English
3. The Minor Chapter 1. The Story of the Ghost Who Did Not Burst 387. In the un-bursting water, in the Ganges you go here; Naked, like a half-burnt ghost, wearing garlands, adorned; Where will you go, ghost? Where will your dwelling be? 388. "I will go to Cundaṭṭhila," the ghost says thus; "Between Vāsabhagāma, and near Bārāṇasī." 389. And seeing him, the great minister, known as Koliyo, gave flour and food to the ghost, and a yellow pair of garments. 390. While the boat was standing, he caused it to be given to the barber; When it was given to the barber, it appeared in the ghost's place. 391. Then, dressed in fine clothes, wearing garlands, adorned; To the ghost standing in its place, the offering was beneficial; Therefore, give to the ghosts, out of compassion, again and again. 392. Some are clothed in bark, others are clothed in hair; The ghosts go for food, they wander in every direction. 393. Some, having run far, return without having obtained anything; Hungry, fainted, exhausted, they fall down on the ground. 394. And some, having fallen there, they fall down on the ground; Having done no good deeds before, like those burnt by fire in the heat. 395. "We, formerly of evil conduct, householders, mothers of families; When there were things to be given, we made no island for ourselves. 396. Even abundant food and drink, was even scattered away; To those who had gone forth on the right path, we gave nothing at all. 397. Desiring no action, lazy, desiring delicacies, great eaters; To those who gave morsels of food, we reviled them at the reception. 398. Those houses and those slave-women, and those same ornaments of ours; Others now enjoy them, we are partakers of suffering. 399. Or braids are despised, chariot-makers and are poor; Caṇḍālīs are wretched, and barbers again and again. 400. “Whatever are the low, and wretched families; In those very ones they are born, this is the destiny of the stingy. 401. “Those who have done good deeds before, givers free from stinginess; They fill up heaven, and illuminate Nandana. 402. “Having enjoyed themselves in the Vejayanta palace, those who desire pleasures; Are born in high families, with wealth, after falling from there. 403. “In gabled houses and palaces, on couches covered with woollen rugs; Whose limbs are fanned by peacock fans, they are born in glorious families. 404. “They go from lap to lap, wearing garlands, adorned; Nurses attend them, morning and evening, seeking happiness. 405. “This is not for those who have not done good deeds, this is for those who have done good deeds; The sorrowless, delightful, charming, great forest of the Tidasas. 406. “Happiness for those who have not done good deeds, is not here nor in the beyond; And happiness for those who have done good deeds, is here and also in the beyond. 407. “For those who desire their companionship, much good should be done; For those who have done good deeds rejoice, in heaven, endowed with enjoyments.” The Story of the Unbreakable Petas, the first. 2. The Story of Thera Sāṇavāsī’s Petas 408. The elder from Kuṇḍināgara, Sāṇavāsī by residence; Named Poṭṭhapāda, a monk with developed faculties. 409. His mother, father, and brother, were wretched, belonging to the world of Yama; Having done evil deeds, they went from here to the world of petas. 410. Those wretched ones, thin as needles, exhausted, naked, emaciated; Trembling with great fear, they do not show themselves, being afflicted. 411. His brother, having appeared, naked, alone on the path; Having become four-limbed, showed himself to the elder. 412. The elder, not paying attention, remained silent and passed by; And he informed the elder, “I am your brother, gone to the petas.” 413. “Your mother and father, venerable sir, are wretched, belonging to the world of Yama; Having done evil deeds, to the world of petas…” gone from here. "They are wretched, needle-thin, Weary, naked, emaciated; Terrified, greatly afraid, The Kururins do not appear. "Have compassion, compassionate one, Give and dedicate to us; By the gift given by you, The Kururins will sustain themselves." The Elder, having gone for alms, And twelve other monks, Assembled together, For the purpose of distributing food. The Elder said to all of them, "Give me what you have received; I will make a meal for the Saṅgha, Out of compassion for my relatives." They offered it to the Elder, The Elder invited the Saṅgha; Having given, the Elder dedicated it, To his mother, father, and brother; "May this be for my relatives, May my relatives be happy." Immediately upon the dedication, Food appeared; Pure, excellent, complete, With many flavors and sauces. Then the brother, Handsome, strong, and happy, showed himself; "Abundant food, Venerable Sir, But look, we are naked; Strive, Venerable Sir, So that we may obtain clothes." The Elder, from a heap of rubbish, Having picked out rags; Made a patched robe, And gave it to the Saṅgha to dedicate. Having given, the Elder dedicated it, To his mother, father, and brother; "May this be for my relatives, May my relatives be happy." Immediately upon the dedication, Clothes appeared; Then, well-clothed, He showed himself to the Elder. "As many coverings As there are in King Nanda's realm; More than that, Venerable Sir, Are our clothes and coverings. "Silken and woolen, Linen and cotton too; Extensive and very valuable, They hang in the air. "We wear them, Whatever is pleasing to the mind; Strive, Venerable Sir, So that we may obtain a dwelling." The Elder, having made a leaf-hut, And gave it to the Saṅgha to dedicate; Having given, the Elder dedicated it, To his mother, father, and brother; "May this be for my relatives, May my relatives be happy." 8. Immediately upon being dedicated, houses arose; Mansions and dwellings, divided and measured in parts. 429. "Not among humans are such, as our houses here; Even among devas are such, as our houses here. 430. "Shining brightly, they illuminate, all four directions; 'Strive, venerable sir, so that we may obtain water.'" 431. The elder, filling the water-pot, gave it to the four-directional Sangha; Having given, the elder dedicated it, to his mother, father, and brother; "May this be for my relatives, may my relatives be happy." 432. Immediately upon being dedicated, water arose; Deep and square, well-built ponds. 433. With cool water, good landing-places, cool, without foul smell; Covered with lotuses and water-lilies, filled with water-pollen. 434. Having bathed and drunk there, they showed to the elder; "Abundant water, venerable sir, our feet are painfully splitting." 435. "Wandering, we limp, on gravel and thorny grass; 'Strive, venerable sir, so that we may obtain a vehicle.'" 436. The elder, having received a pair of sandals, gave them to the four-directional Sangha; Having given, the elder dedicated it, to his mother, father, and brother; "May this be for my relatives, may my relatives be happy." 437. Immediately upon being dedicated, the departed came by chariot; "We have been compassionated, venerable sir, with food and clothing. 438. "With the gift of a house, with the gift of water, and with both gifts of vehicles; We have come, venerable sir, to venerate the compassionate sage in the world." The second story of the departed relative of Elder Sāṇavāsī. 3. The story of the departed relative of the Chariot-maker. 439. "Having ascended a charming, shining palace, with many-colored lapis lazuli pillars; There you dwell, goddess of great power, like the full moon on the fifteenth day. 440. "And your complexion is like gold, of refined form, exceedingly beautiful; Seated on an incomparable, excellent couch, you are alone, and you have no husband. 441. "And these t This pond all around, with abundant garlands, many white lotuses; Covered all around with golden dust, no mud or moss is found there. 442. And these swans, lovely and delightful, always circle in the water; All together they sing sweetly, with clear voices, like the sound of drums. 443. Shining brightly with glory, glorious one, you stand leaning on the boat; With long eyelashes, smiling, speaking kindly, beautiful in every limb, you shine exceedingly. 444. This palace, dustless, standing on level ground, with a garden, increasing joy and delight; I wish, O lady of excellent appearance, to rejoice here with you in this delightful garden. 445. Perform here a meritorious deed, and let your mind be set on it; Having performed here a meritorious deed, thus will you obtain me, O desired one. 446. "So be it!" he replied to her, and performed a meritorious deed there; Having performed a meritorious deed there, that young man was reborn in her company. 447. One eats husks, another rice, and this woman her own flesh and blood; And you eat excrement, impure and unpleasant; what is the result of this? 448. This one formerly harmed his mother, and this one was a fraudulent merchant; This one, having eaten meat, deceived with false speech. 449. I, being human among humans, a householder, mistress of the whole family; I concealed what was present, and gave nothing from it. 450. I covered it with false speech, saying, 'This is not in my house; If I conceal what is present, let excrement be my food.' 451. By the result of that deed, and also of false speech; Fragrant rice turns into excrement for me. 452. And deeds are not barren, for indeed no deed I perish. Foul-smelling, worm-ridden, excrement, I eat and I drink. The Story of Bhusa, the fourth. 5. The Story of the Young Boy 453. Wonderful is the knowledge of the Fortunate One, as the Teacher declared concerning individuals; Some are abundant in merit, and some are scant in merit. 454. This young boy was abandoned in the charnel ground, he sustains his life through the affection of his thumb; Neither yakkhas nor spirits, nor creeping things, would harm the young boy who has made merit. 455.