Sabrahmaka Sutta
So said the Awakened One, the Arahant, as I heard it:
(1) All of these good families, monks, live with Brahma
where, at home, mother and father are held in honor. [1]
(2) All of these good families, monks, live with the ancient Devas [2]
where, at home, mother and father are held in respect.
(3) All of these good families, monks, live with the first teachers
where, at home, mother and father are held in esteem.
(4) All of these good families, monks, are worthy of praise,
where, at home, mother and father are venerated.
“Brahma” monks, this is a designation for mother and father.
“Ancient Devas” monks, this is a designation for mother and father.
“First teachers” monks, this is a designation for mother and father.
“Worthy of praise” monks, this is a designation for mother and father.
For what reason?
Mother and father do much for their children, monks,
they bring them up, nurture them,
and they show them the world. [3]
This is what the Awakened One said.
Then he explained further:
“Mother and father, this is Brahma,
The first teachers they are called,
Worthy of respect by their children,
Because of the Love they have for them. [4]
Therefore the wise one reveres them
pays homage to them
with food and beverages
clothes and a residence,
bathing them and cleaning them,
even washing their feet. [5]
Those who attend to their parents’ needs
they are called wise,
Those here who are praised as such,
when death arrives, they go happily in the life to come.” [6]
This is what the Awakened One said, as I heard it.
[1] “Sabrahmakāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti. Brahma here is perhaps the closest god of the Hindu polytheistic pantheon to the popular monotheistic vision of ‘God’ in the west as being an all-knowing, almighty overseer and creator of the universe. Here, much of the beauty on the Buddha’s outlook on ‘those who live in God’, especially for those who do not intend to take the step into the monastic life, can be seen. Here, those who abide in the love of their mothers and fathers, the Buddha says, abide with God.
[2] Sapubbadevatāni, Sapubbācariyakāni, Sāhuneyyakāni
[3] Bahukārā, bhikkhave, mātāpitaro puttānaṁ āpādakā posakā imassa lokassa dassetāro”ti.
[4] “Brahmāti mātāpitaro, pubbācariyāti vuccare; Āhuneyyā ca puttānaṁ, pajāya anukampakā.
[5] Tasmā hi ne namasseyya, sakkareyya ca paṇḍito; Annena atha pānena, vatthena sayanena ca; Ucchādanena nhāpanena, pādānaṁ dhovanena ca.
[6] Tāya naṁ pāricariyāya, mātāpitūsu paṇḍitā; Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti, pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.
