Related:: [[Gratitude]] # Mother (Mātā) & Father (Pita) > [!warning] It's Hard to repay Mother and Father — In Samacittavagga ([AN2.33](https://suttacentral.net/an2.33/en/sujato)) > “Mendicants, I say that these **==two people cannot easily be repaid==**. > _“Dvinnāhaṁ, bhikkhave, na suppatikāraṁ vadāmi._ > > What two? > _Katamesaṁ dvinnaṁ?_ > > **Mother and father**. > _Mātu ca pitu ca._ > > --- > You would not have done enough to repay your mother and father even if you were to **==carry your mother around on one shoulder and your father on the other, and if you lived like this for a hundred years==**, and if you were to anoint, massage, bathe, and rub them; > > _Ekena, bhikkhave, aṁsena mātaraṁ parihareyya, ekena aṁsena pitaraṁ parihareyya vassasatāyuko vassasatajīvī so ca nesaṁ ucchādanaparimaddananhāpanasambāhanena._ > > and even if they were to **==defecate and urinate right there==**. > _Te ca tattheva muttakarīsaṁ cajeyyuṁ, na tveva, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ kataṁ vā hoti paṭikataṁ vā._ > > Even if you were to establish your mother and father as supreme monarchs of this great earth, abounding in the seven treasures, you would still not have done enough to repay them. > _Imissā ca, bhikkhave, mahāpathaviyā pahūtarattaratanāya mātāpitaro issarādhipacce rajje patiṭṭhāpeyya, na tveva, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ kataṁ vā hoti paṭikataṁ vā._ > > Why is that? > _Taṁ kissa hetu?_ > > Parents are very helpful to their children: they raise them, nurture them, and show them the world. > _Bahukārā, bhikkhave, mātāpitaro puttānaṁ āpādakā posakā imassa lokassa dassetāro._ > > --- > But you have done enough, **more than enough, to repay them** if you encourage, settle, and ground unfaithful parents in **==faith==**, unethical parents in **==ethical==** conduct, stingy parents in **==generosity==**, or ignorant parents in **==wisdom==**.” > > _Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, mātāpitaro assaddhe **==saddhāsampadāya==** samādapeti niveseti patiṭṭhāpeti, dussīle **==sīlasampadāya==** samādapeti niveseti patiṭṭhāpeti, maccharī **==cāgasampadāya==** samādapeti niveseti patiṭṭhāpeti, duppaññe **==paññāsampadāya==** samādapeti niveseti patiṭṭhāpeti, ettāvatā kho, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ katañca hoti paṭikatañcā”ti._ ## Two out of the Ten Wrong Views ![[AN10.176 Cundasutta#^wrong-views]] ## Notes - 3 Debts to Mother 1. Mother cuts her food in half for you 2. Mother provides a home for you 3. Mother provides the first food after your birth ## Sutta - AN2.32-41 Samacittavagga ([link](https://suttacentral.net/an2.32-41/en/sujato))