Linked Discourses on Dragons
The Chapter on Dragons
SN 29.1 Plain Version Suddhikasutta
At Sāvatthī.
"Mendicants, dragons reproduce in these four ways. What four? Dragons are born from eggs, from a womb, from moisture, or spontaneously. These are the four ways that dragons reproduce."
SN 29.2 Better Paṇītatarasutta
At Sāvatthī.
"Mendicants, dragons reproduce in these four ways. What four? Dragons are born from an egg, from a womb, from moisture, or spontaneously. Of these, dragons born from a womb, from moisture, or spontaneously are better than those born from an egg. Dragons born from moisture or spontaneously are better than those born from an egg or from a womb. Dragons born spontaneously are better than those born from an egg, from a womb, or from moisture. These are the four ways that dragons reproduce."
SN 29.3 Sabbath Uposathasutta
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, sat down to one side, and said to him:
"Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why some egg-born dragons keep the sabbath, having transformed their bodies?"
"Mendicant, it's when some egg-born dragons think: 'In the past we did both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind. When the body broke up, after death, we were reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons. If today we do good things by body, speech, and mind, when the body breaks up, after death, we may be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. Come, let us do good things by way of body, speech, and mind.' This is the cause, this is the reason why some egg-born dragons keep the sabbath, having transformed their bodies."
SN 29.4 Sabbath (2nd) Dutiyauposathasutta
At Sāvatthī.
Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha ... and asked him, "Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why some womb-born dragons keep the sabbath, having transformed their bodies?"
(Tell all in full.)
SN 29.5 Sabbath (3rd) Tatiyauposathasutta
At Sāvatthī.
Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:
"Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why some moisture-born dragons keep the sabbath, having transformed their bodies?"
(Tell all in full.)
SN 29.6 Sabbath (4th) Catutthauposathasutta
At Sāvatthī.
Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:
"Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why some spontaneously-born dragons keep the sabbath, having transformed their bodies?"
"Mendicant, it's when some spontaneously-born dragons think: 'In the past we did both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind. When the body broke up, after death, we were reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons. If today we do good things by body, speech, and mind, when the body breaks up, after death, we may be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. Come, let us do good things by way of body, speech, and mind.' This is the cause, this is the reason why some spontaneously-born dragons keep the sabbath, having transformed their bodies."
SN 29.7 They've Heard Sutasutta
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 egg-born dragons?"
"Mendicant, it's when someone does both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind. And they've heard: 'The egg-born dragons 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 egg-born dragons!' When their body breaks up, after death, they're reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons. This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons."
SN 29.8 They've Heard (2nd) Dutiyasutasutta
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 womb-born dragons?"
(Tell all in full.)
SN 29.9 They've Heard (3rd) Tatiyasutasutta
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 moisture-born dragons?"
(Tell all in full.)
SN 29.10 They've Heard (4th) Catutthasutasutta
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 spontaneously-born dragons?"
"Mendicant, it's when someone does both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind. And they've heard: 'The spontaneously-born dragons 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 spontaneously-born dragons!' When their body breaks up, after death, they're reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons. This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons."
SN 29.11--20 Ten Discourses On How Giving Helps to Become Egg-Born Aṇḍajadānūpakārasuttadasaka
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 egg-born dragons?"
"Mendicant, it's when someone does both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind. And they've heard: 'The egg-born dragons 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 egg-born dragons!' They give food ... drink ... clothing ... a vehicle ... a garland ... fragrance ... makeup ... a bed ... a house ... a lamp. When their body breaks up, after death, they're reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons. This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the egg-born dragons."
SN 29.21--50 Thirty Discourses On How Giving Helps to Become Womb-Born, Etc. Jalābujādidānūpakārasuttattiṁsaka
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 womb-born dragons ... moisture-born dragons ... spontaneously-born dragons?"
"Mendicant, it's when someone does both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind. And they've heard: 'The spontaneously-born dragons 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 spontaneously-born dragons!' They give food ... drink ... a lamp. When their body breaks up, after death, they're reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons. This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born dragons."
(Each set of ten discourses of this series should be told in full the same way.)