AN 5.39

Puttasutta

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, ṭhānāni sampassantā mātāpitaro puttaṁ icchanti kule jāyamānaṁ. Katamāni pañca? Bhato vā no bharissati; kiccaṁ vā no karissati; kulavaṁso ciraṁ ṭhassati; dāyajjaṁ paṭipajjissati; atha vā pana petānaṁ kālaṅkatānaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ anuppadassatīti. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca ṭhānāni sampassantā mātāpitaro puttaṁ icchanti kule jāyamānanti.

A Child

“Mendicants, parents see five reasons to wish for the birth of a child in the family. What five? Since we looked after them, they’ll look after us. They’ll do their duty for us. The family customs will last. They’ll take care of the inheritance. Or else when we have passed away they’ll give an offering on our behalf. Parents see these five reasons to wish for the birth of a child in the family.

Pañca ṭhānāni sampassaṁ, puttaṁ icchanti paṇḍitā; Bhato vā no bharissati, kiccaṁ vā no karissati.

Seeing five reasons, astute people wish for a child. Since we looked after them, they’ll look after us. They’ll do their duty for us.

Kulavaṁso ciraṁ tiṭṭhe, dāyajjaṁ paṭipajjati; Atha vā pana petānaṁ, dakkhiṇaṁ anuppadassati.

The family customs will last. They’ll take care of the inheritance. Or else when we have passed away they’ll give an offering on our behalf.

Ṭhānānetāni sampassaṁ, puttaṁ icchanti paṇḍitā; Tasmā santo sappurisā, kataññū katavedino.

Seeing these five reasons astute people wish for a child. And so true persons, grateful and thankful,

Bharanti mātāpitaro, pubbe katamanussaraṁ; Karonti nesaṁ kiccāni, yathā taṁ pubbakārinaṁ.

look after their parents, remembering past deeds. They do for their parents, as their parents did for them in the past.

Ovādakārī bhataposī, kulavaṁsaṁ ahāpayaṁ; Saddho sīlena sampanno, putto hoti pasaṁsiyo”ti.

Following their advice, looking after those who raised them, the family customs are not lost. Faithful, accomplished in ethics, such a child is praiseworthy.”