A housewife named Tissa sees a female ghost and questions,
Tissa:
You are naked and very ugly, your veins are popping out. You thin person, with your ribs sticking out, who are you?
Matta (ghost):
My name is Matta, and you are Tissa. Don’t you remember? I was your husband’s other wife. I did lots of evil actions and was born in the ghost world.
Tissa:
Now what evil deed have you done by body, speech, or mind for you to have been born in the world of ghosts?
Matta:
I got angry easily and spoke harshly. I was very jealous, greedy, and cunning. Having used harsh words, I have been reborn in the world of ghosts.
Tissa:
Oh yes, I remember you. You were very violent those days. Let me ask you something else. Why are you covered in dirt?
Matta:
Do you remember one day, you had bathed and dressed in clean clothes? I wanted to be more beautiful than you, so I wore a more beautiful dress than yours. But I saw our husband talking and paying more attention to you rather than me. I was extremely jealous and got angry. I took some dirt from the ground and threw it at you. As a result of that bad deed, now I am covered in dirt.
Tissa:
Oh yes, I remember that day you threw dirt at me. Now let me ask something else. Why are you scratching your entire body?
Matta:
One day we both went into the forest to gather some medicinal herbs. You brought back medicinal herbs but I brought back plants that would make the body itchy. Secretly, I scattered them over your bed. As a result of that bad action, my body is always itchy.
Tissa:
Oh yes, I remember that morning when my body got very itchy. Here’s another question. Why are you naked?
Matta:
One day, when friends and relatives gathered for a party, you and our husband were invited while I was not. I was very jealous and stole the clothes that you were going to wear to the party. This is why now I am naked.
Tissa:
Yes, yes, I remember when you stole my clothes that night. I have another question. Why do you smell of excrement?
Matta:
You had nice perfumes, cosmetics, and necklaces made of flowers. I threw them into a pile of excrement. This is why now I am very smelly.
Tissa:
Yes, I also remember when I found my perfumes, cosmetics and flower necklaces in a pile of excrement. I would also like to ask you, why do you suffer so much?
Matta:
The wealth in our house was equally shared among us. But I did not collect much merit, therefore I have to suffer now. You warned me saying, “You are doing evil things. Happiness will not come from evil!”
Tissa:
You mistook me for an enemy when I was trying to help. You were also very jealous of me. Now you can see the result of your evil. You had maids and servants in the house and plenty of jewelry, but now they are used by others. Wealth is not eternal.
Bhuta’s father is coming home from the market soon, maybe he will give you something. Do not go anywhere; wait until he comes.
Matta:
I am naked and very ugly with veins popping out. It is embarrassing for a woman to be like this. Do not let Bhuta’s father see me.
Tissa:
Ok then, what can I give or do for you which can make you happy and gain what you want.
Matta:
Invite four monks as a group and four individually. Offer alms to these eight monks and dedicate the merit to me. Then I will be happy and gain what I want.
Tissa:
Ok, I will.
She offered alms and robes to eight monks and dedicated the merit to Matta. The result of this donation immediately took effect in the form of food, drink, and clothing for the ghost. She became pure, wearing the cleanest and finest clothes with jewelry and then approached Tissa.
Tissa:
Who are you, with heavenly beauty, shining in all directions like a star? Why are you so beautiful? What merit have you collected when you were a human?
Matta:
My name is Matta, and you are Tissa. Don’t you remember? I was your husband’s other wife. I did lots of evil actions and was born in the ghost world. But I am very happy now, rejoicing in your gift. I do not fear anything.
May you live long, my sister, happily with all your relatives!
Tissa:
Yes sister, one should practice the Dhamma and be generous by giving alms. The person who does this will be reborn in heaven where there is no sorrow.
3. Mattāpetivatthu
3. Mattāpetivatthu
“Naggā dubbaṇṇarūpāsi, kisā dhamanisanthatā; Upphāsulike kisike, kā nu tvaṁ idha tiṭṭhasī”ti.
kā nu tvaṁ idha tiṭṭhasī”ti.
“Naggā dubbaṇṇarūpāsi, kisā dhamanisanthatā; Upphāsulike kisike, kā nu tvaṁ idha tiṭṭhasī”ti.
“Ahaṁ mattā tuvaṁ tissā, sapattī te pure ahuṁ; Pāpakammaṁ karitvāna, petalokaṁ ito gatā”ti.
“Ahaṁ mattā tuvaṁ tissā, sapattī te pure ahuṁ; Pāpakammaṁ karitvāna, petalokaṁ ito gatā”ti.
“Kiṁ nu kāyena vācāya, manasā dukkaṭaṁ kataṁ; Kissa kammavipākena, petalokaṁ ito gatā”ti.
“Kiṁ nu kāyena vācāya, manasā dukkaṭaṁ kataṁ; Kissa kammavipākena, petalokaṁ ito gatā”ti.
“Caṇḍī ca pharusā cāsiṁ, issukī maccharī saṭhā; *saṭhā → saṭhī (si, pts-vp-pli1-2)Tāhaṁ duruttaṁ vatvāna, petalokaṁ ito gatā”ti.
issukī maccharī saṭhā; *saṭhā → saṭhī (si, pts-vp-pli1-2)
“Caṇḍī ca pharusā cāsiṁ, issukī maccharī saṭhā; *saṭhā → saṭhī (si, pts-vp-pli1-2)Tāhaṁ duruttaṁ vatvāna, petalokaṁ ito gatā”ti.
“Sabbaṁ ahampi jānāmi, *Sabbaṁ → saccaṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed, csp1ed)yathā tvaṁ caṇḍikā ahu; Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi, *kho → kho taṁ (bj, pts-vp-pli1-2, mr)kenāsi paṁsukunthitā”ti.
“Sabbaṁ ahampi jānāmi, *Sabbaṁ → saccaṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed, csp1ed)
Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi, *kho → kho taṁ (bj, pts-vp-pli1-2, mr)
“Sabbaṁ ahampi jānāmi, *Sabbaṁ → saccaṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed, csp1ed)yathā tvaṁ caṇḍikā ahu; Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi, *kho → kho taṁ (bj, pts-vp-pli1-2, mr)kenāsi paṁsukunthitā”ti.
“Sīsaṁnhātā tuvaṁ āsi, sucivatthā alaṅkatā; Ahañca kho adhimattaṁ, samalaṅkatatarā tayā.
“Sīsaṁnhātā tuvaṁ āsi, sucivatthā alaṅkatā; Ahañca kho adhimattaṁ, samalaṅkatatarā tayā.
Tassā me pekkhamānāya, sāmikena samantayi; Tato me issā vipulā, kodho me samajāyatha.
Tassā me pekkhamānāya, sāmikena samantayi; Tato me issā vipulā, kodho me samajāyatha.
Tato paṁsuṁ gahetvāna, paṁsunā taṁ hi okiriṁ; *taṁ hi okiriṁ → taṁ vikīrihaṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed, mr)Tassa kammavipākena, tenamhi paṁsukunthitā”ti.
paṁsunā taṁ hi okiriṁ; *taṁ hi okiriṁ → taṁ vikīrihaṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed, mr)
tenamhi paṁsukunthitā”ti.
Tato paṁsuṁ gahetvāna, paṁsunā taṁ hi okiriṁ; *taṁ hi okiriṁ → taṁ vikīrihaṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed, mr)Tassa kammavipākena, tenamhi paṁsukunthitā”ti.
“Sabbaṁ ahampi jānāmi, paṁsunā maṁ tvamokiri; Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi, kena khajjasi kacchuyā”ti.
Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi,
kena khajjasi kacchuyā”ti.
“Sabbaṁ ahampi jānāmi, paṁsunā maṁ tvamokiri; Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi, kena khajjasi kacchuyā”ti.
“Bhesajjahārī ubhayo, vanantaṁ agamimhase; Tvañca bhesajjamāhari, ahañca kapikacchuno.
“Bhesajjahārī ubhayo, vanantaṁ agamimhase; Tvañca bhesajjamāhari, ahañca kapikacchuno.
Tassā tyājānamānāya, seyyaṁ tyāhaṁ samokiriṁ; *tyāhaṁ → kiṁ tāhaṁ (bj, pts-vp-pli1-2); kiṁ tyāhaṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed); kiṁ vatāhaṁ (mr)Tassa kammavipākena, tena khajjāmi kacchuyā”ti.
seyyaṁ tyāhaṁ samokiriṁ; *tyāhaṁ → kiṁ tāhaṁ (bj, pts-vp-pli1-2); kiṁ tyāhaṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed); kiṁ vatāhaṁ (mr)
tena khajjāmi kacchuyā”ti.
Tassā tyājānamānāya, seyyaṁ tyāhaṁ samokiriṁ; *tyāhaṁ → kiṁ tāhaṁ (bj, pts-vp-pli1-2); kiṁ tyāhaṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed); kiṁ vatāhaṁ (mr)Tassa kammavipākena, tena khajjāmi kacchuyā”ti.
“Sabbaṁ ahampi jānāmi, seyyaṁ me tvaṁ samokiri; Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi, kenāsi naggiyā tuvan”ti.
Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi,
“Sabbaṁ ahampi jānāmi, seyyaṁ me tvaṁ samokiri; Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi, kenāsi naggiyā tuvan”ti.
“Sahāyānaṁ samayo āsi, ñātīnaṁ samitī ahu; Tvañca āmantitā āsi, sasāminī no ca kho ahaṁ.
“Sahāyānaṁ samayo āsi, ñātīnaṁ samitī ahu; Tvañca āmantitā āsi, sasāminī no ca kho ahaṁ.
Tassā tyājānamānāya, dussaṁ tyāhaṁ apānudiṁ; Tassa kammavipākena, tenamhi naggiyā ahan”ti.
Tassā tyājānamānāya, dussaṁ tyāhaṁ apānudiṁ; Tassa kammavipākena, tenamhi naggiyā ahan”ti.
“Sabbaṁ ahampi jānāmi, dussaṁ me tvaṁ apānudi; Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi, kenāsi gūthagandhinī”ti.
Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi,
“Sabbaṁ ahampi jānāmi, dussaṁ me tvaṁ apānudi; Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi, kenāsi gūthagandhinī”ti.
“Tava gandhañca mālañca, paccagghañca vilepanaṁ; Gūthakūpe atāresiṁ, *atāresiṁ → adhāresiṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed, mr)taṁ pāpaṁ pakataṁ mayā; Tassa kammavipākena, tenamhi gūthagandhinī”ti.
Gūthakūpe atāresiṁ, *atāresiṁ → adhāresiṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed, mr)
tenamhi gūthagandhinī”ti.
“Tava gandhañca mālañca, paccagghañca vilepanaṁ; Gūthakūpe atāresiṁ, *atāresiṁ → adhāresiṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed, mr)taṁ pāpaṁ pakataṁ mayā; Tassa kammavipākena, tenamhi gūthagandhinī”ti.
“Sabbaṁ ahampi jānāmi, taṁ pāpaṁ pakataṁ tayā; Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi, kenāsi duggatā tuvan”ti.
Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi,
“Sabbaṁ ahampi jānāmi, taṁ pāpaṁ pakataṁ tayā; Aññañca kho taṁ pucchāmi, kenāsi duggatā tuvan”ti.
“Ubhinnaṁ samakaṁ āsi, yaṁ gehe vijjate dhanaṁ; Santesu deyyadhammesu, dīpaṁ nākāsimattano; Tassa kammavipākena, tenamhi duggatā ahaṁ.
“Ubhinnaṁ samakaṁ āsi, yaṁ gehe vijjate dhanaṁ; Santesu deyyadhammesu, dīpaṁ nākāsimattano; Tassa kammavipākena, tenamhi duggatā ahaṁ.
Tadeva maṁ tvaṁ avaca, ‘pāpakammaṁ nisevasi; Na hi pāpehi kammehi, sulabhā hoti suggatī’”ti.
sulabhā hoti suggatī’”ti.
Tadeva maṁ tvaṁ avaca, ‘pāpakammaṁ nisevasi; Na hi pāpehi kammehi, sulabhā hoti suggatī’”ti.
“Vāmato maṁ tvaṁ paccesi, athopi maṁ usūyasi; Passa pāpānaṁ kammānaṁ, vipāko hoti yādiso.
“Vāmato maṁ tvaṁ paccesi,
“Vāmato maṁ tvaṁ paccesi, athopi maṁ usūyasi; Passa pāpānaṁ kammānaṁ, vipāko hoti yādiso.
Te gharā tā ca dāsiyo, *gharā tā ca dāsiyo → te gharadāsiyo āsuṁ (bj, sya1ed, sya2ed, pts-vp-pli1-2); te ghare dāsiyo ceva (mr)tānevābharaṇānime; Te aññe paricārenti, na bhogā honti sassatā.
Te gharā tā ca dāsiyo, *gharā tā ca dāsiyo → te gharadāsiyo āsuṁ (bj, sya1ed, sya2ed, pts-vp-pli1-2); te ghare dāsiyo ceva (mr)
Te gharā tā ca dāsiyo, *gharā tā ca dāsiyo → te gharadāsiyo āsuṁ (bj, sya1ed, sya2ed, pts-vp-pli1-2); te ghare dāsiyo ceva (mr)tānevābharaṇānime; Te aññe paricārenti, na bhogā honti sassatā.
Idāni bhūtassa pitā, āpaṇā gehamehiti; Appeva te dade kiñci, mā su tāva ito agā”ti.
Idāni bhūtassa pitā, āpaṇā gehamehiti; Appeva te dade kiñci, mā su tāva ito agā”ti.
“Naggā dubbaṇṇarūpāmhi, kisā dhamanisanthatā; Kopīnametaṁ itthīnaṁ, mā maṁ bhūtapitāddasā”ti.
mā maṁ bhūtapitāddasā”ti.
“Naggā dubbaṇṇarūpāmhi, kisā dhamanisanthatā; Kopīnametaṁ itthīnaṁ, mā maṁ bhūtapitāddasā”ti.
“Handa kiṁ vā tyāhaṁ dammi, Kiṁ vā tedha karomahaṁ; *tedha → kiṁ vā ca te (bj, sya1ed, sya2ed, pts-vp-pli1-2); kiṁ vidha te (mr)Yena tvaṁ sukhitā assa, Sabbakāmasamiddhinī”ti.
“Handa kiṁ vā tyāhaṁ dammi,
Kiṁ vā tedha karomahaṁ; *tedha → kiṁ vā ca te (bj, sya1ed, sya2ed, pts-vp-pli1-2); kiṁ vidha te (mr)
“Handa kiṁ vā tyāhaṁ dammi, Kiṁ vā tedha karomahaṁ; *tedha → kiṁ vā ca te (bj, sya1ed, sya2ed, pts-vp-pli1-2); kiṁ vidha te (mr)Yena tvaṁ sukhitā assa, Sabbakāmasamiddhinī”ti.
“Cattāro bhikkhū saṅghato, cattāro pana puggale; Aṭṭha bhikkhū bhojayitvā, mama dakkhiṇamādisa; Tadāhaṁ sukhitā hessaṁ, sabbakāmasamiddhinī”ti.
“Cattāro bhikkhū saṅghato,
Aṭṭha bhikkhū bhojayitvā,
“Cattāro bhikkhū saṅghato, cattāro pana puggale; Aṭṭha bhikkhū bhojayitvā, mama dakkhiṇamādisa; Tadāhaṁ sukhitā hessaṁ, sabbakāmasamiddhinī”ti.
Sādhūti sā paṭissutvā, bhojayitvāṭṭha bhikkhavo; Vatthehacchādayitvāna, tassā dakkhiṇamādisī.
bhojayitvāṭṭha bhikkhavo;
Sādhūti sā paṭissutvā, bhojayitvāṭṭha bhikkhavo; Vatthehacchādayitvāna, tassā dakkhiṇamādisī.
Samanantarānuddiṭṭhe, vipāko udapajjatha; Bhojanacchādanapānīyaṁ, dakkhiṇāya idaṁ phalaṁ.
Samanantarānuddiṭṭhe, vipāko udapajjatha; Bhojanacchādanapānīyaṁ, dakkhiṇāya idaṁ phalaṁ.
Tato suddhā sucivasanā, kāsikuttamadhārinī; Vicittavatthābharaṇā, sapattiṁ upasaṅkami.
Tato suddhā sucivasanā, kāsikuttamadhārinī; Vicittavatthābharaṇā, sapattiṁ upasaṅkami.
“Abhikkantena vaṇṇena, yā tvaṁ tiṭṭhasi devate; Obhāsentī disā sabbā, osadhī viya tārakā.
“Abhikkantena vaṇṇena, yā tvaṁ tiṭṭhasi devate; Obhāsentī disā sabbā, osadhī viya tārakā.
Kena tetādiso vaṇṇo, kena te idha mijjhati; Uppajjanti ca te bhogā, ye keci manaso piyā.
Kena tetādiso vaṇṇo, kena te idha mijjhati; Uppajjanti ca te bhogā, ye keci manaso piyā.
Pucchāmi taṁ devi mahānubhāve, Manussabhūtā kimakāsi puññaṁ; Kenāsi evaṁ jalitānubhāvā, Vaṇṇo ca te sabbadisā pabhāsatī”ti.
Pucchāmi taṁ devi mahānubhāve,
Manussabhūtā kimakāsi puññaṁ;
Kenāsi evaṁ jalitānubhāvā,
Vaṇṇo ca te sabbadisā pabhāsatī”ti.
Pucchāmi taṁ devi mahānubhāve, Manussabhūtā kimakāsi puññaṁ; Kenāsi evaṁ jalitānubhāvā, Vaṇṇo ca te sabbadisā pabhāsatī”ti.
“Ahaṁ mattā tuvaṁ tissā, sapattī te pure ahuṁ; Pāpakammaṁ karitvāna, petalokaṁ ito gatā.
“Ahaṁ mattā tuvaṁ tissā, sapattī te pure ahuṁ; Pāpakammaṁ karitvāna, petalokaṁ ito gatā.
Tava dinnena dānena, modāmi akutobhayā; Ciraṁ jīvāhi bhagini, saha sabbehi ñātibhi; Asokaṁ virajaṁ ṭhānaṁ, āvāsaṁ vasavattinaṁ.
Tava dinnena dānena, modāmi akutobhayā; Ciraṁ jīvāhi bhagini, saha sabbehi ñātibhi; Asokaṁ virajaṁ ṭhānaṁ, āvāsaṁ vasavattinaṁ.
Idha dhammaṁ caritvāna, Dānaṁ datvāna sobhane; Vineyya maccheramalaṁ samūlaṁ, Aninditā saggamupehi ṭhānan”ti.
Vineyya maccheramalaṁ samūlaṁ,
Aninditā saggamupehi ṭhānan”ti.
Idha dhammaṁ caritvāna, Dānaṁ datvāna sobhane; Vineyya maccheramalaṁ samūlaṁ, Aninditā saggamupehi ṭhānan”ti.
Mattāpetivatthu tatiyaṁ.
Mattāpetivatthu tatiyaṁ.