Verses 242 and 243

Dhammapada Verses 242 and 243

The Story of a Man Whose Wife Committed Adultery

Once, the wife of a man committed adultery. He was so ashamed on account of his wife's misbehaviour that he dared not face anyone; he also kept away from the Buddha. After some time, he went to the Buddha and the Buddha asked him why he had been absent all that time and he explained everything. On learning the reason for his absence, the Buddha said, "My disciple, women are just like a river, or a road, or a liquor shop or a rest house, or a water-pot stand at the roadside; they associate with all sorts of people. Indeed, sexual misconduct is the cause of ruin for a woman."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Malitthiya duccaritam
maccheram dadato malam
mala ve papaka dhamma
asmim loke paramhi ca.

Verse 242: Sexual misconduct is the taint of a woman; stinginess is the taint of a giver; evil ways are indeed taints in this world as well as in the next.

Tato mala malataram
avijja paramam malam
etam malam pahantvana
nimmala hotha bhikkhavo.

Verse 243: A taint worse than these is ignorance (of the Truth), which is the greatest of taints. O bhikkhus, abandon this taint and be taint-less.