Queen MallikāMallikādevīsutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Then Queen Mallikā went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:Atha kho mallikā devī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho mallikā devī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“What is the cause, sir, what is the reason why in this life some ladies are ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking;“Ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; and poor, with few assets and possessions; and insignificant?daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca?

And why are some ladies ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking;Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; but rich, affluent, wealthy, and illustrious?aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca?

And why are some ladies attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty;Ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā; but poor, with few assets and possessions; and insignificant?daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca?

And why are some ladies attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty; and rich, affluent, wealthy, and illustrious?”Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā, aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā cā”ti?

“Take a lady who is irritable and bad-tempered.“Idha, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo kodhanā hoti upāyāsabahulā. Even when criticized a little bit she loses her temper, becoming annoyed, hostile, and hard-hearted, and displaying annoyance, hate, and bitterness.Appampi vuttā samānā abhisajjati kuppati byāpajjati patitthīyati, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti. She doesn’t give to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.Sā na dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. And she’s jealous,Issāmanikā kho pana hoti; envying, resenting, and begrudging the possessions, honor, respect, reverence, homage, and veneration given to others.paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu issati upadussati issaṁ bandhati. If she comes back to this place after passing away, wherever she is reborn she’s ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking;Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; and poor, with few assets and possessions; and insignificant.daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca.

Take another lady who is irritable and bad-tempered. …Idha pana, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo kodhanā hoti upāyāsabahulā. But she does give to ascetics or brahmins …Sā dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. And she’s not jealous …Anissāmanikā kho pana hoti; If she comes back to this place after passing away, wherever she is reborn she’s ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking;Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; but rich, affluent, wealthy, and illustrious.aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca.

Take another lady who isn’t irritable and bad-tempered. …Idha pana, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo akkodhanā hoti anupāyāsabahulā. But she doesn’t give to ascetics or brahmins …Sā na dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. And she’s jealous …Issāmanikā kho pana hoti; If she comes back to this place after passing away, wherever she is reborn she’s attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty;Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā; but poor, with few assets and possessions; and insignificant.daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca.

Take another lady who isn’t irritable and bad-tempered. …Idha pana, mallike, ekacco mātugāmo akkodhanā hoti anupāyāsabahulā. She gives to ascetics and brahmins …Sā dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. And she’s not jealous …Anissāmanikā kho pana hoti; If she comes back to this place after passing away, wherever she is reborn she’s attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty;Sā ce tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchati, sā yattha yattha paccājāyati abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā; and rich, affluent, wealthy, and illustrious.aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca.

This is why some ladies are ugly …Ayaṁ kho, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; and poor … and insignificant.daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca. And some ladies are ugly …Ayaṁ pana, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo dubbaṇṇā ca hoti durūpā supāpikā dassanāya; but rich … and illustrious.aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā ca. And some ladies are attractive …Ayaṁ kho, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā; but poor … and insignificant.daliddā ca hoti appassakā appabhogā appesakkhā ca. And some ladies are attractive …Ayaṁ pana, mallike, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacco mātugāmo abhirūpā ca hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā; and rich … and illustrious.”aḍḍhā ca hoti mahaddhanā mahābhogā mahesakkhā cā”ti.

When this was said, Queen Mallikā said to the Buddha:Evaṁ vutte, mallikā devī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, in another life I must have been irritable and bad-tempered.“yā nūnāhaṁ, bhante, aññaṁ jātiṁ kodhanā ahosiṁ upāyāsabahulā, Even when lightly criticized I must have lost my temper, becoming annoyed, hostile, and hard-hearted, and displaying annoyance, hate, and bitterness.appampi vuttā samānā abhisajjiṁ kuppiṁ byāpajjiṁ patitthīyiṁ kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātvākāsiṁ, For now I am ugly, unattractive, and bad-looking.sāhaṁ, bhante, etarahi dubbaṇṇā durūpā supāpikā dassanāya.

In another life I must have given to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting. For now I am rich, affluent, and wealthy.Yā nūnāhaṁ, bhante, aññaṁ jātiṁ dātā ahosiṁ samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ, sāhaṁ, bhante, etarahi aḍḍhā mahaddhanā mahābhogā.

In another life, I must not have been jealous, envying, resenting, and begrudging the possessions, honor, respect, reverence, homage, and veneration given to others. For now I am illustrious.Yā nūnāhaṁ, bhante, aññaṁ jātiṁ anissāmanikā ahosiṁ, paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu na issiṁ na upadussiṁ na issaṁ bandhiṁ, sāhaṁ, bhante, etarahi mahesakkhā. In this royal court I command maidens of the aristocrats, brahmins, and householders.Santi kho pana, bhante, imasmiṁ rājakule khattiyakaññāpi brāhmaṇakaññāpi gahapatikaññāpi, tāsāhaṁ issarādhipaccaṁ kāremi. So, sir, from this day forth I will not be irritable and bad-tempered.Esāhaṁ, bhante, ajjatagge akkodhanā bhavissāmi anupāyāsabahulā, Even when heavily criticized I won’t lose my temper, become annoyed, hostile, and hard-hearted, or display annoyance, hate, and bitterness.bahumpi vuttā samānā nābhisajjissāmi na kuppissāmi na byāpajjissāmi na patitthīyissāmi, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca na pātukarissāmi; I will give to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.dassāmi samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. I will not be jealous, envying, resenting, and begrudging the possessions, honor, respect, reverence, homage, and veneration given to others.Anissāmanikā bhavissāmi, paralābhasakkāragarukāramānanavandanapūjanāsu na ississāmi na upadussissāmi na issaṁ bandhissāmi.

Excellent, sir! … From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”Abhikkantaṁ, bhante …pe… upāsikaṁ maṁ, bhante, bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.