The Buddha describes the five drawbacks of a black snake.
“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā kaṇhasappe. Katame pañca? Asuci, duggandho, sabhīru, sappaṭibhayo, mittadubbhī. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā kaṇhasappe.
Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcime ādīnavā mātugāme. Katame pañca? Asuci, duggandho, sabhīru, sappaṭibhayo, mittadubbhī. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā mātugāme”ti.
Navamaṁ.
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā kaṇhasappe.
“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of a black snake.
Katame pañca?
What five?
Asuci, duggandho, sabhīru, sappaṭibhayo, mittadubbhī.
It’s filthy, stinking, cowardly, frightening, and treacherous.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā kaṇhasappe.
These are the five dangers of a black snake.
Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcime ādīnavā mātugāme.
In the same way there are these five drawbacks of a lady.
Katame pañca?
What five?
Asuci, duggandho, sabhīru, sappaṭibhayo, mittadubbhī.
She’s filthy, stinking, cowardly, frightening, and treacherous.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā mātugāme”ti.
These are the five drawbacks of a lady.”
Navamaṁ.
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Last updated on July 27, 2026