Brahmasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.63

Numbered Discourses 4.63

7. Pattakammavagga

7. Fitting Deeds

Brahmasutta

Living 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.

Sapubbadevatāni, 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 elder gods.

Sāhuneyyakāni, 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.

Brahmāti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Divinity’ is a term for your parents.

Pubbācariyāti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘First tutors’ is a term for your parents.

Pubbadevatāti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Elder gods’ is a term for your parents.

Āhuneyyāti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Worthy of an offering 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’.

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,

by 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,

they’re praised in this life by the astute,

pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.

and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

Tatiyaṁ.