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Numbered Discourses · AN 5.230

  • Numbered Discourses 5.230Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.230
  • 23. Long Wandering23. Dīghacārikavagga

Black Cobras (2nd)Dutiyakaṇhasappasutta

“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of a black cobra.“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā kaṇhasappe. What five?Katame pañca? It’s irritable, acrimonious, venomous, fork-tongued, and treacherous.Kodhano, upanāhī, ghoraviso, dujjivho, mittadubbhī. These are the five dangers of a black cobra.Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā kaṇhasappe.

In the same way there are these five drawbacks of a lady.Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcime ādīnavā mātugāme. What five?Katame pañca? She’s irritable, acrimonious, venomous, fork-tongued, and treacherous.Kodhano, upanāhī, ghoraviso, dujjivho, mittadubbhī. This is a lady’s venom:Tatridaṁ, bhikkhave, mātugāmassa ghoravisatā— usually she’s very lustful.yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, mātugāmo tibbarāgo. This is a lady’s forked tongue:Tatridaṁ, bhikkhave, mātugāmassa dujjivhatā— usually she backbites.yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, mātugāmo pisuṇavāco. This is a lady’s treachery:Tatridaṁ, bhikkhave, mātugāmassa mittadubbhitā— usually she’s an adulteress.yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, mātugāmo aticārinī. These are the five drawbacks of a lady.”Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā mātugāme”ti.

Similar passages elsewhere

Found by meaning, not by citation: the passages in other texts whose wording sits closest to a passage here.

  1. AN 5.229 Black Cobras (1st) 0.90near 0.1Numbered Discourses 5.229 23. Long Wandering Black Cobras (1st) “Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of a black cobra. What five? It’s filthy, stinking, cowardly, frightening, and treacherous. These are the five d…
  2. AN 5.220 About Madhurā 0.58near 0.1Numbered Discourses 5.220 22. Abuse About Madhurā “Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of Madhurā. What five? The ground is uneven and dusty, the hounds are fierce, the native spirits are vicious, and it’s hard to…
  3. AN 5.224 Stingy 0.52near 0.1Numbered Discourses 5.224 23. Long Wandering Stingy “Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of overstaying. What five? You become stingy with dwellings, families, material things, praise, and the teaching. These are…
  4. AN 5.219 Fire 0.50near 0.1Numbered Discourses 5.219 22. Abuse Fire “Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of a fire. What five? It’s bad for your eyes. It’s bad for your complexion. It makes you weak. It draws in groups. And it encourages lo…