The Buddha teaches a repeated formula on how ethical conduct, aspiration, and giving food and lamps lead to rebirth among the gods of warm, stormy, windy, and rainy thunderclouds in this grouped discourse.

SN 32.13-52 How Giving Helps to Become a Warm Thundercloud God, Etc.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā uṇhavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ …pe… abbhavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ …pe… vātavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ …pe… vassavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti?

“Idha, bhikkhu, ekacco kāyena sucaritaṁ carati, vācāya sucaritaṁ carati, manasā sucaritaṁ carati. Tassa sutaṁ hoti: ‘vassavalāhakā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti. Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā vassavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. So annaṁ deti …pe… padīpeyyaṁ deti. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā vassavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā vassavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti.

Dvepaññāsamaṁ.

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 uṇhavalāhakānaṁ 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 of warm thunderclouds …

abbhavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ …pe…

stormy thunderclouds …

vātavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ …pe…

windy thunderclouds …

vassavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti?

rainy thunderclouds?”

“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:

‘vassavalāhakā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti.

‘The gods of rainy thunderclouds are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

They think:

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

‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods of rainy thunderclouds!’

So annaṁ deti …pe…

They give food …

padīpeyyaṁ deti.

a lamp.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā vassavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of rainy thunderclouds.

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā vassavalāhakānaṁ 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 of rainy thunderclouds.”

Dvepaññāsamaṁ.

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
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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
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Last updated on July 27, 2026