A Child (AN5.39)

Numbered Discourses 5.39

4. With Sumanā

A Child

“Mendicants, parents see five reasons to wish for the birth of a child in the family.

What five?

Since we looked after them, they’ll look after us.

They’ll do their duty for us.

The family customs will last.

They’ll take care of the inheritance.

Or else when we have passed away they’ll give an offering on our behalf.

Parents see these five reasons to wish for the birth of a child in the family.

Seeing five reasons,

astute people wish for a child.

Since we looked after them, they’ll look after us.

They’ll do their duty for us.

The family customs will last.

They’ll take care of the inheritance.

Or else when we have passed away

they’ll give an offering on our behalf.

Seeing these five reasons

astute people wish for a child.

And so true persons,

grateful and thankful,

look after their parents,

remembering past deeds.

They do for their parents,

as their parents did for them in the past.

Following their advice, looking after those who raised them,

the family customs are not lost.

Faithful, accomplished in ethics,

such a child is praiseworthy.”