Anguttara Nikaya 4.63

BuddhismAnguttara Nikaya 4.63

Parents are said to be ‘Divinity’ and ‘first tutors’. They’re worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods from their children, for they love their offspring. Therefore an astute person would revere them and honor them with food and drink, clothes and bedding, by anointing and bathing, and by washing their feet. Because they look after their parents like this, they’re praised in this life by the astute, and they depart to rejoice in heaven.

Brahmāti mātāpitaro, pubbācariyāti vuccare; Āhuneyyā ca puttānaṁ, pajāya anukampakā. Tasmā hi ne namasseyya, sakkareyya ca paṇḍito; Annena atha pānena, vatthena sayanena ca; Ucchādanena nhāpanena, pādānaṁ dhovanena ca. Tāya naṁ pāricariyāya, mātāpitūsu paṇḍitā; Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti, pecca sagge pamodatī.

⌂ Honouring parents ⌂ Care for elders

The same idea in other traditions

JudaismProverbs 23:22

Hearken unto thy father that begot thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old.

ConfucianismAnalects 4.21

The Master said, "The years of parents may by no means not be kept in the memory, as an occasion at once for joy and for fear."

Christianity1 Timothy 5:4

But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

SufismBustan, ch. 1

When thy servant becomes stricken in years, be not unmindful of thy obligations towards him. If old age binds his hand from service, the hand of generosity yet remains to thee.

JainismUttaradhyayana 32.3

This is the road to it: to serve the Gurus and the old (teachers), to avoid throughout foolish people, to apply oneself earnestly to study, and to ponder zealously on the meaning of the Sûtras.

IslamQuran 31:14

And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command), "Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal.

TaoismTao Te Ching 18

When the Great Tao (Way or Method) ceased to be observed, benevolence and righteousness came into vogue. (Then) appeared wisdom and shrewdness, and there ensued great hypocrisy. When harmony no longer prevailed throughout the six kinships, filial sons found their manifestation; when the states and clans fell into disorder, loyal ministers appeared.