經律異相 46.49

46.49

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."