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# Iti 83 · uttaka 83
- URL: https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/iti-83/
- Published: 2026-06-01T01:20:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-13T16:46:09.000Z
- Description: Itivuttaka · Iti 83. Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
- Author: Ninth Heaven Literature & Arts Association (NHLAA)
- Tags: Buddhism, Sutta Piṭaka, Text, Indian, The Buddha, Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Itivuttaka, Verse, Pali, Early Buddhist, Library, #Import 2026-07-06 03:33

*This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard:*

“Monks, when a deva is about to pass away from the company of devas, five omens appear: his garlands wither, his clothes get soiled, sweat comes out of his armpits, a dullness descends on his body, he no longer delights in his own deva-seat. The devas, knowing from this that ‘This deva-son is about to pass away,’ encourage him with three sayings: ‘Go from here, honorable sir, to a good destination. Having gone to a good destination, gain the gain that is good to gain. Having gained the gain that is good to gain, become well-established.’”

When this was said, a certain monk said to the Blessed One, “What, lord, is the devas’ reckoning of going to a good destination? What is their reckoning of the gain that is good to gain? What is their reckoning of becoming well-established?”

“The human state, monks,[1](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Iti/iti83.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) is the devas’ reckoning of going to a good destination. Having become a human being, acquiring conviction in the Dhamma-&-Vinaya taught by the Tathāgata: this is the devas’ reckoning of the gain that is good to gain. When that conviction is settled within one–rooted, established, & strong, not to be destroyed by any brahman or contemplative; deva, Māra, or Brahma; or anyone else in the world: this is the devas’ reckoning of becoming well-established.”

When a deva passes away

from the company of devas

through his life-span’s ending,

three sounds sound forth

–the devas’ encouragement.

‘Go from here,

honorable sir,

to a good destination,

to companionship

with human beings.

On becoming a human being,

acquire a conviction

unsurpassed

in True Dhamma.

That conviction of yours

in True Dhamma, well-taught, 

should be

settled,

rooted,

established,

–undestroyed

as long as you live.

Having abandoned

bodily misconduct,

verbal misconduct,

mental misconduct,

and whatever else is flawed;

having done with the body what’s skillful,

and much that is skillful with speech,

having done what’s skillful

with a heart without limit,

with no acquisitions,

then–having made much of the merit

that’s a ground for spontaneously arising \[in heaven\]

through giving–

establish other mortals

in

True Dhamma &

the holy life.’

With this sympathy, the devas–

when they know a deva is passing away–

encourage him:

‘Come back, deva,

again & again.’

Note

1\. Reading *bhikkhave* with the Thai edition. The Burmese and Sri Lankan editions read *bhikkhu,* “monk.”

---

*Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. © 2014 / rev. 2017 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu — released under the [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) licence, for free distribution only. Source: [dhammatalks.org](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Iti/iti83.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) (Metta Forest Monastery).*