Reading guide
A private bedroom conversation, made public
Unlike this saṃyutta's other discourses, the exchange this one reports did not happen in the Buddha's presence at all — it took place between husband and wife, upstairs in their own residence, and only afterward does Pasenadi descend to bring it to the Buddha for confirmation.
A question answered identically by both
The structure is symmetrical: Mallikā answers first, denying anyone is dearer to her than herself, then immediately turns the same question back on Pasenadi, who gives the identical answer — two people independently confirming the same self-regarding truth about themselves.
From private confirmation to universal principle
The Buddha's verse takes what began as two individuals' honest self-assessment and generalizes it without exception: not merely that Pasenadi and Mallikā hold themselves dearest, but that ‘likewise for others, each holds themselves dear’ — universalizing a private observation into a claim about every being.
A conclusion that follows logically, not merely morally
The verse's closing line — ‘so one who desires self-knowledge would harm no other’ — presents non-harm not as an external rule imposed on self-interest but as what follows once self-interest is understood clearly enough to recognize the same self-interest in everyone else.
This canon's most direct statement of ethical reciprocity
This verse is widely cited, within and beyond the Buddhist tradition, as one of the clearest early articulations of a golden-rule-like principle: rather than commanding empathy as a separate virtue, it derives non-harm directly from honest self-knowledge, made universal.
Key terms
The text
§1At Sāvatthī. Now at that time King Pasenadi of Kosala was upstairs in the royal longhouse together with Queen Mallikā. Then the king said to the queen, “Mallikā, is there anyone more dear to you than yourself?” “No, great king, there isn’t. But is there anyone more dear to you than yourself?” “For me also, Mallikā, there’s no-one.”
§2Then King Pasenadi of Kosala came downstairs from the stilt longhouse, went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.
§3Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha spoke this verse: “Having explored every quarter with the mind, one finds no-one dearer than oneself. Likewise for others, each holds themselves dear; so one who desires self-knowledge would harm no other.”
Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.