Catukkanipāta 4

Numbered Discourses 4.4

1. At Wares Village

Broken (2nd)

1 “When a foolish, incompetent untrue person acts wrongly toward four people they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness. What four? Mother … father … a Realized One … and a disciple of a Realized One. When a foolish, incompetent untrue person acts wrongly toward these four people they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness.

2 When an astute, competent true person acts rightly toward four individuals they keep themselves intact and unscathed. They don’t deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much merit. What four? Mother … father … a Realized One … and a disciple of a Realized One. When an astute, competent true person acts rightly toward these four people they keep themselves healthy and whole. They don’t deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much merit.

3 A person who does wrong

by their mother or father,

or a Realized One, a Buddha,

or one of their disciples,

brims with much wickedness.

4 Because of their unprincipled conduct

toward their parents,

they’re criticized in this life by the astute,

and they depart to be reborn in a place of loss.

5 A person who does right

by their mother and father,

or a Realized One, a Buddha,

or one of their disciples,

brims with much merit.

6 Because of their principled conduct

toward their parents,

they’re praised in this life by the astute,

and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”