Verses on Dhamma 10.7.p4

10.7.p4

Bhikkhū dhammasabhāyaṃ kathaṃ samuṭṭhāpesuṃ – ‘‘mahāmoggallānatthero attano ananurūpameva maraṇaṃ patto’’ti. Satthā āgantvā ‘‘kāya nuttha, bhikkhave, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā’’ti pucchitvā ‘‘imāya nāmā’’ti vutte, ‘‘bhikkhave, moggallāno imasseva attabhāvassa ananurūpaṃ maraṇaṃ patto, pubbe pana tena katassa kammassa anurūpameva maraṇaṃ patto’’ti vatvā ‘‘kiṃ panassa, bhante, pubbakamma’’nti puṭṭho vitthāretvā kathesi –

The monks began a discussion in the Hall of Truth: "Elder Moggallāna the Great met death which he did not deserve." At that moment the Teacher approached and asked them, "Monks, what are you saying as you sit here all gathered together?" When they told him, he said, "Monks, if you regard only this present state of existence, Moggallāna the Great did indeed meet death which he did not deserve. But as a matter of fact, the manner of death he met was in exact conformity with the deed he committed in a previous state of existence." Thereupon the monks asked the Teacher, "But, Reverend Sir, what was the deed he committed in a previous state of existence?" In reply the Teacher related his former deed in detail, saying,