The Buddha teaches a repeated formula on how ethical conduct, aspiration, and giving food, drink, clothing, and other gifts lead to rebirth among the gods who dwell in fragrant tree parts—from heartwood through scents—in this grouped discourse.

SN 31.23-112 Ninety Discourses On How Giving Helps Rebirth in Fragrant Heartwood, etc.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sāragandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ …pe… pheggugandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁtacagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁpapaṭikagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁpattagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁpupphagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁphalagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁrasagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁgandhagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti?

“Idha, bhikkhu, ekacco kāyena sucaritaṁ carati, vācāya sucaritaṁ carati, manasā sucaritaṁ carati. Tassa sutaṁ hoti: ‘gandhagandhe adhivatthā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti. Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā gandhagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. So annaṁ deti …pe… pānaṁ detivatthaṁ detiyānaṁ detimālaṁ detigandhaṁ detivilepanaṁ detiseyyaṁ detiāvasathaṁ detipadīpeyyaṁ deti. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā gandhagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā gandhagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti. Dvādasasatimaṁ.

(Evaṁ piṇḍakena ekasatañca dvādasa ca suttantā honti.)

Gandhabbavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Suddhikañca sucaritaṁ,
dātā hi apare dasa;
Dānūpakārā satadhā,
gandhabbe suppakāsitāti.

Gandhabbakāyasaṁyuttaṁ 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 sāragandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ …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 gods who live in fragrant heartwood …

pheggugandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ

softwood …

tacagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ

bark …

papaṭikagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ

sprouts …

pattagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ

leaves …

pupphagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ

flowers …

phalagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ

fruit …

rasagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ

sap …

gandhagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti?

fragrant scents?”

“Idha, bhikkhu, ekacco kāyena sucaritaṁ carati, vācāya sucaritaṁ carati, manasā sucaritaṁ carati.

“Mendicant, it’s when someone does good things by way of body, speech, and mind.

Tassa sutaṁ hoti:

And they’ve heard:

‘gandhagandhe adhivatthā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti.

‘The gods who live in fragrant scents are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

They think:

‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā gandhagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti.

‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods who live in fragrant scents!’

So annaṁ deti …pe…

They give food …

pānaṁ deti

drink …

vatthaṁ deti

clothing …

yānaṁ deti

a vehicle …

mālaṁ deti

a garland …

gandhaṁ deti

fragrance …

vilepanaṁ deti

makeup …

seyyaṁ deti

a bed …

āvasathaṁ deti

a house …

padīpeyyaṁ deti.

a lamp.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā gandhagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods who live in fragrant scents.

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā gandhagandhe adhivatthānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti.

This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the gods who live on fragrant scents.”

Dvādasasatimaṁ.

(Evaṁ piṇḍakena ekasatañca dvādasa ca suttantā honti.)

Gandhabbavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Suddhikañca sucaritaṁ,

dātā hi apare dasa;

Dānūpakārā satadhā,

gandhabbe suppakāsitāti.

Gandhabbakāyasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

The Linked Discourses on the centaur realm 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 →
Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026