Vidhurajātaka

Suttapiṭaka · Khuddakanikāya · Jātaka (2) · Vol. 28 · Section 949

[949] Then Vidhura — resourceful, steadfast, intelligent, a seer of the meaning, a comprehender of all dhammas — said this to him there: "He should not be a man whose wife is held in common; he should not eat a delicacy alone; he should not pursue worldly sophistry (lokāyata), for that is no furtherance of wisdom (paññā). He should be virtuous, accomplished in the observances (vatta), heedful, discerning, humble in bearing, not haughty; gentle, kindly in speech, and mild. He should be one who renders support (saṅgaha) to his friends, open-handed in sharing, capable in arranging affairs; he should ever satisfy ascetics and brahmins with food and drink. He should be a lover of the Dhamma, one who retains what he has heard, one given to asking questions; he should respectfully wait upon the virtuous and the greatly learned. For a householder dwelling in the home, inhabiting his own house: thus would his way of living be secure; thus indeed would there be support for him; thus would he be free from affliction, and thus would a man (māṇava) be a speaker of truth; from this world to the world beyond — thus, having passed on, he does not grieve." (This is) called the Question on the Household Life (Gharāvāsapañhā).

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.