---
title: "Linked Discourses III: The Aggregates · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Khandhavagga"
author: "The Buddha"
translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato"
languages: [pi, en]
shelf: "Pali Canon"
section: 38 of 44
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-3/38/
cite: "The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Linked Discourses III: The Aggregates · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Khandhavagga, section 38. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-3/38/"
---

# Linked Discourses III: The Aggregates · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Khandhavagga

*The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato*

Form, feeling, perception, choices and consciousness: the five aggregates, and the teaching of not-self.

> Pali: the Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka (Buddha Jayanti edition, 2500), from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

> English: Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the segment numbers the two texts share, gathered into paragraphs; verse keeps its lines.

## 38. Gods of the Thunderclouds · SN 32.1–32.57

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-3/38/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-3/38/#p-N

[¶0] SN 32.1 · Plain Version

> Pali: SN 32.1 · Suddhikasutta

[¶1] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

[¶2] “Mendicants, I will teach you about the gods of the thundercloud host. Listen …

> Pali: “Valāhakakāyike vo, bhikkhave, deve desessāmi. Taṁ suṇātha.

[¶3] And what are the gods of the thundercloud host? There are gods of the cool thunderclouds, warm thunderclouds, stormy thunderclouds, windy thunderclouds, and rainy thunderclouds. These are called gods of the thundercloud host.”

> Pali: Katame ca, bhikkhave, valāhakakāyikā devā? Santi, bhikkhave, sītavalāhakā devā; santi uṇhavalāhakā devā; santi abbhavalāhakā devā; santi vātavalāhakā devā; santi vassavalāhakā devā— ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, ‘valāhakakāyikā devā’”ti.

[¶4] > Pali: Paṭhamaṁ.

[¶5] SN 32.2 · Good Conduct

> Pali: SN 32.2 · Sucaritasutta

[¶6] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

[¶7] Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:

> Pali: Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

[¶8] “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 the thundercloud host?”

> Pali: “ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā valāhakakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti?

[¶9] “Mendicant, it’s when someone does good things by way of body, speech, and mind. And they’ve heard: ‘The gods of the thundercloud host 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 thundercloud host!’ When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of the thundercloud host. 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 the thundercloud host.”

> Pali: “Idha, bhikkhu, ekacco kāyena sucaritaṁ carati, vācāya sucaritaṁ carati, manasā sucaritaṁ carati. Tassa sutaṁ hoti: ‘valāhakakāyikā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti. Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā valāhakakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā valāhakakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā valāhakakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti.

[¶10] > Pali: Dutiyaṁ.

[¶11] SN 32.3–12 · Ten Discourses On How Giving Helps to Become a Cool Thundercloud God

> Pali: SN 32.3–12 · Sītavalāhakadānūpakārasuttadasaka

[¶12] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

[¶13] Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:

> Pali: Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

[¶14] “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?”

> Pali: “ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yena midhekacco kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sītavalāhakānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatī”ti?

[¶15] “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.”

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

[¶16] > Pali: Dvādasamaṁ.

[¶17] SN 32.13–52 · How Giving Helps to Become a Warm Thundercloud God, Etc.

> Pali: SN 32.13–52 · Uṇhavalāhakadānūpakārasutta

[¶18] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

[¶19] Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:

> Pali: Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

[¶20] “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 … stormy thunderclouds … windy thunderclouds … rainy thunderclouds?”

> Pali: “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?

[¶21] “Mendicant, it’s when someone does good things by way of body, speech, and mind. And they’ve heard: ‘The gods of rainy 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 rainy thunderclouds!’ They give food … a lamp. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of rainy 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 rainy thunderclouds.”

> Pali: “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.

[¶22] > Pali: Dvepaññāsamaṁ.

[¶23] SN 32.53 · Gods of the Cool Thunderclouds

> Pali: SN 32.53 · Sītavalāhakasutta

[¶24] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

[¶25] Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:

> Pali: Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

[¶26] “Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why sometimes it becomes cool?”

> Pali: “ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yenekadā sītaṁ hotī”ti?

[¶27] “Mendicant, there are what are called gods of the cool thunderclouds. Sometimes they think: ‘Why don’t we revel in our own kind of enjoyment?’ Then, in accordance with their wish, it becomes cool. This is the cause, this is the reason why sometimes it becomes cool.”

> Pali: “Santi, bhikkhu, sītavalāhakā nāma devā. Tesaṁ yadā evaṁ hoti: ‘yannūna mayaṁ sakāya ratiyā vaseyyāmā’ti, tesaṁ taṁ cetopaṇidhimanvāya sītaṁ hoti. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yenekadā sītaṁ hotī”ti.

[¶28] > Pali: Tepaññāsamaṁ.

[¶29] SN 32.54 · Gods of the Warm Thunderclouds

> Pali: SN 32.54 · Uṇhavalāhakasutta

[¶30] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

[¶31] Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:

> Pali: Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

[¶32] “Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why sometimes it becomes warm?”

> Pali: “ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yenekadā uṇhaṁ hotī”ti?

[¶33] “Mendicant, there are what are called gods of the warm thunderclouds. Sometimes they think: ‘Why don’t we revel in our own kind of enjoyment?’ Then, in accordance with their wish, it becomes warm. This is the cause, this is the reason why sometimes it becomes warm.”

> Pali: “Santi, bhikkhu, uṇhavalāhakā nāma devā. Tesaṁ yadā evaṁ hoti: ‘yannūna mayaṁ sakāya ratiyā vaseyyāmā’ti, tesaṁ taṁ cetopaṇidhimanvāya uṇhaṁ hoti. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yenekadā uṇhaṁ hotī”ti.

[¶34] > Pali: Catupaññāsamaṁ.

[¶35] SN 32.55 · Gods of the Stormy Thunderclouds

> Pali: SN 32.55 · Abbhavalāhakasutta

[¶36] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

[¶37] Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:

> Pali: Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

[¶38] “Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why sometimes it becomes stormy?”

> Pali: “ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yenekadā abbhaṁ hotī”ti?

[¶39] “Mendicant, there are what are called gods of the stormy thunderclouds. Sometimes they think: ‘Why don’t we revel in our own kind of enjoyment?’ Then, in accordance with their wish, it becomes stormy. This is the cause, this is the reason why sometimes it becomes stormy.”

> Pali: “Santi, bhikkhu, abbhavalāhakā nāma devā. Tesaṁ yadā evaṁ hoti: ‘yannūna mayaṁ sakāya ratiyā vaseyyāmā’ti, tesaṁ taṁ cetopaṇidhimanvāya abbhaṁ hoti. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yenekadā abbhaṁ hotī”ti.

[¶40] > Pali: Pañcapaññāsamaṁ.

[¶41] SN 32.56 · Gods of the Windy Thunderclouds

> Pali: SN 32.56 · Vātavalāhakasutta

[¶42] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

[¶43] Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:

> Pali: Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

[¶44] “Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why sometimes it becomes windy?”

> Pali: “ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yenekadā vāto hotī”ti?

[¶45] “Mendicant, there are what are named gods of the windy thunderclouds. Sometimes they think: ‘Why don’t we revel in our own kind of enjoyment?’ Then, in accordance with their wish, it becomes windy. This is the cause, this is the reason why sometimes it becomes windy.”

> Pali: “Santi, bhikkhu, vātavalāhakā nāma devā. Tesaṁ yadā evaṁ hoti: ‘yannūna mayaṁ sakāya ratiyā vaseyyāmā’ti, tesaṁ taṁ cetopaṇidhimanvāya vāto hoti. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yenekadā vāto hotī”ti. Chappaññāsamaṁ.

[¶46] SN 32.57 · Gods of the Rainy Thunderclouds

> Pali: SN 32.57 · Vassavalāhakasutta

[¶47] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

[¶48] Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:

> Pali: Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

[¶49] “Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why sometimes the heavens rain?”

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

[¶50] “Mendicant, there are what are called gods of the rainy thunderclouds. Sometimes they think: ‘Why don’t we revel in our own kind of enjoyment?’ Then, in accordance with their wish, the heavens rain down. This is the cause, this is the reason why sometimes the heavens rain.”

> Pali: “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.

[¶51] > Pali: Sattapaññāsamaṁ.

[¶52] > Pali: Sattapaññāsasuttantaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

[¶53] > Pali: Valāhakavaggo paṭhamo.

[¶54] > Pali: Tassuddānaṁ

[¶55] > Pali: Suddhikaṁ sucaritañca,
dānūpakārapaññāsaṁ;
Sītaṁ uṇhañca abbhañca,
vātavassavalāhakāti.

[¶56] The Linked Discourses on gods of the clouds are complete.

> Pali: Valāhakasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.
