The Buddha teaches a repeated formula on phoenixes and rebirth regarding how giving helps to become womb-born, etc. in this grouped discourse.

SN 30.17-46 How Giving Helps to Become Womb-Born, Etc. -

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā jalābujānaṁ supaṇṇānaṁ …pe… saṁsedajānaṁ supaṇṇānaṁ …pe… opapātikānaṁ supaṇṇānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti?

“Idha, bhikkhu, ekacco kāyena dvayakārī hoti, vācāya dvayakārī, manasā dvayakārī. Tassa sutaṁ hoti: ‘opapātikā supaṇṇā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti. Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā opapātikānaṁ supaṇṇānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. So annaṁ deti …pe… pānaṁ deti …pe… padīpeyyaṁ deti. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā opapātikānaṁ supaṇṇānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā opapātikānaṁ supaṇṇānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti.

Chacattālīsamaṁ.

(Evaṁ piṇḍakena chacattālīsaṁ suttantā honti.)

Supaṇṇavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Suddhikaṁ haranti ceva,
dvayakārī ca caturo;
Dānūpakārā tālīsaṁ,
supaṇṇe suppakāsitāti.

Supaṇṇasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:

“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā jalābujānaṁ supaṇṇānaṁ …pe…

“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 phoenixes …

saṁsedajānaṁ supaṇṇānaṁ …pe…

moisture-born phoenixes …

opapātikānaṁ supaṇṇānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti?

or spontaneously-born phoenixes?”

“Idha, bhikkhu, ekacco kāyena dvayakārī hoti, vācāya dvayakārī, manasā dvayakārī.

Tassa sutaṁ hoti:

‘opapātikā supaṇṇā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti.

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā opapātikānaṁ supaṇṇānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti.

So annaṁ deti …pe…

pānaṁ deti …pe…

padīpeyyaṁ deti.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā opapātikānaṁ supaṇṇānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā opapātikānaṁ supaṇṇānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti.

Chacattālīsamaṁ.

(Evaṁ piṇḍakena chacattālīsaṁ suttantā honti.)

(Tell all in full.)

Supaṇṇavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Suddhikaṁ haranti ceva,

dvayakārī ca caturo;

Dānūpakārā tālīsaṁ,

supaṇṇe suppakāsitāti.

Supaṇṇasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

The Linked Discourses on phoenixes are complete.

Topics & Qualities:

Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
View all discourses →
Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026