Saṁyutta Nikāya:
IV. Saḷāyatana Vagga
37: Mātugāma Saṁyutta

37: Kindred Sayings about Womankind

Sutta 29

Aṅga Suttaṁ

Quality

 

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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 powers in a woman, brethren.

What five?

The power of beauty,
the power of wealth,
the power of kin,
the power of sons,
the power of virtue.

 

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Suppose, Brethren, a woman is possessed
of the power of beauty,
but not of the power of wealth.

Thus is she defective by one quality.

But suppose her possessed
of the power of beauty,
and of the power of wealth
then is she complete by that quality.

■

Suppose, Brethren, a woman is possessed
of the power of beauty,
and of the power of wealth
but not of the power of kin.

Then is she defective by that one quality.

But suppose her possessed
of the power of beauty,
and of the power of wealth
and of the power of kin
then is she complete by that quality.

■

Suppose, Brethren, a woman is possessed
of the power of beauty,
and of the power of wealth
and of the power of kin,
but not of the power of sons.

Then is she defective by that one quality.

But suppose her possessed
of the power of beauty,
and of the power of wealth
and of the power of kin,
and of the power of sons
then is she complete by that quality.

■

Suppose, Brethren, a woman is possessed
of the power of beauty,
and of the power of wealth
and of the power of kin,
and of the power of sons
but not of the power of virtue.

Then is she defective by that one quality.

But suppose her possessed
of the power of beauty,
and of the power of wealth
and of the power of kin,
and of the power of sons
and of the power of virtue
then is she complete by that quality.

Such, Brethren, are the five powers of women-folk.