sutta » sn » sn7 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 7.19

Mātuposakasutta

The Mother Supporter The Brahmin Who Provided for His Mother

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
At Sāvatthī.

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

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

“ahañhi, bho gotama, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesāmi, dhammena bhikkhaṁ pariyesitvā mātāpitaro posemi.
Master Gotama, I seek almsfood righteously and thereby support my mother and father.
“Mister Gotama, I seek alms by legitimate means, which I use to provide for 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.
For sure, brahmin, in doing so you are doing your duty.
“Indeed, brahmin, in so doing you are doing your duty.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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