Thirty Discourses On How Giving Helps to Become Womb-Born, Etc. (SN29.21-50)

Linked Discourses 29.21–50

1. Dragons

Thirty Discourses On How Giving Helps to Become Womb-Born, Etc.

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 womb-born dragons …

moisture-born dragons …

spontaneously-born dragons?”

“Mendicant, it’s when someone does both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind.

And they’ve heard:

‘The spontaneously-born dragons 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 spontaneously-born dragons!’

They give food …

drink …

a lamp.

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons.

This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons.”

(Each set of ten discourses of this series should be told in full the same way.)

The Linked Discourses on dragons are complete.