The Discourse about the Only Son

ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati,
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,

Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
in Jeta's Wood, at Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa upāsakassa
Then at that time a certain lay follower's

ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato hoti.
only son, who was beloved and dear, had died.

Atha kho sambahulā upāsakā allavatthā allakesā, Having made a ritual ablution.⁰¹
Then many lay followers, with wet clothes and hair,

divādivassa yena Bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu,
in the middle of the day went to the Gracious One,

upasaṅkamitvā Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā, ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu.
and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, they sat down on one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te upāsake Bhagavā etad-avoca:
While sat on one side the Gracious One said this to those lay followers:

“Kinnu kho tumhe upāsakā, allavatthā allakesā,
“Now why are you lay followers, with wet clothes and hair,

idhūpasaṅkantā divādivassā?” ti.
coming here in the middle of the day?”

Evaṁ vutte, so upāsako Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
When that was said, that lay follower said this to the Gracious One:

“Mayhaṁ kho bhante ekaputtakosi piyo manāpo kālaṅkato.
“My only son, who was beloved and dear, reverend Sir, has died.

Tena mayaṁ allavatthā allakesā idhūpasaṅkantā divādivassā” ti.
That is why we, with wet clothes and hair, are coming here in the middle of the day.”

Atha kho Bhagavā, etam-atthaṁ viditvā,
Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it,

tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

“Piyarūpassādagathitāse ~ devakāyā puthumanussā ca,
“Hosts of devas and many men are tied by the satisfaction in forms that are loved,

Aghāvino parijunnā, ~ Maccurājassa vasaṁ gacchanti.
Miserable and worn out, ~ they come under the power of the King of Death.

Ye ve divā ca ratto ca ~ appamattā jahanti piyarūpaṁ -
For sure those who are heedful day and night, give up forms that are loved -

Te ve khananti aghamūlaṁ ~ Maccuno āmisaṁ durativattan”-ti.
They surely dig up the root of misery ~ (which is) Death's bait, so difficult to transcend.”