Living Together (2)

Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
Based on a work at http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/numerical-discourses-buddha
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://www.wisdompubs.org/terms-use.

[59] [445]

[1][pts] "Bhikkhus, there are these four ways of living together.

What four?

Here Bhk. Bodhi abridges noting: "[The rest, including the verses, is identical with 4:53 but addressed to the bhikkhus.]" But there are changes which he overlooks. See the Pali or the Woodward translation.

— p.p.

A wretch lives together with a wretch; a wretch lives together with a female deva; a deva lives together with a wretch; a deva lives together with a female deva.

(1) "And how, bhikkhus, does a wretch live together with a wretch?

Here, the husband is one who destroys life, takes what is not given, engages in sexual misconduct, speaks falsely, and indulges in liquor, wine, and intoxicants, the basis for heedlessness; he is immoral, of bad character; he dwells at home with a heart obsessed by the stain of miserliness; he insults and reviles ascetics and brahmins.

And his wife is also one who destroys life ... she insults and reviles ascetics and brahmins.

It is in such a way that a wretch lives together with a wretch.

(2) "And how does a wretch live together with a female deva?

Here, the husband is one who destroys life ... he insults and reviles ascetics and brahmins.

But his wife is one who abstains from the destruction of life, from taking what is not given, from sexual misconduct, from false speech, and from liquor, wine, and intoxicants, the basis for heedlessness; she is virtuous, of good character; she dwells at home with a heart free from the stain of miserliness; she does not insult or revile ascetics and brahmins.

It is in such a way that a wretch lives together with a female deva.

(3) "And how does a deva live together with a wretch?

Here, the husband is one who abstains from the destruction of life ... he does not insult or revile ascetics and brahmins.

But his wife is one who destroys life ... she insults and reviles ascetics and brahmins.

It is in such a way that a deva lives together with a wretch.

(4) "And how does a deva live together with a female deva?

Here, the husband is one who abstains from the destruction of life ... he does not insult or revile ascetics and brahmins.

And his wife is also one who abstains from the destruction of life ... she does not insult or revile ascetics and brahmins.

It is in such a way that a deva lives together with a female deva.

"These are the four ways of living together."

When both are immoral,
miserly and abusive,
husband and wife
live together as wretches.

The husband is immoral,
miserly and abusive,
but his wife is virtuous,
charitable, generous.
She is a female deva living
with a wretched husband.

The husband is virtuous,
charitable, generous,
but his wife is immoral,
miserly and abusive.
She is a wretch living
with a deva husband.

Both husband and wife are endowed with faith,
charitable and self-controlled,
living their lives righteously,
addressing each other with pleasant words.

Then many benefits accrue to them
and they dwell at ease.
Their enemies are saddened
when both are the same in virtue.

Having practiced the Dhamma here,
the same in virtuous behavior and observances,
delighting [after death] in a deva world,
they rejoice, enjoying sensual pleasures.

Aṅguttara Nikāya 4. Catukka Nipāta VI. Puññābhisanda Vagga

The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha IV. The Book of the Fours VI. Streams of Merit

Sutta 54

Dutiya Saɱvāsa Suttaɱ

Living Together (2)

Aṅguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
VI. Puññābhisanda Vagga

The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha
IV. The Book of the Fours
VI. Streams of Merit