Gandhabbakāyasaṁyutta 4

Linked Discourses 31.4–12

1. Centaurs

Nine Discourses On Givers of Fragrant Heartwood, Etc.

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 who live in fragrant heartwood … softwood … bark … sprouts … leaves … flowers … fruit … sap … fragrant scents?”

“Mendicant, it’s when someone does good things by way of body, speech, and mind. And they’ve heard: ‘The gods who live in fragrant heartwood … fragrant scents 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 who live in fragrant heartwood … fragrant scents!’ They give gifts of fragrant heartwood … fragrant scents. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods who live in fragrant scents. 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.”