106. With Brahmā

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Sabrahmakāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti.

Sapubbadevatāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti.

Sapubbācariyakāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti.

Sāhuneyyakāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti.

‘Brahmā’ti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Pubbadevatā’ti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Pubbācariyā’ti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Āhuneyyā’ti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Bahukārā, bhikkhave, mātāpitaro puttānaṁ āpādakā posakā imassa lokassa dassetāro”ti.

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Brahmāti mātāpitaro,

pubbācariyāti vuccare;

Āhuneyyā ca puttānaṁ,

pajāya anukampakā.

Tasmā hi ne namasseyya,

sakkareyya ca paṇḍito;

Annena atha pānena,

vatthena sayanena ca;

Ucchādanena nhāpanena,

pādānaṁ dhovanena ca.

Tāya naṁ pāricariyāya,

mātāpitūsu paṇḍitā;

Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,

pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Sattamaṁ.

This was said by the Lord…

“Living with Brahmā are those families where, within the home, mother and father are respected by their children. Living with the early devas are those families where, within the home, mother and father are respected by their children. Living with the early teachers are those families where, within the home, mother and father are respected by their children. Living with those worthy of adoration are those families where, within the home, mother and father are respected by their children. ‘Brahmā,’ bhikkhus, is a term for mother and father. ‘Early devas’ and ‘early teachers’ and ‘those worthy of veneration’ are terms for mother and father. For what reason? Because mother and father are very helpful to their children, they take care of them and bring them up and teach them about the world.”

Mother and father are called
“Brahmā,” “early teachers”
And “worthy of veneration,”
Being compassionate towards
Their family of children.

Thus the wise should venerate them,
Pay them due honour,
Provide them with food and drink,
Give them clothing and a bed,
Anoint and bathe them
And also wash their feet.

When he performs such service
For his mother and his father,
They praise that wise person even here
And hereafter he rejoices in heaven.