Valāhakasaṁyutta 3

Linked Discourses 32.3–12

1. Gods of the Thunderclouds

Ten Discourses On How Giving Helps to Become a Cool Thundercloud God

1 At Sāvatthī.

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

“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 cool thunderclouds?”

“Mendicant, it’s when someone does good things by way of body, speech, and mind. And they’ve heard: ‘The gods of cool thunderclouds are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’ They think: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods of the cool thunderclouds!’ They give food … a lamp. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of cool thunderclouds. 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 cool thunderclouds.”