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2. Ubbarī Chapter 1. Story of the Female Ghost Liberated from Saṃsāra 95. "Naked, of ugly form you are, Emaciated, covered with veins; With protruding ribs, very thin, Who indeed are you standing here?" 96. "I, venerable sir, am a female hungry ghost, Unfortunate, of Yama's realm; Having done evil deeds, From here I went to the realm of hungry ghosts." 97. "What ill-deed was done By body, speech, or mind? By the result of what kamma From here you went to the realm of hungry ghosts?" 98. "There were no compassionate ones for me, venerable sir, Neither father nor mother, nor even relatives; Who would urge me: 'Give alms With a clear mind to ascetics and brahmins.'" 99. "For five hundred years from here, I have wandered naked, such-like; Being consumed by hunger and thirst, This is the fruit of my evil kamma." 100. "I salute you, noble sir, with a clear mind, Have compassion on me, O hero of great power; Having given, dedicate to me whatever little there is, Release me from this bad state, venerable sir." 101. Having assented, saying 'So be it,' Sāriputta, the compassionate one, Having given a morsel to the bhikkhus, And a hand-sized piece of cloth, And water from a bowl, Dedicated the merit to her. 102. Immediately upon dedication, The result arose; Food, clothing, and drink – This is the fruit of the dedication. 103. Then, pure, wearing clean clothes, Adorned with excellent Kasi cloth, With varied garments and ornaments, She approached Sāriputta. 104. "With excellent complexion, You who stand, O deity, Illuminating all directions, Like the morning star. 105. "By what is such a complexion yours? By what do you succeed here? And your enjoyments arise, Whatever are dear to your mind. 106. "I ask you, O goddess of great power, What merit did you do when a human? By what are you thus shining with power, And your complexion illuminates all directions?" 107. "Pale, emaciated, hungry, Naked, with shrivelled skin; The compassionate sage in the world Saw me, that unfortunate one. 108. "Having given a morsel to the bhikkhus Ah, a mere hand-sized rag, And water in a bowl, you gave to me. 109. “See the fruit of that morsel, food for ten hundred years; I eat, as I desire, with many flavors and sauces. 110. “See the kind of result of that hand-sized rag; As many coverings as there are in King Nanda’s realm. 111. “More than that, venerable sir, are my clothes and coverings; Of silk and wool, of linen and cotton. 112. “Abundant and precious, they hang in the sky; I wear whatever is pleasing to my mind. 113. “See the kind of result of that water in a bowl; Deep and square, well-made lotus ponds. 114. “With clear water, good landing places, cool and without foul odor; Covered with lotuses and water lilies, filled with pollen. 115. “I delight, I play, I rejoice, fearless; I have come, venerable sir, to venerate the compassionate sage in the world.” The Story of the Petī Who Was Released from Saṃsāra, the First. 2. The Story of the Petī Who Was the Mother of Elder Sāriputta 116. “Naked, of wretched appearance, thin, covered with veins; With protruding ribs, emaciated, who are you standing here?” 117. “I am your own mother, in former births; Reborn in the realm of hungry ghosts, afflicted by hunger and thirst. 118. “Discarded and spat out phlegm, snot, and mucus; Fat and blood of those being burned, and of those who have given birth. 119. “And the blood of those whose noses or heads have been cut off by surgeons; Afflicted by hunger, I eat what is attached to men and women. 120. “I eat old blood, of animals and humans; Without shelter, without a home, relying on blue beds. 121. “Give me a gift, my son, having given it, dedicate it to me; Perhaps I might be released from eating old blood.” 122. Having heard his mother’s words, Upatissa, full of compassion; Addressed Moggallāna, and Anuruddha, and Kappina. 123. Having made four huts, he gave them to the Sangha in the four directions; A hut who gave food and drink, as a gift to his mother. 124. Immediately after it was given, the result arose; Food, drink, and clothing— this is the fruit of the gift. 125. Then, pure and clad in clean garments, wearing fine Kasi cloth, adorned with various clothes and ornaments, she approached Kolita. 126. “With an exceeding beauty, you stand, O goddess; Illuminating all directions, like the stars of the night. 127. “By what is your beauty such? By what do you prosper here? And all the enjoyments you desire arise for you. 128. “I ask you, O goddess of great power, what good deed did you do when you were human? By what karma are you so radiant in power, and your light shines in all directions?” 129. “I am the mother of Sāriputta, in other births before; Reborn in the realm of hungry ghosts, afflicted by hunger and thirst. 130. “Discarded vomit, spit, phlegm, snot, mucus; And the fat of those being burned, and the blood of women in childbirth. 131. “And the blood of merchants whose heads were cut off at the nose; Overcome by hunger, I ate it, that which came from men and women. 132. “I would eat the fresh blood of animals and humans; Without shelter, without a home, relying on a blue bed. 133. “By Sāriputta’s gift, I rejoice, free from fear; I have come to pay homage to the Muni, the compassionate one in the world, venerable sir.” The Story of Sāriputta Thera’s Mother, the Second. 3. The Story of Mattā, the Hungry Ghost 134. “Naked, of wretched appearance, thin, covered with veins; With prominent ribs, very thin, who are you standing here?” 135. “I am Mattā, and you are Tissā, I was your co-wife before; Having done evil deeds, I went from here to the realm of hungry ghosts.” 136. “What evil deed was done by body, speech, or mind? By the result of what karma did you go from here to the realm of hungry ghosts?” 137. “I was fierce and harsh, envious, stingy, deceitful; Having spoken those harsh words, I went from here to the realm of hungry ghosts.” 138. “I too know everything, just as you do, a friend was; And I ask you another thing, why are you covered in dust? 139. You had bathed your head, clean-clothed, adorned; And I, indeed, excessively, was more adorned than you. 140. While I was looking on, my husband spoke to you; Then great jealousy arose in me, anger was born in me. 141. Then taking dust, I indeed covered you with dust; By the ripening of that kamma, therefore I am covered in dust. 142. Truly, I also know, you covered me with dust; And I ask you another thing, why are you eaten by itch? 143. Both of us gathering medicine, went to the forest edge; And you brought medicine, and I brought cowhage. 144. While you were unaware, I scattered it on your bed; By the ripening of that kamma, therefore I am eaten by itch. 145. Truly, I also know, you scattered it on my bed; And I ask you another thing, why are you naked? 146. There was an occasion for friends, there was a gathering of relatives; And you were invited, with your husband, but I was not. 147. While you were unaware, I snatched away your garment; By the ripening of that kamma, therefore I am naked. 148. Truly, I also know, you snatched away my garment; And I ask you another thing, why do you smell of excrement? 149. Your perfume and garland, and fresh anointing paste; I put them in a pit of excrement, that evil was done by me; By the ripening of that kamma, therefore I smell of excrement. 150. Truly, I also know, that evil was done by you; And I ask you another thing, why are you in a wretched state? 151. For both of us it was equal, the wealth that was in the house; With gifts available to be given, I made no island for myself; By the ripening of that kamma, therefore I am in a wretched state. 152. That very thing you said to me, 'evil kamma what you practice; Indeed, by evil deeds, a good destination is not easily obtained. 153. You cooked for me with ill-will, and you envied me; See what kind of result there is for evil deeds. 154. Those houses and those slave-women, and those very ornaments; Others now enjoy them, possessions are not eternal. 155. Now, the father of Bhūta will come home from the market; Perhaps he will give you something, do not go from here yet. 156. I am naked, of wretched appearance, thin, with veins spread out; This is a shame for women, let not Bhūta's father see me. 157. Well then, what shall I give you, or what shall I do for you here; So that you may be happy, and fulfilled in all desires? 158. Four monks from the Sangha, and four individuals; Having fed eight monks, dedicate the offering to me; Then I shall be happy, and fulfilled in all desires. 159. Saying 'So be it,' she agreed, and having fed eight monks; And having clothed them with robes, she dedicated the offering to her. 160. Immediately after the dedication, the result arose; Food, clothing, and drink, this is the fruit of the offering. 161. Then, pure, in clean garments, wearing the finest Kasi cloth; Adorned with varied clothes and ornaments, she approached her co-wife. 162. With excellent complexion, you stand, O goddess; Illuminating all directions, like the morning star. 163. By what is your complexion such, by what do you prosper here; And possessions arise for you, whatever are dear to your heart? 164. I ask you, O goddess of great power, what merit did you do when you were a human being? By what are you thus shining with power, and your complexion illuminates all directions? 165. I am Mattā, you are Tissā, I was your co-wife before; Having done evil deeds, I went from here to the realm of ghosts. By the gift given by you, I rejoice, free from fear; Live long, sister, with all your relatives; A sorrowless, dustless place, a dwelling of the powerful. Having practiced Dhamma here, having given gifts, O beautiful one; Having rooted out the stain of stinginess, blameless, you will reach the heavenly state. You are dark, ill-favored in form, harsh, fearful to behold;