Vv 52Revatī’s Mansion

– STORIES OF HEAVENLY MANSIONS

– B. HEAVENLY MANSIONS OF MEN

– THE GREAT CHARIOT CHAPTER

5.2

BJT 862"Just as a person who has been away from home for a long time returns safely from afar, and his relatives, friends, and acquaintances rejoice to welcome the one who has returned—

BJT 863In the very same way, one who has performed meritorious deeds passes from this world to another world, and the merits welcome that person just as relatives welcome a beloved one who has returned."

BJT 864"Revatā, you woman of utterly wicked nature, stand up. You woman devoid of the virtue of giving, the gate (of hell) is not closed. We will take you to the place where those fallen into misery wail, and where the hell-beings endure suffering."

BJT 865Having said only this, the two yakkhas, messengers of the Yama realm, with bloodshot eyes, tall in stature, each with one arm, seized Revatā and proceeded to the presence of the assembly of devas.

BJT 866"This beautiful heavenly mansion, covered with a golden net, of the color of the sun, lovely and resplendent—this heavenly mansion, thronged with many people, blazing like the radiance of the sun, whose is it?

BJT 867Groups of women, anointed with the essence of sandalwood, make the palace shine brilliantly both within and without. The heavenly mansion is seen to be of the color of the sun. Who has attained the heavenly realm and rejoices in this heavenly mansion?"

BJT 868"In Bārāṇasī there was a lay disciple named Nandiya, who was not miserly, a generous benefactor, a compassionate man. This heavenly mansion, thronged with many people, blazing like the radiance of the sun, belongs to him.

BJT 869Groups of women, anointed with the essence of sandalwood, make the palace blaze brilliantly both within and without. The heavenly mansion is seen to be of the color of the sun. He has attained the heavenly realm and rejoices in this heavenly mansion."

BJT 870"I am Nandiya's wife, a housewife with authority over the entire household. Now I wish to delight in my husband's heavenly mansion; I have no desire to behold hell."

BJT 871"You woman of utterly wicked nature, that hell is meant for you. You performed no meritorious deeds while living in the world of the living. For a woman who is miserly, wrathful, and of wicked nature does not attain to dwelling together with those who have gone to the heavenly realm."

BJT 872"What is this foul filth of excrement and urine that is seen? What is this stench? What is this malodorous refuse?"

BJT 873"Revatā, that is the hell called Saṁsavaka, one hundred times the height of a man in depth, where you will be tormented for thousands of years."

BJT 874"Then what evil deed was done by body, by speech, or by mind? On account of what must one endure the hell called Saṁsavaka, one hundred times the height of a man in depth?"

BJT 875"You deceived ascetics, brahmins, and even other wretched beings with false speech; that evil was perpetrated by you.

BJT 876Revatā, on account of that you must endure the hell called Saṁsavaka, one hundred times the height of a man in depth, where you will be tormented for thousands of years.

BJT 877They hack off the hands, and then the feet as well; they cut off the ears, and then the nose as well; and then flocks of crows swoop down, gather together, and devour the one who writhes in agony."

BJT 878"Truly it would be well—please take me back, I will perform many good things through generosity, through meritorious action, through restraint, through training, by practicing which one attains happiness and is without remorse hereafter."

BJT 879"You were previously heedless, and now you lament. You will bear the ripened fruit of the deeds you yourself have done."

BJT 880"Which one, 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, robes, lodging, and drink to those who have laid down their rods, for a woman who is miserly, wrathful, and of wicked nature does not attain to dwelling together with those who have gone to the heavenly realm'?

BJT 881Surely I, when I have departed from this place and attained rebirth as a human being, will be compassionate and fully endowed with virtue; I will perform many good things through generosity, through meritorious action, through restraint, through training.

BJT 882With a mind of pure faith, I will have monasteries built, bridges in places difficult to cross, drinking water along the road, and wells.

BJT 883On the fourteenth day, the fifteenth day, the eighth day of each fortnight, and on the special additional days of the fortnight, there is the excellent undertaking of the eight precepts.

BJT 884I will observe the Uposatha day, always restrained in the precepts, and will not be heedless in giving; this I have seen for myself."

BJT 885While she was moaning in this way and writhing this way and that, they hurled her into the fearful hell, feet upward and head downward.

BJT 886"Formerly I was miserly, I reviled ascetics and brahmins, and having deceived my husband with falsehood, I am tormented in a hell of fearful form."

Revatī's Mansion.