Deep Commentary

The Buddha delivered this verse at the Veluvana Monastery in Rajagaha concerning a young man of noble birth. According to the story, this young nobleman married a woman of the same class, but shortly afterward, she committed adultery. Consumed by shame, the young man isolated himself and stopped seeing anyone. When he finally went to visit the Buddha, the Buddha asked about his long absence. After hearing the young man's story, the Buddha reminded him that even in past lives, he had explained how the fickle nature of unenlightened people can shift unpredictably like flowing rivers, and that the wise should not waste their energy on anger over such behavior. The Buddha then declared that unchastity is the taint of a woman, stinginess is the taint of a giver, and evil deeds are taints in both this world and the next.

This teaching underscores that human happiness depends on protecting mutual trust within a family through ethical conduct. Domestic peace requires patience, understanding, and mutual respect rather than the enforcement of authority. Infidelity shatters the foundation of love, highlighting why the third precept against sexual misconduct is indispensable for household practitioners. The Buddha also addresses stinginess (macchariya) as the taint of giving (dana). While giving represents a noble expansion of the heart through compassion, stinginess is a manifestation of selfishness that pollutes spiritual growth. Ultimately, unwholesome deeds act as stains that generate suffering for the individual across lifetimes. By recognizing these taints, a practitioner learns to cultivate patience, maintain absolute fidelity, and purify their actions to secure long-term spiritual welfare.