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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

4: The Book of the Fours

VII. Deeds of Substance — AN 4.63: Living with Brahmā

1“Mendicants, a family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with Brahmā. A family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with the first teachers. A family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with the old deities. A family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with those worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods.


2‘Brahmā’ is a term for your parents.

‘First teachers’ is a term for your parents.

‘Old deities’ is a term for your parents.

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

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


3Parents are said to be ‘Brahmā’
and ‘first teachers’.
They’re worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods from their children,
for they love their offspring.

4Therefore an astute person
would revere them and honor them
with food and drink,
clothes and bedding,
by anointing and bathing,
and by washing their feet.

5Because they look after
their parents like this,
they’re praised in this life by the astute,
and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

1"Sabrahmakāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti. Sapubbācariyakāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni, yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti. Sapubbadevatāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti. Sāhuneyyakāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti.


2Brahmāti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

Pubbācariyāti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

Pubbadevatāti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

Āhuneyyāti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

Taṁ kissa hetu? Bahukārā, bhikkhave, mātāpitaro, puttānaṁ āpādakā posakā imassa lokassa dassetāroti.


3Brahmāti mātāpitaro,
pubbācariyāti vuccare;
Āhuneyyā ca puttānaṁ,
pajāya anukampakā.

4Tasmā hi ne namasseyya,
sakkareyya ca paṇḍito;
Annena atha pānena,
vatthena sayanena ca;
Ucchādanena nhāpanena,
pādānaṁ dhovanena ca.

5Tāya naṁ pāricariyāya,
mātāpitūsu paṇḍitā;
Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,
pecca sagge pamodatī"ti.

Tatiyaṁ.