Mallikāsutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 3.16

Linked Discourses 3.16

2. Dutiyavagga

2. Childless

Mallikāsutta

A Daughter

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Then King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.

Atha kho aññataro puriso yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa upakaṇṇake ārocesi:

Then a man went up to the king and whispered in his ear,

“mallikā, deva, devī dhītaraṁ vijātā”ti.

“Your Majesty, Queen Mallikā has given birth to a daughter.”

Evaṁ vutte, rājā pasenadi kosalo anattamano ahosi.

When this was said, King Pasenadi was disappointed.

Atha kho bhagavā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ anattamanataṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

Then, knowing that King Pasenadi was disappointed, on that occasion the Buddha recited these verses:

“Itthīpi hi ekacciyā,

“Well, some women are better than men,

seyyā posa janādhipa;

O ruler of the people.

Medhāvinī sīlavatī,

Wise and virtuous, a devoted wife

sassudevā patibbatā.

whose mother-in-law is her queen.

Tassā yo jāyati poso,

And when she has a son,

sūro hoti disampati;

he becomes a hero, O lord of the land.

Tādisā subhagiyā putto,

The son of such a blessed lady

rajjampi anusāsatī”ti.

may even rule the realm.”