Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
The same eight qualities named at AN 8.46 — deference to a husband's schedule and wishes, honoring whoever he honors, household diligence, fair management of staff, guarding his income, and refuge, ethics, and generosity — are stated here directly to Visākhā, without the deity narrative that framed them before.
A direct address, no narrative needed
This discourse strips away everything AN 8.46 used to arrive at its eight qualities — the deities' display of power, their performance, their vanishing, Anuruddha's question — and simply states the content to Visākhā as a direct teaching, opening with the same standard visit formula met throughout this chapter's Visākhā discourses.
The same content, the same honest presentation
This reading guide continues to present the eight qualities as they stand in the source, without softening their patriarchal household framing or claiming they represent universal or timeless advice — the same approach taken at AN 8.46, applied here to the identical content.
A pattern of repetition across this chapter
This is now the fourth discourse in this chapter that repeats substantially the same content across different addressees — following AN 8.42/8.43/8.45's detailed sabbath teaching — suggesting this book's compilers valued recording which named individuals received which teachings as much as recording the teachings' content itself.
Key terms
The text
The setting, and the eight qualities
§1At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery. Then Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to her: “Visākhā, when they have eight qualities ladies—when their body breaks up, after death—are reborn in company with the Gods of the Agreeable Host. What eight? Take the case of a lady whose mother and father give her to a husband wanting what’s best for her, out of kindness and sympathy. She would get up before him and go to bed after him, and be obliging, behaving nicely and speaking politely. … She’s generous. She lives at home rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share. When they possess these eight qualities ladies—when their body breaks up, after death—are reborn in company with the Gods of the Agreeable Host.
Closing verses
§2She’d never look down on her husband, who’s always eager to work hard, always looking after her, and bringing whatever she wants. And a good woman never scolds her husband with jealous words. Being astute, she reveres those respected by her husband. She gets up early, works tirelessly, and manages the domestic help. She’s agreeable to her husband, and preserves his wealth. A lady who fulfills these duties according to her husband’s desire, is reborn among the gods called ‘Agreeable’.”
Self-check quiz
6 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.