The Tale of Sujāta and the Seven Types of Wives : หน้า 156/263

by the tale of Sujāta, the younger sister of Viṣākha. This lady was the sister in law of Aṇṭhapiṇḍika but was very haughty because she inherited from a wealthy family. She had consideration neither for her husband nor her parents-in-law. Sujāta was wont to use harsh speech and this led to conflict in the home. One day, Aṇṭhapiṇḍika invited the Buddha and his monks to his own home. From a distance, the Buddha heard the sound of argument coming from the house and asked Aṇṭhapiṇḍika about the possible reason behind such a conflict. Aṇṭhapiṇḍika replied that the cause was the arrogance of Sujāta, his sister in law, who looked down on everyone else. Having heard Aṇṭhapiṇḍika's advice, the Buddha summoned Sujāta. He asked Sujāta of the following seven sorts of wife: 1. A wife like an enemy [vadhaka samābhariyā]; 2. A wife like an robber [cori samābhariyā]; 3. A wife like an boss [ayā samābhariyā]; 4. A wife like an mother [mātā samābhariyā]; 5. A wife like an little sister [bhaginī samābhariyā]; 6. A wife like an friend [sāhāya samābhariyā]; 7. A wife like an slave [dāsi samābhariyā]; which sort she would like to be? Having heard the Lord Buddha’s question, Sujāta asked the Lord Buddha to explain what He meant by each of the seven categories. The Lord Buddha thus explained as follows: 1. A wife like an enemy: When a wife is cruel to her husband instead of being compassionate, when she brings no benefit to her husband, but is interested only _________________ 1. A.iv.91ff., J.269