sn.31.2 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Good Conduct

At Sāvatthī.
Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the gods of fairykind?”
“Mendicant, it’s when someone does good things by way of body, speech, and mind.
And they’ve heard:
‘The gods of fairykind are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’
They think:
‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods of fairykind!’
When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of fairykind.
This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the gods of fairykind.”