iti.83 Itivuttaka

The Five Prognostic Signs

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, when a deva is due to pass away from a company of devas, five prognostic signs appear: his flower-garlands wither, his clothes become soiled, sweat is released from his armpits, his bodily radiance fades, and the deva takes no delight in his heavenly throne. The devas, observing the prognostic signs that this deva is due to pass away, encourage him in three things with the words: ‘Go from here, friend, to a good bourn. Having gone to a good bourn, gain that which is good to gain. Having gained that which is good to gain, become firmly established in it.’”

When this was said, a certain bhikkhu asked the Lord: “Venerable sir, what is reckoned by the devas to be a good bourn? What is reckoned by the devas to be a gain that is good to gain? What is reckoned by the devas to be firmly established?”

“It is human existence, bhikkhus, that is reckoned by the devas to be a good bourn. When a human being acquires faith in the Dhamma-and-Discipline taught by the Tathāgata, this is reckoned by the devas to be a gain that is good to gain. When faith is steadfast in him, firmly rooted, established and strong, not to be destroyed by any recluse or brahmin or deva or Māra or Brahmā or by anyone else in the world, this is reckoned by the devas to be firmly established.”

When a deva whose life is exhausted
Passes away from a deva-company,
The devas encourage him
In three ways with the words:

“Go, friend, to a good bourn,
To the fellowship of humans.
On becoming human acquire faith
Unsurpassed in the true Dhamma.

That faith made steadfast,
Become rooted and standing firm,
Will be unshakeable for life
In the true Dhamma well proclaimed.

Having abandoned misconduct by body,
Misconduct by speech as well,
Misconduct by mind, and whatever else
Is reckoned as a fault,

Having done much that is good
Both by body and by speech,
And done good with a mind
That is boundless and free from clinging,

With that merit as a basis
Made abundant by generosity,
You should establish other people
In the true Dhamma and the holy life.”

When the devas know that a deva
Is about to pass from their midst,
Out of compassion they encourage him:
“Return here, deva, again and again.”

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Five Warning Signs

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Mendicants, when a god is due to pass away from the realm of the gods, five warning signs appear.
Their flower-garlands wither; their clothes become soiled; they sweat from the armpits; their physical appearance deteriorates; and they no longer delight in their heavenly throne.
When the other gods know that that god is due to pass away, they wish them well in three ways:
‘Sir, may you go from here to a good place!
When you have gone to a good place, may you be blessed with good fortune!
When you have been blessed with good fortune, may you become well grounded!’
When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha,
“Sir, what do the gods reckon to be going to a good place?
What do they reckon to be blessed with good fortune?
What do they reckon to become well grounded?”
“It is human existence, mendicant, that the gods reckon to be going to a good place.
When a human being gains faith in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One,
that is what the gods reckon to be blessed with good fortune.
When that faith in the Realized One is settled, rooted, and planted deep; when it’s strong and can’t be shifted by any ascetic or brahmin or god or Māra or Brahmā or by anyone in the world,
that is what the gods reckon to become well grounded.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“When, with the fading of life,
a god passes from the realm of the gods,
the gods utter three cries
of well-wishing:
‘Sir, go from here to a good place,
in the company of humans.
As a human being, gain supreme faith
in the true teaching.
May that faith of yours be settled,
with roots planted deep,
unfaltering all life long
in the true teaching so well proclaimed.
Having given up bad conduct
by way of body,
speech, and mind,
and whatever else is corrupt;
and having done much good,
by way of body,
speech, and mind,
limitless, free of attachments;
then, having made much worldly merit
by giving gifts,
establish other colleagues
in the true teaching, the spiritual life.’
It is due to such compassion
that when the gods know a god
is due to pass away, they wish them well:
‘Come back, god, again and again!’
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.