SN29.1
Linked Discourses 29.1
- Dragons
Plain Version
At Sāvatthī.
“Mendicants, dragons reproduce in these four ways.
What four?
Dragons are born from eggs, from a womb, from moisture, or spontaneously.
These are the four ways that dragons reproduce.”
SN29.2
Linked Discourses 29.2
- Dragons
Better
At Sāvatthī.
“Mendicants, dragons reproduce in these four ways.
What four?
Dragons are born from an egg, from a womb, from moisture, or spontaneously.
Of these, dragons born from a womb, from moisture, or spontaneously are better than those born from an egg.
Dragons born from moisture or spontaneously are better than those born from an egg or from a womb.
Dragons born spontaneously are better than those born from an egg, from a womb, or from moisture.
These are the four ways that dragons reproduce.”
SN29.3
Linked Discourses 29.3
- Dragons
Sabbath
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, sat down to one side, and said to him:
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why some egg-born dragons keep the sabbath, having transformed their bodies?”
“Mendicant, it’s when some egg-born dragons think:
‘In the past we did both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind.
When the body broke up, after death, we were reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons.
If today we do good things by body, speech, and mind, when the body breaks up, after death, we may be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.
Come, let us do good things by way of body, speech, and mind.’
This is the cause, this is the reason why some egg-born dragons keep the sabbath, having transformed their bodies.”
SN29.4
Linked Discourses 29.4
- Dragons
Sabbath (2nd)
At Sāvatthī.
Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and asked him,
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why some womb-born dragons keep the sabbath, having transformed their bodies?”
(Tell all in full.)
SN29.5
Linked Discourses 29.5
- Dragons
Sabbath (3rd)
At Sāvatthī.
Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why some moisture-born dragons keep the sabbath, having transformed their bodies?”
(Tell all in full.)
SN29.6
Linked Discourses 29.6
- Dragons
Sabbath (4th)
At Sāvatthī.
Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why some spontaneously-born dragons keep the sabbath, having transformed their bodies?”
“Mendicant, it’s when some spontaneously-born dragons think:
‘In the past we did both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind.
When the body broke up, after death, we were reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons.
If today we do good things by body, speech, and mind, when the body breaks up, after death, we may be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.
Come, let us do good things by way of body, speech, and mind.’
This is the cause, this is the reason why some spontaneously-born dragons keep the sabbath, having transformed their bodies.”
SN29.7
Linked Discourses 29.7
- Dragons
They’ve Heard
At Sāvatthī.
Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons?”
“Mendicant, it’s when someone does both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind.
And they’ve heard:
‘The egg-born dragons are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’
They think:
‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons!’
When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons.
This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons.”
SN29.8
Linked Discourses 29.8
- Dragons
They’ve Heard (2nd)
At Sāvatthī.
Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the womb-born dragons?”
(Tell all in full.)
SN29.9
Linked Discourses 29.9
- Dragons
They’ve Heard (3rd)
At Sāvatthī.
Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the moisture-born dragons?”
(Tell all in full.)
SN29.10
Linked Discourses 29.10
- Dragons
They’ve Heard (4th)
At Sāvatthī.
Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons?”
“Mendicant, it’s when someone does both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind.
And they’ve heard:
‘The spontaneously-born dragons are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’
They think:
‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons!’
When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons.
This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons.”
SN29.11-20
Linked Discourses 29.11–20
- Dragons
Ten Discourses On How Giving Helps to Become Egg-Born
Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons?”
“Mendicant, it’s when someone does both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind.
And they’ve heard:
‘The egg-born dragons are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’
They think:
‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons!’
They give food …
drink …
clothing …
a vehicle …
a garland …
fragrance …
makeup …
a bed …
a house …
a lamp.
When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons.
This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons.”
SN29.21-50
Linked Discourses 29.21–50
- Dragons
Thirty Discourses On How Giving Helps to Become Womb-Born, Etc.
At Sāvatthī.
Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the womb-born dragons …
moisture-born dragons …
spontaneously-born dragons?”
“Mendicant, it’s when someone does both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind.
And they’ve heard:
‘The spontaneously-born dragons are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’
They think:
‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons!’
They give food …
drink …
a lamp.
When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons.
This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons.”
(Each set of ten discourses of this series should be told in full the same way.)
The Linked Discourses on dragons are complete.