SA 1227（一二二七） 母

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time King Prasenajit had a grandmother whom he greatly respected. When she suddenly passed away, he left the city to cremate her and make offerings to her relics. After that, he came to where the Buddha was, wearing tattered clothes and disheveled hair. He bowed his head at the Buddha’s feet and sat to one side.

At that time the World-Honored One said to King Prasenajit, "Great King! Where have you come from, wearing tattered clothes and disheveled hair?"

King Prasenajit said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! My grandmother, whom I greatly respected, passed away and I left the city to cremate her and make offerings to her. After that, I came to where the World-Honored One is."

The Buddha said to the great king, "Do you greatly love, respect, and think of your ancestors and relatives?"

King Prasenajit said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! I greatly respect and love her. World-Honored One! If the elephants, horses, seven treasures, and even the position of king in the country were to be given to someone who could save my grandmother's life, I would give them all. Since I could not save her, I am forever separated from her in life and death. I am so sad and sorrowful that I cannot bear it. I once heard the World-Honored One say: 'All sentient beings, all insects, and all spirits, those who are born will all die, without exception. There is no one who is born and does not die.' Only now do I know that the World-Honored One speaks well."

The Buddha said, "Great King! It is so! It is so! All sentient beings, all insects, and all spirits, those who are born will all die, and eventually come to an end. There is no one who is born and does not die."

The Buddha told the great king, "Even if it is the great families of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and householders, those who are born will all die, without exception. Even if it is a Kshatriya king who is enthroned and rules the four continents, having power and freedom, and subduing all enemy countries, he will eventually come to an end, without exception. If, great king, one is born in the long-life heavens and rules the heavenly palace, with freedom and happiness, it will also come to an end, without exception. If, great king, an Arhat bhikṣu has exhausted all taints, is free from all burdens, has done what was to be done, has attained his own benefit, has exhausted all bonds, is well liberated in mind with right wisdom, he will also come to an end, abandon the body, and enter parinirvāṇa. If, great king, a Pratyekabuddha is well-tamed, well-pacified, and exhausts this body and life, he will also enter parinirvāṇa. The Buddhas of the world, endowed with the ten powers, the four fearlessnesses, and the lion's roar of victory, will also abandon the body and attain parinirvāṇa. By this comparison, great king, you should know that all sentient beings, all insects, and all spirits, those who are born will all die, and eventually come to an end, without exception." At that time, the World-Honored One spoke a verse, saying:

All sentient beings, with life, will eventually die. Each follows the path
of their karma, experiencing the fruits of good and evil. Due to
evil karma, one falls into hell; due to goodness, one ascends to
heaven. Cultivating the supreme and wondrous path, one exhausts the taints and
attains parinirvāṇa. The Tathāgatas, Pratyekabuddhas, and the disciples of the Buddha will
also abandon their bodies and lives. How much more so for ordinary worldly people.

Having spoken this sūtra, King Prasenajit, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and paid homage before departing.