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AN 3.31PTS AN 1.1321 min read

With Divinity

Sabrahmakasutta

Parents should be honored like Brahmā.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.31Numbered Discourses 3.31
  • 0.24. Devadūtavagga4. Messengers of the Gods

0.3SabrahmakasuttaWith Divinity

1.1PTS 1.132“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.1.2Sapubbācariyakāni, 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.1.3Sāhuneyyāni, 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.

1.4‘Brahmā’ti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.‘Divinity’ is a term for your parents.

1.5‘Pubbācariyā’ti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.‘First tutors’ is a term for your parents.

1.6‘Āhuneyyā’ti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.‘Worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods’ is a term for your parents.

1.7Taṁ kissa hetu?Why is that?1.8Bahukārā, 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.

2.1Brahmāti mātāpitaro,Parents are said to be ‘divinity’2.2pubbācariyāti vuccare;and ‘first tutors’, it’s said.2.3Āhuneyyā ca puttānaṁ,They’re worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods <j>from their children,2.4pajāya anukampakā.for they love their offspring.

3.1Tasmā hi ne namasseyya,Therefore an astute person3.2sakkareyya ca paṇḍito;would revere them and honor them3.3Annena atha pānena,with food and drink,3.4vatthena sayanena ca;clothes and bedding,3.5Ucchādanena nhāpanena,anointing and bathing,3.6pādānaṁ dhovanena ca.and by washing their feet.

4.1Tāya naṁ pāricariyāya,Because they look after4.2mātāpitūsu paṇḍitā;their parents like this,4.3Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,in this life they’re praised by the astute,4.4pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

4.5Paṭhamaṁ.