The Mango Ghost

Khuddaka Nikāya

4. Mahāvagga

Ambavanapetavatthu

Minor Collection

4. The Great Chapter

The Mango Ghost

Khuddaka Nikāya

4. Mahāvagga

Ambavanapetavatthu

The Mango Ghost

What happens when you share merits with your past relatives?

Ruta suttaPv 47Sutta Piṭaka › Khuddaka Nikāya › Petavatthu › 4. Mahāvagga › Ambavanapetavatthu

← Suttas

Vista:

A group of traders see a ghost and ask about his beautiful park.

Traders:

This lotus pond of yours is extremely delightful. It has beautiful, even banks; it is full of water; flowers are everywhere, and bees can be heard buzzing all around. How did you gain this beautiful pond?

This mango park of yours is also very beautiful and mangoes grow all year round. The trees are covered in flowers and bees can be heard buzzing everywhere. How did you gain this delightful mango park?

Ghost:

My daughter is in the human world right now. She offered mangos, water, and rice gruel to the Buddha and the monks and shared the merit with me. That is how this pond, Mango Park, and cool shade appeared for me.

Later on the daughter finds out about the result of her merit and tells her son,

Daughter:

Understand the good results of giving, living a life of restraint, and following precepts. I was a servant in my master’s family, then I became the daughter-in-law of the same family. Now I have become the mistress of the house. This is all the result of doing good deeds.

12. Ambavanapetavatthu *

“Ayañca te pokkharaṇī surammā, Samā sutitthā ca mahodakā ca; Supupphitā bhamaragaṇānukiṇṇā, Kathaṁ tayā laddhā ayaṁ manuññā.

“Ayañca te pokkharaṇī surammā,

Samā sutitthā ca mahodakā ca;

Supupphitā bhamaragaṇānukiṇṇā,

Kathaṁ tayā laddhā ayaṁ manuññā.

“Ayañca te pokkharaṇī surammā, Samā sutitthā ca mahodakā ca; Supupphitā bhamaragaṇānukiṇṇā, Kathaṁ tayā laddhā ayaṁ manuññā.

Idañca te ambavanaṁ surammaṁ, Sabbotukaṁ dhārayate phalāni; *dhārayate → dhārayati (sya1ed, sya2ed, pts-vp-pli1, mr)Supupphitaṁ bhamaragaṇānukiṇṇaṁ, Kathaṁ tayā laddhamidaṁ vimānaṁ”.

Idañca te ambavanaṁ surammaṁ,

Sabbotukaṁ dhārayate phalāni; *

Supupphitaṁ bhamaragaṇānukiṇṇaṁ,

Kathaṁ tayā laddhamidaṁ vimānaṁ”.

“Ambapakkaṁ dakaṁ yāgu, *Ambapakkaṁ dakaṁ → ambapakkodakaṁ (bj, sya1ed, sya2ed, pts-vp-pli1-2); ambapakkūdakaṁ (mr)sītacchāyā manoramā; Dhītāya dinnadānena, tena me idha labbhati”.

“Ambapakkaṁ dakaṁ yāgu, *

sītacchāyā manoramā;

Dhītāya dinnadānena,

tena me idha labbhati”.

“Sandiṭṭhikaṁ kammaṁ evaṁ passatha, *“Sandiṭṭhikaṁ kammaṁ evaṁ → sandiṭṭhikaṁ eva (sya1ed, sya2ed), sandiṭṭhakaṁ eva (pts1ed)Dānassa damassa saṁyamassa vipākaṁ; Dāsī ahaṁ ayyakulesu hutvā, Suṇisā homi agārassa issarā”ti.

“Sandiṭṭhikaṁ kammaṁ evaṁ passatha, *

Dānassa damassa saṁyamassa vipākaṁ;

Dāsī ahaṁ ayyakulesu hutvā,

Suṇisā homi agārassa issarā”ti.

Ambavanapetavatthu dvādasamaṁ.