The Buddha teaches the five powers of a lady—attractiveness, wealth, relatives, children, and ethical behavior—and their role in household life and spiritual destiny.

SN 37.29 In That Respect

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, mātugāmassa balāni. Katamāni pañca?

Rūpabalaṁ, bhogabalaṁ, ñātibalaṁ, puttabalaṁ, sīlabalaṁ.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, na ca bhogabalena evaṁ so tenaṅgena aparipūro hoti. Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmo rūpabalena ca samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca evaṁ so tenaṅgena paripūro hoti.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, na ca ñātibalena evaṁ so tenaṅgena aparipūro hoti. Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmo rūpabalena ca samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca evaṁ so tenaṅgena paripūro hoti.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca, na ca puttabalena evaṁ so tenaṅgena aparipūro hoti. Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmo rūpabalena ca samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca, puttabalena ca evaṁ so tenaṅgena paripūro hoti.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca, puttabalena ca, na ca sīlabalena evaṁ so tenaṅgena aparipūro hoti. Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmo rūpabalena ca samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca, puttabalena ca, sīlabalena ca evaṁ so tenaṅgena paripūro hoti.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca mātugāmassa balānī”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, mātugāmassa balāni.

“Mendicants, there are these five powers of a lady.

Katamāni pañca?

What five?

Rūpabalaṁ, bhogabalaṁ, ñātibalaṁ, puttabalaṁ, sīlabalaṁ.

Attractiveness, wealth, relatives, children, and ethical behavior.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, na ca bhogabalena

A lady who has the power of attractiveness but not the power of wealth

evaṁ so tenaṅgena aparipūro hoti.

is incomplete in that respect.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmo rūpabalena ca samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca

But when she has the power of attractiveness and the power of wealth

evaṁ so tenaṅgena paripūro hoti.

she’s complete in that respect.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, na ca ñātibalena

A lady who has the powers of attractiveness and wealth, but not the power of relatives

evaṁ so tenaṅgena aparipūro hoti.

is incomplete in that respect.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmo rūpabalena ca samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca

But when she has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, and relatives

evaṁ so tenaṅgena paripūro hoti.

she’s complete in that respect.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca, na ca puttabalena

A lady who has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, and relatives, but not the power of children

evaṁ so tenaṅgena aparipūro hoti.

is incomplete in that respect.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmo rūpabalena ca samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca, puttabalena ca

But when she has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, relatives, and children

evaṁ so tenaṅgena paripūro hoti.

she’s complete in that respect.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca, puttabalena ca, na ca sīlabalena

A lady who has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, relatives, and children, but not the power of ethical behavior

evaṁ so tenaṅgena aparipūro hoti.

is incomplete in that respect.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmo rūpabalena ca samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca, puttabalena ca, sīlabalena ca

But when she has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, relatives, children, and ethical behavior

evaṁ so tenaṅgena paripūro hoti.

she’s complete in that respect.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca mātugāmassa balānī”ti.

These are the five powers of a lady.”

Pañcamaṁ.

Qualities:

Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Respect

Respect

A mental attitude of reverent attentiveness that values goodness and wisdom in oneself and others. It steadies conduct and opens the mind to learning and humility.

Also known as: reverence, veneration, regard, admiration, appreciation, deference, honour, attentiveness
Pāli: gārava, pūjā, sakkāra
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Last updated on July 27, 2026