Pv 10Dressed in Hair

– STORIES OF HUNGRY GHOSTS

– THE SNAKE CHAPTER

1.10

BJT 58"Which woman is standing inside the palace and will not come out? O good girl, please come out, let us look at you, that being of great spiritual power."

BJT 59"Being naked, I am distressed and ashamed to come outside. I am covered by strands of hair; the merit I have made is meager."

BJT 60"Here, I give you a shawl. Wrap this cloth around yourself. O beautiful one, having wrapped this cloth around yourself, come out. O good girl, please come out, let us look at you as you stand outside."

BJT 61"Even a gift passed directly from your hand to mine is of no benefit to me. Here, that lay devotee, who has faith and is a disciple of the Perfectly Enlightened One—

BJT 62having draped it upon him and dedicated the offering to me—then I shall be happy, with the fulfillment of all sensual pleasures."

BJT 63And having bathed him and anointed him with oil, those merchants draped him with cloths and then dedicated the offering to her.

BJT 64When the dedication was made, the fruit of fulfillment arose immediately: food, clothing, drink—this result came from the offering.

BJT 65Therefore, being clean, wearing pure clothing, adorned with cloth of the finest Kāsī fabric, she came out of the palace laughing; this result came from the offering.

BJT 66"Your palace, of a form beautifully adorned and lovely, shines brightly. O divine lady, being asked, please recount: this result is the fruit of what kamma?"

BJT 67"With a mind of pure faith, I offered a sesame cake to a monk of upright character who was traveling on his way.

BJT 68I enjoy the fruit and fulfillment of that kamma in this palace for a long time, but now it is nearly exhausted.

BJT 69In four more months, I shall die. I shall fall into a hell of immense suffering and terror.

BJT 70The hell has four corners, four gates, divided into equal sections, surrounded by iron walls, covered over with iron.

BJT 71Its floor is made of iron, blazing and burning, radiating heat for a hundred leagues all around, and it endures forever.

BJT 72There, for a long time I shall experience suffering, the fruit of evil kamma; and so I am utterly grief-stricken."

The Story of the Bald-Headed Hungry Ghost is the tenth.