Linked Discourses on Females
First Chapter of Abbreviated Texts
SN 37.1 A Female Mātugāmasutta
"Mendicants, when a female has five factors she is extremely undesirable to a man. What five? She's not attractive, wealthy, or ethical; she's idle, and she doesn't beget children. When a female has these five factors she is extremely undesirable to a man.
When a female has five factors she is extremely desirable to a man. What five? She's attractive, wealthy, and ethical; she's deft and tireless, and she begets children. When a female has these five factors she is extremely desirable to a man."
SN 37.2 A Man Purisasutta
"Mendicants, when a man has five factors he is extremely undesirable to a female. What five? He's not attractive, wealthy, or ethical; he's idle, and he doesn't beget children. When a man has these five factors he is extremely undesirable to a female.
When a man has five factors he is extremely desirable to a female. What five? He's attractive, wealthy, and ethical; he's deft and tireless, and he begets children. When a man has these five factors he is extremely desirable to a female."
SN 37.3 Particular Suffering Āveṇikadukkhasutta
"Mendicants, there are these five kinds of suffering that particularly apply to females. They're undergone by females and not by men. What five?
Firstly, a female, while still young, goes to live with her husband's family and is separated from her relatives. This is the first kind of suffering that particularly applies to females.
Furthermore, a female undergoes the menstrual cycle. This is the second kind of suffering that particularly applies to females.
Furthermore, a female undergoes pregnancy. This is the third kind of suffering that particularly applies to females.
Furthermore, a female gives birth. This is the fourth kind of suffering that particularly applies to females.
Furthermore, a female provides services for a man. This is the fifth kind of suffering that particularly applies to females.
These are the five kinds of suffering that particularly apply to females. They're undergone by females and not by men."
SN 37.4 Three Qualities Tīhidhammehisutta
"Mendicants, when females have three qualities, when their body breaks up, after death, they are mostly reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. What three?
A female lives at home with a heart full of the stain of stinginess in the morning, jealousy in the afternoon, and sexual desire in the evening.
When females have these three qualities, when their body breaks up, after death, they are mostly reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell."
SN 37.5 Irritable Kodhanasutta
Then Venerable Anuruddha went up to the Buddha, sat down to one side, and said to him:
"Sometimes, sir, with my clairvoyance that's purified and superhuman, I see that a female---when her body breaks up, after death---is reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. How many qualities do females have so that they're reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell?"
"Anuruddha, when females have five qualities, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. What five?
They're faithless, shameless, imprudent, irritable, and witless.
When females have these five qualities, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell."
SN 37.6 Acrimony Upanāhīsutta
"... They're faithless, shameless, imprudent, acrimonious, and witless. ..."
SN 37.7 Jealous Issukīsutta
"... They're faithless, shameless, imprudent, jealous, and witless. ..."
SN 37.8 Stingy Maccharīsutta
"... They're faithless, shameless, imprudent, stingy, and witless. ..."
SN 37.9 Adultery Aticārīsutta
"... They're faithless, shameless, imprudent, adulterous, and witless. ..."
SN 37.10 Unethical Dussīlasutta
"... They're faithless, shameless, imprudent, unethical, and witless. ..."
SN 37.11 Unlearned Appassutasutta
"... They're faithless, shameless, imprudent, unlearned, and witless. ..."
SN 37.12 Lazy Kusītasutta
"... They're faithless, shameless, imprudent, lazy, and witless. ..."
SN 37.13 Unmindful Muṭṭhassatisutta
"... They're faithless, shameless, imprudent, unmindful, and witless. ..."
SN 37.14 Five Threats Pañcaverasutta
"Anuruddha, when females have five qualities, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. What five? They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. When females have these five qualities, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell."
Second Chapter of Abbreviated Texts
SN 37.15 Loving Akkodhanasutta
Then Venerable Anuruddha went up to the Buddha ... and asked him, "Sometimes, sir, with my clairvoyance that's purified and superhuman, I see that a female---when her body breaks up, after death---is reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. How many qualities do females have so that they're reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm?"
"Anuruddha, when females have five qualities, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. What five? They're faithful, conscientious, prudent, loving, and wise. When females have these five qualities, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm."
SN 37.16 Free of Acrimony Anupanāhīsutta
"... They're faithful, conscientious, prudent, free of acrimony, and wise. ..."
SN 37.17 Free of Jealousy Anissukīsutta
"... They're faithful, conscientious, prudent, free of jealousy, and wise. ..."
SN 37.18 Free of Stinginess Amaccharīsutta
"... They're faithful, conscientious, prudent, free of stinginess, and wise. ..."
SN 37.19 Not Adulterous Anaticārīsutta
"... They're faithful, conscientious, prudent, not adulterous, and wise. ..."
SN 37.20 Ethical Susīlasutta
"... They're faithful, conscientious, prudent, ethical, and wise. ..."
SN 37.21 Very Learned Bahussutasutta
"... They're faithful, conscientious, prudent, learned, and wise. ..."
SN 37.22 Energetic Āraddhavīriyasutta
"... They're faithful, conscientious, prudent, energetic, and wise. ..."
SN 37.23 Mindful Upaṭṭhitassatisutta
"... They're faithful, conscientious, prudent, mindful, and wise. ..."
SN 37.24 Five Precepts Pañcasīlasutta
"Anuruddha, when females have five qualities, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. What five? They don't kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. When females have these five qualities, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm."
The Chapter on Powers
SN 37.25 Assured Visāradasutta
"Mendicants, there are these five powers of a female. What five? Attractiveness, wealth, relatives, children, and ethical behavior. These are the five powers of a female. A female living at home with these five qualities is self-assured."
SN 37.26 Under Her Thumb Pasayhasutta
"Mendicants, there are these five powers of a female. What five? Attractiveness, wealth, relatives, children, and ethical behavior. These are the five powers of a female. A female living at home with these five powers has her husband under her thumb."
SN 37.27 Mastered Abhibhuyyasutta
"Mendicants, there are these five powers of a female. What five? Attractiveness, wealth, relatives, children, and ethical behavior. These are the five powers of a female. A female with these five powers lives having mastered her husband."
SN 37.28 One Ekasutta
"Mendicants, when a man has one power he has a female under his mastery. What one power? The power of authority. Mastered by this, a female's powers of attractiveness, wealth, relatives, children, and ethical behavior do not avail her."
SN 37.29 In That Respect Aṅgasutta
"Mendicants, there are these five powers of a female. What five?
Attractiveness, wealth, relatives, children, and ethical behavior.
A female who has the power of attractiveness but not the power of wealth is incomplete in that respect. But when she has the power of attractiveness and the power of wealth she's complete in that respect.
A female who has the powers of attractiveness and wealth, but not the power of relatives is incomplete in that respect. But when she has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, and relatives she's complete in that respect.
A female who has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, and relatives, but not the power of children is incomplete in that respect. But when she has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, relatives, and children she's complete in that respect.
A female who has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, relatives, and children, but not the power of ethical behavior is incomplete in that respect. But when she has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, relatives, children, and ethical behavior she's complete in that respect.
These are the five powers of a female."
SN 37.30 They Send Her Away Nāsentisutta
"Mendicants, there are these five powers of a female. What five?
Attractiveness, wealth, relatives, children, and ethical behavior.
If a female has the power of attractiveness but not that of ethical behavior, the family will send her away, they won't accommodate her.
If a female has the powers of attractiveness and wealth but not that of ethical behavior, the family will send her away, they won't accommodate her.
If a female has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, and relatives, but not that of ethical behavior, the family will send her away, they won't accommodate her.
If a female has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, relatives, and children, but not that of ethical behavior, the family will send her away, they won't accommodate her.
If a female has the power of ethical behavior but not that of attractiveness, the family will accommodate her, they won't send her away.
If a female has the power of ethical behavior but not that of wealth, the family will accommodate her, they won't send her away.
If a female has the power of ethical behavior but not that of relatives, the family will accommodate her, they won't send her away.
If a female has the power of ethical behavior but not that of children, the family will accommodate her, they won't send her away.
These are the five powers of a female."
SN 37.31 Cause Hetusutta
"Mendicants, there are these five powers of a female. What five? Attractiveness, wealth, relatives, children, and ethical behavior.
It is not because of the powers of attractiveness, wealth, relatives, or children that females, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. It is because of the power of ethical behavior that females, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.
These are the five powers of a female."
SN 37.32 Things Ṭhānasutta
"Mendicants, there are five things that are hard to get for females who have not made merit. What five?
'May I be born into a suitable family!' This is the first thing.
'Having been born in a suitable family, may I marry into a suitable family!' This is the second thing.
'Having been born in a suitable family and married into a suitable family, may I live at home without a co-wife!' This is the third thing.
'Having been born in a suitable family, and married into a suitable family, and living at home without a co-wife, may I have children!' This is the fourth thing.
'Having been born in a suitable family, and married into a suitable family, and living at home without a co-wife, and having had children, may I live having mastered my husband!' This is the fifth thing.
These are the five things that are hard to get for females who have not made merit.
There are five things that are easy to get for females who have made merit. What five?
'May I be born into a suitable family!' This is the first thing.
'Having been born into a suitable family, may I marry into a suitable family!' This is the second thing.
'Having been born into a suitable family and married into a suitable family, may I live at home without a co-wife!' This is the third thing.
'Having been born into a suitable family, and married into a suitable family, and living at home without a co-wife, may I have children!' This is the fourth thing.
'Having been born into a suitable family, and married into a suitable family, and living at home without a co-wife, and having had children, may I live having mastered my husband!' This is the fifth thing.
These are the five things that are easy to get for females who have made merit."
SN 37.33 Living With Self-Assurance Pañcasīlavisāradasutta
"Mendicants, a female living at home with five qualities is self-assured. What five? She doesn't kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. A female living at home with these five qualities is self-assured."
SN 37.34 Growth Vaḍḍhīsutta
"Mendicants, a female noble disciple who grows in five ways grows nobly, taking on what is essential and excellent in this life. What five? She grows in faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. A female noble disciple who grows in these five ways grows nobly, taking on what is essential and excellent in this life.
When she grows in faith and ethics,
wisdom, and both generosity and learning---
a virtuous laywoman such as she
takes on what is essential for herself in this life."