AN 7 The Book of the Sevens – Sattakanipāta > AN 7.63 Kinds of Wives

Numbered Discourses 7.63 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.63

6. The Undeclared Points – 6. Abyākatavagga

AN 7.63 Kinds of Wives – Bhariyāsutta

1.1

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, where he sat on the seat spread out.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena anāthapiṇḍikassa gahapatissa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.

1.2

Now at that time people in Anāthapiṇḍika’s home were making a dreadful racket.

Tena kho pana samayena anāthapiṇḍikassa gahapatissa nivesane manussā uccāsaddā mahāsaddā honti.

1.3

Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him,

Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho anāthapiṇḍikaṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

2.1

“Householder, what’s with the people making that dreadful racket in your home? You’d think it was fishermen hauling in a catch!”

“Kiṁ nu te, gahapati, nivesane manussā uccāsaddā mahāsaddā kevaṭṭā maññe macchavilope”ti?

2.2

“Sir, that’s my daughter-in-law Sujātā. She’s been brought here from a wealthy family.

“Ayaṁ, bhante, sujātā gharasuṇhā aḍḍhakulā ānītā.

2.3

She doesn’t obey her mother-in-law or father-in-law or her husband. And she does not honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Buddha.”

Sā neva sassuṁ ādiyati, na sasuraṁ ādiyati, na sāmikaṁ ādiyati, bhagavantampi na sakkaroti na garuṁ karoti na māneti na pūjetī”ti.

3.1

Then the Buddha addressed Sujātā, saying,

Atha kho bhagavā sujātaṁ gharasuṇhaṁ āmantesi:

3.2

“Come, Sujātā.”

“ehi, sujāte”ti.

3.3

“Yes, sir,” she replied. She went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to her:

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho sujātā gharasuṇhā bhagavato paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho sujātaṁ gharasuṇhaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

4.1

“Sujātā, a man can have seven kinds of wife.

“Satta kho imā, sujāte, purisassa bhariyāyo.

4.2

What seven?

Katamā satta?

4.3

A wife like a killer, a wife like a thief, a wife like a lord, a wife like a mother, a wife like a sister, a wife like a friend, and a wife like a bondservant.

Vadhakasamā, corīsamā, ayyasamā, mātāsamā, bhaginīsamā, sakhīsamā, dāsīsamā.

4.4

These are the kinds of wife that a man can have.

Imā kho, sujāte, satta purisassa bhariyāyo.

4.5

Which one of these are you?”

Tāsaṁ tvaṁ katamā”ti?

4.6

“Sir, I don’t understand the detailed meaning of what the Buddha has said in brief.

“Na kho ahaṁ, bhante, imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.

4.7

Please teach me this matter so I can understand the detailed meaning.”

Sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā tathā dhammaṁ desetu yathāhaṁ imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ jāneyyan”ti.

4.8

“Well then, Sujātā, listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

“Tena hi, sujāte, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

4.9

“Yes, sir,” she replied.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho sujātā gharasuṇhā bhagavato paccassosi.

4.10

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

5.1

“With a mind full of hate and no kindness,

“Paduṭṭhacittā ahitānukampinī,

5.2

lusting for others, looking down on her husband,

Aññesu rattā atimaññate patiṁ;

5.3

she longs to murder the one who paid the price for her.

Dhanena kītassa vadhāya ussukā,

5.4

A man’s wife of this sort

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

5.5

is called a wife and a killer.

‘Vadhā ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

6.1

A woman’s husband earns his wealth

Yaṁ itthiyā vindati sāmiko dhanaṁ,

6.2

by applying oneself to a profession, trade, or farming.

Sippaṁ vaṇijjañca kasiṁ adhiṭṭhahaṁ;

6.3

And even if it’s only a little, she wants to take it.

Appampi tassa apahātumicchati,

6.4

A man’s wife of this sort

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

6.5

is called a wife and a thief.

‘Corī ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

7.1

She’s an idle glutton who doesn’t want to work.

Akammakāmā alasā mahagghasā,

7.2

Her words are harsh, fierce, and rude.

Pharusā ca caṇḍī duruttavādinī;

7.3

She rules over him, though he rises early.

Uṭṭhāyakānaṁ abhibhuyya vattati,

7.4

A man’s wife of this sort

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

7.5

is called a wife and a lord.

‘Ayyā ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

8.1

She’s always caring and kind,

Yā sabbadā hoti hitānukampinī,

8.2

looking after her husband like a mother her child.

Mātāva puttaṁ anurakkhate patiṁ;

8.3

She keeps the wealth that he has earned secure.

Tato dhanaṁ sambhatamassa rakkhati,

8.4

A man’s wife of this sort

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

8.5

is called a wife and a mother.

‘Mātā ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

9.1

She respects her husband

Yathāpi jeṭṭhā bhaginī kaniṭṭhakā,

9.2

as a younger sister respects her elder.

Sagāravā hoti sakamhi sāmike;

9.3

Conscientious, she does what her husband says.

Hirīmanā bhattuvasānuvattinī,

9.4

A man’s wife of this sort

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

9.5

is called a wife and a sister.

‘Bhaginī ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

10.1

She’s delighted to see him,

Yācīdha disvāna patiṁ pamodati,

10.2

like one reunited with a long-lost friend.

Sakhī sakhāraṁva cirassamāgataṁ;

10.3

She’s well-raised, virtuous, and devoted.

Koleyyakā sīlavatī patibbatā,

10.4

A man’s wife of this sort

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

10.5

is called a wife and a friend.

‘Sakhī ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

11.1

She has no anger when threatened with violence by the rod.

Akkuddhasantā vadhadaṇḍatajjitā,

11.2

Without hate or anger,

Aduṭṭhacittā patino titikkhati;

11.3

she endures her husband and does what he says.

Akkodhanā bhattuvasānuvattinī,

11.4

A man’s wife of this sort

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

11.5

is called a wife and a bondservant.

‘Dāsī ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

12.1

The kinds of wives here called

Yācīdha bhariyā vadhakāti vuccati,

12.2

killer, thief, and lord;

‘Corī ca ayyā’ti ca yā pavuccati;

12.3

immoral, harsh, and lacking regard for others,

Dussīlarūpā pharusā anādarā,

12.4

when their body breaks up they set course for hell.

Kāyassa bhedā nirayaṁ vajanti tā.

13.1

But the kinds of wives here called

Yācīdha mātā bhaginī sakhīti ca,

13.2

mother, sister, friend, and bondservant;

‘Dāsī ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati;

13.3

steadfast in their own morality, restrained for a long time,

Sīle ṭhitattā cirarattasaṁvutā,

13.4

when their body breaks up they set course for a good place.

Kāyassa bhedā sugatiṁ vajanti tāti.

14.1

Sujātā, these are the seven kinds of wife that a man can have.

Imā kho, sujāte, satta purisassa bhariyāyo.

14.2

Which one of these are you?”

Tāsaṁ tvaṁ katamā”ti?

14.3

“Sir, from this day forth may the Buddha remember me as a wife like a bondservant.”

“Ajjatagge maṁ, bhante, bhagavā dāsīsamaṁ sāmikassa bhariyaṁ dhāretū”ti.

14.4

Dasamaṁ.