PTS vp En 294 PTS cs 42 ‘Venerable Nāgasena, it has been said by the Blessed One:
“With opportunity, and secrecy,
And the right woo’r, all women will go wrong—
Aye, failing others, with a cripple even.”
But on the other hand it is said: “Mahosadha’s wife, Amarā, when left behind in the village while her husband was away on a journey, remained alone and in privacy, and regarding her husband as a man would regard his sovran lord, she refused to do wrong, even when tempted with a thousand pieces.” Now if the first of these passages be correct, the second must be wrong; and if the second be right, PTS vp Pali 206 The first must be wrong. This too is a double-edged problem now put to you, and you have to solve it.’
PTS cs 43 ‘It is so said, O king, as you have quoted, touching the conduct of Amarā, Mahosadha’s wife. But the question is would she have done wrong, on receipt of those thousand pieces, with the right man: or would she not have done so, if she had had the opportunity, and the certainty of secrecy, and a suitable wooer? Now, on considering the matter, that lady Amarā was not certain of any of these PTS vp En 295 things. Through her fear of censure in this world the opportunity seemed to her not fit, and through her fear of the sufferings of purgatory in the next world. And because she knew how bitter is the fruit of wrong-doing, and because she did not wish to lose her loved one, and because of the high esteem in which she held her husband, and because she honoured goodness, and despised ignobleness of life, and because she did not want to break with her customary mode of life—for all these reasons the opportunity seemed to her not fit.
‘And, further, she refused to do wrong because, on consideration, she was not sure of keeping the thing secret from the world. PTS vp Pali 207 For even could she have kept it secret from men, yet she could not have concealed it from spirits —even could she have kept it secret from spirits, yet she could not have concealed it from those recluses who have the power of knowing the thoughts of others-even could she have kept it secret from them, yet she could not have concealed it from those of the gods who can read the hearts of men—even could she have kept it secret from the gods, yet she could not have escaped, herself, from the knowledge of her sin—even could she have remained ignorant of it herself, yet she could not have kept it secret from (the law of the result which follows on) unrighteousness. Such were the PTS vp En 296 various reasons which led her to abstain from doing wrong because she could not be sure of secrecy.
‘And, further, she refused to do wrong because, on consideration, she found no right wooer. Mahosadha the wise, O king, was endowed with the eight and twenty qualities. And which are those twenty-eight? He was brave, O king, and full of modesty, and ashamed to do wrong, he had many adherents, and many friends, he was forgiving, he was upright in life, he was truthful, he was pure in word, and deed and heart, he was free from malice, he was not puffed up, he felt no jealousy, he was full of energy, he strove after all good things, he was popular with all men, he was generous, he was friendly, he was humble in disposition, he was free from guile, he was free from deceit, he was full of insight, he was of high reputation, he had much knowledge, he sought after the good of those dependent on him, his praise was in all men’s mouths, great was his wealth, and great his fame. Such were the twenty-eight qualities, O king, with which ‘Mahosadha, the wise, was endowed. And it was because she found no wooer like unto him that she did no wrong.’ PTS vp En 297
‘Very good, Nāgasena! That is so, and I accept it as you say.’
Here ends the dilemma as to the wickedness of women.
8. Amarādevīpañha
8. Amarādevīpañha
“Bhante nāgasena, bhāsitampetaṁ bhagavatā—
“Bhante nāgasena, bhāsitampetaṁ bhagavatā—
“Bhante nāgasena, bhāsitampetaṁ bhagavatā—
‘Sace labhetha khaṇaṁ vā raho vā, Nimantakaṁ vāpi labhetha tādisaṁ; *Nimantakaṁ → nivātakaṁ (23J.21.309/1 kuṇālajātake)Sabbāva itthī kayiruṁ nu pāpaṁ, *Sabbāva → sabbāpi (bj, maku, pts-vp-pli1) | kayiruṁ → kareyyuṁ (bj, mr); kareyyu (maku, pts-vp-pli1)Aññaṁ aladdhā pīṭhasappinā saddhin’ti. *aladdhā → alattha (23J.21.309/1)
‘Sace labhetha khaṇaṁ vā raho vā,
Nimantakaṁ vāpi labhetha tādisaṁ; *Nimantakaṁ → nivātakaṁ (23J.21.309/1 kuṇālajātake)
Sabbāva itthī kayiruṁ nu pāpaṁ, *Sabbāva → sabbāpi (bj, maku, pts-vp-pli1) | kayiruṁ → kareyyuṁ (bj, mr); kareyyu (maku, pts-vp-pli1)
Aññaṁ aladdhā pīṭhasappinā saddhin’ti. *aladdhā → alattha (23J.21.309/1)
‘Sace labhetha khaṇaṁ vā raho vā, Nimantakaṁ vāpi labhetha tādisaṁ; *Nimantakaṁ → nivātakaṁ (23J.21.309/1 kuṇālajātake)Sabbāva itthī kayiruṁ nu pāpaṁ, *Sabbāva → sabbāpi (bj, maku, pts-vp-pli1) | kayiruṁ → kareyyuṁ (bj, mr); kareyyu (maku, pts-vp-pli1)Aññaṁ aladdhā pīṭhasappinā saddhin’ti. *aladdhā → alattha (23J.21.309/1)
Puna ca kathīyati ‘mahosadhassa bhariyā amarā nāma itthī gāmake ṭhapitā pavutthapatikā raho nisinnā vivittā rājappaṭisamaṁ sāmikaṁ karitvā sahassena nimantīyamānā pāpaṁ nākāsī’ti. Yadi, bhante nāgasena, bhagavatā bhaṇitaṁ—‘sace …pe… saddhin’ti tena hi ‘mahosadhassa bhariyā …pe… nākāsī’ti yaṁ vacanaṁ, taṁ micchā. Yadi mahosadhassa bhariyā …pe… nākāsi, tena hi ‘sace …pe… saddhin’ti tampi vacanaṁ micchā. Ayampi ubhato koṭiko pañho tavānuppatto, so tayā nibbāhitabbo”ti.
Puna ca kathīyati ‘mahosadhassa bhariyā amarā nāma itthī gāmake ṭhapitā pavutthapatikā raho nisinnā vivittā rājappaṭisamaṁ sāmikaṁ karitvā sahassena nimantīyamānā pāpaṁ nākāsī’ti.
Yadi, bhante nāgasena, bhagavatā bhaṇitaṁ—
saddhin’ti tena hi ‘mahosadhassa bhariyā …pe…
nākāsī’ti yaṁ vacanaṁ, taṁ micchā.
Yadi mahosadhassa bhariyā …pe…
nākāsi, tena hi ‘sace …pe…
saddhin’ti tampi vacanaṁ micchā.
Ayampi ubhato koṭiko pañho tavānuppatto, so tayā nibbāhitabbo”ti.
Puna ca kathīyati ‘mahosadhassa bhariyā amarā nāma itthī gāmake ṭhapitā pavutthapatikā raho nisinnā vivittā rājappaṭisamaṁ sāmikaṁ karitvā sahassena nimantīyamānā pāpaṁ nākāsī’ti. Yadi, bhante nāgasena, bhagavatā bhaṇitaṁ—‘sace …pe… saddhin’ti tena hi ‘mahosadhassa bhariyā …pe… nākāsī’ti yaṁ vacanaṁ, taṁ micchā. Yadi mahosadhassa bhariyā …pe… nākāsi, tena hi ‘sace …pe… saddhin’ti tampi vacanaṁ micchā. Ayampi ubhato koṭiko pañho tavānuppatto, so tayā nibbāhitabbo”ti.
“Bhāsitampetaṁ, mahārāja, bhagavatā—‘sace …pe… saddhin’ti. Kathīyati ca ‘mahosadhassa bhariyā …pe… nākāsī’ti. Kareyya sā, mahārāja, itthī sahassaṁ labhamānā tādisena purisena saddhiṁ pāpakammaṁ, na sā kareyya sace khaṇaṁ vā raho vā nimantakaṁ vāpi tādisaṁ labheyya, vicinantī sā, mahārāja, amarā itthī na addasa khaṇaṁ vā raho vā nimantakaṁ vāpi tādisaṁ.
“Bhāsitampetaṁ, mahārāja, bhagavatā—
Kathīyati ca ‘mahosadhassa bhariyā …pe…
Kareyya sā, mahārāja, itthī sahassaṁ labhamānā tādisena purisena saddhiṁ pāpakammaṁ, na sā kareyya sace khaṇaṁ vā raho vā nimantakaṁ vāpi tādisaṁ labheyya, vicinantī sā, mahārāja, amarā itthī na addasa khaṇaṁ vā raho vā nimantakaṁ vāpi tādisaṁ.
“Bhāsitampetaṁ, mahārāja, bhagavatā—‘sace …pe… saddhin’ti. Kathīyati ca ‘mahosadhassa bhariyā …pe… nākāsī’ti. Kareyya sā, mahārāja, itthī sahassaṁ labhamānā tādisena purisena saddhiṁ pāpakammaṁ, na sā kareyya sace khaṇaṁ vā raho vā nimantakaṁ vāpi tādisaṁ labheyya, vicinantī sā, mahārāja, amarā itthī na addasa khaṇaṁ vā raho vā nimantakaṁ vāpi tādisaṁ.
Idha loke garahabhayā khaṇaṁ na passi, paraloke nirayabhayā khaṇaṁ na passi, kaṭukavipākaṁ pāpanti khaṇaṁ na passi, piyaṁ amuñcitukāmā khaṇaṁ na passi, sāmikassa garukatāya khaṇaṁ na passi, dhammaṁ apacāyantī khaṇaṁ na passi, anariyaṁ garahantī khaṇaṁ na passi, kiriyaṁ abhinditukāmā khaṇaṁ na passi. Evarūpehi bahūhi kāraṇehi khaṇaṁ na passi.
Idha loke garahabhayā khaṇaṁ na passi, paraloke nirayabhayā khaṇaṁ na passi, kaṭukavipākaṁ pāpanti khaṇaṁ na passi, piyaṁ amuñcitukāmā khaṇaṁ na passi, sāmikassa garukatāya khaṇaṁ na passi, dhammaṁ apacāyantī khaṇaṁ na passi, anariyaṁ garahantī khaṇaṁ na passi, kiriyaṁ abhinditukāmā khaṇaṁ na passi.
Evarūpehi bahūhi kāraṇehi khaṇaṁ na passi.
Idha loke garahabhayā khaṇaṁ na passi, paraloke nirayabhayā khaṇaṁ na passi, kaṭukavipākaṁ pāpanti khaṇaṁ na passi, piyaṁ amuñcitukāmā khaṇaṁ na passi, sāmikassa garukatāya khaṇaṁ na passi, dhammaṁ apacāyantī khaṇaṁ na passi, anariyaṁ garahantī khaṇaṁ na passi, kiriyaṁ abhinditukāmā khaṇaṁ na passi. Evarūpehi bahūhi kāraṇehi khaṇaṁ na passi.
Rahopi sā loke vicinitvā apassantī pāpaṁ nākāsi. Sace sā manussehi raho labheyya, atha amanussehi raho na labheyya. Sace amanussehi raho labheyya, atha paracittavidūhi pabbajitehi raho na labheyya. Sace paracittavidūhi pabbajitehi raho labheyya, atha paracittavidūnīhi devatāhi raho na labheyya. Sace paracittavidūnīhi devatāhi raho labheyya, attanāva pāpehi raho na labheyya. Sace attanāva pāpehi raho labheyya, atha adhammena raho na labheyya. Evarūpehi bahuvidhehi kāraṇehi raho alabhitvā pāpaṁ nākāsi.
Rahopi sā loke vicinitvā apassantī pāpaṁ nākāsi.
Sace sā manussehi raho labheyya, atha amanussehi raho na labheyya.
Sace amanussehi raho labheyya, atha paracittavidūhi pabbajitehi raho na labheyya.
Sace paracittavidūhi pabbajitehi raho labheyya, atha paracittavidūnīhi devatāhi raho na labheyya.
Sace paracittavidūnīhi devatāhi raho labheyya, attanāva pāpehi raho na labheyya.
Sace attanāva pāpehi raho labheyya, atha adhammena raho na labheyya.
Evarūpehi bahuvidhehi kāraṇehi raho alabhitvā pāpaṁ nākāsi.
Rahopi sā loke vicinitvā apassantī pāpaṁ nākāsi. Sace sā manussehi raho labheyya, atha amanussehi raho na labheyya. Sace amanussehi raho labheyya, atha paracittavidūhi pabbajitehi raho na labheyya. Sace paracittavidūhi pabbajitehi raho labheyya, atha paracittavidūnīhi devatāhi raho na labheyya. Sace paracittavidūnīhi devatāhi raho labheyya, attanāva pāpehi raho na labheyya. Sace attanāva pāpehi raho labheyya, atha adhammena raho na labheyya. Evarūpehi bahuvidhehi kāraṇehi raho alabhitvā pāpaṁ nākāsi.
Nimantakampi sā loke vicinitvā tādisaṁ alabhantī pāpaṁ nākāsi. Mahosadho, mahārāja, paṇḍito aṭṭhavīsatiyā aṅgehi samannāgato. Katamehi aṭṭhavīsatiyā aṅgehi samannāgato? Mahosadho, mahārāja, sūro hirimā ottappī sapakkho mittasampanno khamo sīlavā saccavādī soceyyasampanno akkodhano anatimānī anusūyako vīriyavā āyūhako saṅgāhako saṁvibhāgī sakhilo nivātavutti saṇho asaṭho amāyāvī atibuddhisampanno kittimā vijjāsampanno hitesī upanissitānaṁ patthito sabbajanassa dhanavā yasavā. Mahosadho, mahārāja, paṇḍito imehi aṭṭhavīsatiyā aṅgehi samannāgato. Sā aññaṁ tādisaṁ nimantakaṁ alabhitvā pāpaṁ nākāsī”ti. “Sādhu, bhante nāgasena, evametaṁ tathā sampaṭicchāmī”ti.
Nimantakampi sā loke vicinitvā tādisaṁ alabhantī pāpaṁ nākāsi.
Mahosadho, mahārāja, paṇḍito aṭṭhavīsatiyā aṅgehi samannāgato.
Katamehi aṭṭhavīsatiyā aṅgehi samannāgato?
Mahosadho, mahārāja, sūro hirimā ottappī sapakkho mittasampanno khamo sīlavā saccavādī soceyyasampanno akkodhano anatimānī anusūyako vīriyavā āyūhako saṅgāhako saṁvibhāgī sakhilo nivātavutti saṇho asaṭho amāyāvī atibuddhisampanno kittimā vijjāsampanno hitesī upanissitānaṁ patthito sabbajanassa dhanavā yasavā.
Mahosadho, mahārāja, paṇḍito imehi aṭṭhavīsatiyā aṅgehi samannāgato.
Sā aññaṁ tādisaṁ nimantakaṁ alabhitvā pāpaṁ nākāsī”ti.
“Sādhu, bhante nāgasena, evametaṁ tathā sampaṭicchāmī”ti.
Nimantakampi sā loke vicinitvā tādisaṁ alabhantī pāpaṁ nākāsi. Mahosadho, mahārāja, paṇḍito aṭṭhavīsatiyā aṅgehi samannāgato. Katamehi aṭṭhavīsatiyā aṅgehi samannāgato? Mahosadho, mahārāja, sūro hirimā ottappī sapakkho mittasampanno khamo sīlavā saccavādī soceyyasampanno akkodhano anatimānī anusūyako vīriyavā āyūhako saṅgāhako saṁvibhāgī sakhilo nivātavutti saṇho asaṭho amāyāvī atibuddhisampanno kittimā vijjāsampanno hitesī upanissitānaṁ patthito sabbajanassa dhanavā yasavā. Mahosadho, mahārāja, paṇḍito imehi aṭṭhavīsatiyā aṅgehi samannāgato. Sā aññaṁ tādisaṁ nimantakaṁ alabhitvā pāpaṁ nākāsī”ti. “Sādhu, bhante nāgasena, evametaṁ tathā sampaṭicchāmī”ti.
Amarādevīpañho aṭṭhamo.
Amarādevīpañho aṭṭhamo.