法苑珠林 57.16

57.16

復有一鬼言。我常身上有糞周遍塗漫。亦復噉之。是罪何因。目連答曰。汝前世時作婆羅門。惡邪不信。道人乞食取鉢盛滿糞。以飯著上。持與道人。道人持還以手食飯糞污其手。是故今日受如此罪。復有一鬼言。我腹極大如甕。咽喉手脚其細如針。不得飲食。何因此苦。目連答言。汝前世時作聚落主。自恃豪貴飲酒縱橫輕欺餘人。奪其飲食飢困眾生。

Another ghost said: 'My body is constantly smeared all over with dung, and I also eat it. What is the cause of this crime?' Maudgalyāyana replied: 'In your past life, you were a brāhmaṇa of wicked views and lack of faith. A practitioner of the Way came begging for food; you took his bowl, filled it with dung, put cooked rice over the top, and handed it back to him. The practitioner returned and ate the rice with his hand, so that dung soiled his hand. For this reason, you receive this retribution today.' Another ghost said: 'My belly is huge like a vat, but my throat, hands, and feet are as thin as needles. I cannot eat or drink. What is the cause of this suffering?' Maudgalyāyana replied: 'In your past life, you were a village chieftain. Relying on your nobility, you drank wine, ran wild, slighted others, and seized their food and drink, driving sentient beings into hunger and distress.'