1.1Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

2.1“Tayome, bhikkhave, puttā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.“These three kinds of children are found in the world.2.2Katame tayo?What three?2.3Atijāto, anujāto, avajātoti.One who betters their birth, one who equals their birth, one who fails their birth.

3.1Kathañca, bhikkhave, putto atijāto hoti?And how does a child better their birth?3.2Idha, bhikkhave, puttassa mātāpitaro honti—It’s when a child’s parents3.3na buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, na dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, na saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā;have not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.3.4pāṇātipātā appaṭiviratā, adinnādānā appaṭiviratā, kāmesumicchācārā appaṭiviratā, musāvādā appaṭiviratā, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā appaṭiviratā, dussīlā pāpadhammā.They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re immoral, of bad character.3.5Putto ca nesaṁ hoti—But their child3.6buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato;has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.3.7pāṇātipātā paṭivirato, adinnādānā paṭivirato, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato, musāvādā paṭivirato, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato, sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo.They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character.3.8Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, putto atijāto hoti.That’s how a child betters their birth.

4.1Kathañca, bhikkhave, putto anujāto hoti?And how does a child equal their birth?4.2Idha, bhikkhave, puttassa mātāpitaro honti—It’s when a child’s parents4.3buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā;have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.4.4pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā, adinnādānā paṭiviratā, kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā, musāvādā paṭiviratā, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā, sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā.They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character.4.5Puttopi nesaṁ hoti—And their child4.6buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato;has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.4.7pāṇātipātā paṭivirato, adinnādānā paṭivirato, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato, musāvādā paṭivirato, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato, sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo.They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character.4.8Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, putto anujāto hoti.That’s how a child equals their birth.

5.1Kathañca, bhikkhave, putto avajāto hoti?And how does a child fail their birth?5.2Idha, bhikkhave, puttassa mātāpitaro honti—It’s when a child’s parents5.3buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā;have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.5.4pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā, adinnādānā paṭiviratā, kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā, musāvādā paṭiviratā, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā, sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā.They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character.5.5Putto ca nesaṁ hoti—But their child5.6na buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, na dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, na saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato;has not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.5.7pāṇātipātā appaṭivirato, adinnādānā appaṭivirato, kāmesumicchācārā appaṭivirato, musāvādā appaṭivirato, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā appaṭivirato, dussīlo pāpadhammo.They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re immoral, of bad character.5.8Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, putto avajāto hoti.That’s how a child fails their birth.5.9Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puttā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.These are the three kinds of children found in the world.”

5.10Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.The Buddha spoke this matter.5.11Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:On this it is said:

6.1“Atijātaṁ anujātaṁ,“The astute wish for a child6.2puttamicchanti paṇḍitā;who betters or equals their birth;6.3Avajātaṁ na icchanti,not one who fails their birth,6.4yo hoti kulagandhano.disgracing their family.

7.1Ete kho puttā lokasmiṁ,These are the children in the world7.2ye bhavanti upāsakā;who become lay devotees;7.3Saddhā sīlena sampannā,faithful, accomplished in ethics,7.4vadaññū vītamaccharā;bountiful, rid of stinginess.7.5Cando abbhaghanā mutto,Like the moon freed from clouds,7.6parisāsu virocare”ti.they dazzle in the assemblies.”

8.1Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

8.2Pañcamaṁ.