An Only SonEkaputtakasutta

So I have heard.Evaṁ me sutaṁ— At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Now at that time a certain lay follower’s dear and beloved only child passed away.Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa upāsakassa ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato hoti.

Then in the middle of the day several lay followers with wet clothes and hair went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to them:Atha kho sambahulā upāsakā allavatthā allakesā divā divassa yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te upāsake bhagavā etadavoca: “Why, lay followers, have you come here in the middle of the day with wet clothes and hair?”“kiṁ nu kho tumhe, upāsakā, allavatthā allakesā idhūpasaṅkamantā divā divassā”ti?

The lay follower replied,Evaṁ vutte, so upāsako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, my dear and beloved only child has passed away.“mayhaṁ kho, bhante, ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato. That’s why we came here in the middle of the day with wet clothes and hair.”Tena mayaṁ allavatthā allakesā idhūpasaṅkamantā divā divassā”ti.

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Hosts of gods and most human beings are bound“Piyarūpassādagadhitāse, to what seems dear and pleasant.Devakāyā puthu manussā ca; Gloomy and exhausted,Aghāvino parijunnā, they fall under the sway of the King of Death.Maccurājassa vasaṁ gacchanti.

The diligent, who day and nightYe ve divā ca ratto ca, give up what seems pleasant,Appamattā jahanti piyarūpaṁ; dig out the root of gloom—Te ve khaṇanti aghamūlaṁ, Death’s bait so hard to escape.”Maccuno āmisaṁ durativattan”ti.