Dhammapada Verses 242 and 243
Annatarakulaputta Vatthu
Malitthiya duccaritam
maccheram dadato malam
mala ve papaka dhamma
asmim loke paramhi ca.
Tato mala malataram
avijja paramam malam
etam malam pahantvana
nimmala hotha bhikkhavo.
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.
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 taintless.
The Story of a Man Whose Wife Committed Adultery
While residing at the Veluvana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (242) and
(243) of this book, with reference to 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:
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.
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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 taintless.
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At the end of the discourse many people attained Sotapatti Fruition.