Aṅguttara-Nikāya
Pañcaka-Nipāta
23. Dīgha-Cārika Vagga
The Book of Fives
Suttas 229-230
The Black Snake 1 & 2
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Sutta 229
Paṭhama Kaṇha Sappa Suttaṃ
The Black Snake 1
Once upon a time Bhagava, Sāvatthi-town, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park, came-a revisiting.
There, to the Beggars gathered round, he said:
"Beggars! There are five bad things about a black snake.
What five?
Uncleanliness.
A foul smell.
It belongs to anyone.
It is easily frightened.
And it is duplicitous with friends.
Indeed, Beggars, these are five bad things about a black snake
Beggars! There are five bad things about the female gender.
What five?
Uncleanliness
A foul smell.
They'll belong to anyone.
They are easily frightened.
And they are duplicitous with friends.
Indeed, Beggars, these are five bad things about the female gender."
Sutta 230
Dutiya Kaṇha Sappa Suttaṃ
The Black Snake 2
Once upon a time Bhagava, Sāvatthi-town, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park, came-a revisiting.
There, to the Beggars gathered round, he said:
"Beggars! There are five bad things about a black snake.
What five?
Its anger is uncontrolled.
It carries a grudge.
Its bite is deadly poison.
It is forked tongued.
And it is duplicitous with friends.
Indeed, Beggars, these are five bad things about a black snake
"Beggars! There are five bad things about the female gender.
What five?
Uncontrolled anger.
Vengefulness.
A deadly poisonous bite.
Forked-tongue speech.
And duplicity with friends.
Indeed, Beggars, these are five bad things about the female gender.
Beggars! This is the deadly poison of womankind:
they are almost always intensely passionate.
Beggars! This is the forked tongue of womankind:
they are almost always slanderous in speech.
Beggars! This is the duplicity of womankind:
they are almost always unfaithful."
