The Buddha teaches that when the gods of the rainy thunderclouds wish to revel in their own enjoyment, the weather becomes rainy in accordance with their wish.

SN 32.57 Gods of the Rainy Thunderclouds

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yenekadā devo vassatī”ti?

“Santi, bhikkhu, vassavalāhakā nāma devā. Tesaṁ yadā evaṁ hoti: ‘yannūna mayaṁ sakāya ratiyā vaseyyāmā’ti, tesaṁ taṁ cetopaṇidhimanvāya devo vassati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yenekadā devo vassatī”ti.

Sattapaññāsamaṁ.

Sattapaññāsasuttantaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

Valāhakavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Suddhikaṁ sucaritañca,
dānūpakārapaññāsaṁ;
Sītaṁ uṇhañca abbhañca,
vātavassavalāhakāti.

Valāhakasaṁyuttaṁ 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, yenekadā devo vassatī”ti?

“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why sometimes the heavens rain?”

“Santi, bhikkhu, vassavalāhakā nāma devā.

“Mendicant, there are what are called gods of the rainy thunderclouds.

Tesaṁ yadā evaṁ hoti:

Sometimes they think:

‘yannūna mayaṁ sakāya ratiyā vaseyyāmā’ti, tesaṁ taṁ cetopaṇidhimanvāya devo vassati.

‘Why don’t we revel in our own kind of enjoyment?’ Then, in accordance with their wish, the heavens rain down.

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yenekadā devo vassatī”ti.

This is the cause, this is the reason why sometimes the heavens rain.”

Sattapaññāsamaṁ.

Sattapaññāsasuttantaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

Valāhakavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Suddhikaṁ sucaritañca,

dānūpakārapaññāsaṁ;

Sītaṁ uṇhañca abbhañca,

vātavassavalāhakāti.

Valāhakasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

The Linked Discourses on gods of the clouds are complete.

Topics & Qualities:

Delight

Delight

A mental quality of relishing and taking pleasure in what is experienced—especially in sensuality or the prospect of continued becoming. When it fastens onto gratification, it nourishes craving and keeps the mind circling around what it wants to experience again.

Also known as: relishing, enjoyment, taking pleasure
Pāli: nandi, ārāmatā
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Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026