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← Aṅguttara Nikāya

A Child

AN 5.39 · Puttasutta

Gentle river ripples interrupt the reflection of bare branches.

“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.”

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Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.