諸經要集 9.37

9.37

Another ghost said: 'On my body there is constantly excrement smeared all over, and I also eat it. What is the cause of this offense?' Maudgalyāyana replied: 'In your former life, you were an evil and heretical brāhmaṇa who lacked faith. When a man of the Way begged for food, you took his bowl, filled it with excrement, put rice on top, and gave it to the man of the Way. When the man of the Way took it back, he ate the rice with his hand, and the excrement defiled his hand. Therefore, today you receive such retribution.'