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Linked Discourses 7.19 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 7.19

2. Lay Followers – 2. Upāsakavagga

SN 7.19 The Brahmin Who Provided for His Mother – Mātuposakasutta

 

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Then a brahmin who provided for his mother went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

Atha kho mātuposako brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha,

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mātuposako brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Master Gotama, I seek alms by legitimate means, which I use to provide for my mother and father.

“ahañhi, bho gotama, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesāmi, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesitvā mātāpitaro posemi.

In doing so, am I doing my duty?”

Kaccāhaṁ, bho gotama, evaṅkārī kiccakārī homī”ti?

“Indeed, brahmin, in so doing you are doing your duty.

“Taggha tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṅkārī kiccakārī hosi.

Whoever seeks alms by legitimate means, and uses them to provide for their mother and father makes much merit.

Yo kho, brāhmaṇa, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesati, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesitvā mātāpitaro poseti, bahuṁ so puññaṁ pasavatīti.

A mortal provides for their mother

Yo mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vā,

and father by legitimate means;

macco dhammena posati;

because they look after

Tāya naṁ pāricariyāya,

their parents like this,

mātāpitūsu paṇḍitā;

they’re praised in this life by the astute,

Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,

and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.

When he said this, the brahmin who provided for his mother said to the Buddha,

Evaṁ vutte, mātuposako brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent! …

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.