Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.48

Numbered Discourses 8.48

5. Uposathavagga

5. Uposatha 

Nakulamātāsutta

With Nakula’s Mother on the Lovable Gods

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bhaggesu viharati susumāragire¹ bhesakaḷāvane migadāye. Atha kho nakulamātā gahapatānī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā …pe…. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho nakulamātaraṁ gahapatāniṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Bhaggas on Crocodile Hill, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood. Then the housewife Nakula’s mother went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to her:

“Aṭṭhahi kho, nakulamāte, dhammehi samannāgato mātugāmo kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā manāpakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Katamehi aṭṭhahi?

“Nakula’s mother, when they have eight qualities females—when their body breaks up, after death—are reborn in company with the Gods of the Lovable Host. What eight?

Idha, nakulamāte, mātugāmo yassa mātāpitaro bhattuno denti atthakāmā hitesino anukampakā anukampaṁ upādāya tassa hoti pubbuṭṭhāyinī pacchānipātinī kiṅkārapaṭissāvinī manāpacārinī piyavādinī.

Take the case of a female whose mother and father give her to a husband wanting what’s best for her, out of kindness and compassion. She would get up before him and go to bed after him, and be obliging, behaving nicely and speaking politely.

Ye te bhattu garuno honti—mātāti vā pitāti vā samaṇabrāhmaṇāti vā—te sakkaroti garuṁ karoti māneti pūjeti, abbhāgate ca āsanodakena paṭipūjeti.

She honors, respects, esteems, and venerates those her husband respects, such as mother and father, and ascetics and brahmins. And when they arrive she serves them with a seat and water.

Ye te bhattu abbhantarā kammantā—uṇṇāti vā kappāsāti vā—tattha dakkhā hoti analasā tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgatā alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ.

She’s deft and tireless in her husband’s household duties, such as knitting and sewing. She understands how to go about things in order to complete and organize the work.

Yo so bhattu abbhantaro antojano—dāsāti vā pessāti vā kammakarāti vā—tesaṁ katañca katato jānāti akatañca akatato jānāti, gilānakānañca balābalaṁ jānāti khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyañcassa paccaṁsena saṁvibhajati.

She knows what work her husband’s domestic bondservants, employees, and workers have completed, and what they’ve left incomplete. She knows who is sick, and who is fit or unwell. She distributes to each a fair portion of fresh and cooked foods.

Yaṁ bhattā āharati dhanaṁ vā dhaññaṁ vā rajataṁ vā jātarūpaṁ vā taṁ ārakkhena guttiyā sampādeti, tattha ca hoti adhuttī athenī asoṇḍī avināsikā.

She ensures that any income her husband earns is guarded and protected, whether money, grain, silver, or gold. She doesn’t overspend, steal, waste, or lose it.

Upāsikā kho pana hoti buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā.

She’s a lay follower who has gone for refuge to the Buddha, his teaching, and the Saṅgha.

Sīlavatī kho pana hoti—pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā …pe….

She’s ethical. She doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or use alcoholic drinks that cause negligence.

Cāgavatī kho pana hoti vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgā payatapāṇinī vossaggaratā yācayogā dānasaṁvibhāgaratā.

She’s generous. She lives at home rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.

Imehi kho, nakulamāte, aṭṭhahi dhammehi samannāgato mātugāmo kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā manāpakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjatīti.

When they have these eight qualities females—when their body breaks up, after death—are reborn in company with the Gods of the Lovable Host.

Yo naṁ bharati sabbadā, niccaṁ ātāpi ussuko; Taṁ sabbakāmadaṁ posaṁ, bhattāraṁ nātimaññati.

She’d never look down on her husband, who’s always eager to work hard, always looking after her, and bringing whatever she wants.

Na cāpi sotthi bhattāraṁ, issāvādena rosaye; Bhattu ca garuno sabbe, paṭipūjeti paṇḍitā.

And a good woman never scolds her husband with jealous words. Being astute, she reveres those respected by her husband.

Uṭṭhāhikā analasā, saṅgahitaparijjanā; Bhattu manāpaṁ carati, sambhataṁ anurakkhati.

She gets up early, works tirelessly, and manages the domestic help. She’s lovable to her husband, and preserves his wealth.

Yā evaṁ vattati nārī, bhattu chandavasānugā; Manāpā nāma te² devā, yattha sā upapajjatī”ti.

A lady who fulfills these duties according to her husband’s desire, is reborn among the gods called ‘Lovable’.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.