經律異相 14.43

14.43

Formerly, Maudgalyāyana went into the Snow Mountains to convert various ghosts, spirits, nāgas, yakṣas, asuras, gandharvas, and so forth. At that time, there was a gandharva spirit residing in a seven-jeweled palace; he was exceedingly superior to the multitude, with an upright physical form and extraordinary intelligence, yet he had a human body and a dog's head. Maudgalyāyana wondered at this and asked: "Why are you like this?" He replied: "At the time of Vipaśyin Buddha, I was a very wealthy elder. I delighted in feeding monks and brahmacārins and supplying the poor and destitute. As a person I was quick-tempered and irritable, uttering harsh words and curses outright without sparing old or young. If the food and drink for guests was the least bit unsatisfactory, I would say: 'It would be better to feed it to dogs!' Because of these words, I have a dog's head and a human body. Because I took pleasure in giving and making offerings, I enjoy this hall of blessings" (taken from the Zhujing yaoshi).