法苑珠林 70.10

70.10

復有一鬼。白目連言。常有二熱鐵輪在我兩腋下轉。身體焦爛。何因緣故爾。目連答言。汝前世時與眾僧作餅。盜取二番挾兩腋底。是故受如此罪。此是華報。後方受地獄苦報。又緣以盜故心不貞正。恣情婬妷。今身婬妷。現世凶危。常自驚恐。或為夫主邊人所知。臨時得殃。刀杖加形。首足分離。乃至失命。死入地獄。臥之鐵床。或抱銅柱。獄鬼然火。以燒其身。地獄罪畢當受畜生。鷄鴨鳥雀犬豕飛蛾。如是無量生死。於遐劫中受諸苦惱。受苦既畢。以本因緣。若遇微善劣復人身。閨門婬亂妻妾不貞。若有寵愛為人所奪。常懷恐悑。多危少安。當知危苦皆緣邪婬。

Furthermore, there was a ghost who said to Maudgalyāyana: "Constantly there are two burning-hot iron wheels turning under my two armpits, and my body is scorched and rotting. What was the cause of this?" Maudgalyāyana answered: "In your previous life, when making cakes for the saṃgha, you stole two pieces and clutched them under your two armpits; therefore you receive such punishment. This is the preliminary blossom of retribution; later you will receive the bitter retribution of hell." Furthermore, because of stealing, one's mind is unchaste and unrighteous, and one gives free rein to lust and debauchery. If one is lustful and debauched in the present life, one meets peril and danger in this very life, constantly frightened. Or, when discovered by a husband or neighboring people, one meets misfortune on the spot, weapons and staves applied to the body, head and feet severed, even losing one's life. At death one enters hell, lying on iron beds or embracing bronze pillars, while the hell-ghosts kindle fire to burn one's body. When the sins of hell are exhausted, one must undergo [rebirth as] animals—chickens, ducks, birds, sparrows, dogs, pigs, and flying moths—through immeasurable births and deaths like these, enduring various pains and afflictions for distant kalpas. Once this suffering has ended, by the original cause, if one encounters slight goodness, one may barely regain a human body, but the inner chambers will be lewd and disorderly, one's wives and concubines unchaste, and if there is a favorite, she will be snatched by others; one constantly harbors terror, having much danger and little peace. One should know that danger and suffering are entirely due to sexual misconduct.