[310]
A man not possessed by a spirit ought not to trust women —
base, fickle of mind, ungrateful, and treacherous.
They know not what has been done, nor what ought to be done;
they know neither mother, nor father, nor brother;
ignoble, transgressors of the Dhamma,
they follow solely the sway of their own mind (citta).
Though he has dwelt with them long, though he be dear and pleasing,
one who sympathizes, even as dear as life itself,
in adversities and in affairs they forsake him;
therefore I put no trust in women.
For the mind of women is like the monkey's,
rising and falling like the shadow of a tree;
the heart of women wavers to and fro,
turning round like the rim of a wheel.
When, watching closely, they see
a man's wealth fit for the taking,
with smooth words they lead him captive,
as the Kambojans lead a horse with water-weed.
But when, watching closely, they see
no wealth of a man fit for the taking,
they shun him on every side,
as one who has crossed to the far shore of the river abandons the raft.
They are like clinging glue, all-devouring as flame,
keen in wiles, like a river swift of stream;
for these consort with the dear and the un-dear alike,
as a boat plies to the near bank and the far.
They belong not to one, nor to two;
they are like a shop spread open to all.
He who would think of them, "They are mine,"
would be binding the wind with a net.
As a river, a road, a tavern,
an assembly hall, a watering-place —
even so are the women of the world:
no bound of theirs is found.
They are like fire that feeds on ghee,
like unto the black serpent's head;
as cows crop the grass outside,
they graze upon the choicest, ever the choicest.
Fire that feeds on ghee, the elephant, the black serpent,
the king anointed on the head, and women, one and all —
these should a man frequent ever on his guard,
for truly hard to know is their true nature.
Not one of surpassing beauty, not one beloved of many,
not a deft woman should be consorted with,
not another's wife, not one [sought] for the sake of wealth:
these five women should not be consorted with.
[Apparatus of the Siamese edition: (1) M. reads avācarī (lemma in the preceding passage); (2) M. reads luddhānaṃ ("greedy") for khuddānaṃ ("base"); (3) M. reads bhattaraṃ ("husband") for santaṃ; M. reads sabbabhāvo ("whole nature") for saccabhāvo ("true nature").]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.