4: The Book of the Fours
197. Mallikā
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi (More copyright information)
1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. Then Queen Mallikā approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said to him: [n.926] Queen Mallikā was the wife of King Pasenadi of Kosala.
2(1) "Bhante, why is it that some women here are i ugly, ill formed, and unsightly; ii poor, destitute, and indigent; and iii lacking in influence?
3(2) And why is it that some are i ugly, ill formed, and unsightly; but ii rich, with great wealth and property; and iii influential?
4(3) And why is it that some women here are i beautiful, attractive, and graceful, possessing supreme beauty of complexion; but ii poor, destitute, and indigent; and iii lacking in influence?
5(4) And why is it that some are i beautiful, attractive, and graceful, possessing supreme beauty of complexion; ii rich, with great wealth and property; and iii influential?"
6(1) "Here, Mallikā, i some woman is prone to anger and easily exasperated. Even if she is criticized slightly she loses her temper and becomes irritated, hostile, and stubborn; she displays anger, hatred, and bitterness. ii She does not give things to ascetics or brahmins: food and drink; clothing and vehicles; garlands, scents, and unguents; bedding, dwellings, and lighting. iii And she is envious, one who envies, resents, and begrudges the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others. When she passes away from that state, if she comes back to this world, wherever she is reborn i she is ugly, ill formed, and unsightly; ii poor, destitute, and indigent; and iii lacking in influence.
7(2) "Another woman is i prone to anger and easily exasperated …. ii But she gives things to ascetics or brahmins …. iii And she is without envy, one who does not envy, resent, or begrudge the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others. When she passes away from that state, if she comes back to this world, wherever she is reborn i she is ugly, ill formed, and unsightly; ii but she is rich, with great wealth and property; and iii influential.
8(3) "Still another woman is i not prone to anger or often exasperated. Even if she is criticized a lot she does not lose her temper and become irritated, hostile, and stubborn; she does not display anger, hatred, and bitterness. ii But she does not give things to ascetics or brahmins …. iii And she is envious, one who envies, resents, and begrudges the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others. When she passes away from that state, if she comes back to this world, wherever she is reborn i she is beautiful, attractive, and graceful, possessing supreme beauty of complexion; ii but she is poor, destitute, with little wealth; iii and lacking in influence.
9(4) "And still another woman is i not prone to anger or often exasperated …. ii And she gives things to ascetics or brahmins …. iii And she is without envy, one who does not envy, resent, or begrudge the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others. When she passes away from that state, if she comes back to this world, wherever she is reborn i she is beautiful, attractive, and graceful, possessing supreme beauty of complexion; ii rich, with great wealth and property; and iii influential.
10"This, Mallikā, is why some women here are i ugly, ill formed, and unsightly; ii poor, destitute, and indigent; and iii lacking in influence. This is why some are i ugly, ill formed, and unsightly; but ii rich, with great wealth and property; and iii influential. This is why some women here are i beautiful, attractive, and graceful, possessing supreme beauty of complexion; but ii poor, destitute, and indigent; and iii lacking in influence. This is why some are i beautiful, attractive, and graceful, possessing supreme beauty of complexion; ii rich, with great wealth and property; and iii influential."
11When this was said, Queen Mallikā said to the Blessed One: "I suppose, Bhante, i that in some earlier life I was prone to anger and often exasperated; that even when I was criticized slightly I lost my temper and became irritated, hostile, and stubborn, and displayed anger, hatred, and bitterness. Therefore I am now ugly, ill formed, and unsightly.
12ii But I suppose that in some earlier life I gave things to ascetics or brahmins … bedding, dwellings, and lighting. Therefore I am now rich, with great wealth and property.
13iii And I suppose that in some earlier life I was without envy, not one who envied, resented, and begrudged the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others. Therefore I am now influential. In this court there are girls of khattiya, brahmin, and householder families over whom I exercise command.
"From today, Bhante, i I will not be prone to anger and often exasperated. Even when I am criticized a lot I will not lose my temper and become irritated, hostile, and stubborn; I will not display anger, hatred, and bitterness. ii And I will give things to ascetics or brahmins: food and drink; clothing and vehicles; garlands, scents, and unguents; bedding, dwellings, and lighting. iii And I will not be envious, one who envies, resents, and begrudges the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others.
"Excellent, Bhante! … as at 4:111 … Let the Blessed One consider me a lay follower who from today has gone for refuge for life."
1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho mallikā devī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho mallikā devī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
2"Ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca?
3Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca?
4Ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā; daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca?
5Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā, aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā cā"ti?
6"Idha, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo kodhanā hoti upāyāsabahulā. Appampi vuttā samānā abhisajjati kuppati byāpajjati patitthīyati, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti. Sā na dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Issāmanikā kho pana hoti; paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu issati upadussati issaṁ bandhati. Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca.
7Idha pana, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo kodhanā hoti upāyāsabahulā. Appampi vuttā samānā abhisajjati kuppati byāpajjati patitthīyati, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti. Sā dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Anissāmanikā kho pana hoti; paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu na issati na upadussati na issaṁ bandhati. Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca.
8Idha pana, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo akkodhanā hoti anupāyāsabahulā. Bahumpi vuttā samānā nābhisajjati na kuppati na byāpajjati na patitthīyati, na kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti. Sā na dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Issāmanikā kho pana hoti; paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu issati upadussati issaṁ bandhati. Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā; daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca.
9Idha pana, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo akkodhanā hoti anupāyāsabahulā. Bahumpi vuttā samānā nābhisajjati na kuppati na byāpajjati na patitthīyati, na kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti. Sā dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Anissāmanikā kho pana hoti; paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu na issati na upadussati na issaṁ bandhati. Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā; aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca.
10Ayaṁ kho, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca. Ayaṁ pana, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca. Ayaṁ kho, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā; daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca. Ayaṁ pana, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā; aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā cā"ti.
11Evaṁ vutte, mallikā devī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "yā nūnāhaṁ, bhante, aññaṁ jātiṁ kodhanā ahosiṁ upāyāsabahulā, appampi vuttā samānā abhisajjiṁ kuppiṁ byāpajjiṁ patitthīyiṁ kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātvākāsiṁ, sāhaṁ, bhante, etarahi dubbaṇṇā durūpā supāpikā dassanāya.
12Yā nūnāhaṁ, bhante, aññaṁ jātiṁ dātā ahosiṁ samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ, sāhaṁ, bhante, etarahi aḍḍhā mahaddhanā mahābhogā.
13Yā nūnāhaṁ, bhante, aññaṁ jātiṁ anissāmanikā ahosiṁ, paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu na issiṁ na upadussiṁ na issaṁ bandhiṁ, sāhaṁ, bhante, etarahi mahesakkhā. Santi kho pana, bhante, imasmiṁ rājakule khattiyakaññāpi brāhmaṇakaññāpi gahapatikaññāpi, tāsāhaṁ issarādhipaccaṁ kāremi.
Esāhaṁ, bhante, ajjatagge akkodhanā bhavissāmi anupāyāsabahulā, bahumpi vuttā samānā nābhisajjissāmi na kuppissāmi na byāpajjissāmi na patitthīyissāmi, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca na pātukarissāmi; dassāmi samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Anissāmanikā bhavissāmi, paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu na ississāmi na upadussissāmi na issaṁ bandhissāmi.
Abhikkantaṁ, bhante … pe … upāsikaṁ maṁ, bhante, bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.
Sattamaṁ.
