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Udana » Context of this sutta
- Udana II.7
- Ekaputta Sutta
- The Only Son
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi,
in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Now at that time the dear
and beloved only son of a certain lay follower had died. So a large number of lay
followers -- their clothes wet, their hair wet -- went to the Blessed One in the middle of
the day and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As they were sitting
there the Blessed One said to them: "Why have you come here -- your clothes wet, your
hair wet -- in the middle of the day?"
When this was said, the lay follower said to the Blessed One, "My dear and beloved
only son has died. This is why we have come here -- our clothes wet, our hair wet -- in
the middle of the day."
Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion
exclaimed:
Tied down by what's dear & alluring,
heavenly beings, most people,
worn out with misery,
fall under the sway of the King of Death.
But those who, day & night,
heedfully abandon what's dear,
dig up misery
by the root --
Death's bait
so hard
to overcome.