7.
The Discourse to Queen Mallikā
197.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park.
Then Queen Mallikā approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, Queen Mallikā said this to the Blessed One -
"What, venerable sir, is the cause, what is the condition, whereby a certain woman here is ugly, ill-formed, very wretched to look at; and is poor, possessing little, of little wealth, and of little influence?
"But what, venerable sir, is the cause, what is the condition, whereby a certain woman here is ugly, ill-formed, very wretched to look at; yet is rich, of great riches, of great wealth, and of great influence?
"What, venerable sir, is the cause, what is the condition, whereby a certain woman here is lovely, beautiful, pleasing, endowed with the highest beauty of complexion; and is poor, possessing little, of little wealth, and of little influence?
"But what, venerable sir, is the cause, what is the condition, whereby a certain woman here is lovely, beautiful, pleasing, endowed with the highest beauty of complexion, and is rich, of great riches, of great wealth, and of great influence?"
"Here, Mallikā, a certain woman is prone to wrath, abundantly given to anguish. Even when spoken to a little, she becomes attached, becomes angry, is repelled, becomes obstinate, and manifests irritation, hate, and displeasure. She is not a giver to an ascetic or a brahmin of food, drink, cloth, vehicle, garlands, scents, cosmetics, sleeping place, public rest-house, and material for lighting. And she is of an envious disposition; regarding others' material gains, honour, respect, reverence, salutation, and veneration, one envies, resents, and binds envy. If she, having passed away from there, comes to this state of being, wherever she is reborn she is ugly, ill-formed, very wretched to look at; and is poor, possessing little, of little wealth, and of little influence.
"Here again, Mallikā, a certain woman is prone to wrath, abundantly given to anguish. Even when spoken to a little, she becomes attached, becomes angry, is repelled, becomes obstinate, and manifests irritation, hate, and displeasure. She is a giver to an ascetic or a brahmin of food, drink, cloth, vehicle, garlands, scents, cosmetics, sleeping place, public rest-house, and material for lighting. And she is not of an envious disposition; regarding others' material gains, honour, respect, reverence, salutation, and veneration, one does not envy, does not resent, does not bind envy. If she, having passed away from there, comes to this state of being, wherever she is reborn she is ugly, ill-formed, very wretched to look at; yet is rich, of great riches, of great wealth, and of great influence.
"Here again, Mallikā, a certain woman is not prone to wrath, not abundantly given to anguish. Even when spoken to much, she does not become attached, does not become angry, is not repelled, does not become obstinate, and does not manifest irritation, hate, and displeasure. She is not a giver to an ascetic or a brahmin of food, drink, cloth, vehicle, garlands, scents, cosmetics, sleeping place, public rest-house, and material for lighting. And she is of an envious disposition; regarding others' material gains, honour, respect, reverence, salutation, and veneration, one envies, resents, and binds envy. If she, having passed away from there, comes to this state of being, wherever she is reborn she is lovely, beautiful, pleasing, endowed with the highest beauty of complexion; and is poor, possessing little, of little wealth, and of little influence.
"Here again, Mallikā, a certain woman is not prone to wrath, not abundantly given to anguish. Even when spoken to much, she does not become attached, does not become angry, is not repelled, does not become obstinate, and does not manifest irritation, hate, and displeasure. She is a giver to an ascetic or a brahmin of food, drink, cloth, vehicle, garlands, scents, cosmetics, sleeping place, public rest-house, and material for lighting. And she is not of an envious disposition; regarding others' material gains, honour, respect, reverence, salutation, and veneration, one does not envy, does not resent, does not bind envy. If she, having passed away from there, comes to this state of being, wherever she is reborn she is lovely, beautiful, pleasing, endowed with the highest beauty of complexion; yet is rich, of great riches, of great wealth, and of great influence.
"This, Mallikā, is the cause, this is the condition, whereby a certain woman here is ugly, ill-formed, very wretched to behold; and is poor, possessing little, of little wealth, and of little influence. But this, Mallikā, is the cause, this is the condition, whereby a certain woman here is ugly, ill-formed, very wretched to behold; yet is rich, of great riches, of great wealth, and of great influence. This, Mallikā, is the cause, this is the condition, whereby a certain woman here is lovely, beautiful, pleasing, endowed with the highest beauty of complexion; and is poor, possessing little, of little wealth, and of little influence. But this, Mallikā, is the cause, this is the condition, whereby a certain woman here is lovely, beautiful, pleasing, endowed with the highest beauty of complexion; and she is rich, of great riches, of great wealth, and influential."
When this was said, Queen Mallikā said this to the Blessed One - "Surely, venerable sir, in another birth I was prone to wrath, abundantly given to anguish; even when spoken to a little, I became attached, became angry, was repelled, became obstinate, and manifested irritation, hate, and displeasure; therefore I, venerable sir, am now ugly, ill-formed, very wretched to behold.
"Surely, venerable sir, in another birth I was a giver to an ascetic or a brahmin of food, drink, cloth, vehicle, garlands, scents, cosmetics, sleeping place, public rest-house, and material for lighting; therefore I, venerable sir, am now rich, of great riches, of great wealth.
"Surely, venerable sir, in another birth I was without envy; regarding others' material gains, honour, respect, reverence, salutation, and veneration, I did not envy, did not resent, did not bind envy; therefore I, venerable sir, am now influential. There are indeed, venerable sir, in this royal family, warrior maidens, brahmin maidens, and householder maidens; over them I exercise lordship and sovereignty. I, venerable sir, from this day forth will be without wrath, not abundantly given to anguish; even when spoken to much, I will not become attached, will not become angry, will not be repelled, will not become obstinate, and will not manifest irritation, hate, and displeasure; I will give to an ascetic or a brahmin food, drink, cloth, vehicle, garlands, scents, cosmetics, sleeping place, public rest-house, and material for lighting. I will be without envy; regarding others' material gains, honour, respect, reverence, salutation, and veneration, I will not envy, will not resent, will not bind envy. Excellent, venerable sir... etc... May the Blessed One remember me as a female lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth for life." The seventh.