10.
The Discourse on a Wife
63.
Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of the householder Anāthapiṇḍika;
having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat.
Now at that time at the dwelling of the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, people were making loud sounds and great sounds.
Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
To the householder Anāthapiṇḍika seated to one side, the Blessed One said this:
"Why, householder, are people at your dwelling making loud sounds and great sounds, like fishermen, methinks, at a fish haul?" "This, venerable sir, is Sujātā, my daughter-in-law, brought from a wealthy family. She does not heed her mother-in-law, does not heed her father-in-law, does not heed her husband, and she does not honour, respect, revere, or venerate even the Blessed One."
Then the Blessed One addressed Sujātā, the daughter-in-law - "Come, Sujātā!" "Yes, venerable sir," Sujātā, the daughter-in-law, having replied to the Blessed One, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To Sujātā, the daughter-in-law, seated to one side, the Blessed One said this:
"There are, Sujātā, these seven kinds of wives for a man. Which are the seven? One like a murderer, one like a thief, one like a mistress, one like a mother, one like a sister, one like a friend, one like a slave. These, Sujātā, are the seven kinds of wives for a man. Which of them are you?" "I, venerable sir, do not understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would expound to me the Teaching in such a way that I might understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief." "Well then, Sujātā, listen, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," Sujātā, the daughter-in-law, assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
Lustful towards others, she despises her husband;
Eager for the murder of him who was bought with wealth,
Whatever wife of a man is of such a kind;
She is called 'a murderous wife'.
Undertaking craft, trade, and farming;
She wishes to take away even a little of his,
Whatever wife of a man is of such a kind;
She is called 'a thieving wife'.
Harsh and fierce, speaking ill words;
She dominates over the industrious one,
Whatever wife of a man is of such a kind;
She is called 'a mistress wife'.
Guards her husband as a mother guards her son;
She protects the wealth accumulated by him,
Whatever wife of a man is of such a kind;
She is called 'a motherly wife'.
She is respectful towards her own husband;
Modest, obedient to her husband's authority,
Whatever wife of a man is of such a kind; she is called 'a sisterly wife'.
Like a friend seeing a friend come after a long time;
Of good family, virtuous, devoted to her husband,
Whatever wife of a man is of such a kind;
She is called 'a friendly wife'.
With uncorrupted mind, she endures her husband;
Without wrath, obedient to her husband's authority,
Whatever wife of a man is of such a kind;
She is called 'a slave wife'.
And she who is called 'a thief' and 'a mistress';
Immoral in nature, harsh, disrespectful,
Upon the body's collapse, they go to hell.
And she who is called 'a slave' and 'a wife';
Established in morality, restrained for a long time,
Upon the body's collapse, they go to a fortunate destination."
"These, Sujātā, are the seven wives of a man. Which of them are you?" "From this day forth, venerable sir, may the Blessed One remember me as a wife like a slave to my husband." The tenth.