"When a woman has not been of quick temper,
not violent, and has not become angry and
spiteful though much had been said against her
when she is generous and gives alms to monks
and holy men, and has not been envious at the
gains and honor of others then, when she dies
and is reborn, she will be beautiful, rich and
high in the social scale.
"These, Mallika are the reasons why some are
beautiful, while others are ugly; why some are
rich and high in social scale, while others are
poor and low in social scale."
When the Buddha had spoken, Queen Mallika
said:
"Reverend Sir, now I understand that from the
deeds of my former existence, I am now ugly, of
a bad figure and horrible to look at, but yet I am
rich and high in the social scale. From this day
onwards I resolve not to feel spiteful, angry or
sulky with the maidens in the palace. I will give
alms to monks and holy man and will not be
envious at the gains and honor of others.
"O it is wonderful, Reverend Sir! It is as if one
were to set up that which was overturned or
were to disclose that which was hidden or were
to point the way to a lost traveler or were to
carry a lamp into a dark place. Even so has the
Blessed One taught the Dhamma in many
different ways.
''I take my refuge in the Triple Gem. Let the
Blessed One receive me as a disciple from this
day forth as long as I live."
- Extracted from the Anguttara Nikaya (iv. 197)
17