Anabhiratijātaka
“Like highways.”—This story was told by the Master while at Jetavana, about just such another lay-brother as the last. This man, when on enquiry he assured himself of his wife’s misconduct, came to words with her, with the result that he was so upset that for seven or eight days he failed in his attendance. One day he came to the monastery, made his bow to the Blessed One and took his seat. Being asked why he had been absent for seven or eight days, he replied, “Sir, my wife has misconducted herself, and I have been so upset about her that I did not come.”
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral
1.1PTS 1.302“Yathā nadī ca pantho ca,Just like rivers and roads,11.2pānāgāraṁ sabhā papā;taverns, hotels, and pubs,21.3Evaṁ lokitthiyo nāma,are those called women in the world.1.4nāsaṁ kujjhanti paṇḍitā”ti.Sages do not get angry with them.3
2.1Anabhiratijātakaṁ pañcamaṁ.
The story tells us that women are available to all, so the wise do not get upset when they are unfaithful.
Contrary to the story, studies consistently indicate that men cheat more than women.
Compare SN 9.8.
Nāsaṁ is na + āsaṁ, genitive plural feminine pronoun.
