Aṇguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
VIII: Apaṇṇaka Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
Chapter VIII: The Sure
Sutta 74
Vadhukā Suttaṃ
The Young Wife[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
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[1] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Just as, monks,
when a young wife
is first led home (to her husband)
either by day or night,
she at first feels exceeding great fear and bashfulness
in the presence of her mother-in-law,
her father-in-law,
her husband,
and even towards servants and work-people;
but as time goes on,
owing to living together and intimacy,
she addresses mother-in-law,
father-in-law
and husband thus:
"Away with you! What do you know?"
Just in like manner, monks,
a certain monk here maybe,
when he first goes forth,
whether by day or night,
from the home to the homeless life,
feels exceeding great fear and bashfulness
in the presence of monks and nuns,
disciples male [88] and female
even of novices who serve in the monastery,
but as time goes on,
owing to living together and intimacy,
he addresses teacher
and preceptor thus:
"Away with you! What do you know?"
Wherefore, monks, thus must ye train yourselves:
I will dwell in mind
like a young wife newly arrived.
That is how ye must train yourselves.'
[1] Comy. and Sinh. text take this as part of the previous §, and the next § as §§ 4, 5, but the uddana as separate. Vadhukā = suṇisa or suṇhā, daughter-in-law.
