sutta » sn » sn7 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 7.19

Mātuposakasutta

The Brahmin Who Provided for His Mother The Mother Supporter

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho mātuposako brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.
Then a brahmin who provided for his mother went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.
Then a brahmin who supported his mother approached the Blessed One

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mātuposako brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha,
… and said to him:

“ahañhi, bho gotama, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesāmi, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesitvā mātāpitaro posemi.
“Mister Gotama, I seek alms by legitimate means, which I use to provide for my mother and father.
Master Gotama, I seek almsfood righteously and thereby support my mother and father.

Kaccāhaṁ, bho gotama, evaṅkārī kiccakārī homī”ti?
In doing so, am I doing my duty?”
In doing so, am I doing my duty?

“Taggha tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṅkārī kiccakārī hosi.
“Indeed, brahmin, in so doing you are doing your duty.
For sure, brahmin, in doing so you are doing your duty.

Yo kho, brāhmaṇa, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesati, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesitvā mātāpitaro poseti, bahuṁ so puññaṁ pasavatīti.
Whoever seeks alms by legitimate means, and uses them to provide for their mother and father creates much merit.
One who seeks almsfood righteously and thereby supports his mother and father generates much merit.

Yo mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vā,
A mortal provides for their mother
“And His parents,

macco dhammena posati;
and father by legitimate means;
When a mortal righteously supports,

Tāya naṁ pāricariyāya,
because they look after
Because of this service to

mātāpitūsu paṇḍitā;
their parents like this,
his parents, The wise

Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,
they’re praised in this life by the astute,
praise him here in this world,

pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.
and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”
And after death he rejoices in heaven.

Evaṁ vutte, mātuposako brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
When he said this, the brahmin who provided for his mother said to the Buddha,
When this was said,the brahmin who supported his mother said to the Blessed One:

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…
“Excellent, Mister Gotama! Excellent! …
Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent, Master Gotama!…

upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
From this day forth, may Mister Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
Let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who from today has gone for refuge for life.