English
Then the Blessed One said to those young women: “Therefore, young women, you should train yourselves thus: ‘To whomever your parents, wishing your welfare, desiring your benefit, out of compassion, out of sympathy, give you as a husband, we will be early to rise, late to lie down, ready to do what is asked, pleasant in our actions, and sweet-spoken.’ Thus, young women, you should train yourselves. “Therefore, young women, you should train yourselves thus: ‘Those who are the husband’s revered ones, will be, whether mothers or fathers, or ascetics or brahmins, them we will honor, we will respect, we will revere, we will worship, and those who arrive, we will attend with water for their seats.’ Thus, young women, you should train. Therefore, young women, thus you should train: ‘Whatever household tasks of the husband, whether of wool or of cotton, there we will be skillful, not lazy, endowed with the means to accomplish them, with investigation, able to do, able to arrange.’ Thus, young women, you should train. Therefore, young women, thus you should train: ‘Whatever household staff of the husband, whether slaves or servants or laborers, their work done we will know as done, and their work undone we will know as undone, and of the sick we will know their strength and weakness, and we will distribute to them food and drink according to their share.’ Thus, young women, you should train. Therefore, young women, thus you should train: ‘Whatever wealth the husband brings, whether money or grain or silver or gold, that we will preserve with protection and guardianship, and there we will be not a gambler, not a thief, not a drunkard, not a squanderer.’ Thus, young women, you should train. Indeed, young women, a woman endowed with these five qualities, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, is reborn into the companionship of the devas of the delightful realm. She who always supports him, always ardent and diligent; The man who brings all desires, her husband, she does not despise. Nor does she vex her husband, with envy or harsh words; And all the respected ones of her husband, the wise woman honors. Diligent, Diligent, Managing her retinue; Behaves pleasingly to her husband, Protects what has been gathered. "The woman who thus behaves, Following her husband's wishes; The devas named Manāpa (Pleasing) Are where she is reborn." 4. Sīha the General Sutta At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Gabled Hall. Then Sīha the general approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Sīha the general said to the Blessed One: "Is it possible, venerable sir, for the Blessed One to declare the visible fruit of giving?" "It is possible, Sīha," the Blessed One said. "A giver, Sīha, a lord of gifts, is dear and pleasing to many people. That, Sīha, a giver, a lord of gifts, is dear and pleasing to many people, this too is a visible fruit of giving. "Furthermore, Sīha, good and true persons associate with a giver, a lord of gifts. That, Sīha, good and true persons associate with a giver, a lord of gifts, this too is a visible fruit of giving. "Furthermore, Sīha, a good reputation arises for a giver, a lord of gifts. That, Sīha, a good reputation arises for a giver, a lord of gifts, this too is a visible fruit of giving. "Furthermore, Sīha, a giver, a lord of gifts, whatever assembly he approaches—whether an assembly of nobles, or an assembly of brahmins, or an assembly of householders, or an assembly of monastics—he approaches confidently, unperplexed. That, Sīha, a giver, a lord of gifts, whatever assembly he approaches—whether an assembly of nobles, or an assembly of brahmins, or an assembly of householders, or an assembly of monastics—he approaches confidently, unperplexed, this too is a visible fruit of giving. "Furthermore, Sīha, a giver, a lord of gifts, with the breakup of the body, after death, reappears in a good destination, a heavenly world." birth. And also, Siha, the donor, the giver, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, reappears in a good destination, a heavenly world. This is the fruit of giving in the future life.” When this was said, Siha the general said to the Blessed One: “Venerable Sir, as for these four fruits of giving that are visible in this very life, declared by the Blessed One, I do not go by faith in the Blessed One concerning them; I know them myself. Venerable Sir, I am a donor, a giver, dear and pleasing to many people. Venerable Sir, I am a donor, a giver; good and virtuous people associate with me. Venerable Sir, I am a donor, a giver; a good report of me has spread – ‘Siha the general is a donor, a doer, a supporter of the Sangha.’ Venerable Sir, I am a donor, a giver; whatever assembly I approach – whether an assembly of khattiyas, or an assembly of brahmins, or an assembly of householders, or an assembly of ascetics – I approach with confidence, unashamed. As for these four fruits of giving that are visible in this very life, declared by the Blessed One, I do not go by faith in the Blessed One concerning them; I know them myself. But as for what the Blessed One tells me, ‘Siha, the donor, the giver, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, reappears in a good destination, a heavenly world,’ this I do not know; and concerning this, I go by faith in the Blessed One.” “So it is, Siha, so it is, Siha! The donor, the giver, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, reappears in a good destination, a heavenly world.” Giving, one becomes dear; many associate with him, And he attains fame, and his glory grows; Unashamed, he enters an assembly, Confident is the person free from stinginess. Therefore, the wise give gifts, Having removed the stain of stinginess, seeking happiness; They, established in heaven for a long time, Having attained companionship with the devas, rejoice. Having done the deed She, having done good, departed from here, Self-luminous, they wander in Nandana; They there rejoice, delight, are glad, Endowed with the five strands of sensual pleasure; "Having done the word of the imperturbable, such-like one, The disciples of the Fortunate One rejoice in heaven." Fourth. 5. The Discourse on the Benefits of Giving 35. "These five, monks, are benefits of giving. Which five? One is dear and pleasing to many people; the virtuous and good people associate with one; a good reputation arises; one is not estranged from the duties of a householder; with the breaking up of the body, after death, one reappears in a good destination, a heavenly world. These, monks, are the five benefits of giving." "Giving, one becomes dear, Following the Dhamma of the good; The virtuous always associate with him, The restrained renunciants. They teach him the Dhamma, The dispeller of all suffering; Having understood that Dhamma here, He attains Nibbāna, taintless." Fifth. 6. The Discourse on Timely Giving 36. "These five, monks, are timely gifts. Which five? One gives a gift to a guest; one gives a gift to one departing; one gives a gift to the sick; one gives a gift during famine; whatever new grain and new fruits there are, one first establishes them among the virtuous. These, monks, are the five timely gifts." "The wise give at the right time, Generous, without stinginess; Given at the right time to the noble ones, Who are upright, such-like ones. With a mind serene for that, The offering becomes abundant; Those who rejoice in it, Or perform service; The offering is not diminished by that, They too are sharers in merit. Therefore, one should give with an unhesitating mind, Where what is given bears great fruit; Merits in the other world, Are a support for beings." Sixth. 9. The Discourse on Food 37. "Food, mon..." Bhikkhus, a giver, giving, gives five things to the recipients. Which five? He gives life, he gives beauty, he gives happiness, he gives strength, he gives intelligence. Having given life, he becomes a partaker of life, divine or human; having given beauty, he becomes a partaker of beauty, divine or human; having given happiness, he becomes a partaker of happiness, divine or human; having given strength, he becomes a partaker of strength, divine or human; having given intelligence, he becomes a partaker of intelligence, divine or human. Bhikkhus, a giver, giving food, gives these five things to the recipients. Giver of life, giver of strength, the wise one, Giver of beauty, giver of intelligence; The sagacious one, giver of happiness, He attains happiness. Having given life, strength, and beauty, And happiness and intelligence; He becomes long-lived and renowned, Wherever he is reborn. The seventh. 8. Discourse on Faith Bhikkhus, there are these five advantages for a faithful young man of good family. Which five? Those good people, bhikkhus, who are in the world, they first show compassion to the faithful, not so to the faithless; they first approach the faithful, not so the faithless; they first accept from the faithful, not so from the faithless; they first teach the Dhamma to the faithful, not so to the faithless; the faithful, with the breaking up of the body, after death, are reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world. These, bhikkhus, are the five advantages for a faithful young man of good family. Just as, bhikkhus, at a crossroads in a good land, a great banyan tree is a refuge for birds all around; even so, bhikkhus, a faithful young man of good family is a refuge for many people: for bhikkhus, for bhikkhunīs, for laymen, for laywomen. Endowed with branches, leaves, and fruit... a great tree, with trunk, branches, leaves, and foliage. It has roots, full of fruit, a resting place for birds. "In a delightful place, birds resort to it. Those desiring shade go for shade, those desiring fruit, for fruit. "Just so, a person endowed with virtue, faithful, of humble conduct, not arrogant, gentle, kindly, mild.