Pv 39The Ghost Revatī

– THE GHOST STORY

– THE GREAT CHAPTER

4.4

BJT 723"Revatā, you woman of utterly wicked nature, rise up. You woman devoid of the virtue of generosity, the door (of hell) is not closed. We shall take you to the place where those cast into misery wail and lament, and where beings in hell endure suffering."

BJT 724Having said only this, the messengers of the Yama realm, those two yakkhas with bloodshot eyes, tall and large, each with one arm, seized Revatā and went to the place where the assembly of devas was present.

BJT 725"This beautiful celestial palace, covered with a net of gold, with the color of the sun, lovely and radiant — this palace, full of many people, shining brilliantly like the radiance of the sun, to whom does it belong?

BJT 726Groups of women, anointed with the essence of sandalwood, illuminate the palace in both places (inside and outside). The celestial palace is seen to have the color of the sun. Who has attained the heavenly realm and delights in this celestial palace?"

BJT 727"In Bārāṇasī there was a lay devotee named Nandiya, not miserly, a generous donor, a compassionate man. This palace, full of many people, shining brilliantly like the radiance of the sun, belongs to him.

BJT 728Groups of women, anointed with the essence of sandalwood, illuminate the palace brilliantly in both places (inside and outside). The celestial palace is seen to have the color of the sun. He has attained the heavenly realm and delights in this celestial palace."

BJT 729"I am the wife of Nandiya, the mistress of the household, with authority over the entire family. Now I shall enjoy my husband's celestial palace; I have no wish to behold hell."

BJT 730"You woman of utterly wicked nature, that hell is for you. No meritorious deed was done by you while living in the world of the living. For a woman who is miserly, wrathful, and wicked in nature does not attain fellowship with those who have gone to the heavenly realm."

BJT 731"What is this filth of excrement and urine that is seen? What is this foul stench? What is this reeking dung?"

BJT 732"Revatā, that is called the Saṁsavaka hell, one hundred times the height of a man in depth — the place where you shall be tormented for thousands of years."

BJT 733"Then what evil deed was done by body, speech, or mind? On account of what must one endure the Saṁsavaka hell, one hundred times the height of a man in depth?"

BJT 734"You deceived ascetics, brahmins, and also other wretched people with false words; that evil was done by you.

BJT 735Revatā, on account of that you must endure the Saṁsavaka hell, one hundred times the height of a man in depth, where you shall be tormented for thousands of years.

BJT 736They cut off the hands and likewise the feet; they slice off the ears and likewise the nose; and then flocks of crows gather together and swarm, devouring one who writhes in agony."

BJT 737"It is indeed good — please take me back; I shall accomplish many good things through generosity, through doing good, through restraint, through training — those things which, when practiced, bring happiness and no remorse hereafter."

BJT 738"You were heedless before and now you lament. You shall bear the ripened fruit of the deeds you yourself have done."

BJT 739"Which person, having come from the world of the devas to the world of humans, when asked by me, would speak thus: 'You should offer gifts of food, clothing, lodging, and drink to those who have laid down their rods, for a woman who is miserly, wrathful, and wicked in nature does not attain fellowship with those who have gone to the heavenly realm'?

BJT 740Surely I, upon departing from this place and attaining rebirth as a human being, shall be compassionate and endowed with virtue; I shall accomplish many good things through generosity, through doing good, through restraint, through training.

BJT 741With a mind of pure faith, I shall have monasteries built, bridges at difficult crossings, drinking water along the roads, and wells.

BJT 742On the fourteenth day, the fifteenth day, the eighth day of each fortnight, and the special days of the fortnight, there is the excellent observance of the eight precepts.

BJT 743I shall observe the Uposatha day, always restrained in the precepts, and shall not be heedless in giving; this I have seen with my own eyes."

BJT 744While she was moaning in this way and writhing back and forth, they flung her into the dreadful hell, feet uppermost and head downward.

BJT 745"In former times I was miserly; I reviled ascetics and brahmins, and having deceived my husband with falsehood, I am tormented in hell of dreadful form."

The story of the female ghost Revatī is the fourth.

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