Aṅguttara Nikāya
IV. Catukka Nipāta
I. Bhaṇḍagāma Vagga

IV. The Book of the Fours

I: At Bhaṇḍagāma

Sutta 4

Dutiya Khata Suttaṃ

Uprooted (b)

[4] [4]

Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, by wrong conduct towards four persons
the foolish,
sinful,
unworthy man
carries about¹ with him
an uprooted,
lifeless self,
is blameworthy,
is censured by the intelligent
and begets much demerit.

Who are the four?

Monks, by wrong conduct towards mother,
the foolish,
sinful,
unworthy man
carries about with him
an uprooted,
lifeless self,
is blameworthy,
is censured by the intelligent
and begets much demerit.

Monks, by wrong conduct towards father,
the foolish,
sinful,
unworthy man
carries about with him
an uprooted,
lifeless self,
is blameworthy,
is censured by the intelligent
and begets much demerit.

Monks, by wrong conduct towards a Tathāgata,
the foolish,
sinful,
unworthy man
carries about with him
an uprooted,
lifeless self,
is blameworthy,
is censured by the intelligent
and begets much demerit.

Monks, by wrong conduct towards a Tathāgata's followers,
the foolish,
sinful,
unworthy man
carries about with him
an uprooted,
lifeless self,
is blameworthy,
is censured by the intelligent
and begets much demerit.

But, monks, by right conduct towards towards four persons
the wise,
virtuous,
worthy man
carries about with him
a self not uprooted,
not lifeless,
is not blameworthy,
is not censured by the intelligent
and begets much merit.

Who are the four?

Monks, by right conduct towards towards mother,
the wise,
virtuous,
worthy man
carries about with him
a self not uprooted,
not lifeless,
is not blameworthy,
is not censured by the intelligent
and begets much merit.

Monks, by right conduct towards towards father,
the wise,
virtuous,
worthy man
carries about with him
a self not uprooted,
not lifeless,
is not blameworthy,
is not censured by the intelligent
and begets much merit.

Monks, by right conduct towards towards a Tathāgata,
the wise,
virtuous,
worthy man
carries about with him
a self not uprooted,
not lifeless,
is not blameworthy,
is not censured by the intelligent
and begets much merit.

Monks, by right conduct towards towards a Tathāgata's followers
the wise,
virtuous,
worthy man
carries about with him
a self not uprooted,
not lifeless,
is not blameworthy,
is not censured by the intelligent
and begets much merit.

Mother and father and the Enlightened One,
Tathāgata, and those who follow him.
Whoso entreats ill stores up much woe.
For such ill deeds to parents, in this life
The sages blame that man, and in the life
That follows to the place of woe he goes.

Mother and father and the Enlightened One,
Tathāgata, and those who follow him,
Who so entreats well stores up much merit.
For such good deeds to parents, in this life
The sages praise that man, and afterwards
In the world of heaven he wins happiness.'