(5) Parabhava sutta

Next Sutta is Parabhava sutta.^[1] —A beautiful deity once appeared in front of Gautama which he was reciting at savatthi in Jetavana in the park of Anathapindika. The sole purpose of meeting the Enlightened Gautama was to get answer for some grave question that covered his mind.

He asked Gautama that what was the meaning of loss and what was the reason that creates lose. Bhagavat comes up with the answer that winner can be easily identified because one who loves dhamma is the winner and one who hate dhamma the contrary is the looser.

Secondly the question that is asked to Gautama is that what was the reason for loosing. Bhagavat comes up with the answer that one who accepts and agrees to wickedness are befallen with losses.

The deity comes up with third question and asked him for the third reason of loss to which Bhagavat says that the useless men being fond of society but bestowed with drowsiness, lazinees, anger and lack of energy is forever entitled to be a looser.

After knowing the three reasons of losing the deity enquires about the fourth reason to which Bhagavat answered that one who is aloan towards its parents and does not care for them in their old age are marked as losses.

Deity on being answered the fourth question ones to know fifth questions make a man looser Bhagavat on answer by fifth question says that looser is he who is fallen and has deceived either Brahmana, Samana and any other mendicants.

The deity express his anxiety of knowing the 6th reason that tended to make man a looser on answereing on sixth called Bhagavat say that a man in possession of enormous food and wealth seems to be very selfish instead with the others to enjoy alone.

Deity then turns out to be more inquisitive and wants to know the seventh reason of loss and Bhagavat says that the person who is full of price of his birth wealth and family and yet envious of his relatives intend to be a looser.

After the 7th question deity comes up with the 8th recason of being a looser.

The 8th reason the Bhagavat gives was that a man who gives to strong drink, dice and female intends to be a looser.

Dealing with the 8th cause the deity wants to know the 9th cause of loosing to whose answer. Bhagavat says that a man who is not satisfied with his own wife and tends to take pleasure from other women in to be a looser.

That 10th reason that leads to be looser as was asked by the deity brings for the answer that a man who has past his youth and brings home a woman with breast like imbaru fruit and is faced with jealously is yet again a looser.

The eleventh eause for a looser when asked by a deity Bhagavat in reply asnwer that a man given to drinking feminism and other such habits is tend to be a looser.

Bhagavat in reply of the question gives his answer for the 12th cause of a looser. In which he says that he is also a looser who has property yet is craving with a yearning for more wealth and is born in a khattiya family yet desires to win a kingdom is a looser.

To conclude, in this sutta here Gautama while answering the deity provided with this twelve astounding reason or either we can say causes that leads to the various losses in our life. After reading his sermons if we can discipline ourselves and overcame this nices and follow the rightful path then undoubtedly. We can lead a much more wiser heallthier, happier life full of wisdom and insight.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A dialogue between a deity and Buddha on the things by which a man loses and those by which he gains in this world-Text by Grimbolt, in Journal Asiatique, t.xviii (1871), p. 237; translation by L. Feer, in journal Asiatique, t.xviii (1871), p. 309, and by Gogerty, reprinted in journal Asiatique. T.xx (1872), p. 226.