The Buddha teaches the five powers of a lady and shows that without ethical behavior a family sends her away, while ethical behavior alone ensures she is accommodated regardless of other powers.

SN 37.30 They Send Her Away

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, mātugāmassa balāni. Katamāni pañca?

Rūpabalaṁ, bhogabalaṁ, ñātibalaṁ, puttabalaṁ, sīlabalaṁ.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, na ca sīlabalena, nāsenteva naṁ, kule na vāsenti.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, na ca sīlabalena, nāsenteva naṁ, kule na vāsenti.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca, na ca sīlabalena, nāsenteva naṁ, kule na vāsenti.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca, puttabalena ca, na ca sīlabalena, nāsenteva naṁ, kule na vāsenti.

Sīlabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, na ca rūpabalena, vāsenteva naṁ, kule na nāsenti.

Sīlabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, na ca bhogabalena, vāsenteva naṁ, kule na nāsenti.

Sīlabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, na ca ñātibalena, vāsenteva naṁ, kule na nāsenti.

Sīlabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, na ca puttabalena, vāsenteva naṁ, kule na nāsenti.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca mātugāmassa balānī”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

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 sīlabalena, nāsenteva naṁ, kule na vāsenti.

If a lady has the power of attractiveness but not that of ethical behavior, the family will send her away, they won’t accommodate her.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, na ca sīlabalena, nāsenteva naṁ, kule na vāsenti.

If a lady has the powers of attractiveness and wealth but not that of ethical behavior, the family will send her away, they won’t accommodate her.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca, na ca sīlabalena, nāsenteva naṁ, kule na vāsenti.

If a lady has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, and relatives, but not that of ethical behavior, the family will send her away, they won’t accommodate her.

Rūpabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, bhogabalena ca, ñātibalena ca, puttabalena ca, na ca sīlabalena, nāsenteva naṁ, kule na vāsenti.

If a lady has the powers of attractiveness, wealth, relatives, and children, but not that of ethical behavior, the family will send her away, they won’t accommodate her.

Sīlabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, na ca rūpabalena, vāsenteva naṁ, kule na nāsenti.

If a lady has the power of ethical behavior but not that of attractiveness, the family will accommodate her, they won’t send her away.

Sīlabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, na ca bhogabalena, vāsenteva naṁ, kule na nāsenti.

If a lady has the power of ethical behavior but not that of wealth, the family will accommodate her, they won’t send her away.

Sīlabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, na ca ñātibalena, vāsenteva naṁ, kule na nāsenti.

If a lady has the power of ethical behavior but not that of relatives, the family will accommodate her, they won’t send her away.

Sīlabalena ca, bhikkhave, mātugāmo samannāgato hoti, na ca puttabalena, vāsenteva naṁ, kule na nāsenti.

If a lady has the power of ethical behavior but not that of children, the family will accommodate her, they won’t send her away.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca mātugāmassa balānī”ti.

These are the five powers of a lady.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

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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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