Puttasuttaṃ [Iti 74, PTS 63–64]

5.

The Son Discourse

74. This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:

"There are these three sons existing and found in the world, monks. Which three? One who surpasses, one who follows, and one who is lowborn.

"And how, monks, is a son one who surpasses? Here, monks, a son's mother and father have not gone for refuge to the Buddha, have not gone for refuge to the Teaching, have not gone for refuge to the Community; they do not abstain from killing living beings, do not abstain from taking what is not given, do not abstain from sexual misconduct, do not abstain from lying, do not abstain from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, they are immoral, of bad character. But their son has gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Teaching, gone for refuge to the Community; he abstains from killing living beings, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from lying, abstains from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, he is moral, of good character. Thus, monks, a son is one who surpasses.

"And how, monks, is a son one who follows? Here, monks, a son's mother and father have gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Teaching, gone for refuge to the Community; they abstain from killing living beings, abstain from taking what is not given, abstain from sexual misconduct, abstain from lying, abstain from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, they are moral, of good character. Their son too has gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Teaching, gone for refuge to the Community; he abstains from killing living beings, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from lying, abstains from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, he is moral, of good character. Thus, monks, a son is one who follows.

"And how, monks, is a son lowborn? Here, monks, a son's mother and father have gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Teaching, gone for refuge to the Community; they abstain from killing living beings, abstain from taking what is not given, abstain from sexual misconduct, abstain from lying, abstain from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, they are moral, of good character. But their son has not gone for refuge to the Buddha, has not gone for refuge to the Teaching, has not gone for refuge to the Community; he does not abstain from killing living beings, does not abstain from taking what is not given, does not abstain from sexual misconduct, does not abstain from lying, does not abstain from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, he is immoral, of bad character. Thus, monks, a son is lowborn. These, monks, are the three sons existing and found in the world." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:

This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The fifth.