1Now at that time the householder Citta was sick, suffering, gravely ill.

Then several deities of the parks, forests, trees, and those who haunt the herbs, grass, and big trees came together and said to Citta: “Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!”

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2When they said this, Citta said to them: “That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!”

When he said this, his friends and colleagues, relatives and family members said: “Be mindful, lord! Don’t babble.”

“What have I said that makes you say that?”

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“It’s because you said: ‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’”

“Oh, well, that’s because the deities of the parks, forests, trees, and those who haunt the herbs, grass, and big trees said to me: ‘Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!’ So I said to them: ‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’”

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“But what reason do they see for saying that to you?”

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“They think: ‘This householder Citta is ethical, of good character. If he makes a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future, his heart’s wish will succeed because of the purity of his ethics. And then as a proper, principled king he will provide proper spirit-offerings.’ That’s the reason they see for saying to me: ‘Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!’ So I said to them: ‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’”

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3“Then, lord, advise us!”

“So you should train like this:

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We will have experiential confidence in the Buddha: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

We will have experiential confidence in the teaching: ‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha — visible in this very life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’

We will have experiential confidence in the Saṅgha: ‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, straightforward, methodical, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individuals. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’

And we will share without reservation all the gifts available to give in our family with those who are ethical and of good character.”

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Then, after Citta had encouraged his friends and colleagues, relatives and family members in the Buddha, the teaching, the Saṅgha, and generosity, he passed away.

1Tena kho pana samayena citto gahapati ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.

Atha kho sambahulā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā saṅgamma samāgamma cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavocuṁ: "paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī"ti.

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2Evaṁ vutte, citto gahapati tā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā etadavoca: "tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan"ti.

Evaṁ vutte, cittassa gahapatino mittāmaccā ñātisālohitā cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavocuṁ: "satiṁ, ayyaputta, upaṭṭhapehi, mā vippalapī"ti.

"Kiṁ tāhaṁ vadāmi yaṁ maṁ tumhe evaṁ vadetha: ‘satiṁ, ayyaputta, upaṭṭhapehi, mā vippalapī’"ti?

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"Evaṁ kho tvaṁ, ayyaputta, vadesi: ‘tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan’"ti.

"Tathā hi pana maṁ ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā evamāhaṁsu: ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti. Tāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘tampi aniccaṁ … pe … tampi pahāya gamanīyan’"ti.

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"Kiṁ pana tā, ayyaputta, ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā atthavasaṁ sampassamānā evamāhaṁsu: ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’"ti?

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"Tāsaṁ kho ārāmadevatānaṁ vanadevatānaṁ rukkhadevatānaṁ osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthānaṁ devatānaṁ evaṁ hoti: ‘Ayaṁ kho citto gahapati, sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo. Sace paṇidahissati – anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti, ‘tassa kho ayaṁ ijjhissati, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi visuddhattā dhammiko dhammikaṁ phalaṁ anupassatī’ti. Imaṁ kho tā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā atthavasaṁ sampassamānā evamāhaṁsu: ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti. Tāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan’"ti.

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3"Tena hi, ayyaputta, amhepi ovadāhī"ti.

"Tasmā hi vo evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ

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Buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

Dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.

Saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti.

Yaṁ kho pana kiñci kule deyyadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ appaṭivibhattaṁ bhavissati sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehīti evañhi vo sikkhitabban"ti.

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Atha kho citto gahapati mittāmacce ñātisālohite buddhe ca dhamme ca saṅghe ca cāge ca samādapetvā kālamakāsīti.

Dasamaṁ.
Cittavaggo paṭhamo.

4Saṁyojanaṁ dve isidattā,
Mahako kāmabhūpi ca;
Godatto ca nigaṇṭho ca,
Acelena gilānadassananti.

Cittasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.