For a woman who has not made merit, five things are hard to come by
Ṭhāna Sutta
Saɱyutta Nikāya – Saḷāyatana Vagga – Mātugāma Saɱyutta – Bala Vagga
“Bhikkhus, there are five situations that are difficult to obtain for a woman who has not done merit. What are the five?”
“She may wish: ‘May I be born into a suitable family!’ This is the first situation that is difficult to obtain for a woman who has not done merit.”
“She may wish: ‘Having been born into a suitable family, may I marry into a suitable family!‘ This is the second situation that is difficult to obtain for a woman who has not done merit.”
“She may wish: ‘Having been born into a suitable family and having married into a suitable family, may I dwell at home without a rival!’ This is the third situation that is difficult to obtain for a woman who has not done merit.”
“She may wish: ‘Having been born into a suitable family and having married into a suitable family, having dwelt at home without a rival, may I bear sons!’ This is the fourth situation that is difficult to obtain for a woman who has not done merit.”
“She may wish: ‘Having been born into a suitable family and having married into a suitable family, having dwelt at home without a rival, having borne sons, may I abide with my husband under my control!’ This is the fifth situation that is difficult to obtain for a woman who has not done merit.”
These are the five situations that are difficult to obtain for a woman who has not done merit.
“Bhikkhus, there are five situations that are easy to obtain for a woman who has done merit. What are the five?
“She may wish: ‘May I be born into a suitable family!’ This is the first situation that is easy to obtain for a woman who has done merit.”
“She may wish: ‘Having been born into a suitable family, may I marry into a suitable family!‘ This is the second situation that is easy to obtain for a woman who has done merit.”
“She may wish: ‘Having been born into a suitable family and having married into a suitable family, may I dwell at home without a rival!’ This is the third situation that is easy to obtain for a woman who has done merit.”
“She may wish: ‘Having been born into a suitable family and having married into a suitable family, having dwelt at home without a rival, may I bear sons!’ This is the fourth situation that is easy to obtain for a woman who has done merit.”
“She may wish: ‘Having been born into a suitable family and having married into a suitable family, having dwelt at home without a rival, having borne sons, may I abide with my husband under my control!’ This is the fifth situation that is easy to obtain for a woman who has done merit.”
“These are the five situations that are easy to obtain for a woman who has done merit.”
From the book : ‘The connected discourses of the Buddha’ (Bhikkhu Bodhi)