Identical in structure to SN 32.53, with only the weather-type changed
Length
under a minute to read
Northern parallel
A rough counterpart may exist in the Chinese Saṃyukta-āgama (T99), though this reading guide does not assert a specific matching sutra number
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — brief and playful, easy to follow
Why this discourse
The second of this saṃyutta's five closing discourses, applying SN 32.53's own structure word for word to warm weather: the warm thundercloud gods wish to revel in their own kind of enjoyment, and the weather follows their wish — confirming that SN 32.53's own causal logic is a genuine template, not a one-off explanation specific to cool weather alone.
Reading guide
The identical structure, one word changed
Every element of SN 32.53's own discourse recurs here unchanged except the weather-type itself: warm thundercloud gods, in place of cool thundercloud gods, wishing to revel in their own kind of enjoyment.
Confirming a genuine template, not a one-off
With this second discourse matching the first almost word for word, SN 32.53's own explanation of weather as divine leisure is confirmed as this saṃyutta's own standing template for its closing arc, not a single special case.
Warm weather, the same whimsical cause
As with coolness, warmth is attributed here to the gods' own present-tense wish rather than to any deeper cosmological mechanism — a consistently light, non-technical explanation running through this entire closing set.
Third of five weather-types still to come
This discourse leaves stormy, windy, and rainy weather still to be explained at SN 32.55–57, each following the identical pattern established here and at SN 32.53.
Key terms
uṇhavalāhaka — warm thundercloud gods — the subject of this specific discourse
sakāya ratiyā — "our own kind of enjoyment" — identical phrasing to SN 32.53's own discourse
cetopaṇidhi — wish or resolve of mind — the technical term for the gods' own intention
hetu — cause — the mendicant's own opening word, unchanged from SN 32.53
paccayo — reason or condition — paired with hetu in the standard formula shared across this closing set
The text
The discourse in full. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1At Sāvatthī. Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha: “Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why sometimes it becomes warm?” “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.”
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Self-check quiz
5 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 5
What single element changes between SN 32.53 and this discourse?
Correct: A. Every other element recurs unchanged, confirming a genuine shared template.
Question 2 of 5
What does this discourse confirm about SN 32.53's own explanation of weather?
Correct: A. The second discourse matching the first almost word for word.
Question 3 of 5
What causes warm weather, according to this discourse?
Correct: A. The same whimsical, non-technical cause already given for cool weather at SN 32.53.
Question 4 of 5
How many weather-types remain to be explained after this discourse?
Correct: A. At SN 32.55–57, each following the identical pattern.
Question 5 of 5
Where is this discourse set?
Correct: A. Consistent with this saṃyutta's other discourses.
