Bhariyāsutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.63

Numbered Discourses 7.63

6. Abyākatavagga

6. The Undeclared Points

Bhariyāsutta

Kinds of Wives

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

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 down on the seat spread out.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Ayaṁ, bhante, sujātā gharasuṇhā aḍḍhakulā ānītā.

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

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

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.”

Atha kho bhagavā sujātaṁ gharasuṇhaṁ āmantesi:

Then the Buddha addressed Sujātā, saying,

“ehi, sujāte”ti.

“Come, Sujātā.”

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

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

“Satta kho imā, sujāte, purisassa bhariyāyo.

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

Katamā satta?

What seven?

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

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 comrade, and a wife like a bondservant.

Imā kho, sujāte, satta purisassa bhariyāyo.

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

Tāsaṁ tvaṁ katamā”ti?

Which one of these are you?”

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

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

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

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

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

“Well then, Sujātā, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

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

“Yes, sir,” she replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“Paduṭṭhacittā ahitānukampinī,

“With a mind full of hate and no kindness,

Aññesu rattā atimaññate patiṁ;

lusting for others, looking down on her husband,

Dhanena kītassa vadhāya ussukā,

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

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

A man’s wife of this sort

‘Vadhā ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

is called a wife and a killer.

Yaṁ itthiyā vindati sāmiko dhanaṁ,

A woman’s husband earns his wealth

Sippaṁ vaṇijjañca kasiṁ adhiṭṭhahaṁ;

by focusing on a profession, trade, or farming.

Appampi tassa apahātumicchati,

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

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

A man’s wife of this sort

‘Corī ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

is called a wife and a thief.

Akammakāmā alasā mahagghasā,

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

Pharusā ca caṇḍī duruttavādinī;

Her words are harsh, fierce, and rude.

Uṭṭhāyakānaṁ abhibhuyya vattati,

He works hard, but she lives as his master.

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

A man’s wife of this sort

‘Ayyā ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

is called a wife and a lord.

Yā sabbadā hoti hitānukampinī,

She’s always caring and kind,

Mātāva puttaṁ anurakkhate patiṁ;

looking after her husband like a mother her child.

Tato dhanaṁ sambhatamassa rakkhati,

She keeps the wealth that he has earned secure.

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

A man’s wife of this sort

‘Mātā ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

is called a wife and a mother.

Yathāpi jeṭṭhā bhaginī kaniṭṭhakā,

She respects her husband

Sagāravā hoti sakamhi sāmike;

as a younger sister respects her elder.

Hirīmanā bhattuvasānuvattinī,

Conscientious, she does what her husband says.

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

A man’s wife of this sort

‘Bhaginī ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

is called a wife and a sister.

Yācīdha disvāna patiṁ pamodati,

She’s delighted to see him,

Sakhī sakhāraṁva cirassamāgataṁ;

like one reunited with a long-lost comrade.

Koleyyakā sīlavatī patibbatā,

She’s of good pedigree, virtuous, and devoted.

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

A man’s wife of this sort

‘Sakhī ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

is called a wife and a comrade.

Akkuddhasantā vadhadaṇḍatajjitā,

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

Aduṭṭhacittā patino titikkhati;

Without hate or anger,

Akkodhanā bhattuvasānuvattinī,

she endures her husband and does what he says.

Yā evarūpā purisassa bhariyā;

A man’s wife of this sort

‘Dāsī ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati.

is called a wife and a bondservant.

Yācīdha bhariyā vadhakāti vuccati,

The kinds of wives here called

‘Corī ca ayyā’ti ca yā pavuccati;

killer, thief, and lord;

Dussīlarūpā pharusā anādarā,

immoral, harsh, and lacking regard for others,

Kāyassa bhedā nirayaṁ vajanti tā.

when their body breaks up they set course for hell.

Yācīdha mātā bhaginī sakhīti ca,

But the kinds of wives here called

‘Dāsī ca bhariyā’ti ca sā pavuccati;

mother, sister, comrade, and bondservant;

Sīle ṭhitattā cirarattasaṁvutā,

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

Kāyassa bhedā sugatiṁ vajanti tāti.

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

Imā kho, sujāte, satta purisassa bhariyāyo.

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

Tāsaṁ tvaṁ katamā”ti?

Which one of these are you?”

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

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

Dasamaṁ.