Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:
“Tayome, bhikkhave, puttā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame tayo? Atijāto, anujāto, avajātoti.
“Bhikkhus, there are these three kinds of children found in the world. What three? The one who surpasses [their parents], the one who follows in their footsteps, and the one who falls below [them].
Kathañca, bhikkhave, putto atijāto hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, puttassa mātāpitaro honti—na buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, na dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, na saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā; pāṇātipātā appaṭiviratā, adinnādānā appaṭiviratā, kāmesumicchācārā appaṭiviratā, musāvādā appaṭiviratā, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā appaṭiviratā, dussīlā pāpadhammā. Putto ca nesaṁ hoti—buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato; pāṇātipātā paṭivirato, adinnādānā paṭivirato, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato, musāvādā paṭivirato, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato, sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, putto atijāto hoti.
And how, bhikkhus, does a child become one who surpasses their parents? Here, bhikkhus, a child’s parents are ones who have not gone to the Buddha, |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|, or |Saṅgha::The community of monks and nuns practicing in line with the Buddha’s teachings. In the broader sense, this is the community of disciples who have realized the noble path and fruition through the Buddha’s teachings [saṅgha]| for refuge. They do not abstain from killing living beings, from taking what is not given, from sexual misconduct, from false speech, and from |consuming intoxicants::consuming wine, spirits, or drugs and getting intoxicated [surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhāyī]| causing carelessness; they are |unprincipled::without regard for ethical conduct [dussīla]| and |endowed with harmful qualities::one who has had a long association of harmful mental qualities - of negligence, laziness, having many wishes, irrational application of mind, lack of situational awareness, having bad friends, pursuing bad habits [pāpadhamma]|. But their child has gone to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha for refuge. They refrain from killing living beings, from taking what is not given, from sexual misconduct, from false speech, and from consuming intoxicants causing carelessness. They are |virtuous::ethical, moral [sīlavant]| and |endowed with wholesome qualities::one who has had a long association of wholesome mental qualities - of diligence, aroused energy, having few wishes, rational application of mind, having situational awareness, having good friends, pursuing good habits [kalyāṇadhamma]|. In this way, bhikkhus, a child becomes one who surpasses their parents.
Kathañca, bhikkhave, putto anujāto hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, puttassa mātāpitaro honti—buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā; pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā, adinnādānā paṭiviratā, kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā, musāvādā paṭiviratā, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā, sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā. Puttopi nesaṁ hoti—buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato; pāṇātipātā paṭivirato, adinnādānā paṭivirato, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato, musāvādā paṭivirato, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato, sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, putto anujāto hoti.
And how does a child become one who follows in their parents’ footsteps? Here, bhikkhus, a child’s parents are ones who have gone to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha for refuge. They refrain from killing living beings, from taking what is not given, from sexual misconduct, from false speech, and from consuming intoxicants causing carelessness. They are virtuous and endowed with wholesome qualities. And their child likewise has gone to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha for refuge. They refrain from killing living beings, from taking what is not given, from sexual misconduct, from false speech, and from consuming intoxicants causing carelessness. They are virtuous and endowed with wholesome qualities. In this way, bhikkhus, a child becomes one who follows in their parents’ footsteps.
Kathañca, bhikkhave, putto avajāto hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, puttassa mātāpitaro honti—buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā; pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā, adinnādānā paṭiviratā, kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā, musāvādā paṭiviratā, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā, sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā. Putto ca nesaṁ hoti—na buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, na dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, na saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato; pāṇātipātā appaṭivirato, adinnādānā appaṭivirato, kāmesumicchācārā appaṭivirato, musāvādā appaṭivirato, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā appaṭivirato, dussīlo pāpadhammo. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, putto avajāto hoti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puttā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.
And how, bhikkhus, does a child become one who falls below their parents? Here, bhikkhus, a child’s parents are ones who have gone to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha for refuge. They refrain from killing living beings, from taking what is not given, from sexual misconduct, from false speech, and from consuming intoxicants causing carelessness. They are virtuous and endowed with wholesome qualities. But their child has not gone to the Buddha, Dhamma, or Saṅgha for refuge. They do not abstain from killing living beings, from taking what is not given, from sexual misconduct, from false speech, and from consuming intoxicants causing carelessness; they are unprincipled and endowed with harmful qualities. In this way, bhikkhus, a child becomes one who falls below [their parents]. These, bhikkhus, are the three kinds of children found in the world.”
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Atijātaṁ anujātaṁ,
puttamicchanti paṇḍitā;
Avajātaṁ na icchanti,
yo hoti kulagandhano.
“The wise desire a child,
who surpasses or one who follows after them;
They do not wish for one who falls below,
who brings dishonor to the family.
Ete kho puttā lokasmiṁ,
ye bhavanti upāsakā;
Saddhā sīlena sampannā,
vadaññū vītamaccharā;
Cando abbhaghanā mutto,
parisāsu virocare”ti.
These are the children found in the world—
Those who are lay followers,
endowed with faith and virtue,
generous, and |free from stinginess::selfless, without envy, jealousy, or hostility [vītamacchara]|;
Like the moon freed from clouds,
they shine brightly among |assemblies::communities [parisā]|.”
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.