6.
The Discourse on Anuruddha
46.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambī in Ghosita's park.
Now at that time the Venerable Anuruddha had gone for the day's abiding and was in seclusion.
Then several deities belonging to the Agreeable-bodied realm approached the Venerable Anuruddha;
having approached, they paid respect to the Venerable Anuruddha and stood to one side.
Standing to one side, those deities said this to the Venerable Anuruddha -
"We, venerable sir Anuruddha, are deities named the Agreeable-bodied; we exercise supremacy and wield control in three states.
We, venerable sir Anuruddha, whatever colour we wish for, such colour we obtain with reason and cause;
whatever sound we wish for, such sound we obtain with reason and cause;
whatever happiness we wish for, such happiness we obtain with reason and cause.
We, venerable sir Anuruddha, are deities named the Agreeable-bodied; we exercise supremacy and wield control in these three states."
Then this occurred to the Venerable Anuruddha: "Oh, may all these deities become blue, of blue complexion, with blue clothes and blue ornaments!" Then those deities, having understood the Venerable Anuruddha's mind, all became blue, of blue complexion, with blue clothes and blue ornaments.
Then this occurred to the Venerable Anuruddha: "Oh, may all these deities become yellow, etc. may all become red, may all become white, of white complexion, with white clothes and white ornaments!" Then those deities, having understood the Venerable Anuruddha's mind, all became white, of white complexion, with white clothes and white ornaments.
Then those deities - one sang, one danced, and one snapped her fingers. Just as the sound of a five-piece musical ensemble, well-trained, well-played, struck by skilled musicians, is lovely, enticing, desirable, affectionate, and intoxicating; so too, the sound of those deities' ornaments was lovely, enticing, desirable, affectionate, and intoxicating. Then the Venerable Anuruddha withdrew his faculties.
Then those deities, thinking "The venerable Anuruddha does not consent," disappeared right there. Then the Venerable Anuruddha, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Anuruddha said this to the Blessed One -
"Here I, venerable sir, had gone for the day's abiding and was in seclusion. Then, venerable sir, several deities belonging to the Agreeable-bodied realm approached me; having approached, they paid respect to me and stood to one side. Standing to one side, venerable sir, those deities said this to me - 'We, venerable sir Anuruddha, are deities named the Agreeable-bodied; we exercise supremacy and wield control in three states. We, venerable sir Anuruddha, whatever colour we wish for, such colour we obtain with reason and cause; whatever sound we wish for, such sound we obtain with reason and cause; whatever happiness we wish for, such happiness we obtain with reason and cause. We, venerable sir Anuruddha, are deities named the Agreeable-bodied; we exercise supremacy and wield control in these three states.' Then, venerable sir, this occurred to me: 'Oh, may all these deities become blue, of blue complexion, with blue clothes and blue ornaments!' Then, venerable sir, those deities, having understood my mind, all became blue, of blue complexion, with blue clothes and blue ornaments.
"Then, venerable sir, this occurred to me: 'Oh, may all these deities be yellow, etc. may all be red, etc. may all be white, of white complexion, with white clothes and white ornaments.' Then, venerable sir, those deities, having understood my mind, all became white, of white complexion, with white clothes and white ornaments.
"Then, venerable sir, those deities - one sang, one danced, one snapped her fingers. Just as the sound of a five-piece musical ensemble, well-trained, well-played, struck by skilled musicians, is lovely, enticing, desirable, affectionate, and intoxicating; so too, the sound of those deities' ornaments was lovely, enticing, desirable, affectionate, and intoxicating. Then I, venerable sir, lowered my faculties.
"Then, venerable sir, those deities, thinking 'The noble Anuruddha does not consent,' disappeared right there. Possessed of how many qualities, venerable sir, does a woman, upon the body's collapse at death, become reborn in the company of the Manāpakāyika gods?"
"Possessed of eight qualities, Anuruddha, a woman, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in the company of the Manāpakāyika gods. Which eight? Here, Anuruddha, a woman to whom her mother and father give a husband, desiring her welfare, seeking her benefit, compassionate, out of compassion - for him she is one who rises early, one who retires late, one who is willing to do what is asked, one who conducts herself agreeably, one who speaks pleasantly.
"Whoever are her husband's elders - whether mother or father or ascetics and brahmins - she honours them, respects them, reveres them, venerates them, and when they have arrived, she honours them with a seat and water.
"Whatever are her husband's internal household activities - whether wool or cotton - therein she is skilled, not lazy, endowed with investigation into the means for that, able to do and able to arrange.
"Whatever is her husband's internal household - whether slaves or servants or labourers - she knows what has been done as done and what has not been done as not done, she knows the strength and weakness of the sick, and she distributes the solid and soft food according to their due share.
"Whatever wealth or grain or gold her husband brings, that she safeguards with protection and guarding, and therein she is not a gambler, not a thief, not a drunkard, not a destroyer.
"And she is a female lay follower who has gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Teaching, gone for refuge to the Community.
"And she is virtuous - she abstains from killing living beings, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from lying, abstains from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence.
"And she is generous. She dwells at home with a mind free from the stain of stinginess, generous in giving, with purified hands, delighting in relinquishment, accessible to requests, delighting in giving and sharing.
"Possessed of these eight qualities, Anuruddha, a woman, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in the company of the Manāpakāyika gods."
That man who gives all desires, her husband - she does not despise.
And all those venerable to her husband, the wise woman honours.
She behaves agreeably to her husband, she guards what has been brought.
The Agreeable gods are those, where she is reborn." The sixth.