Ud 5.2

Appāyukasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho āyasmā ānando sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante. Yāva appāyukā hi, bhante, bhagavato mātā ahosi, sattāhajāte bhagavati bhagavato mātā kālamakāsi, tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapajjī”ti.

Short-lived

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. 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: “It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! 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.”

“Evametaṁ, ānanda, appāyukā hi, ānanda, bodhisattamātaro honti. Sattāhajātesu bodhisattesu bodhisattamātaro kālaṁ karonti, tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapajjantī”ti.

“That’s so true, Ānanda! For the mothers of beings intent of awakening are short-lived. Seven days after the beings intent on awakening are born, their mothers pass away and are reborn in the host of joyful gods.”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Ye keci bhūtā bhavissanti ye vāpi, Sabbe gamissanti pahāya dehaṁ; Taṁ sabbajāniṁ kusalo viditvā, Ātāpiyo brahmacariyaṁ careyyā”ti.

“Whether born or to be born, all depart, leaving the body behind. The skillful, understanding that all is lost, would keenly practice the spiritual life.”