1At Sāvatthī.

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

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: “Master Gotama, I seek alms by legitimate means, which I use to provide for my mother and father. In doing so, am I doing my duty?”

“Indeed, brahmin, in so doing you are doing your duty. Whoever seeks alms by legitimate means, and uses them to provide for their mother and father makes much merit.

2A mortal provides for their mother
and father by legitimate means;
because they look after
their parents like this,
they’re praised in this life by the astute,
and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

3When he said this, the brahmin who provided for his mother said to the Buddha: “Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

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

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mātuposako brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "ahañhi, bho gotama, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesāmi, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesitvā mātāpitaro posemi. Kaccāhaṁ, bho gotama, evaṅkārī kiccakārī homī"ti?

"Taggha tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṅkārī kiccakārī hosi. Yo kho, brāhmaṇa, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesati, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesitvā mātāpitaro poseti, bahuṁ so puññaṁ pāsavātīti.

2Yo mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vā,
macco dhammena posati;
Tāya naṁ pāricariyāya,
mātāpitūsu paṇḍitā;
Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,
pecca sagge pamodatī"ti.

3Evaṁ vutte, mātuposako brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama … pe … upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.