Saṁyutta Nikāya:
IV. Saḷāyatana Vagga
37: Mātugāma Saṁyutta
I. Peyyāla Vagga Paṭhamo

37: Kindred Sayings about Womankind
Chapter 1: First Repetition

Sutta 3

Āveṇika-Dukkha Suttaṁ

Special

 

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[1]Thus have I heard:

The Exalted One once addressed the brethren, saying:

"Brethren."

"Lord," responded those brethren to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One thus spoke:

"There are these five special¹ woes, Brethren,
which a woman has to undergo
as apart from a man.

What five?

Herein, Brethren, a woman
at a tender age
goes to her husband's family
and leaves her relatives behind.

That is the first special woe.

Again, Brethren, a woman is subject to menses.

That is the second woe. [163]

Again, Brethren, a woman is subject to pregnancy.

That is the third woe.

Again, Brethren, a woman has to bring forth.

That is the fourth woe.

Again, Brethren, a woman has to wait upon² a man.

That is the fifth special woe
which a woman has to undergo
as apart from a man.

These, Brethren, are the five special woes
which a woman has to undergo
as apart from a man."

 

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¹ Āveṇikā (a word of doubtful origin), def. by Comy. as paṭipugga-likāni (idoneus), asadhāraṇāni purisehi (not in common with males).

² Pāricariyaṅ upeti.