4. Vatthu Sutta
Discourse on the Mainstay

Jara Vagga, Devata Samyutta
Sagatha Vagga Samyutta, Samyutta Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka

4. Vatthu Sutta
Discourse on the Mainstay

      54. (The deva said:)

      "What is the mainstay of people? Who is one's best friend in the world? On what do the beings that live on land depend for their livelihood?"

      (The Bhagava said:)

      "Children ar the mainstay* of people. The wife is one's best friend. The beings that live on land depend on the rain for their livelihood."

     * Children are the mainstay: This is particularly true when a parent gets old and infirm.

End of the Vatthu Sutta.

the fourth in this vagga.