經律異相 46.49

46.49

復有一鬼言。我常身上有糞周遍塗漫。亦復噉之。是罪何因。目連答曰。汝前世時作婆羅門。惡邪不信。道人乞食取鉢盛滿糞以飯著上持與道人。道人持還以手食飯。糞污其手。是故今日受如此罪。

Another ghost said, "My body is constantly smeared and covered all over with excrement, and I also eat it. What is the cause of this offense?" Maudgalyāyana replied, "In your former life, you were a brāhmaṇa with wicked heterodox views, lacking faith. When a man of the Way begged for food, you took his bowl, filled it with excrement, put rice on top, and handed it to the man of the Way. The man of the Way took it back and ate the rice with his hands, so that the excrement defiled his hands. Therefore, today you receive such retribution."