Reply To: Polygamy and Polyandry

#53476
Jittananto
Participant

King Bimbisāra was a sotāpanna and he had several wives.

Bimbisāra’s chief queen was Kosaladevī (q.v.), daughter of Mahākosala and sister of Pasenadi. On the day of her marriage, she received, as part of her dowry, a village in Kāsi, for her bath money. Her son was Ajātasattu (also J.iii.121). Bimbisāra had other wives as well; Khemā, who, at first, would not even visit the Buddha till enticed by Bimbisāra’s descriptions of the beauties of Veluvana; and the courtesan Padumavatī, who was brought from Ujjenī, with the help of a Yakkha, so that Rājagaha might not lack a Nagarasobhinī. Both these later became nuns. Padumavatī’s son was Abhaya. Bimbisāra had another son by Ambapālī, known as Vimala Kondañña, and two others, by different wives, known as Sīlava and Jayasena. A daughter, Cundi, is also mentioned.

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The anagami who had four wives was Ugga 

I had four teenage wives.

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, catasso komāriyo pajāpatiyo ahesuṁ.

And I went to them and said:

Atha khvāhaṁ, bhante, yena tā pajāpatiyo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā tā pajāpatiyo etadavacaṁ:

‘Sisters, I’ve undertaken the five training rules with celibacy as fifth.

‘mayā kho, bhaginiyo, brahmacariyapañcamāni sikkhāpadāni samādinnāni. 

If you wish, you may stay here, enjoy my wealth, and do good deeds. Or you can return to your own families.

Yā icchati sā idheva bhoge ca bhuñjatu puññāni ca karotu, sakāni vā ñātikulāni gacchatu.

Or would you prefer if I gave you to another man?’

Hoti vā pana purisādhippāyo, kassa vo dammī’ti?

When I said this, my eldest wife said to me:

Evaṁ vutte, sā, bhante, jeṭṭhā pajāpati maṁ etadavoca:

‘Master, please give me to such-and-such a man.’

‘itthannāmassa maṁ, ayyaputta, purisassa dehī’ti.

Then I summoned that man. Taking my wife with my left hand and a ceremonial vase with my right, I presented her to that man with the pouring of water.

Atha kho ahaṁ, bhante, taṁ purisaṁ pakkosāpetvā vāmena hatthena pajāpatiṁ gahetvā dakkhiṇena hatthena bhiṅgāraṁ gahetvā tassa purisassa oṇojesiṁ.

But I can’t recall getting upset while giving away my teenage wife.

Komāriṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhante, dāraṁ pariccajanto nābhijānāmi cittassa aññathattaṁ.

This is the third incredible and amazing quality found in me.

Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, tatiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.