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Puttasutta

A Child

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Tayome, bhikkhave, puttā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.
“These three kinds of children are found in the world.

Katame tayo?
What three?

Atijāto, anujāto, avajātoti.
One who betters their birth, one who equals their birth, one who fails their birth.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, putto atijāto hoti?
And how does a child better their birth?

Idha, bhikkhave, puttassa mātāpitaro honti—
It’s when a child’s parents

na buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, na dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, na saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā;
have not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.

pāṇātipātā appaṭiviratā, adinnādānā appaṭiviratā, kāmesumicchācārā appaṭiviratā, musāvādā appaṭiviratā, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā appaṭiviratā, dussīlā pāpadhammā.
They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and use alcoholic drinks that cause negligence. They’re immoral, of bad character.

Putto ca nesaṁ hoti—
But their child

buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato;
has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.

pāṇātipātā paṭivirato, adinnādānā paṭivirato, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato, musāvādā paṭivirato, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato, sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo.
They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or take alcoholic drinks that cause negligence. They’re ethical, of good character.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, putto atijāto hoti.
That’s how a child betters their birth.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, putto anujāto hoti?
And how does a child equal their birth?

Idha, bhikkhave, puttassa mātāpitaro honti—
It’s when a child’s parents

buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā;
have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.

pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā, adinnādānā paṭiviratā, kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā, musāvādā paṭiviratā, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā, sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā.
They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or take alcoholic drinks that cause negligence. They’re ethical, of good character.

Puttopi nesaṁ hoti—
And their child

buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato;
has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.

pāṇātipātā paṭivirato, adinnādānā paṭivirato, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato, musāvādā paṭivirato, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato, sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo.
They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or take alcoholic drinks that cause negligence. They’re ethical, of good character.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, putto anujāto hoti.
That’s how a child equals their birth.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, putto avajāto hoti?
And how does a child fail their birth?

Idha, bhikkhave, puttassa mātāpitaro honti—
It’s when a child’s parents

buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā;
have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.

pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā, adinnādānā paṭiviratā, kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā, musāvādā paṭiviratā, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā, sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā.
They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or take alcoholic drinks that cause negligence. They’re ethical, of good character.

Putto ca nesaṁ hoti—
But their child

na buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, na dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, na saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato;
has not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.

pāṇātipātā appaṭivirato, adinnādānā appaṭivirato, kāmesumicchācārā appaṭivirato, musāvādā appaṭivirato, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā appaṭivirato, dussīlo pāpadhammo.
They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and use alcoholic drinks that cause negligence. They’re immoral, of bad character.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, putto avajāto hoti.
That’s how a child fails their birth.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puttā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.
These are the three kinds of children found in the world.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.
The Buddha spoke this matter.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
On this it is said:

“Atijātaṁ anujātaṁ,
“The astute wish for a child

puttamicchanti paṇḍitā;
who betters or equals their birth;

Avajātaṁ na icchanti,
not one who fails their birth,

yo hoti kulagandhano.
disgracing their family.

Ete kho puttā lokasmiṁ,
These are the children in the world

ye bhavanti upāsakā;
who become lay devotees;

Saddhā sīlena sampannā,
faithful, accomplished in ethics,

vadaññū vītamaccharā;
bountiful, rid of stinginess.

Cando abbhaghanā mutto,
Like the moon freed from a cloud,

parisāsu virocare”ti.
they shine in the assemblies.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

Pañcamaṁ.