Sabrahmakasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.31

Numbered Discourses 3.31

4. Devadūtavagga

4. Messengers of the Gods

Sabrahmakasutta

With Divinity

“Sabrahmakāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti.

“Mendicants, a family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with divinity.

Sapubbācariyakāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti.

A family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with the first tutors.

Sāhuneyyāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti.

A family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with those worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods.

‘Brahmā’ti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Divinity’ is a term for your parents.

‘Pubbācariyā’ti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘First tutors’ is a term for your parents.

‘Āhuneyyā’ti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods’ is a term for your parents.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Bahukārā, bhikkhave, mātāpitaro puttānaṁ, āpādakā posakā, imassa lokassa dassetāroti.

Parents are very helpful to their children, they raise them, nurture them, and show them the world.

Brahmāti mātāpitaro,

Parents are said to be ‘divinity’

pubbācariyāti vuccare;

and ‘first tutors’, it’s said.

Āhuneyyā ca puttānaṁ,

They’re worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods
from their children,

pajāya anukampakā.

for they love their offspring.

Tasmā hi ne namasseyya,

Therefore an astute person

sakkareyya ca paṇḍito;

would revere them and honor them

Annena atha pānena,

with food and drink,

vatthena sayanena ca;

clothes and bedding,

Ucchādanena nhāpanena,

anointing and bathing,

pādānaṁ dhovanena ca.

and by washing their feet.

Tāya naṁ pāricariyāya,

Because they look after

mātāpitūsu paṇḍitā;

their parents like this,

Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,

in this life they’re praised by the astute,

pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.

and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

Paṭhamaṁ.