SA-2 54（五四）

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī. At that time, King Prasenajit was naturally kind and filial. When his mother passed away, he grieved and missed her so much that he could not bear it. After cremating his mother, he bathed himself, with his hair still wet. At noon, he went to where the Buddha was, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side. The Buddha said to the king, "Where are you coming from? Your hair and clothes are still wet." King Prasenajit said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! My kind mother was especially respected by me. One day she passed away. I sent my mother's remains far into the wilderness for burial. After finishing the burial, I have just bathed, so my hair and clothes are still wet."

The Buddha said to the great king, "Do you love and respect your mother very much?" The king replied, "Indeed I love and respect her. If there is someone who can bring my mother back to life, I would give them my elephant troops, chariot troops, cavalry, and infantry, and would not regret it to continue my mother's life. If I were to give half the country as a reward, I would not regret it." The king said again, "The Buddha's words are true. All who are born will eventually return to death."

The Buddha said, "Indeed! Indeed! The born will certainly die. The five destinies and four births all end. Kings, ministers, and brāhmanas will all return to death. The anointed king, with supreme power, ruling the country, will also return to death. The wheel-turning sage king, ruling the four continents, with the seven treasures complete, will also return to death. The five-supernatural-power immortals, dwelling in the mountains and forests, drinking water and eating fruits, will also return to death. The thirty-three celestials, experiencing supreme bliss, with radiant appearance, dwelling in heavenly palaces, with long lifespans, will also return to death. The arhats, having abandoned the heavy burden, having attained their own benefit, having exhausted all bonds, having attained mental freedom, having liberated right wisdom, with their final bodies, will also return to disintegration. The pratyekabuddhas, solitary and without companions, always dwelling in solitude, will also disintegrate. The buddhas, the perfectly enlightened ones, endowed with the ten powers, having the four fearlessnesses, having attained the four unobstructed knowledges, able to roar like lions, their bodies are also impermanent and will return to disintegration." The Buddha said, "Great King! I have explained to the great king in various ways that the born will certainly die. In brief, there is no birth that does not end."

The Buddha then spoke a verse, saying:

All that is born will die, life must return to
its end, following karma to receive retribution, good and evil
each reaping their fruits. Cultivating merit one ascends to heaven
doing evil one enters hell. Cultivating the path one cuts
off birth and death, forever entering nirvana. Not in the
sky, not in the ocean, not entering mountains or rocks
there is no place where one can escape death. Even
the buddhas, pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattvas, and sravakas still abandon their impermanent
bodies, how much more so ordinary people.

At that time, King Prasenajit heard the Buddha's words, his mind opened and his thoughts were resolved. He was no longer sorrowful, and departed joyfully.

The Buddha having spoken thus, the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and received them with respect.