Verses on Dhamma 10.7.p6

10.7.p6

Satthā idaṃ tassa pubbakammaṃ kathetvā, ‘‘bhikkhave, moggallāno ettakaṃ kammaṃ katvā anekavassasatasahassāni niraye paccitvā vipākāvasesena attabhāvasate evameva koṭṭetvā saṃcuṇṇito maraṇaṃ patto. Evaṃ moggallānena attano kammānurūpameva maraṇaṃ laddhaṃ, pañcahi corasatehi saddhiṃ labhiṃsu. Appaduṭṭhesu hi padussanto dasahi kāraṇehi anayabyasanaṃ pāpuṇātiyevā’’ti vatvā anusandhiṃ ghaṭetvā dhammaṃ desento imā gāthā abhāsi –

When the Teacher had related the foregoing story of Moggallāna’s misdeed in a previous state of existence, he said, “Monks, by reason of the fact that Moggallāna committed so monstrous a sin, he suffered torment for numberless hundreds of thousands of years in Hell; and thereafter, because the fruit of his evil deed was not yet exhausted, in a hundred successive existences he was beaten and pounded to pieces in like manner and so met death. Therefore the manner of death which Moggallāna suffered was in exact conformity with his own misdeed in a previous state of existence. Likewise the five hundred heretics who with the five hundred thieves offended against my son who had committed no offense against them, suffered precisely that form of death which they deserved. For he that offends against the offenseless, incurs misfortune and loss through ten circumstances.” So saying, he joined the connection, and preaching the Law, pronounced the following Stanzas, 137. Whosoever visits punishment upon those that deserve not punishment, Whosoever offends against those that are without offense, Such an one will right quickly come to one of ten states: