English
“I ask you, O goddess of great power, what merit did you do as a human? By what are you thus blazing with power, and your complexion shines forth in all directions?” 67. That deity, delighted, having been asked by the Fully Awakened One himself; Having been asked the question, she explained, of which deed this is the fruit. 68. “I, having been a human among humans, in a former birth in the human world; Having seen monks thirsty and weary, I rose and gave water to drink. 69. “Whoever indeed gives water to drink, rising, to the weary and thirsty; For him, cool-watered rivers arise, abundant with flowers, with many white lotuses. 70. “Those rivers always flow around him, cool-watered rivers spread with sand; And mangoes and sal trees, tilaka and rose-apple trees, uddālaka and pāṭali trees are in bloom. 71. “That excellent mansion, endowed with portions of land, greatly shining; This is the result of that deed here, such do those who have done merit obtain. 72. “My peaked-roofed mansions, my dwellings, divided, measured in portions; Blazing, they shine forth, all around the four directions. 73. “By that is my complexion such, by that does it succeed for me here; And there arise for me enjoyments, whatever are pleasing to the mind. 74. “I tell you, O Buddha of great power, what merit I did as a human; By that am I thus blazing with power, and my complexion shines forth in all directions; This is the fruit of that deed of mine, for that purpose the Buddha drank water.” The Third Ship-Mansion, the Eighth. 9. The Story of the Lamp-Mansion 75. “With excellent complexion, you stand, O goddess; Illuminating all directions, like a luminous herb or a star. 76. “By what is your complexion such, by what does it succeed for you here? And there arise for you enjoyments, whatever are pleasing to the mind. "By what, O deity, of stainless radiance, do you shine forth? By what do all directions shine forth from all your limbs? 78. "I ask you, O goddess of great power, what merit did you do as a human? By what are you thus of blazing power, and your color illuminates all directions?" 79. That deity, pleased in mind, questioned by Moggallāna, answered the question asked, of which kamma this was the fruit. 80. "When I was human among humans, in a former birth in the human world, in that darkness, in the gloom, at the time of lamps, I gave a lamp. 81. "Whoever in darkness, in the gloom, at the time of lamps, gives a lamp, a radiant mansion arises for them, with abundant garlands, many lotuses. 82. "By that, my color is such, by that, it succeeds for me here; and possessions arise for me, whatever are pleasing to my mind. 83. "By that, I am of stainless radiance, I shine forth, O deity; by that, from all my limbs, all directions are illuminated. 84. "I tell you, O bhikkhu of great power, the merit I did when I was human; by that, I am thus of blazing power, and my color illuminates all directions." The Ninth: The Lamp Mansion. 10. The Story of the Sesame Offering Mansion 85. "With exceeding beauty, O deity, you stand, illuminating all directions, like the star of the night-herb. 86. "By what is your color such, by what does it succeed for you here? And possessions arise for you, whatever are pleasing to your mind. 87. "I ask you, O goddess of great power, what merit did you do as a human? By what are you thus of blazing power, and your color illuminates all directions?" 88. That deity, pleased in mind, questioned by Moggallāna, answered the question asked, of which kamma this was the fruit. 89. "When I was human among humans, in a former birth in the human world. 90. "I saw the stainless Buddha, serene and unperturbed; approaching, I gave a gift, unwillingly, a sesame offering. To the Buddha, worthy of offerings, with hands full of faith. 91. “Therefore, such is my complexion, therefore, it prospers for me here; And riches arise for me, whatever are dear to my mind. 92. “I tell you, O bhikkhu of great power, what merit I did when I was human; Therefore, I am thus resplendent in power, and my complexion shines in all directions.” The Vimāna of the Sesame Offering, the tenth. 11. The Story of the Vimāna of the First Devoted Wife 93. “Cranes, peacocks, and divine geese, sweet-voiced cuckoos fly about; This charming vimāna, strewn with flowers, is adorned with many designs, served by men and women. 94. “There you dwell, O goddess of great power, displaying various kinds of psychic power; And these nymphs around you, dance, sing, and delight. 95. “You have attained divine power, O goddess of great might, what merit did you do when you were human? By what are you thus resplendent in power, and your complexion shines in all directions?” 96. That deity, delighted, being questioned by Moggallāna; Being asked a question, she explained of which kamma this was the fruit. 97. “When I was human among humans, I was devoted to my husband, with no other thought; Protecting him like a mother her son, even when angry, I spoke no harsh words. 98. “Established in truth, abandoning falsehood, delighting in giving, with a well-composed self; With a serene mind, I respectfully gave abundant food and drink. 99. “Therefore, such is my complexion, therefore, it prospers for me here; And riches arise for me, whatever are dear to my mind. 100. “I tell you, O bhikkhu of great power, what merit I did when I was human; Therefore, I am thus resplendent in power, and my complexion shines in all directions.” The Vimāna of the First Devoted Wife, the eleventh. 12. The Story of the Vimāna of the Second Devoted Wife 101. “Ascending a beautiful, shining pillar of beryl, a vimāna of many designs; There you dwell, O goddess of great power, displaying various kinds of psychic power, And these your nymphs all around, dance, sing, and delight. 102. "You have attained divine power, great in might, what merit did you do as a human being? By what are you thus shining in might, and your complexion shines in all directions?" 103. That deity, pleased in mind, questioned by Moggallāna, being asked a question, explained of which kamma this is the fruit. 104. "I, being a human among humans, was a female lay follower of the Seeing One; I abstained from taking life, I avoided what is not given in the world. 105. "I drank no intoxicants, nor did I speak falsely, I was content with my own husband; With a serene mind, food and drink, I respectfully gave abundant alms. 106. "Therefore, such is my complexion, therefore, here it succeeds for me; And possessions arise for me, whatever are dear to my mind. 107. "I tell you, bhikkhu, great in might, what merit I did as a human being; Therefore, I am thus shining in might, and my complexion shines in all directions." The Twelfth, the Vimāna of the Second Devoted Wife. 13. The Story of the Vimāna of the First Daughter-in-law. 108. "With an excellent complexion, you stand, O deity; illuminating all directions, like a star, the medicinal herb. 109. "By what is such your complexion, by what does it succeed for you here; And possessions arise for you, whatever are dear to your mind. 110. "I ask you, O deity, great in might, what merit did you do as a human being? By what are you thus shining in might, and your complexion shines in all directions?" 111. That deity, pleased in mind, questioned by Moggallāna, being asked a question, explained of which kamma this is the fruit. 112. "I, being a human among humans, was a daughter-in-law in my father-in-law's house. 113. "I saw a stainless bhikkhu, with a mind utterly serene and unclouded; To him I gave a cake, with my own hands, with a serene mind; Having given half of my share, I rejoice in the Nandana grove. 114. "Therefore, such is my radiance, therefore I prosper here; And enjoyments arise for me, whatever are dear to my mind. "I tell you, O monk of great power, What merit I did as a human being; Therefore I am thus shining with power, And my radiance shines in all directions." The Thirteenth, the Mansion of the First Daughter-in-law. 14. The Story of the Mansion of the Second Daughter-in-law "With surpassing radiance, By which you stand, O deity, Illuminating all directions, Like the morning star. "By what is your radiance such? By what do you prosper here? And enjoyments arise for you, Whatever are dear to your mind. "I ask you, O deity of great power, What merit you did as a human being? By what are you thus shining with power, And your radiance shines in all directions?" That deity, delighted in mind, Being asked by Moggallāna, Answered the question asked, Of which kamma this was the fruit. "I, being a human among humans, Was a daughter-in-law in my father-in-law's house. "I saw a dust-free monk, With a mind utterly clear and undisturbed; To him I gave a portion, Delighted, with my own hands; Having given a lump of sour gruel, I rejoice in the Nandana grove. "Therefore my radiance is such, Therefore I prosper here; And enjoyments arise for me, Whatever are dear to my mind. "I tell you, O monk of great power, What merit I did as a human being; Therefore I am thus shining with power, And my radiance shines in all directions." The Fourteenth, the Mansion of the Second Daughter-in-law. 15. The Story of Uttarā's Mansion "With surpassing radiance, By which you stand, O deity, Illuminating all directions, Like the morning star. "By what is your radiance such? By what do you prosper here? And enjoyments arise for you, Whatever are dear to your mind. "I ask you, O deity of great power, What merit you did as a human being? By what are you thus shining with power, And your radiance shines in all directions?" That deity, delighted in mind, Being asked by Moggallāna, Asked the question, she explained, of what kamma this is the fruit. 128. "Envy and stinginess, and malice, were not for me, while dwelling in the house; Not angry, obedient to my husband, on Uposatha days, I was always diligent. 129.