Vv 28Second Alms Giver’s Mansion

– STORIES OF HEAVENLY MANSIONS

– A. HEAVENLY MANSIONS OF WOMEN

– THE CITTALATĀ CHAPTER

2.11

BJT 276"O divine lady, you stand with a radiant complexion, causing all the directions to blaze with light, like the star Osadhī.

BJT 277On account of what have you obtained such a complexion as this? On account of what has achievement come to you here? And on account of what do pleasing enjoyments arise for you?

BJT 278O divine lady of great might, I ask you: 'When you were a human being, what meritorious deed did you perform? On account of what do you possess the might to shine so brilliantly, and your complexion illumines all the directions?'"

BJT 279That divine lady, delighted at being questioned by the venerable Moggallāna, being asked the question, explained which deed had produced this fruit:

BJT 280"I, when I was a human being in the human realm, in a former life in the world of human beings, I saw a bhikkhu — one without defilement, pure, unagitated. With a gladdened mind, I offered food to him with my own hands.

BJT 281On account of that, I have obtained such a complexion as this. On account of that, achievement has come to me here. And on account of that, pleasing enjoyments arise for me.

BJT 282Venerable bhikkhu of great might, I have declared to you the meritorious deed I performed when I was a human being. On account of that, I possess the might to shine so brilliantly, and my complexion illumines all the directions."

The Second Heavenly Mansion of the Woman Who Offered Food.

The Cittalatā Chapter is the second.

SUMMARY OF THIS CHAPTER

The female servant, and likewise Lakhumā, then the woman who offered rice-water foam, the woman of low birth, Bhadditthī, and likewise Soṇadinnā, Uposathā, Nandā, and likewise Sunandā, and the two women who offered food; for this reason the chapter is named thus.

THE FIRST RECITATION SECTION.