SN 3.16

Mallikāsutta

Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Atha kho aññataro puriso yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa upakaṇṇake ārocesi: “mallikā, deva, devī dhītaraṁ vijātā”ti. Evaṁ vutte, rājā pasenadi kosalo anattamano ahosi.

A Daughter

At Sāvatthī. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. Then a man went up to the king and whispered in his ear, “Your Majesty, Queen Mallikā has given birth to a daughter.” 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, seyyā posa janādhipa; Medhāvinī sīlavatī, sassudevā patibbatā.

“Well, some women are better than men, O ruler of the people. Wise and virtuous, a devoted wife whose mother-in-law is her queen.

Tassā yo jāyati poso, sūro hoti disampati; Tādisā subhagiyā putto, rajjampi anusāsatī”ti.

And when she has a son, he becomes a hero, O lord of the land. The son of such a blessed lady may even rule the realm.”