The Buddha teaches on a child, presenting a fivefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 5.39 A Child

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, ṭhānāni sampassantā mātāpitaro puttaṁ icchanti kule jāyamānaṁ. Katamāni pañca? Bhato no bharissati; kiccaṁ no karissati; kulavaṁso ciraṁ ṭhassati; dāyajjaṁ paṭipajjissati; atha pana petānaṁ kālaṅkatānaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ anuppadassatīti. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca ṭhānāni sampassantā mātāpitaro puttaṁ icchanti kule jāyamānanti.

Pañca ṭhānāni sampassaṁ,
puttaṁ icchanti paṇḍitā;
Bhato no bharissati,
kiccaṁ no karissati.

Kulavaṁso ciraṁ tiṭṭhe,
dāyajjaṁ paṭipajjati;
Atha pana petānaṁ,
dakkhiṇaṁ anuppadassati.

Ṭhānānetāni sampassaṁ,
puttaṁ icchanti paṇḍitā;
Tasmā santo sappurisā,
kataññū katavedino.

Bharanti mātāpitaro,
pubbe katamanussaraṁ;
Karonti nesaṁ kiccāni,
yathā taṁ pubbakārinaṁ.

Ovādakārī bhataposī,
kulavaṁsaṁ ahāpayaṁ;
Saddho sīlena sampanno,
putto hoti pasaṁsiyo”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, ṭhānāni sampassantā mātāpitaro puttaṁ icchanti kule jāyamānaṁ.

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

Katamāni pañca?

What five?

Bhato no bharissati;

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

kiccaṁ no karissati;

They’ll do their duty for us.

kulavaṁso ciraṁ ṭhassati;

The family traditions will last.

dāyajjaṁ paṭipajjissati;

They’ll take care of the inheritance.

atha pana petānaṁ kālaṅkatānaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ anuppadassatīti.

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

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca ṭhānāni sampassantā mātāpitaro puttaṁ icchanti kule jāyamānanti.

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

Pañca ṭhānāni sampassaṁ,

Seeing five reasons,

puttaṁ icchanti paṇḍitā;

astute people wish for a child.

Bhato no bharissati,

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

kiccaṁ no karissati.

They’ll do their duty for us.

Kulavaṁso ciraṁ tiṭṭhe,

The family traditions will last.

dāyajjaṁ paṭipajjati;

They’ll take care of the inheritance.

Atha pana petānaṁ,

Or else when we have passed away

dakkhiṇaṁ anuppadassati.

they’ll give an offering on our behalf.

Ṭhānānetāni sampassaṁ,

Seeing these five reasons

puttaṁ icchanti paṇḍitā;

astute people wish for a child.

Tasmā santo sappurisā,

And so true persons,

kataññū katavedino.

grateful and thankful,

Bharanti mātāpitaro,

look after their parents,

pubbe katamanussaraṁ;

remembering past deeds.

Karonti nesaṁ kiccāni,

They do for their parents,

yathā taṁ pubbakārinaṁ.

as their parents did for them in the past.

Ovādakārī bhataposī,

Following their advice, looking after those who raised them,

kulavaṁsaṁ ahāpayaṁ;

the family traditions are not lost.

Saddho sīlena sampanno,

Faithful, accomplished in ethics,

putto hoti pasaṁsiyo”ti.

such a child is praiseworthy.”

Navamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026