經律異相 46.57

46.57

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.'