The eighth sutta of the Mahā Vagga of the Suttanipāta. Death is inevitable, lamenting is therefore useless (SN.vss.574-93). The sutta was taught in order to console a devout patron of the Buddha who, when his son died, starved for seven days (SNA.ii.457). The sutta is described (e.g., AA.i.326) as pālivasena gandhīro.