[4] Bhikkhus, one behaving wrongly toward four, being a fool, incompetent, not a true person (asappurisa), maintains himself maimed and injured; he is blameworthy and subject to reproach by the wise, and he generates much demerit. Toward which four? One behaving wrongly toward his mother, bhikkhus, being a fool, incompetent, not a true person, maintains himself maimed and injured; he is blameworthy and subject to reproach by the wise, and he generates much demerit. One behaving wrongly toward his father, bhikkhus … One behaving wrongly toward the Tathāgata, bhikkhus … One behaving wrongly toward a disciple of the Tathāgata, bhikkhus, being a fool, incompetent, not a true person, maintains himself maimed and injured; he is blameworthy and subject to reproach by the wise, and he generates much demerit. One behaving wrongly toward these four, bhikkhus, being a fool, incompetent, not a true person, maintains himself maimed and injured; he is blameworthy and subject to reproach by the wise, and he generates much demerit.
Bhikkhus, one behaving rightly toward four, being wise, competent, a true person, maintains himself unmaimed and uninjured; he is blameless and beyond reproach by the wise, and he generates much merit. Toward which four? One behaving rightly toward his mother, bhikkhus, being wise, competent, a true person, maintains himself unmaimed and uninjured; he is blameless and beyond reproach by the wise, and he generates much merit. One behaving rightly toward his father, bhikkhus … One behaving rightly toward the Tathāgata, bhikkhus … One behaving rightly toward a disciple of the Tathāgata, bhikkhus, being wise, competent, a true person, maintains himself unmaimed and uninjured; he is blameless and beyond reproach by the wise, and he generates much merit. One behaving rightly toward these four, bhikkhus, being wise, competent, a true person, maintains himself unmaimed and uninjured; he is blameless and beyond reproach by the wise, and he generates much merit.
Whoever behaves wrongly toward mother and father,
toward the Tathāgata, the Fully Awakened One,
or toward his disciple —
such a person generates much demerit.
For that unrighteous conduct toward mother and father,
the wise censure him here in this very world,
and after death he goes to a state of loss (apāya).
Whoever behaves rightly toward mother and father,
toward the Tathāgata, the Fully Awakened One,
or toward his disciple —
such a person generates much merit.
For that righteous conduct (dhammacariyā) toward mother and father,
the wise praise him here in this very world,
and after death he rejoices in heaven.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.