AN 8.50 · Pali Canon (Tipiṭaka) – English & Pāli · Verses Across
Buddhism · Sutta Pitaka · Numbered Discourses (Aṅguttara)
AN 8.50
Winning in This Life (2nd) · Dutiyaidhalokikasutta
EnglishEnglish
PāliPali
“Mendicants, a lady who has four qualities is practicing to win in this life, and she succeeds at it. What four? It’s when a lady is well-organized at work, manages the domestic help, acts lovingly toward her husband, and preserves his earnings.
And how is a lady well-organized at work? It’s when she’s skilled and tireless in doing domestic duties for her husband … That’s how a lady is well-organized at work.
Kathañca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo susaṁvihitakammanto hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, mātugāmo ye te bhattu abbhantarā kammantā …pe… evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmo susaṁvihitakammanto hoti.
And how does a lady manage the domestic help? It’s when she knows what work her husband’s domestic bondservants, servants, and workers have completed, and what they’ve left incomplete. She knows who is sick, and who is fit or unwell. She distributes to each a fair portion of fresh and cooked foods. That’s how a lady manages the domestic help.
Kathañca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo saṅgahitaparijano hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, mātugāmo yo so bhattu abbhantaro antojano …pe… evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmo saṅgahitaparijano hoti.
And how does a lady act lovingly toward her husband? It’s when a lady would not transgress in any way that her husband would not consider agreeable, even for the sake of her own life. That’s how a lady acts lovingly toward her husband.
And how does a lady preserve his earnings? It’s when she tries to guard and protect any income her husband earns … That’s how a lady preserves his earnings. A lady who possesses these four qualities is practicing to win in this life, and she succeeds at it.
A lady who has four qualities is practicing to win in the next life, and she succeeds at it. What four? It’s when a lady is accomplished in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom.
And how is a lady accomplished in ethics? It’s when a lady doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. That’s how a lady is accomplished in ethics.
And how is a lady accomplished in generosity? It’s when she lives at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share. That’s how a lady is accomplished in generosity.
And how is a lady accomplished in wisdom? It’s when a lady is wise. She has the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. That’s how a lady is accomplished in wisdom. A lady who possesses these four qualities is practicing to win in the next life, and she succeeds at it.
