A DaughterMallikāsutta

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 tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Then a man went up to the king and whispered in his ear,Atha kho aññataro puriso yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa upakaṇṇake ārocesi: “Your Majesty, Queen Mallikā has given birth to a daughter.”“mallikā, deva, devī dhītaraṁ vijātā”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:

“Well, some women are better than men,“Itthīpi hi ekacciyā, O ruler of the people.seyyā posa janādhipa; Wise and virtuous, a devoted wifeMedhāvinī sīlavatī, 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.sūro hoti disampati; The son of such a blessed ladyTādisā subhagiyā putto, may even rule the realm.”rajjampi anusāsatī”ti.