• Linked Discourses 3.16 Saṁyutta Nikāya 3.16
  • 2. Childless 2. Dutiyavagga

A Daughter Mallikāsutta

At Sāvatthī. Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Then King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaį¹…kami; upasaį¹…kamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisÄ«di. Then a man went up to the king and whispered in his ear, Atha kho aƱƱataro puriso yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaį¹…kami; upasaį¹…kamitvā raƱƱo pasenadissa kosalassa upakaṇṇake ārocesi: ā€œYour Majesty, Queen Mallikā has given birth to a daughter.ā€ ā€œmallikā, deva, devÄ« dhÄ«taraṁ vijātÄā€ti. When this was said, King Pasenadi was disappointed. Evaṁ vutte, rājā pasenadi kosalo anattamano ahosi.

Then, knowing that King Pasenadi was disappointed, on that occasion the Buddha recited these verses: Atha kho bhagavā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ anattamanataṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

ā€œWell, some women are better than men, ā€œItthÄ«pi hi ekacciyā, O ruler of the people. seyyā posa janādhipa; Wise and virtuous, a devoted wife MedhāvinÄ« sÄ«lavatÄ«, whose mother-in-law is her queen. sassudevā patibbatā.

And when she has a son, Tassā yo jāyati poso, he becomes a hero, O lord of the land. sÅ«ro hoti disampati; The son of such a blessed lady Tādisā subhagiyā putto, may even rule the realm.ā€ rajjampi anusāsatÄ«ā€ti.