AN 4.197

Mallikādevīsutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho mallikā devī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho mallikā devī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Queen Mallikā

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. 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; daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca?

“What is the cause, sir, what is the reason why in this life some ladies are ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking; and poor, with few assets and possessions; and insignificant?

Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca?

And why are some ladies ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking; but rich, affluent, wealthy, and illustrious?

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

And why are some ladies attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty; 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. Appampi vuttā samānā abhisajjati kuppati byāpajjati patitthīyati, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti. Sā na dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Issāmanikā kho pana hoti; paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu issati upadussati issaṁ bandhati. Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca.

“Take a lady who is irritable and bad-tempered. Even when criticized a little bit she loses her temper, becoming annoyed, hostile, and hard-hearted, and displaying annoyance, hate, and bitterness. She doesn’t give to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting. And she’s jealous, envying, resenting, and begrudging the possessions, honor, respect, reverence, homage, and veneration given to others. If she comes back to this place after passing away, wherever she is reborn she’s ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking; and poor, with few assets and possessions; and insignificant.

Idha pana, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo kodhanā hoti upāyāsabahulā. Appampi vuttā samānā abhisajjati kuppati byāpajjati patitthīyati, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti. Sā dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Anissāmanikā kho pana hoti; paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu na issati na upadussati na issaṁ bandhati. Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca.

Take another lady who is irritable and bad-tempered. … But she does give to ascetics or brahmins … And she’s not jealous … If she comes back to this place after passing away, wherever she is reborn she’s ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking; but rich, affluent, wealthy, and illustrious.

Idha pana, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo akkodhanā hoti anupāyāsabahulā. 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. Issāmanikā kho pana hoti; paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu issati upadussati issaṁ bandhati. Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā; daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca.

Take another lady who isn’t irritable and bad-tempered. … But she doesn’t give to ascetics or brahmins … And she’s jealous … If she comes back to this place after passing away, wherever she is reborn she’s attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty; but poor, with few assets and possessions; and insignificant.

Idha pana, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo akkodhanā hoti anupāyāsabahulā. 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. Anissāmanikā kho pana hoti; 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; aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca.

Take another lady who isn’t irritable and bad-tempered. … She gives to ascetics and brahmins … And she’s not jealous … If she comes back to this place after passing away, wherever she is reborn she’s attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty; and rich, affluent, wealthy, and illustrious.

Ayaṁ kho, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca. Ayaṁ pana, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca. Ayaṁ kho, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā; daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca. Ayaṁ pana, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā; aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā cā”ti.

This is why some ladies are ugly … and poor … and insignificant. And some ladies are ugly … but rich … and illustrious. And some ladies are attractive … but poor … and insignificant. And some ladies are attractive … and rich … and illustrious.”

Evaṁ vutte, mallikā devī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “yā nūnāhaṁ, bhante, aññaṁ jātiṁ kodhanā ahosiṁ upāyāsabahulā, appampi vuttā samānā abhisajjiṁ kuppiṁ byāpajjiṁ patitthīyiṁ kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātvākāsiṁ, sāhaṁ, bhante, etarahi dubbaṇṇā durūpā supāpikā dassanāya.

When this was said, Queen Mallikā said to the Buddha: “Sir, in another life I must have been irritable and bad-tempered. Even when lightly criticized I must have lost my temper, becoming annoyed, hostile, and hard-hearted, and displaying annoyance, hate, and bitterness. 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. Santi kho pana, bhante, imasmiṁ rājakule khattiyakaññāpi brāhmaṇakaññāpi gahapatikaññāpi, tāsāhaṁ issarādhipaccaṁ kāremi. Esāhaṁ, bhante, ajjatagge akkodhanā bhavissāmi anupāyāsabahulā, bahumpi vuttā samānā nābhisajjissāmi na kuppissāmi na byāpajjissāmi na patitthīyissāmi, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca na pātukarissāmi; dassāmi samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Anissāmanikā bhavissāmi, paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu na ississāmi na upadussissāmi na issaṁ bandhissāmi. Abhikkantaṁ, bhante …pe… upāsikaṁ maṁ, bhante, bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

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. In this royal court I command maidens of the aristocrats, brahmins, and householders. So, sir, from this day forth I will not be irritable and bad-tempered. Even when heavily criticized I won’t lose my temper, become annoyed, hostile, and hard-hearted, or display annoyance, hate, and bitterness. I will give to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting. I will not be jealous, envying, resenting, and begrudging the possessions, honor, respect, reverence, homage, and veneration given to others. Excellent, sir! … From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”