King Pasenadi of Kosala and Queen Mallikā ask each other who is more dearer to them than themselves.

SN 3.8  Mallikā sutta - With Queen Mallikā

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthi.

Tena kho pana samayena rājā pasenadi kosalo mallikāya deviyā saddhiṁ uparipāsādavaragato hoti.

At one time, king Pasenadi of Kosala was staying in the upper chambers of his palace together with queen Mallikā.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo mallikaṁ deviṁ etadavoca: “atthi nu kho te, mallike, kocañño attanā piyataro”ti?

Then king Pasenadi of Kosala said to queen Mallikā, “Mallikā, is there anyone |dearer::more beloved [piyatara]| to you than yourself?”

“Natthi kho me, mahārāja, kocañño attanā piyataro. Tuyhaṁ pana, mahārāja, atthañño koci attanā piyataro”ti?

She replied, “No, great king, there is no one dearer to me than myself. But for you, great king, is there anyone dearer to you than yourself?”

“Mayhampi kho, mallike, natthañño koci attanā piyataro”ti.

The king responded, “For me too, Mallikā, there is no one dearer to me than myself.”

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo pāsādā orohitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idhāhaṁ, bhante, mallikāya deviyā saddhiṁ uparipāsādavaragato mallikaṁ deviṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘atthi nu kho te, mallike, kocañño attanā piyataro’ti? Evaṁ vutte, bhante, mallikā devī maṁ etadavoca: ‘natthi kho me, mahārāja, kocañño attanā piyataro. Tuyhaṁ pana, mahārāja, atthañño koci attanā piyataro’ti? Evaṁ vuttāhaṁ, bhante, mallikaṁ deviṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘mayhampi kho, mallike, natthañño koci attanā piyataro’”ti.

Then king Pasenadi of Kosala descended from the palace and went to the Blessed One. Having approached him and paid his respects, he sat down to one side. Sitting there, King Pasenadi of Kosala said to the Blessed One: “Here, venerable sir, I was staying in the upper chambers of my palace with queen Mallikā, and I said to her, ‘Mallikā, is there anyone dearer to you than yourself?‘ When asked this, venerable sir, queen Mallikā replied to me, ‘No, great king, there is no one dearer to me than myself. But for you, great king, is there anyone dearer to you than yourself?’ When she said this, venerable sir, I replied to queen Mallikā, ‘For me too, Mallikā, there is no one dearer to me than myself.’”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then the Blessed One, understanding the significance of this, recited this verse on that occasion:

“Sabbā disā anuparigamma cetasā,
Nevajjhagā piyataramattanā kvaci;
Evaṁ piyo puthu attā paresaṁ,
Tasmā na hiṁse paramattakāmo”ti.

“Having surveyed all directions with the mind,
one cannot find anything more dearer than oneself;
Likewise for others, each holds themselves dear,
Therefore, one desiring one’s own good should not |harm::hurt, injure, kill [hiṁsa]| others.”

Qualities:

Dearness

Dearness

A mental quality of holding something or someone as 'dear' through attachment, which binds the mind with craving and possessiveness. It is the external fixation upon what the mind clings to, often giving rise to envy, quarrels, and sorrow.

Also known as: beloved, cherished, pleasing
Pāli: piya
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Non-harm

Non-harm

The intention of harmlessness, rooted in the understanding that all beings tremble at violence and fear death.

Also known as: non-violence, non-injury, harmlessness, non-killing, non-hurting
Pāli: avihiṃsā, ahiṁsa
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Last updated on June 10, 2026