English
You are reddish-brown, yellowish-brown, I do not think you are human. I am Nandā, O Nandisena, your wife I was before; Having done evil deeds, from here I went to the realm of ghosts. What evil deed by body, by speech, or by mind was done? By the result of what kamma, from here did you go to the realm of ghosts? I was fierce and harsh, and disrespectful towards you; Having spoken ill words to you, from here I went to the realm of ghosts. Here, I give you an upper garment, wear this cloth; Having worn this cloth, come, I will take you home. Clothes and food and drink, you will receive when you go home; And your sons you will see, and your daughters-in-law you will behold. Given by hand to your hand, it does not benefit me; But monks endowed with virtue, free from passion, learned. Satisfy them with food and drink, and dedicate the merit to me; Then I shall be happy, fulfilled in all desires. Saying 'So be it,' he assented, and made a great offering; Food, drink, edibles, and robes, beds, seats; Umbrellas, perfumes, and garlands, and various kinds of footwear. And monks endowed with virtue, free from passion, learned; Having satisfied them with food and drink, he dedicated the merit to her. Immediately after the dedication, the result arose; Food, clothing, drink, this is the fruit of the dedication. Then, pure, in clean garments, wearing excellent Kasi cloth; Adorned with varied clothes and ornaments, she approached her husband. She approached. 180. “With excellent radiance, O deity, you stand; Illuminating all directions, like a shining star. 181. “By what is your complexion like this? By what do you succeed here? And your enjoyments arise, whatever are dear to your mind. 182. “I ask you, O goddess of great power, what merit did you do when human? By what are you thus shining with power? And your complexion illuminates all directions?” 183. “I am Nandā, O Nandisena, I was your wife before. Having done evil deeds, I went from here to the realm of ghosts. 184. “By the gift given by you, I rejoice, fearless from anywhere. Live long, householder, together with all your relatives; A sorrowless, dustless, safe, abode, subject to your will. 185. “Having practiced the Dhamma here, having given gifts, O householder, Having rooted out the stain of avarice, blameless, may you reach the heavenly state.” The fourth story of Nandā the female ghost. 5. The story of Maṭṭhakuṇḍalī the ghost 186. “Adorned, with polished earrings, wearing garlands, anointed with yellow sandalwood; You cry, raising your arms, in the midst of the forest, are you suffering?” 187. “A golden, shining chariot-frame has arisen for me. I do not find its pair of wheels, by that sorrow I give up life.” 188. “Golden, jeweled, red-gemmed, or silver; Tell me, good young man, I will provide you with a pair of wheels.” 189. That young man said to him, “The moon and the sun are seen both here; My chariot is golden, it shines with that pair of wheels.” 190. “Indeed, you are foolish, young man, who desire the undesirable. I think you will die, for you will not obtain the moon and the sun.” 191. “Coming and going are seen, the elements of color are seen in both directions of the path; A ghost, one who has died, is not seen, who here is more foolish among those who cry?” 192. “Indeed, you speak O young man, I am younger than those who weep; weeping like a child for the moon, you long for one who is dead. 193. Indeed, I was burning, like a fire fed with ghee; you, sprinkling water, have extinguished all my pain. 194. Indeed, you have drawn out my dart, the sorrow lodged in my heart; you who, when I was overcome with sorrow, dispelled my grief for my son. 195. So I, with dart drawn out, am cooled, extinguished; I grieve not, I weep not, having heard you, young man. 196. Are you a deity or a gandhabba? Or Sakka, the giver of gifts? Who are you, whose son are you? How are we to know you? 197. He for whom you weep and lament, having himself cremated his son in the charnel ground; I, having done wholesome deeds, have gone to the companionship of the thirty-three (deities). 198. Little or much, we did not see you giving gifts in your own house; nor such an Uposatha observance. By what deed have you gone to the deva world? 199. I was sick, suffering, ill, in a distressed state in my own dwelling; I saw the Buddha, free from defilements, free from doubt, the Fortunate One, of incomparable wisdom. 200. So I, with joyful mind, with serene heart, made an añjali to the Tathāgata; I, having done that wholesome deed, have gone to the companionship of the thirty-three (deities). 201. Wonderful indeed, amazing indeed, such is the result of an añjali act; I too, with joyful mind, with serene heart, today itself will go for refuge to the Buddha. 202. Today itself go for refuge to the Buddha, and to the Dhamma and the Saṅgha, with a serene heart; Likewise, the five precepts of training, undertake them unbroken and unblemished. 203. Abstain quickly from taking life, avoid what is not given in the world; Be not a drinker of intoxicants, and speak no falsehood; and be content with your own wife. 204. You are my well-wisher, O yakkha, you are my benefactor, O deity; I will do your bidding, you are my teacher. 205. I go for refuge to the Buddha, (and to the Dhamma) the unsurpassed. And to the Sangha of the Lord of men, I go for refuge. 206. "From the taking of life I quickly refrain, in the world I avoid what is not given; I drink no intoxicants, nor do I speak falsely; and with my own wife I am content." The Story of Maṭṭhakuṇḍalī's Petavatthu, the Fifth. 6. The Story of Kaṇha's Petavatthu 207. "Arise, Kaṇha, why do you sleep? What is the use of your sleep? For your own brother, who is the heart and the right eye to you; His winds are strong, Kesava, the hare is muttering." 208. Hearing that speech of Rohiṇeyya, Kesava; Aroused quickly, afflicted by sorrow for his brother. 209. "Why, as if mad, do you keep saying, throughout this Dvārakā; 'Hare, hare'? What kind of hare do you desire? 210. A golden one, a jeweled one, an iron one, or a silver one; One of conch, stone, or coral, I will have a hare made for you. 211. There are other hares, too, that roam in forests and woods; I will bring them to you, too. What kind of hare do you desire?" 212. "I do not desire these hares, the hares that dwell on earth; I desire a hare from the moon, bring that down to me, Kesava." 213. "Surely you will give up your sweet life, kinsman; You desire what is not to be desired, you desire a hare from the moon." 214. "If you, Kaṇha, know this, as you instruct others; Why do you still grieve for your son who died long ago? 215. That which cannot be obtained by a human, or by a non-human; 'My son, born, may he not die!' How can the unobtainable be obtained? 216. Not by spells, root medicines, by drugs, or by wealth; Can that one be brought back, Kaṇha, for whom you grieve as a departed one. 217. The very wealthy, the very rich, even kings with kingdoms; Possessing abundant wealth and grain, they too are not ageless and immortal. 218. Khattiyas, Brahmins, Vessas, Suddas, Caṇḍālas, Pukkusas; These and others by birth, they too are not ageless and immortal. 219. Those who recite spells, six A sign, conceived by Brahmā; These and others, by knowledge, They are not ageless, immortal. 220. Even the sages who are peaceful, Self-controlled ascetics; Their bodies too, in time, The ascetics abandon. 221. The Arahants, with developed selves, Who have done their duty, without defilements; They lay down this body, With the exhaustion of merit and demerit. 222. Indeed, me being ablaze, Like a fire sprinkled with ghee; As if sprinkling with water, You extinguish all my pain. 223. Indeed, you have pulled out my dart, The sorrow residing in my heart; You who, for me, overcome by sorrow, Have removed the sorrow for my son. 224. So I, with the dart pulled out, Am cooled, extinguished; I do not grieve, I do not weep, Having heard your words. 225. Thus do the wise ones act, Those who are compassionate; They turn away from sorrow, Like Ghaṭa (turned) his elder brother. 226. For whom there are such, Ministers and attendants; They follow with good words, Like Ghaṭa (followed) his elder brother. 227. You are naked, of wretched appearance, Thin, covered with veins; With protruding ribs, emaciated, Who, pray, are you, good sir? 228. I, venerable sir, am a ghost, A miserable one from Yama's world; Having done evil deeds, I have gone from here to the ghost world. 229. What evil was done by body, by speech, Or by mind? By the result of what action, Have you gone from here to the ghost world? 230. There is a city of leaves, Known as Erakaccha; There I was formerly a rich merchant, They knew me as Dhanapāla. 231. Eighty cartloads, Of gold I had; Much gold I had, Many pearls and beryls. 232. Though so greatly wealthy, It was not pleasing for me to give; Having closed the door, I ate, Lest beggars should see me. 233. I was faithless and stingy, Miserly, a slanderer; Those who were giving, those who were doing, I would prevent... That person [the multitude]. 234. “There is no fruit of giving, How can there be fruit of restraint? I destroyed ponds and wells, And parks that were planted; Drinking places too I ruined, And bridges in difficult places. 235. “Thus I, having done no good, Having done evil, passed away from there; Reborn in the realm of hungry ghosts, Afflicted by hunger and thirst. 236. “Fifty-five years, Since I passed away; I do not recall having eaten, Nor having drunk any water. 237. “What is restraint is ruin, What is ruin is restraint; Indeed, hungry ghosts know, What is restraint is ruin. 238. “In the past, I would have restrained myself, I did not give much wealth; While there were things to be given, I made no island for myself; Thus I now regret, Having come to the fruit of my own actions. 239.