Reasons behind
Beauty, Affluence & Influence
Mallikā Sutta
Aṅguttara Nikāya – Catukkanipāto (The Book of Fours) – Mahāvaggo
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Then Queen Mallikā approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said to him:
“Bhante, why is it that some women here are,
(1) ugly, ill formed, and unsightly;
(2) poor, destitute, and indigent; and
(3) lacking in influence?
And why is it that some are,
(1) ugly, ill formed, and unsightly; but
(2) rich, with great wealth and property; and
(3) influential?
And why is it that some women here are
(1) beautiful, attractive, and graceful, possessing supreme beauty of complexion; but
(2) poor, destitute, and indigent; and
(3) lacking in influence?
And why is it that some are
(1) beautiful, attractive, and graceful, possessing supreme beauty of complexion;
(2) rich, with great wealth and property; and
(3) influential?”
“Here, Mallikā,
(1) some woman is prone to anger and easily exasperated. Even if she is criticized slightly she loses her temper and becomes irritated, hostile, and stubborn; she displays anger, hatred, and bitterness.
(2) She does not give things to ascetics or brahmins: food and drink; clothing and vehicles; garlands, scents, and unguents; bedding, dwellings, and lighting.
(3) And she is envious, one who envies, resents, and begrudges the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others.
When she passes away from that state, if she comes back to this world, wherever she is reborn
(i) she is ugly, ill formed, and unsightly;
(ii) poor, destitute, and indigent; and
(iii) lacking in influence.
“Another woman is,
(1) prone to anger and easily exasperated. Even if she is criticized slightly she loses her temper and becomes irritated, hostile, and stubborn; she displays anger, hatred, and bitterness.
(2) But she gives things to ascetics or brahmins: food and drink; clothing and vehicles; garlands, scents, and unguents; bedding, dwellings, and lighting.
(3) And she is without envy, one who does not envy, resent, or begrudge the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others.
When she passes away from that state, if she comes back to this world, wherever she is reborn,
(i) she is ugly, ill formed, and unsightly;
(ii) but she is rich, with great wealth and property; and
(iii) influential.
“Still another woman is,
(1) not prone to anger or often exasperated. Even if she is criticized a lot she does not lose her temper and become irritated, hostile, and stubborn; she does not display anger, hatred, and bitterness.
(2) But does not give things to ascetics or brahmins: food and drink; clothing and vehicles; garlands, scents, and unguents; bedding, dwellings, and lighting.
(3) And she is envious, one who envies, resents, and begrudges the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others.
When she passes away from that state, if she comes back to this world, wherever she is reborn
(i) she is beautiful, attractive, and graceful, possessing supreme beauty of complexion;
(ii) but she is poor, destitute, with little wealth;
(iii) and lacking in influence.
“And still another woman is,
(1) not prone to anger or often exasperated. Even if she is criticized a lot she does not lose her temper and become irritated, hostile, and stubborn; she does not display anger, hatred, and bitterness.
(2) And she gives things to ascetics or brahmins: food and drink; clothing and vehicles; garlands, scents, and unguents; bedding, dwellings, and lighting.
(3) And she is without envy, one who does not envy, resent, or begrudge the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others.
When she passes away from that state, if she comes back to this world, wherever she is reborn,
(i) she is beautiful, attractive, and graceful, possessing supreme beauty of complexion;
(ii) rich, with great wealth and property; and
(iii) influential.
“This, Mallikā, is why some women here are (i) ugly, ill formed, and unsightly; (ii) poor, destitute, and indigent; and (iii) lacking in influence.
This is why some are (i) ugly, ill formed, and unsightly; but (ii) rich, with great wealth and property; and (iii) influential.
This is why some women here are (i) beautiful, attractive, and graceful, possessing supreme beauty of complexion; but (ii) poor, destitute, and indigent; and (iii) lacking in influence.
This is why some are (i) beautiful, attractive, and graceful, possessing supreme beauty of complexion; (ii) rich, with great wealth and property; and (iii) influential.”
When this was said, Queen Mallikā said to the Blessed One: “I suppose, Bhante,
that in some earlier life I was prone to anger and often exasperated; that even when I was criticized slightly I lost my temper and became irritated, hostile, and stubborn, and displayed anger, hatred, and bitterness. Therefore I am now ugly, ill formed, and unsightly.
But I suppose that in some earlier life I gave things to ascetics or brahmins … bedding, dwellings, and lighting. Therefore I am now rich, with great wealth and property.
And I suppose that in some earlier life I was without envy, not one who envied, resented, and begrudged the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others. Therefore I am now influential. In this court there are girls of khattiya, brahmin, and householder families over whom I exercise command.
“From today, Bhante,
I will not be prone to anger and often exasperated. Even when I am criticized a lot I will not lose my temper and become irritated, hostile, and stubborn; I will not display anger, hatred, and bitterness.
And I will give things to ascetics or brahmins: food and drink; clothing and vehicles; garlands, scents, and unguents; bedding, dwellings, and lighting.
And I will not be envious, one who envies, resents, and begrudges the gain, honor, respect, esteem, homage, and worship given to others.
Excellent, Bhante! … Let the Blessed One consider me a lay follower who from today has gone for refuge for life.”
Extracted from: ‘The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha’ – Bhikkhu Bodhi