Aṇguttara Nikāya
VIII. Aṭṭhaka Nipāta
V. Uposatha Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
VIII. The Book of the Eights
V: The Observance Day
Sutta 47
Visākha-Manāpa-Kāyika Suttaṃ
Visākhā
Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.
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Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī
in Eastern Park
at the terraced house of Migāra's mother.
There Visākhā, the mother of Migāra, visited him and saluted and sat down at one side.
Then The Exalted One addressed her and said:[ed1]
Eight qualities have women, Visākhe,
who after death
are reborn among the fairies of lovely form.
What eight?
§
Herein, Visākhe, the husband to whom her parents give her,
out of love for her,
seeking her good,
in loving kindness
and fond regard, -
she will get up before him,
retire after him,
be obedient to his wishes,
lovely in her ways
and gentle in speech.
■
Whosoever is honoured by her husband as mother,
father,
recluse
or godly man,
such she reverences,
honours,
esteems
and respects;
on their arrival she proffers a seat and water.
■
Whatever her husband's home industries,
whether in wool or cotton,
therein she is deft and nimble;
gifted with an inquiring turn of mind
into all such undertakings,
she is able to arrange and carry them out.
■
Of whatever her husband's household consists -
slaves,
messengers
or workfolk -
she knows the work of each
by what has been done;
she knows their remissness
by what has not been done;
she knows the strength and the weakness of the sick;
she divides the hard and soft food,
each according to his share.
■
When her husband brings home money,
corn,
silver
or gold,
she keeps it secure by watch and ward;
and of it she is no robber,
thief,
carouser,
wastrel.
■
She is a lay-disciple,
who has found refuge in the Buddha,
in Dhamma
and in the Order.
■
She keeps the precepts,
abstaining from taking life,
from stealing,
from fleshly lusts,
from lying,
from drinking strong drink,
the cause of sloth.
■
She is charitable,
dwelling at home with heart purged of the stain of stinginess;
given over to charity,
open-handed,
taking delight in giving,
yoke-mate to asking,
she finds joy in almsgiving.
These, Visākhe, are the eight qualities women have,
who, after death, are reborn among the fairies of lovely form.
Active, alert to cherish him alway,
Not to that man who brings her every joy
She offers slight, nor will a good wife move
To wrath her husband by some spiteful word;
And she reveres all whom her lord doth honour -
For she is wise. Deft, nimble, up betimes,
She minds his wealth amid his folk at work
And sweetly orders all. A wife like this,
Who with her husband's wish and will complies,
Is born again where lovely devas dwell.'
[ed1] Hare abridges completely with the statement: (repeating Sutta 46 and the gāthā) The whole of Sutta 46 is not repeated, only those sections given above.
