Naked, like a ghost in the upper half, wearing garlands, adorned;

Where will you go, ghost, where will your dwelling be?"

In between Vāsabhagāma and near Bārāṇasī.

Gave flour and food to the ghost, and a pair of yellow garments.

When it was given to the barber, it appeared on the ghost at that very place.

For the ghost established in that state, the offering was beneficial;

Therefore one should give to the departed, out of compassion again and again.

Ghosts go for food, they depart in every direction.

Hungry, fainted, wandering, they fell to the ground.

Having not done good before, like those burnt by fire in the sun's heat.

Though there were gifts to be given, we made no refuge for ourselves.

To those gone forth who have gone the right way, we gave nothing."

Givers of mere morsels of almsfood, we abused those who received them.

Others enjoy them, we are sharers in suffering.

They become caṇḍālī women, wretched, and barbers again and again.

In those very ones they are born - this is the destination of the stingy.

They fill heaven, and illuminate the celestial Garden of Delight.

They are born in high families, with wealth, having passed away from there.

Their limbs fanned with peacock-feather fans, born in families, famous ones.

Nurses attend upon them, morning and evening, seeking their comfort.

Sorrowless, delightful, charming, the great garden of the Thirty-three gods.

But happiness for those who have made merit, both here and in the hereafter.

For those who have made merit rejoice, in heaven endowed with wealth."

Poṭṭhapāda by name, an ascetic with developed faculties.

Having done evil deeds, I have gone from here to the realm of ghosts.

Trembling with great fear, the cruel ones do not show themselves.

Having become one who moves on four limbs, showed himself to the elder.

And he informed the elder, "I am your brother, gone to the ghost realm."

Having done evil deeds, I have gone from here to the realm of ghosts.

Trembling with great fear, the cruel ones do not show themselves.

Through the gift given by you, the cruel ones will sustain themselves."

Gathered together in one place, for the purpose of participation in a meal.

I will make a meal for the Community, out of compassion for my relatives."

Having given, the elder dedicated, for mother, father and brother;

"May this be for my relatives, may the relatives be happy."

Pure, superior, accomplished, with various flavours and vegetables.

"Abundant is the food, venerable sir, but see, we are naked;

So, venerable sir, make effort, that we may obtain cloth."

Having made a cloth from the scraps, he gave it to the monastic community of the four directions.

"May this be for my relatives, may the relatives be happy."

Then well-clothed, he showed himself to the elder.

More numerous than that, venerable sir, are our cloths and coverings.

Extensive and very costly, they hang in the sky.

So, venerable sir, make effort, that we may obtain a dwelling."

Having given, the elder dedicated, for mother, father and brother;

"May this be for my relatives, may the relatives be happy."

Pinnacle-chambered dwellings, divided into sections, measured.

Even among the divine, such as those are, such are our houses here.

So, venerable sir, make effort, that we may obtain drinking water."

Having given, the elder dedicated, for mother, father and brother;

"May this be for my relatives, may the relatives be happy."

Deep and quadrangular, well-fashioned lotus ponds.

Covered with lotuses and water lilies, filled with water and pollen.

"Abundant is the drinking water, venerable sir, our feet are painful, they are splitting."

So, venerable sir, make effort, that we may obtain a vehicle."

Having given, the elder dedicated, for mother, father and brother;

"May this be for my relatives, may the relatives be happy."

"We have been shown compassion, venerable sir, with food and with clothing.

I have come to pay homage to the compassionate sage in the world, venerable sir."

There you dwell, goddess of great majesty, like the moon on the fifteenth day in the mid-sky.

Seated on the finest divan, incomparable, you are alone and there is no husband for you.

Spread over all around with gold powder, therein no mud nor water plants are found.

Having come together, they all sing sweetly, with melodious voices like the sound of drums.

With curling eyelashes, smiling, speaking sweetly, beautiful in every limb, you shine exceedingly.

I wish, woman of superior appearance, to rejoice here in the celestial Garden of Delight together with you."

Having done action that is to be experienced here, thus you will obtain me, O desirer of sensual pleasures."

Having done action that is to be experienced there, that young man was reborn in her company.

And you consume faeces, impure and unpleasant - of what is this the result?"

This one, having eaten the meat, deceives with lying.

I concealed what was there, and I gave nothing from here.

If I hide what exists, may excrement be my food.'

Fragrant rice food turns to excrement for me.

Foul-smelling excrement with worms, I eat and I drink."

Some become abundant in merit, some become limited in merit.

Neither demons nor spirits nor reptiles would harm the boy who has made merit.

Flocks of birds carry away the womb-filth, and crows carry away the eye-filth.

They did not take the conjunction of planets, nor did they scatter all kinds of grain.

Trembling like a lump of fresh butter, with life remaining in doubt.

"This boy will become of the foremost family in this city, and in wealth."

Having reached such disaster, he will experience such supernormal power."

There his mind underwent alteration, he spoke harsh, vulgar speech.

Attended upon the Truth-finder dwelling in Jeta's Grove with rice gruel for a week.

Having reached such disaster, he will experience such supernormal power.

Upon the collapse of the body, in the future life, he goes to the company of Vāsava.

With protruding ribs, so thin, who are you standing here?"

Having done evil deeds, I have gone from here to the realm of ghosts."

By the result of what action have you gone from here to the realm of ghosts?"

Though there were gifts to be given, I made no refuge for myself.

I approach the shade in the heat, it turns to sunshine.

This, venerable sir, I deserve, and other evil beyond that.

'Your daughter has been seen by me, ill-fated, belonging to Yama's world;

Having done evil deeds, she has gone from here to the realm of ghosts.'

Four hundred thousand, beneath the divan.

And having given a gift, let my mother dedicate the offering;

Then I shall be happy, endowed with all sensual pleasures."

He said to her mother -

'Your daughter has been seen by me, ill-fated, belonging to Yama's world;

Having done evil deeds, she has gone from here to the realm of ghosts.'

'Your daughter has been seen by me, ill-fated, belonging to Yama's world;

Having done evil deeds, she has gone from here to the realm of ghosts.'

Four hundred thousand, beneath the divan.

And having given a gift, let my mother dedicate the offering;

Then she shall be happy, endowed with all sensual pleasures."

The female ghost was happy, and she had a good livelihood.

During the day you experience torture, what did you do in a former birth?"

Formerly I was a deer hunter, with bloody hands, cruel.

I wandered, very cruel, always, delighting in harming others, unrestrained.

He too, having compassion for me, restrained me again and again.

If you wish for happiness after death, refrain from killing living beings, from lack of self-control.'

I did not do the complete instruction, long delighting in evil, lacking wisdom.

'If you kill living beings by day, then let there be self-control for you at night.'

At night I indulge myself, by day I am consumed, ill-fated.

By day, like maddened dogs, they run up from all around to devour me.

I consider they attain only the Deathless, the unconditioned state."

You delight in the five-part music, well played.

Cast aside in the cemetery, you undergo much suffering.

By the result of what action do you undergo this suffering?"

Formerly I was a deer hunter, cruel and unrestrained.

A monk dependent on his family, was a disciple of Gotama;

He too, having compassion for me, restrained me again and again.

If you wish for happiness after death, refrain from killing living beings, from lack of self-control.'

I did not do the complete instruction, long delighting in evil, lacking wisdom.

'If you kill living beings by day, then let there be self-control for you at night.'

At night I indulge myself, by day I am consumed, ill-fated.

By day, like maddened dogs, they run up from all around to devour me.

I consider they attain only the Deathless, the unconditioned state."

Your facial complexion is serene, you shine like the sun in beauty.

Ten thousand maidens, who are these female attendants of yours;

They wear conch-shell bracelets and armlets, adorned with golden headdresses.

You eat the flesh of your own back, having cut it off yourself.

By the result of what action do you eat the flesh of your own back,

Having cut it off yourself?"

With divisive speech and false speech, and with fraud and deception.

Having disregarded the good and the Teaching, I followed what was not the Teaching.

Just as I today eat the flesh of my own back.

Do not speak slander nor falsehood, may you not be a backbiter."

But worms eat your foul-smelling mouth, what action did you do before?"

Having sprinkled with lye, they cut again and again.

By the result of what action do you undergo this suffering?"

Lord of wealth and grain, of great abundance, sir.

They, with garlands and water lilies, and costly cosmetics;

I prevented them from bringing to the monument, that evil was done by me.

Having disparaged the stupa worship, we are tormented in hell exceedingly.

Make known the danger - separate them from that."

Experiencing the result of garlands, prosperous and glorious are they.

The wise pay homage, they venerate that great sage.

I will make stupa worship, diligent again and again."