A Collection of Buddhist Wisdom Verses - Ancient Buddhist Texts

25: Women
472. Yā daliddī daliddassa, aḍḍhā aḍḍhassa kittimā,
Taṁ ve devā pasaṁsanti, dukkaraṁ hi karoti sā.
She who is famed for being poor
With the poor, and rich with the rich,
The very gods themselves do praise,
She does that which is difficult.
473. Sāmikaṁ anubandhissaṁ, sadā kāsāyavāsinī,
Pathavyāpi abhijjantyā vedhavyaṁ kaṭukitthiyā.
I follow after my husband,
I will wear the robe that is dyed,
Ruling the Earth as a widow
Would be very painful indeed.
474. Kathaṁ nu tāsaṁ hadayaṁ sukharā vata itthiyo,
Yā sāmike dukkhitamhi, sukham-icchanti attano
How is the heart of those women
So very hard and unyielding,
Who, when their husbands are suffering,
Seek only their own happiness
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