AN 4.63

Brahmasutta

“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.

Living with Divinity

“Mendicants, a family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with divinity. A family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with the first tutors. A family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with the elder gods. A family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with those worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods.

Brahmāti, 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.

‘Divinity’ is a term for your parents. ‘First tutors’ is a term for your parents. ‘Elder gods’ 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.

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

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

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

Therefore 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.

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

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