This discourse was taught by the Blessed One, taught by the Arahant, the fully enlightened Supreme Buddha. This is as I heard,
“Monks, at home, some children treat their mother and father respectfully. Those families are living with Brahma. Monks, at home, some children treat their mother and father respectfully. Those families are living with first gods. Monks, at home, some children treat their mother and father respectfully. Those families are living with first teachers. Monks, at home, some children treat their mother and father respectfully. Those families are living with those worthy of gifts.
Monks, ‘Brahma’ is a synonym for mother and father. ‘The first gods’ is a synonym for mother and father. ‘The first teachers’ is a synonym for mother and father. ‘Those worthy of gifts’ is a synonym for mother and father. Why is that? Because mother and father are very helpful to their children, they take care of them and bring them up and introduce them to this world.”
This is the meaning of what the Blessed One said. So, with regard to this, it was said:
Mothers and fathers are called ‘Brahma’ and ‘first teachers’. They show their children compassion and are worthy of receiving gifts from them. Therefore, wise children should pay homage to their parents, honour them, and provide them with food, drink, clothing, and bedding. They should anoint and bathe them and wash the dust from their feet.
Performing these services for their parents, wise children are praised in this life and in the next. They rejoice in heaven.
This, too, is the meaning of what was said by the Blessed One. This is exactly as I heard.
