti.

“I would, sir.”

“Kīvabahukā pana, visākhe, sāvatthiyā manussā devasikaṁ kālaṁ karontī”ti?

“But Visākhā, how many people pass away each day in Sāvatthī?”

“Dasapi, bhante, sāvatthiyā manussā devasikaṁ kālaṁ karonti;

“Every day, sir, there are ten people passing away in Sāvatthī.

navapi, bhante …

Or else there are nine,

aṭṭhapi, bhante …

eight,

sattapi, bhante …

seven,

chapi, bhante …

six,

pañcapi, bhante …

five,

cattāropi, bhante …

four,

tīṇipi, bhante …

three,

dvepi, bhante, sāvatthiyā manussā devasikaṁ kālaṁ karonti.

two,

Ekopi, bhante, sāvatthiyā manusso devasikaṁ kālaṁ karoti.

or at least one person who passes away every day in Sāvatthī.

Avivittā, bhante, sāvatthi manussehi kālaṁ karontehī”ti.

Sāvatthī is never without someone passing away.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, visākhe, api nu tvaṁ kadāci karahaci anallavatthā vā bhaveyyāsi anallakesā vā”ti?

“What do you think, Visākhā? Would there ever be a time when your clothes and hair were not wet?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante.

“No, sir.

Alaṁ me, bhante, tāva bahukehi puttehi ca nattārehi cā”ti.

Enough, sir, with so many children and grandchildren.”

“Yesaṁ kho, visākhe, sataṁ piyāni, sataṁ tesaṁ dukkhāni;

“Those who have a hundred loved ones, Visākhā, have a hundred sufferings.

yesaṁ navuti piyāni, navuti tesaṁ dukkhāni;

Those who have ninety loved ones,

yesaṁ asīti piyāni, asīti tesaṁ dukkhāni;

or eighty,

yesaṁ sattati piyāni, sattati tesaṁ dukkhāni;

seventy,

yesaṁ saṭṭhi piyāni, saṭṭhi tesaṁ dukkhāni;

sixty,

yesaṁ paññāsaṁ piyāni, paññāsaṁ tesaṁ dukkhāni;

fifty,

yesaṁ cattārīsaṁ piyāni, cattārīsaṁ tesaṁ dukkhāni,

forty,

yesaṁ tiṁsaṁ piyāni, tiṁsaṁ tesaṁ dukkhāni;

thirty,

yesaṁ vīsati piyāni, vīsati tesaṁ dukkhāni,

twenty,

yesaṁ dasa piyāni, dasa tesaṁ dukkhāni;

ten,

yesaṁ nava piyāni, nava tesaṁ dukkhāni;

nine,

yesaṁ aṭṭha piyāni, aṭṭha tesaṁ dukkhāni;

eight,

yesaṁ satta piyāni, satta tesaṁ dukkhāni;

seven,

yesaṁ cha piyāni, cha tesaṁ dukkhāni;

six,

yesaṁ pañca piyāni, pañca tesaṁ dukkhāni;

five,

yesaṁ cattāri piyāni, cattāri tesaṁ dukkhāni;

four,

yesaṁ tīṇi piyāni, tīṇi tesaṁ dukkhāni;

three,

yesaṁ dve piyāni, dve tesaṁ dukkhāni;

two,

yesaṁ ekaṁ piyaṁ, ekaṁ tesaṁ dukkhaṁ;

or one loved one have one suffering.

yesaṁ natthi piyaṁ, natthi tesaṁ dukkhaṁ, asokā te virajā anupāyāsāti vadāmī”ti.

Those who have no loved ones have no suffering. They are free of sorrow, stains, and anguish I say.”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Ye keci sokā paridevitā vā,

“All the sorrows and lamentations

Dukkhā va lokasmimanekarūpā;

and the countless forms of suffering in the world

Piyaṁ paṭiccappabhavanti ete,

occur because of those that we love;

Piye asante na bhavanti ete.

without loved ones they do not occur.

Tasmā hi te sukhino vītasokā,

That’s why those who have no loved ones
at all in the world

Yesaṁ piyaṁ natthi kuhiñci loke;

are happy and free of grief.

Tasmā asokaṁ virajaṁ patthayāno,

So aspiring to the sorrowless and stainless,

Piyaṁ na kayirātha kuhiñci loke”ti.

have no loved ones in the world at all.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.