4: The Book of the Fours
I. At Bhaṇḍa Village — AN 4.4: Broken (2nd)
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1“When a foolish, incompetent bad person acts wrongly toward four people they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they make much bad karma. What four? Mother … father … a Realized One … and a disciple of a Realized One. When a foolish, incompetent bad person acts wrongly toward these four people they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they make much bad karma.
2When an astute, competent good person acts rightly toward four people they keep themselves healthy and whole. They don’t deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they make much merit. What four? Mother … father … a Realized One … and a disciple of a Realized One. When an astute, competent good person acts rightly toward these four people they keep themselves healthy and whole. They don’t deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they make much merit.
3A person who does wrong
by their mother or father,
or a Realized One, a Buddha,
or one of their disciples,
makes much bad karma.
4Because of their unprincipled conduct
toward their parents,
they’re criticized in this life by the astute,
and they depart to be reborn in a place of loss.
5A person who does right
by their mother and father,
or a Realized One, a Buddha,
or one of their disciples,
makes much merit.
6Because of their principled conduct
toward their parents,
they’re praised in this life by the astute,
and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”
1"Catūsu, bhikkhave, micchā paṭipajjamāno bālo abyatto asappuriso khataṁ upahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati sāvajjo ca hoti sānuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca apuññaṁ pasavati. Katamesu catūsu? Mātari, bhikkhave, micchā paṭipajjamāno bālo abyatto asappuriso khataṁ upahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, sāvajjo ca hoti sānuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca apuññaṁ pasavati. Pitari, bhikkhave, micchā paṭipajjamāno … pe … tathāgate, bhikkhave, micchā paṭipajjamāno … pe … tathāgatasāvake, bhikkhave, micchā paṭipajjamāno bālo abyatto asappuriso khataṁ upahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, sāvajjo ca hoti sānuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca apuññaṁ pasavati. Imesu kho, bhikkhave, catūsu micchā paṭipajjamāno bālo abyatto asappuriso khataṁ upahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, sāvajjo ca hoti sānuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca apuññaṁ pasavati.
2Catūsu, bhikkhave, sammā paṭipajjamāno paṇḍito viyatto sappuriso akkhataṁ anupahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, anavajjo ca hoti ananuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca puññaṁ pasavati. Katamesu catūsu? Mātari, bhikkhave, sammā paṭipajjamāno paṇḍito viyatto sappuriso akkhataṁ anupahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, anavajjo ca hoti ananuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca puññaṁ pasavati. Pitari, bhikkhave, sammā paṭipajjamāno … pe … tathāgate, bhikkhave, sammā paṭipajjamāno … pe … tathāgatasāvake, bhikkhave, sammā paṭipajjamāno paṇḍito viyatto sappuriso akkhataṁ anupahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, anavajjo ca hoti ananuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca puññaṁ pasavati. Imesu kho, bhikkhave, catūsu sammā paṭipajjamāno paṇḍito viyatto sappuriso akkhataṁ anupahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, anavajjo ca hoti ananuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca puññaṁ pasavatīti.
3Mātari pitari cāpi,
yo micchā paṭipajjati;
Tathāgate vā sambuddhe,
atha vā tassa sāvake;
Bahuñca so pasavati,
apuññaṁ tādiso naro.
4Tāya naṁ adhammacariyāya,
Mātāpitūsu paṇḍitā;
Idheva naṁ garahanti,
Peccāpāyañca gacchati.
5Mātari pitari cāpi,
yo sammā paṭipajjati;
Tathāgate vā sambuddhe,
atha vā tassa sāvake;
Bahuñca so pasavati,
puññaṁ etādiso naro.
6Tāya naṁ dhammacariyāya,
mātāpitūsu paṇḍitā;
Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,
pecca sagge pamodatī"ti.
Catutthaṁ.