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“Upwards of four months from now, My passing will occur; I shall fall into a hell, Extremely bitter and dreadful. 240. “Four-cornered, with four gates, Divided and measured in parts; Surrounded by an iron wall, Enclosed with iron. 241. “Its ground is made of iron, Blazing, endowed with heat; It extends for a hundred leagues all around, Always remaining so. 242. “There I shall experience suffering, For a long time I shall feel pain; The fruit of evil deeds, Therefore I grieve greatly. 243. “This I tell you, may you be well, All who are gathered here; Do not commit evil deeds, Whether openly or in secret. 244. “If you commit that evil deed, Or are committing it; There is no escape from suffering for you, Even if you flee and run away. 245. “Be respectful to mothers, respectful to fathers, Reverent to elders in the family; Be ascetic, be brahminical, Thus you will go to heaven.” The Story of Dhanapāla the Setthi’s Hungry Ghost, the Seventh. 8. The Story of Cūḷaseṭṭhi’s Hungry Ghost 246. “Naked, emaciated, you are an ascetic, venerable sir, Where do you go at night, for what reason? Please tell…” we might be able to do that, you should provide all the wealth." 247. "Varanasi city, far-renowned, there, householder, I was rich, but wretched; A non-giver, with a greedy mind for gain, through misconduct, I reached Yama's realm. 248. "So, tormented by them with needles, Therefore, I go among relatives for a little food; Those of non-giving habit do not believe, that there is fruit of giving in the other world. 249. "And my daughter often says, 'I will give a gift to my fathers and grandfathers'; Brahmins are serving that prepared food, 'I will go to Andhakavinda to eat.'" 250. The king said to him, "Having experienced that too, Come quickly, I too will make an offering; Tell me that, if there is a reason, We will hear your trustworthy words of reason." 251. Saying 'So be it', he went there, they ate the food, but were not worthy of the offering; He returned to Rājagaha again, and appeared before the lord of men. 252. Seeing the peta returned again, the king said, "What shall I give too? Tell me that, if there is a reason, by which you might be nourished for a longer time." 253. "Serve the Buddha and the Saṅgha, O king, with food, drink, and robes; Dedicate that offering for my benefit, thus I might be nourished for a longer time." 254. Then the king, falling down at once, having given an incomparable gift with his own hands to the Saṅgha; Announced the matter to the Tathāgata, and dedicated the offering to that peta. 255. He, honored, shining exceedingly, appeared before the lord of men; "I am a yakkha, attained to supreme power, there are no humans equal or similar to me. 256. "See this immeasurable power of mine, by you, having given an incomparable gift to the Saṅgha, I am always and ever greatly satisfied." Oh, I go, happy, to human-devas. The eighth story of the Petas of Cūḷaseṭṭhi is finished. The first recitation section is finished. 9. The Story of Aṅkura's Peta 257. For whose purpose we go, to Kamboja, as treasure-bearers; This yakkha grants wishes, let us take this yakkha. 258. Having taken this yakkha, gently or by force; Having made him ascend a vehicle, let us quickly go to Dvāraka. 259. In the shade of which tree one might sit or lie down; One should not break its branch, for a betrayer of friends is evil. 260. In the shade of which tree one might sit or lie down; Even its trunk one should cut, if the purpose be such. 261. In the shade of which tree one might sit or lie down; One should not break its leaf, for a betrayer of friends is evil. 262. In the shade of which tree one might sit or lie down; Even it with its roots one should uproot, if the purpose be such. 263. In whose house one might dwell even for one night, where a person might obtain food and drink; One should not think evil against him even in mind, gratitude is praised by good people. 264. In whose house one might dwell even for one night, with food and drink one might be served; One should not think evil against him even in mind, a non-harming hand burns a betrayer of friends. 265. Who formerly has done good, and afterwards harms with evil; That person, struck by a non-betraying hand, does not see good fortune. 266. I am not by a deva or a human, nor by a ruler am I easily subdued; I am a yakkha who has attained supreme power, far-ranging, endowed with beauty and strength. 267. Your hand is entirely beautiful, with five streams flowing with honey; Various juices flow forth, I think you are Purindada. 268. I am not a deva, nor a gandhabba, nor Sakka, Purindada; Know me, Aṅkura, to be a peta, from Roruva. who has come here." 269. "What was your conduct, what was your practice, in the city of Roruva? By what holy life of yours does merit ripen in your hand?" 270. "I was a tailor before, in Roruva at that time. My living was difficult, I was poor, I had nothing to give. 271. "And my dwelling was near Asayha, who was faithful, a giver, one who had done good, modest. 272. "To him came beggars, of various clans, wanderers. And they asked me there for Asayha's dwelling. 273. "'Where shall we go, may it be well with you? Where is alms given?' Being asked, I told them of Asayha's dwelling. 274. "Raising my right arm, 'Go there, may it be well with you! There alms are given, in Asayha's dwelling.' 275. "By that, my hand grants wishes, by that, my hand is sweet-flowing. By that holy life of mine, merit ripens in my hand." 276. "Indeed you did not give alms with your own hands to anyone. Approving of another's giving, you spoke, raising your hand. 277. "By that, your hand grants wishes, by that, your hand is sweet-flowing. By that holy life of yours, merit ripens in your hand. 278. "That one who gave alms, venerable sir, pleased, with his own hands, having left the human body, what destination has he reached?" 279. "I do not know the going or coming of Asayha, the lion-like, the Angirasa. But I have heard from Vessavaṇa that Asayha has gone to the companionship of Sakka." 280. "It is indeed enough to do good, to give alms as is proper. Seeing a hand that grants wishes, who would not do good? 281. "So, having gone from here, and having reached Dvāraka, I will establish giving, which will bring me happiness. 282. "I will give food and drink, clothing, beds, and seats, and a water booth, and a well, and bridges in difficult places." 283. "Why are your fingers crooked, and your mouth distorted?" And your eyes stream, What evil have you done? "Of Angirasa, the householder, The faithful householder; At his distribution of gifts, I was in charge of the giving. There, seeing the beggars, Who had come seeking food; I withdrew to one side, And made a twisted face. Because of that, my fingers are twisted, And my face is distorted; My eyes stream, That evil was done by me." "Rightly, wretched man, Your face is distorted; And your eyes stream, Because for another's gift, You made a twisted face. How can one, giving a gift, Do so for the benefit of others? Food, drink, and edibles, Clothes, beds, and seats. So indeed, going from here, And having reached Dvāraka; I will establish a gift, Which will bring me happiness. I will give food and drink, Clothes, beds, and seats; Water-stalls and wells, And bridges in difficult places." Then indeed, having returned, And having reached Dvāraka; Ankura established a gift, Which brought him happiness. He gave food and drink, Clothes, beds, and seats; Water-stalls and wells, With a mind utterly clear. "Who is hungry, who is thirsty? Who will wear clothes? Whose conveyances are ready? Harness a vehicle from here!" "Who wants an umbrella and perfume? Who wants a garland, who wants sandals?" Thus they proclaim there, Barbers, cooks, and bards; Always, evening and morning, In Ankura's dwelling. "Ankura sleeps happily," So people know me; But I sleep unhappily, O Sindhaka, Because I do not see beggars. "Ankura sleeps happily," So people know me; But I sleep unhappily, O Sindhaka, When there are few wanderers." "If Sakka, the lord of Tāvatiṃsa, Were to grant you a boon, What of all the world... to whom, wishing a boon, he would choose a boon." 298. "If Sakka would grant me a boon, The lord of the Tāvatiṃsa gods; When I rise early, At the rising of the sun; May divine foods appear, And virtuous beggars. 299. "May my giving not diminish, May I not regret after giving; May I gladden my mind by giving, This is the boon I would choose from Sakka." 300. "One should not give away all wealth to others, One should give gifts and also protect wealth; Therefore, wealth is better than giving, Through excessive giving, families are ruined. 301. "Neither not giving nor excessive giving, The wise do not praise; Therefore, wealth is better than giving, One should act with moderation, that is the way of the wise." 302. "Oh, if only I myself could give, And good people would associate with me; Like a cloud filling the lowlands, May I satisfy all those who live in the forest. 303. "Whose facial expression brightens, seeing beggars; Who is delighted after giving, That home is pleasant to dwell in. 304. "Whose facial expression brightens, seeing beggars; Who is delighted after giving, This is the perfection of sacrifice. 305. "Before giving, one is cheerful, While giving, one gladdens the mind; After giving, one is delighted, This is the perfection of sacrifice." 306. Sixty thousand cartloads, In Angura's dwelling; Food is given daily, To beings seeking merit. 307. Three thousand cooks, Adorned with jeweled earrings; Serve Angura, Engaged in the sacrifice of giving. 308. Sixty thousand men, Adorned with jeweled earrings; In Angura's great giving, Young men split wood. 309. Sixteen thousand women, Adorned with all ornaments; In Angura's great giving, The women prepare portions. 310. Sixteen thousand women,