Short-livedAppāyukasutta

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. Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Ānanda came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:Atha kho āyasmā ānando sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!“acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante. How short-lived was the Blessed One’s mother! For seven days after the Blessed One was born, his mother passed away and was reborn in the host of joyful gods.”Yāva appāyukā hi, bhante, bhagavato mātā ahosi, sattāhajāte bhagavati bhagavato mātā kālamakāsi, tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapajjī”ti.

“That’s so true, Ānanda! For the mothers of beings intent of awakening are short-lived.“Evametaṁ, ānanda, appāyukā hi, ānanda, bodhisattamātaro honti. Seven days after the beings intent on awakening are born, their mothers pass away and are reborn in the host of joyful gods.”Sattāhajātesu bodhisattesu bodhisattamātaro kālaṁ karonti, tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapajjantī”ti.

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

“Whether born or to be born,“Ye keci bhūtā bhavissanti ye vāpi, all depart, leaving the body behind.Sabbe gamissanti pahāya dehaṁ; The skillful, understanding that all is lost,Taṁ sabbajāniṁ kusalo viditvā, would keenly practice the spiritual life.”Ātāpiyo brahmacariyaṁ careyyā”ti.