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Even dogs licked his feet, crows and jackals circled around; Flocks of birds carried away his placenta, while crows carried away the whites of his eyes. 456. No one made protection for him, no medicine or mustard fumigation; Nor did they consult the conjunction of stars, nor did they scatter all kinds of grains. 457. Such a one fallen into extreme distress, brought at night and abandoned in the charnel ground; Trembling like a ball of fresh butter, with a doubtful remnant of life. 458. Him the one revered by gods and humans saw, and seeing him, the greatly wise one declared; “This young boy will be the chief of the noble families in this city, both in wealth.” 459. “What vow, what holy life, what well-practiced deed is this the result of; That having fallen into such misfortune, he will experience such prosperity?” 460. The people offered a great offering to the assembly of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha; Then his mind became otherwise, he spoke harsh and unseemly words. 461. He, having dispelled that thought, and having later regained joy and serenity; Attended the Tathāgata, who was dwelling in Jetavana, with gruel for seven nights. 462. That was his vow, that was his holy life, that was the result of his well-practiced deed; Having fallen into such misfortune, he Having lived for a hundred years right here, endowed with all sensual pleasures; Upon the body's breaking, in the next world, he goes to the companionship of Vāsava. The Story of the Prince-Petā, the Fifth. 6. The Story of the Seriṇī Petī "Naked, of wretched appearance, thin, covered with veins; With protruding ribs, so emaciated, who are you, standing here?" "Sir, I am a petī, a wretched one of Yama's world; Having done evil deeds, I have gone from here to the realm of petās." "What evil was done by body, by speech, or by mind? By the result of what kamma, have you gone from here to the realm of petās?" "At open bathing places, I sought half a māsaka; Though there were things to be given, I made no island for myself. Thirsty, I approach a river, it turns empty; In the heat, I approach shade, it turns to sun. And a wind like fire, burns as it blows upon me; This, sir, I deserve, and other evil besides. Go to the city of Hatthinī, and tell my mother; 'Your daughter has been seen by me, a wretched one of Yama's world; Having done evil deeds, she has gone to the realm of petās.' Here I have deposited something, which I did not reveal; Four hundred thousand, beneath the couch. From that, let her give a gift for me, and let it be her livelihood; And having given the gift, my mother, let her dedicate the merit; Then I shall be happy, fulfilled in all desires." "Very well," he assented, and going to the city of Hatthinī; He spoke to her mother – "Your daughter has been seen by me, a wretched one of Yama's world; Having done evil deeds, she has gone to the realm of petās." She urged me there, to tell my mother; 'Your daughter has been seen by me, a wretched one of Yama's world; Having done evil deeds, she has gone to the realm of petās.' went from here to that place.’ 475. ‘And there is something deposited by me here, which was not told by me; Four hundred thousand, underneath the couch. 476. ‘From that, let her give a gift for me, and let that be her livelihood; Having given a gift, let my mother dedicate the merit; “Then she will be happy, fulfilled with all desires.”’ 477. Then she gave a gift, and dedicated the merit to her; And the departed one became happy, and her livelihood was good. The Story of Seriṇī the Departed One, the Sixth. 7. The Story of the Hunter Departed One 478. ‘Surrounded by men and women, you shine with delightful sensual pleasures; You experience suffering during the day, what did you do in a former birth?’ 479. ‘In Rājagaha, the charming, the delightful mountain city; I was a hunter before, with bloody hands, cruel. 480. ‘With a mind corrupted towards living beings that cause no harm, towards many creatures; I wandered, always very cruel, delighting in harming others, unrestrained. 481. ‘My companion, a good friend, was a faithful lay follower; He, out of compassion for me, restrained me again and again. 482. ‘“Do not commit evil deeds, do not go to a bad destination, dear one; If you wish for happiness hereafter, abstain from taking life, from lack of restraint.” 483. ‘Hearing his words, who desired my happiness and felt compassion; I did not follow his complete instruction, being foolish, delighting in evil for a long time. 484. ‘That wise one, again, out of compassion, established me in restraint; “If you kill living beings during the day, then let there be restraint for you at night.” 485. ‘So I, having killed living beings during the day, was restrained and abstained at night; At night I am served, during the day I am eaten, unfortunate. 486. ‘Of that wholesome deed, I experience the inhuman night; During the day, dogs, struck down, run around to devour me. 487. ‘And those who are constantly diligent, constantly devoted to the teaching of the Fortunate One; I think they alone attain the deathless, the unconditioned state.” The Story of the Hunter Ghost, the seventh. 8. The Second Story of the Hunter Ghost 488. “In gabled houses and palaces, on couches covered with rugs; With a five-fold orchestra, you delight, well-played. 489. “Then at the end of the night, towards the rising of the sun; You are cast away in the charnel ground, experiencing much suffering. 490. “What evil was done by body, speech, or mind? By the ripening of what karma, do you experience this suffering?” 491. “I in delightful Rājagaha, in the charming Giribbaja; Was formerly a hunter, a cruel and unrestrained one. 492. “My companion, a good friend, was a faithful lay follower; A bhikkhu who attended him, was a disciple of Gotama; He, out of compassion for me, restrained me again and again. 493. “‘Do not commit evil deeds, dear one, do not go to a bad destination; If you desire happiness hereafter, abstain from killing and unrestraint.’ 494. “Hearing his words, who desired my happiness and felt compassion; I did not follow all his advice, being foolish and long devoted to evil. 495. “He, the greatly wise one, again out of compassion, established me in restraint; ‘If you kill living beings by day, then let your restraint be at night.’ 496. “So I, having killed living beings by day, was restrained and self-controlled at night; At night I am served, by day I am eaten, a wretched one. 497. “Of that wholesome karma, I experience the unhuman night; By day, like struck dogs, they rush from all sides to devour me. 498. “And those who are constantly diligent, constantly devoted to the teaching of the Fortunate One; I think they alone attain the deathless, the unconditioned state.” The Second Story of the Hunter Ghost, the eighth. 9. The Story of the Crooked Judge Ghost 499. “Garlanded, crowned, adorned with armlets, your body smeared with sandalwood; With a serene facial expression You are not, yet you shine like the sun. 500. Non-human attendants, Those who are your servants; Ten thousand maidens, Those who are your handmaids; They wear conch bracelets, Adorned with golden bangles. 501. You are greatly powerful, Having a terrifying form; The flesh of your own back, You tear off and eat yourself. 502. What evil deed was done By body, speech, or mind? By the ripening of what kamma, The flesh of your own back, Do you tear off and eat yourself? 503. I, for my own harm, Behaved in this world of living beings; With slander and false speech, And with deceit and fraud. 504. There I, having gone to an assembly, When the time for truth arose; Having rejected what was beneficial and righteous, I followed what was unrighteous. 505. Thus he eats himself, Who is a backbiter; Just as I today eat, The flesh of my own back. 506. This, Nārada, you yourself have seen, Those compassionate and skillful ones would say: “Do not slander, and do not speak falsely, May you not be a backbiter.” The Ninth Story of the Peta of Perverted Judgment. 10. The Story of the Peta of Defiling Relics 507. Standing in the sky, You emit a foul, putrid smell; And worms with a putrid smell in your mouth, Eat you. What kamma did you do previously? 508. Then, taking a weapon, They cut again and again; Having sprinkled with caustic liquid, They cut again and again. 509. What evil deed was done By body, speech, or mind? By the ripening of what kamma, Do you experience this suffering? 510. I, in delightful Rājagaha, In the charming mountain fortress, Was master of abundant wealth and grain, O venerable one. 511. My wife, And my daughter, and my daughter-in-law, When carrying garlands and lotuses, And fresh perfumes to the stupa, I prevented them. That evil was done by me. 512. Eighty-six thousand, We are experiencing individually. Stupa worship having disparaged, we fall into hell severely. 513. And indeed those who, when the great festival of the Arahant with stupa worship is ongoing, reveal the danger, you should keep them away from there. 514. And see these coming, wearing garlands, adorned; experiencing the result of garlands, and they are prosperous, glorious. 515. And having seen that wonder, that marvel, hair-raising, the wise ones pay homage, they revere that Great Sage. 516. So I indeed, having gone from here, having obtained a human birth, will perform stupa worship, diligently, again and again. The tenth story of the disparagement of relics. The third Minor Chapter is finished. Its summary – Unbroken, Kuṇḍiya, the chariot-maker, and Bhusa; the Prince, and the courtesan, two hunters, back-worship; the chapter is thus called.