[60] Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the morning, taking bowl and robe, went to the residence of the householder Anāthapiṇḍika; having approached, he sat down on the seat prepared. Now on that occasion the people in the residence of the householder Anāthapiṇḍika were making an uproar and a great noise. Then Anāthapiṇḍika the householder approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. As he sat to one side, the Blessed One said this to Anāthapiṇḍika the householder: "Why is it, householder, that the people in your residence are making an uproar and a great noise? One would think fishermen were making off with a haul of fish."
"Bhante, this Sujātā, a daughter-in-law of the house, has been brought here from a wealthy family. She heeds neither her mother-in-law, nor her father-in-law, nor her husband; she does not even honor, respect, esteem, or venerate the Blessed One."
Then the Blessed One addressed Sujātā the daughter-in-law: "Come, Sujātā." "Yes, Bhante," Sujātā the daughter-in-law replied to the Blessed One; and she approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. As she sat to one side, the Blessed One said this to Sujātā the daughter-in-law: "There are, Sujātā, these seven kinds of wives of a man. What seven? One like a slayer, one like a thief, one like a mistress, one like a mother, one like a sister, one like a friend, and one like a slave-woman. These, Sujātā, are the seven kinds of wives of a man. Which of them are you?"
"Bhante, I do not understand in detail the meaning of this statement spoken in brief by the Blessed One. It would be good, Bhante, if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in such a way that I might understand in detail the meaning of this statement spoken in brief by the Blessed One."
"Then listen, Sujātā, and attend carefully; I shall speak." "Yes, Bhante," Sujātā the daughter-in-law replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"Corrupt-minded, without compassion for his welfare,
lusting after other men, she despises her husband;
bought with wealth, yet she is bent upon his slaying —
a man's wife who is of such a kind
is called both 'a slayer' and 'a wife.'
Whatever wealth a husband gains for his woman,
applying himself to craft, to trade, or to the plough,
even from that little she wishes to filch away —
a man's wife who is of such a kind
is called both 'a thief' and 'a wife.'
Unwilling to work, lazy, gluttonous,
harsh and fierce and foul of speech,
she lords it over the industrious —
a man's wife who is of such a kind
is called both 'a mistress' and 'a wife.'
She who at all times has compassion for his welfare,
who guards her husband as a mother guards her son,
and who protects the wealth that he has gathered —
a man's wife who is of such a kind
is called both 'a mother' and 'a wife.'
She who, as a younger sister toward her elder,
is full of respect toward her own husband,
conscientious in mind, complying with her husband's will —
a man's wife who is of such a kind
is called both 'a sister' and 'a wife.'
She who rejoices here on seeing her husband,
as one friend rejoices at a friend returned after long absence,
of good family, virtuous, devoted to her husband —
a man's wife who is of such a kind
is called both 'a friend' and 'a wife.'
Though threatened with beating and the rod, she remains unangered;
with a mind free of hatred she endures her husband;
without anger, complying with her husband's will —
a man's wife who is of such a kind
is called both 'a slave-woman' and 'a wife.'
The wives here who are called 'a slayer,'
and she who is called 'a thief' and 'a mistress' —
immoral in nature, harsh, disrespectful —
with the breakup of the body they go to hell.
But those here who are called 'a mother,' 'a sister,'
'a friend,' and 'a slave-woman' as wives —
steadfast in virtue, long restrained —
with the breakup of the body they go to a good destination."
"These, Sujātā, are the seven kinds of wives of a man. Which of them are you?"
"From this day forth, Bhante, let the Blessed One remember me as a wife like a slave-woman to my husband."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.