AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.63 Living with Brahmā

Numbered Discourses 4.63 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.63

7. Deeds of Substance – 7. Pattakammavagga

AN 4.63 Living with Brahmā – Brahmasutta

1.1

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

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

1.2

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

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

1.3

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

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

1.4

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

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

2.1

‘Brahmā’ is a term for your parents.

Brahmāti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

2.2

‘First teachers’ is a term for your parents.

Pubbācariyāti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

2.3

‘Old deities’ is a term for your parents.

Pubbadevatāti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

2.4

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

Āhuneyyāti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

2.5

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

2.6

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

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

3.1

Parents are said to be ‘Brahmā’

Brahmāti mātāpitaro,

3.2

and ‘first teachers’.

pubbācariyāti vuccare;

3.3

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

Āhuneyyā ca puttānaṁ,

3.4

for they love their offspring.

pajāya anukampakā.

4.1

Therefore an astute person

Tasmā hi ne namasseyya,

4.2

would revere them and honor them

sakkareyya ca paṇḍito;

4.3

with food and drink,

Annena atha pānena,

4.4

clothes and bedding,

vatthena sayanena ca;

4.5

by anointing and bathing,

Ucchādanena nhāpanena,

4.6

and by washing their feet.

pādānaṁ dhovanena ca.

5.1

Because they look after

Tāya naṁ pāricariyāya,

5.2

their parents like this,

mātāpitūsu paṇḍitā;

5.3

they’re praised in this life by the astute,

Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,

5.4

and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.

5.5

Tatiyaṁ.