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THE QUESTIONS OF KING MILINDA. IV, 4, 42.
(women's wiles.] 42. 'Venerable Nagasena, it has been said by the Blessed One: “With opportunity, and secrecy,
And the right woo'r, all women will go wrong
Aye, failing others, with a cripple even ?." But on the other hand it is said: “Mahosadha's wife, Amara, when left behind in the village while her husband was away on a journey, remained alone and in privacy, and regarding her husband as a man would regard his sovran lord, she refused to do wrong, even when tempted with a thousand pieces ?." Now if the first of these passages be correct, the second must be wrong; and if the second be right, [206] the first must be wrong. This too is a double-edged problem now put to you, and you have to solve it.'
43. 'It is so said, O king, as you have quoted, touching the conduct of Amara, Mahosadha's wife. But the question is would she have done wrong, on receipt of those thousand pieces, with the right man: or would she not have done so, if she had had the opportunity, and the certainty of secrecy, and a suitable wooer ? Now, on considering the matter, that lady Amara was not certain of any of these
It is not meant that men would not. But that is too clear to be even worthy of mention, whereas with regard to women the question is worth discussion. Our author is mistaken in ascribing this verse to the Buddha. It is only found (as has been pointed out by Mr. Trenckner) in a Gâtaka story, No. 536, and is a specimen, not of Buddhist teaching, but of Indian folk-lore. There is a very similar sentiment in Gåtaka, No. 62 (vol. I, p. 289).
* This story will be found in the Ummagga Gataka, No. 546.
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