[865] "The man who would wish to be a man birth after birth, again and again,
should shun another's wife, as one whose feet are washed shuns the mire.
The woman who would wish to be a man birth after birth, again and again,
should revere her husband, as a handmaid reveres Inda.
He who would wish for divine wealth, divine life span, fame, and happiness,
should shun evil deeds and practice the threefold Dhamma —
heedful and discerning in body, in speech, and in mind:
whether woman or man, it is for one's own good.
Whatever humans in this world of the living are endowed with fame,
with wealth complete on every side —
without doubt, good was well done by them in the past;
all beings, each and every one, are owners of their kamma.
Come, sire, do but ponder it yourself:
from what cause, O lord of men, are these of yours —
these [ladies] of yours who resemble celestial nymphs (accharā),
adorned, covered over with nets of gold?"
Thus did the maiden Rucā gladden her father Aṅgati;
to him who had gone astray she pointed out the path; she of excellent vows declared the Dhamma.
[Apparatus note ¹: the Sī. and Yu. editions read "panassati".]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.