Hi all,

This is a rather late reply, as I have only just read the post in
question.

Ven. Nyanatusita:

>> Is it said anywhere that devas can expire before the end of
>> their normal lifespan?
>
> I recently came across a discussion of this in the
> Dhammapada.t.thakathaa in the Udenavatthu. If you have the PTS
> edition it's on page 173, in Simon Hewavitarne on page 87 of vol
> I. It starts:
>
> Devalokato hi devaputto aayu-kkhayena puñña-kkhayena
> aahaara-kkhaayena kopenaa ti catuuhi kaara.nehi cavanti.
>
> The explanations follow. aahaara-kkhaayena is a bit humorous: a
> deva who is too absorbed in sensual pleasures forgets to eat and
> dies of exhaustion!

When reading the explanatory passage, "aparopi kaamagu.ne
paribhu~njamaano satisammosena aahaara.m aparibhu~njitvaa
kilantakaayo kaala.m karoti. eva.m _aahaarakkhayena_ cavati
naama," one should bear in mind that the kilanta in kilantakaaya
(like the kila in attakilamatthaanuyoga) can cover a great
variety of bodily afflictions, inconveniences, torments, or
deprivations. Though the image of a deva over-exerting himself
with a nymph and dying out of shortness of breath is faintly
amusing, nevertheless, in the present context I would think
starvation would be more likely than exhaustion. A 14th century
Siamese treatise on cosmology, the Traibhuumikathaa, explains
that a deva's body is so sensitive that he will die if copulation
causes him to forget to eat even one breakfast. The writer adds
that he will not be saved even if he subsequently eats 100 meals.

Best wishes,
Dhammanando