King Pasenadi of Kosala visits the Buddha and discusses a daughter, receiving guidance on conduct, wisdom, and the spiritual life.

SN 3.16 A Daughter

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Atha kho aññataro puriso yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa upakaṇṇake ārocesi: “mallikā, deva, devī dhītaraṁ vijātā”ti. Evaṁ vutte, rājā pasenadi kosalo anattamano ahosi.

Atha kho bhagavā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ anattamanataṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

“Itthīpi hi ekacciyā,
seyyā posa janādhipa;
Medhāvinī sīlavatī,
sassudevā patibbatā.

Tassā yo jāyati poso,
sūro hoti disampati;
Tādisā subhagiyā putto,
rajjampi anusāsatī”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Then King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.

Atha kho aññataro puriso yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa upakaṇṇake ārocesi:

Then a man went up to the king and whispered in his ear,

“mallikā, deva, devī dhītaraṁ vijātā”ti.

“Your Majesty, Queen Mallikā has given birth to a daughter.”

Evaṁ vutte, rājā pasenadi kosalo anattamano ahosi.

When this was said, King Pasenadi was disappointed.

Atha kho bhagavā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ anattamanataṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

Then, knowing that King Pasenadi was disappointed, on that occasion the Buddha recited these verses:

“Itthīpi hi ekacciyā,

“Well, some women are better than men,

seyyā posa janādhipa;

O ruler of the people.

Medhāvinī sīlavatī,

Wise and virtuous, a devoted wife

sassudevā patibbatā.

whose mother-in-law is her queen.

Tassā yo jāyati poso,

And when she has a son,

sūro hoti disampati;

he becomes a hero, O lord of the land.

Tādisā subhagiyā putto,

The son of such a blessed lady

rajjampi anusāsatī”ti.

may even rule the realm.”

Qualities:

Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026