Mallikādevīsutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.197

Numbered Discourses 4.197

20. Mahāvagga

20. The Great Chapter

Mallikādevīsutta

Queen Mallikā

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Atha kho mallikā devī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho mallikā devī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Queen Mallikā went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya;

“What is the cause, sir, what is the reason why in this life some ladies are ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking;

daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca?

and poor, with few assets and possessions; and insignificant?

Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya;

And why are some ladies ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking;

aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca?

but rich, affluent, wealthy, and illustrious?

Ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā;

And why are some ladies attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty;

daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca?

but poor, with few assets and possessions; and insignificant?

Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā, aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā cā”ti?

And why are some ladies attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty; and rich, affluent, wealthy, and illustrious?”

“Idha, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo kodhanā hoti upāyāsabahulā.

“Take a lady who is irritable and bad-tempered.

Appampi vuttā samānā abhisajjati kuppati byāpajjati patitthīyati, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti.

Even when criticized a little bit she loses her temper, becoming annoyed, hostile, and hard-hearted, and displaying annoyance, hate, and bitterness.

Sā na dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ.

She doesn’t give to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.

Issāmanikā kho pana hoti;

And she’s jealous,

paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu issati upadussati issaṁ bandhati.

envying, resenting, and begrudging the possessions, honor, respect, reverence, homage, and veneration given to others.

Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya;

If she comes back to this place after passing away, wherever she is reborn she’s ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking;

daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca.

and poor, with few assets and possessions; and insignificant.

Idha pana, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo kodhanā hoti upāyāsabahulā.

Take another lady who is irritable and bad-tempered. …

Appampi vuttā samānā abhisajjati kuppati byāpajjati patitthīyati, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti.

Sā dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ.

But she does give to ascetics or brahmins …

Anissāmanikā kho pana hoti;

And she’s not jealous …

paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu na issati na upadussati na issaṁ bandhati.

Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya;

If she comes back to this place after passing away, wherever she is reborn she’s ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking;

aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca.

but rich, affluent, wealthy, and illustrious.

Idha pana, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo akkodhanā hoti anupāyāsabahulā.

Take another lady who isn’t irritable and bad-tempered. …

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.

But she doesn’t give to ascetics or brahmins …

Issāmanikā kho pana hoti;

And she’s jealous …

paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu issati upadussati issaṁ bandhati.

Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā;

If she comes back to this place after passing away, wherever she is reborn she’s attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty;

daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca.

but poor, with few assets and possessions; and insignificant.

Idha pana, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo akkodhanā hoti anupāyāsabahulā.

Take another lady who isn’t irritable and bad-tempered. …

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.

She gives to ascetics and brahmins …

Anissāmanikā kho pana hoti;

And she’s not jealous …

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;

If she comes back to this place after passing away, wherever she is reborn she’s attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty;

aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca.

and rich, affluent, wealthy, and illustrious.

Ayaṁ kho, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya;

This is why some ladies are ugly …

daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca.

and poor … and insignificant.

Ayaṁ pana, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya;

And some ladies are ugly …

aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca.

but rich … and illustrious.

Ayaṁ kho, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā;

And some ladies are attractive …

daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca.

but poor … and insignificant.

Ayaṁ pana, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā;

And some ladies are attractive …

aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā cā”ti.

and rich … and illustrious.”

Evaṁ vutte, mallikā devī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When this was said, Queen Mallikā said to the Buddha:

“yā nūnāhaṁ, bhante, aññaṁ jātiṁ kodhanā ahosiṁ upāyāsabahulā,

“Sir, in another life I must have been irritable and bad-tempered.

appampi vuttā samānā abhisajjiṁ kuppiṁ byāpajjiṁ patitthīyiṁ kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātvākāsiṁ,

Even when lightly criticized I must have lost my temper, becoming annoyed, hostile, and hard-hearted, and displaying annoyance, hate, and bitterness.

sāhaṁ, bhante, etarahi dubbaṇṇā durūpā supāpikā dassanāya.

For now I am ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking.

Yā nūnāhaṁ, bhante, aññaṁ jātiṁ dātā ahosiṁ samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ, sāhaṁ, bhante, etarahi aḍḍhā mahaddhanā mahābhogā.

In another life I must have given to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting. For now I am rich, affluent, and wealthy.

Yā nūnāhaṁ, bhante, aññaṁ jātiṁ anissāmanikā ahosiṁ, paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu na issiṁ na upadussiṁ na issaṁ bandhiṁ, sāhaṁ, bhante, etarahi mahesakkhā.

In another life, I must not have been jealous, envying, resenting, and begrudging the possessions, honor, respect, reverence, homage, and veneration given to others. For now I am illustrious.

Santi kho pana, bhante, imasmiṁ rājakule khattiyakaññāpi brāhmaṇakaññāpi gahapatikaññāpi, tāsāhaṁ issarādhipaccaṁ kāremi.

In this royal court I command maidens of the aristocrats, brahmins, and householders.

Esāhaṁ, bhante, ajjatagge akkodhanā bhavissāmi anupāyāsabahulā,

So, sir, from this day forth I will not be irritable and bad-tempered.

bahumpi vuttā samānā nābhisajjissāmi na kuppissāmi na byāpajjissāmi na patitthīyissāmi, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca na pātukarissāmi;

Even when heavily criticized I won’t lose my temper, become annoyed, hostile, and hard-hearted, or display annoyance, hate, and bitterness.

dassāmi samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ.

I will give to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.

Anissāmanikā bhavissāmi, paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu na ississāmi na upadussissāmi na issaṁ bandhissāmi.

I will not be jealous, envying, resenting, and begrudging the possessions, honor, respect, reverence, homage, and veneration given to others.

Abhikkantaṁ, bhante …pe… upāsikaṁ maṁ, bhante, bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

Excellent, sir! … From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

Sattamaṁ.