經律異相 46.52

46.52

復有一鬼言。我身上遍滿生舌。斧來斫舌。斷續復生如此不已。何因故爾。目連答言。汝前世時作道人。眾僧差作蜜漿。石蜜塊大難消。以斧斫之。盜心噉一口。以是因緣故還斫舌也。

Another ghost said, "Tongues grow all over my body. An axe comes and chops off my tongues, but as soon as they are cut, they grow back again without end. For what reason is this?" Maudgalyāyana replied, "In your former life, you were a man of the Way. When the Saṅgha appointed you to make honey syrup, the block of rock sugar was large and hard to dissolve; you chopped it with an axe and stole a mouthful with a mind of theft. Due to this cause and condition, your tongues are chopped in return."