Ekottaragama (Sanskrit fragments) 50.6.10

50.6.10

「我亦知天，亦知趣天之道，其有眾生作諸功業生天者，我亦知之。以何因緣而說此乎？我今觀眾生之類心中所念，此人必當身壞命終，生善處天上，然後時觀此人身壞命終，生善處天上，於彼受自然之福，快樂無比。是謂斯人已生天上，於彼受自然之福，快樂無比。猶如村落側有好高廣講堂，彫文刻鏤，懸繒幡蓋，香汁灑地，敷好坐具，氍毹𣰅㲪，文繡綩綖。若有人直從一道來，有目之士直從一道來，此人所趣向，定至高廣講堂必不疑，復於後時觀見此人，已到講堂上，或坐、或臥，於中受福快樂無比。此亦如是，吾今觀眾生類身壞命終，應生善處天上，於彼受樂快不可計。云何斯人以生善處天上乎？我知天道，趣天之路乎？我所說者，正謂此耳。

“‘I also know heaven and the way leading to heaven. The meritorious actions performed by sentient beings born in heaven are also known to me.’ What are the reasons for saying this? Now, I observe the thoughts in the mind of a type of sentient being, ‘This person surely will be born in a good place up in heaven after their body breaks up and their life ends.’ Afterward, I observe this person was born in a good place up in heaven after their body broke up and their life ended, and they are experiencing what’s natural for their merits. The delights are incomparable. This is called a person who was born up in heaven and is experiencing what’s natural for their merits. The delights are incomparable.

“It’s like a village that has a wonderful, tall, and broad meeting hall with inscriptions, hanging banners, and canopies. The grounds are sprinkled with fragrance, and sitting areas are prepared wonderfully with wool mats and rugs and embroidered fine cloth. Suppose a person came along on a path, and a man with eyes sees them coming on that path: ‘The way this person is headed, they’ll certainly arrive at that tall and broad meeting hall, undoubtedly.’ Again, he later sees this person after they arrive and go up to the meeting hall. Perhaps they are sitting or lying down, experiencing merits and delights that are incomparable.

“This is likewise. Now, I observe this type of sentient being, ‘After their body breaks up and their life ends, they would be born in a good place up in heaven where they will experience delights that aren’t imaginable.’ How was this person born in a good place up in heaven? I know the destiny of heaven and the path leading to heaven. What I say about it is correct; it’s simply what it is.