[32] 4. Latā and Sajjā and Pavarā, devatās,
Acchimutī and Sutā — daughters
of the glorious and excellent king, King Vessavaṇa —
radiant, intelligent, adorned with the virtues of the Dhamma:
these five women went there to bathe
in the delightful river, cool of water and covered with blue lotuses.
When those devatās had bathed there and taken their pleasure,
had danced and sung, Sutā said to Latā:
"I ask you, wearer of a garland of blue lotuses,
you who are crowned with a chaplet, whose skin gleams like gold,
whose eyes are tawny-red — you who are fair as the very sky,
long-lived one: by what was this glory of yours wrought?
By what, dear lady, are you so dear to your husband,
you who are more distinguished and lovelier still in beauty of form,
accomplished in dance and song and instrumental music?
Declare it to us, you who are questioned by men and by women."
"When I was a human being among human beings,
I was a daughter-in-law in a family of abundant wealth;
free from anger (kodha), compliant with my husband's will,
I was heedful on the Uposatha day.
While a human being, young and free from wrongdoing,
with a mind (citta) full of trust I gave my husband satisfaction;
him, together with my brothers-in-law, my father-in-law, and the servants,
I satisfied: thereby was my glory wrought.
And so, through that wholesome deed,
I attained distinction in four respects:
long life, beauty, happiness, and strength;
and play and delight I experience in no small measure."
"Have you heard what this Latā says,
how she has declared to us what we asked of her?
Husbands, it seems, are for us women supreme:
they are their recourse (gati) and their highest devatā.
Let us all observe the dhamma toward our husbands,
as women devoted to their husbands do;
observing, all of us, the dhamma toward our husbands,
we shall obtain that of which this Latā speaks.
Just as a lion whose range is the mountain slopes,
having made his dwelling upon the earth-bearing mountain,
assails the other four-footed creatures
and devours the lesser beasts, an eater of flesh,
even so here a noble female disciple (ariyasāvikā) possessed of faith (saddhā),
relying upon her husband, devoted to her lord,
having slain anger and overcome stinginess (macchera),
rejoices in heaven (sagga), one who lives by the Dhamma."
The Latā Mansion (Latāvimāna), the fourth.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.