經律異相 46.57

46.57

復有一鬼言。我常有熱鐵針。入出我身受苦無賴。何因故爾。目連答言。汝前世時作調馬師。或作調象。馬難制。汝以鐵針刺脚。又時牛遲亦以針刺。復有一鬼言。我身常有火出燃懊惱。何因故爾。目連答言。汝前世時作國王夫人。更一夫人王甚幸愛。常生妬心伺欲危害。值王臥起去。時所愛夫人眠猶未起著衣。即生惡心正值作餅。有熱麻油即以灌其腹。腹爛即死。

Yet another ghost said, 'Hot iron needles constantly enter and exit my body, and I suffer helplessly. What is the cause of this?' Maudgalyāyana answered, saying, 'In your previous life, you were a horse trainer or an elephant trainer. When the horses were difficult to control, you pierced their legs with iron needles; and when the oxen were slow, you also pierced them with needles.' Yet another ghost said, 'Fire constantly emerges from my body, burning in torment. What is the cause of this?' Maudgalyāyana answered, saying, 'In your previous life, you were the consort of a king. There was another consort whom the king loved dearly. You constantly felt jealousy and watched for an opportunity to harm her. It happened that the king arose from bed and left; at that time, the beloved consort was still asleep and had not yet arisen to dress. You immediately gave rise to an evil thought: it just happened that cakes were being made, and there was hot sesame oil, so you poured it over her belly. Her belly rotted away and she died.'