Pv 19The Rich Man Dhanapāla

– STORIES OF HUNGRY GHOSTS

– THE UBBARĪ CHAPTER

2.7

BJT 227"You are naked, ugly in form, emaciated, covered with protruding veins, your ribs exposed, gaunt. Tell me, sir, who are you?"

BJT 228"Good sirs, I am a hungry ghost, condemned, belonging to the realm of Yama. Having performed evil deeds, from this place I have gone to the world of hungry ghosts."

BJT 229"Then what evil conduct was performed, by body, by speech, or by mind? Through the ripened fruit of what karma did you, from this place, go to the world of hungry ghosts?"

BJT 230"There is a city in the land of Dasanna, known by the name of Erakaccha. In that place, formerly I was a great householder of wealth; people knew me as 'Dhanapāla.'

BJT 231I had eighty cartloads of raw gold; I had abundant refined gold, many pearls and gems.

BJT 232Even though my wealth was so great, the delight in giving was not present in me. I closed the main door before eating, thinking: 'Let not the beggars see me.'

BJT 233I was a person without faith, miserly, stingy, one who reviled others. I obstructed many people while they were giving, while they were practicing restraint, saying:

BJT 234–235'There is no fruit from giving—where would the result of restraint come from?' I destroyed lotus ponds, wells, cultivated gardens, drinking-water distribution stations, and crossing points at dangerous passages. I, being such a one, did no good, did evil, and thereafter died.

BJT 236–237I was reborn in the realm of hungry ghosts, bearing the suffering of hunger and thirst. Fifty-five years since I passed away, I have known neither eating nor drinking of water. Whatever is clinging, that is ruin; whatever is ruin, that is clinging.

BJT 238It is said that the hungry ghosts themselves know: 'Whatever is clinging, that is ruin.' Formerly I clung, I did not give, even while possessing great wealth.

BJT 239While gifts were available, I did not create an island of refuge for myself; now I, bearing the consequences of my own karma, am filled with remorse.

BJT 240In four more months, I will die. I will fall into a hell that is exceedingly painful and terrible.

BJT 241The hell has four corners, four gates, divided into equal sections, surrounded by an iron wall, covered over with an iron roof.

BJT 242Its floor is made of iron, blazing and burning, radiating heat in all directions for a hundred leagues, and it endures without end.

BJT 243There, for a long time I will experience suffering, the fruit of evil karma; therefore I am overwhelmed with grief.

BJT 244Therefore I say to you: 'May there be well-being for all of you who have gathered here. Do not commit evil, whether openly or in secret.

BJT 245For if you have done or are doing evil karma, there will be no escape from suffering for you, even should you fly up into the sky to flee.

BJT 246Render service to your mother, render service to your father, show reverence to the elders of your family, show reverence to the Samaṇas and Brahmins—by so doing, you will go to the heavenly realm.'"

The Story of the Hungry Ghost Dhanapāla is the seventh.