A Child · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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this was saidVuttañhetaṁ by the Blessed Onebhagavatā it was said by the Perfected Onevuttamarahatāti by meme heardsutaṁ:
This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
these three“Tayome,
monksbhikkhave,
childrenputtā
existingsanto
being foundsaṁvijjamānā
in the worldlokasmiṁ.
whichKatame
threetayo?
one who betters their birthAtijāto,
one who equals their birthanujāto,
one who fails their birthavajātoti.
“These three kinds of children are found in the world. What three? One who betters their birth, one who equals their birth, one who fails their birth.
and howKathañca,
monksbhikkhave,
a childputto
better bornatijāto
ishoti?
hereIdha,
monksbhikkhave,
of a childputtassa
parentsmātāpitaro
arehonti—
notna
the Buddhabuddhaṁ
as refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegatā,
notna
the teachingdhammaṁ
as refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegatā,
notna
the Saṅghasaṅghaṁ
as refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegatā;
from killing living creaturespāṇātipātā
not abstainingappaṭiviratā,
from taking what is not givenadinnādānā
not abstainingappaṭiviratā,
from sexual misconductkāmesumicchācārā
not abstainingappaṭiviratā,
from lyingmusāvādā
not abstainingappaṭiviratā,
from intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquorsurāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā
not abstainingappaṭiviratā,
immoraldussīlā
of bad characterpāpadhammā.
a childPutto
butca
theirnesaṁ
ishoti—
the Buddhabuddhaṁ
as refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegato,
the teachingdhammaṁ
as refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegato,
the Saṅghasaṅghaṁ
as refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegato;
from killing living creaturespāṇātipātā
abstainingpaṭivirato,
from taking what is not givenadinnādānā
abstainingpaṭivirato,
from sexual misconductkāmesumicchācārā
abstainingpaṭivirato,
from lyingmusāvādā
abstainingpaṭivirato,
from intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquorsurāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā
abstainingpaṭivirato,
ethicalsīlavā
of good characterkalyāṇadhammo.
thusEvaṁ
indeedkho,
monksbhikkhave,
a childputto
better bornatijāto
ishoti.
And how does a child better their birth? It’s when a child’s parents have not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re immoral, of bad character. But their child has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character. That’s how a child betters their birth.
and howKathañca,
monksbhikkhave,
a childputto
equal to their birthanujāto
ishoti?
hereIdha,
monksbhikkhave,
of a childputtassa
parentsmātāpitaro
arehonti—
the Buddhabuddhaṁ
refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegatā,
the teachingdhammaṁ
refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegatā,
the Saṅghasaṅghaṁ
refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegatā;
from killing living creaturespāṇātipātā
abstainingpaṭiviratā,
from taking what is not givenadinnādānā
abstainingpaṭiviratā,
from sexual misconductkāmesumicchācārā
abstainingpaṭiviratā,
from lyingmusāvādā
abstainingpaṭiviratā,
from intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquorsurāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā
abstainingpaṭiviratā,
ethicalsīlavanto
of good characterkalyāṇadhammā.
and their child tooPuttopi
of themnesaṁ
ishoti—
the Buddhabuddhaṁ
refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegato,
the teachingdhammaṁ
refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegato,
the Saṅghasaṅghaṁ
refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegato;
from killing living creaturespāṇātipātā
abstainingpaṭivirato,
from taking what is not givenadinnādānā
abstainingpaṭivirato,
from sexual misconductkāmesumicchācārā
abstainingpaṭivirato,
from lyingmusāvādā
abstainingpaṭivirato,
from intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquorsurāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā
abstainingpaṭivirato,
ethicalsīlavā
of good characterkalyāṇadhammo.
thusEvaṁ
indeedkho,
monksbhikkhave,
a childputto
equal to their birthanujāto
ishoti.
And how does a child equal their birth? It’s when a child’s parents have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character. And their child has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character. That’s how a child equals their birth.
and howKathañca,
monksbhikkhave,
a sonputto
fails his birthavajāto
ishoti?
hereIdha,
monksbhikkhave,
of a sonputtassa
mother and fathermātāpitaro
arehonti—
to the Buddhabuddhaṁ
as refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegatā,
to the Dhammadhammaṁ
as refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegatā,
to the Saṅghasaṅghaṁ
as refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegatā;
from killing living creaturespāṇātipātā
refrainingpaṭiviratā,
from taking what is not givenadinnādānā
refrainingpaṭiviratā,
from sexual misconductkāmesumicchācārā
refrainingpaṭiviratā,
from false speechmusāvādā
refrainingpaṭiviratā,
from distilled, fermented, and brewed intoxicants causing heedlessnesssurāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā
refrainingpaṭiviratā,
virtuoussīlavanto
of good characterkalyāṇadhammā.
but the sonPutto
andca
of themnesaṁ
ishoti—
notna
to the Buddhabuddhaṁ
as refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegato,
notna
to the Dhammadhammaṁ
as refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegato,
notna
to the Saṅghasaṅghaṁ
as refugesaraṇaṁ
gonegato;
from killing living creaturespāṇātipātā
not refrainingappaṭivirato,
from taking what is not givenadinnādānā
not refrainingappaṭivirato,
from sexual misconductkāmesumicchācārā
not refrainingappaṭivirato,
from false speechmusāvādā
not refrainingappaṭivirato,
from distilled, fermented, and brewed intoxicants causing heedlessnesssurāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā
not refrainingappaṭivirato,
immoraldussīlo
of bad characterpāpadhammo.
thusEvaṁ
indeedkho,
monksbhikkhave,
a sonputto
fails his birthavajāto
ishoti.
theseIme
indeedkho,
monksbhikkhave,
threetayo
sonsputtā
beingsanto
foundsaṁvijjamānā
in the worldlokasmin”ti.
this meaningEtamatthaṁ
the Blessed Onebhagavā
spokeavoca.
on this it is saidTatthetaṁ
thusiti
is saidvuccati:
And how does a child fail their birth? It’s when a child’s parents have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character. But their child has not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re immoral, of bad character. That’s how a child fails their birth. These are the three kinds of children found in the world.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:
“better than their birth“Atijātaṁ
equal to their birth,anujātaṁ,
they wish for a childputtamicchanti
the astute;paṇḍitā;
one who fails their birthAvajātaṁ
notna
they wish for,icchanti,
whoyo
ishoti
disgracing their family.kulagandhano.
“The astute wish for a child who betters or equals their birth; not one who fails their birth, disgracing their family.
theseEte
indeedkho
sonsputtā
in the worldlokasmiṁ,
whoye
becomebhavanti
lay devoteesupāsakā;
faithfulSaddhā
with virtuesīlena
accomplishedsampannā,
bountifulvadaññū
rid of stinginessvītamaccharā;
the moonCando
from cloudsabbhaghanā
freedmutto,
in the assembliesparisāsu
shine brightlyvirocare”ti.
These are the children in the world who become lay devotees; faithful, accomplished in ethics, bountiful, rid of stinginess. Like the moon freed from clouds, they dazzle in the assemblies.”
this tooAyampi
matterattho
spokenvutto
by the Blessed Onebhagavatā,
thusiti
Ime
heardsutanti.
fifthPañcamaṁ.
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.
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