Verses on Dhamma 7.9.98_7

7.9.98_7

Itaropi cattāri mahādvārāni rakkhanto sattamāsādhikāni satta vassāni nagaraṃ uparundhi. Athassa mātā ‘‘kiṃ me putto karotī’’ti pucchitvā ‘‘idaṃ nāma devī’’ti taṃ pavattiṃ sutvā ‘‘bālo mama putto, gacchatha, tassa ‘cūḷadvārānipi pidhāya nagaraṃ uparundhatū’ti vadethā’’ti. So mātu sāsanaṃ sutvā tathā akāsi. Nāgarāpi bahi nikkhamituṃ alabhantā sattame divase attano rājānaṃ māretvā tassa rajjaṃ adaṃsu. So imaṃ kammaṃ katvā āyupariyosāne avīcimhi nibbattitvā yāvāyaṃ pathavī yojanamattaṃ ussannā, tāva niraye paccitvā catunnaṃ cūḷadvārānaṃ pidahitattā tato cuto tassā eva mātu kucchismiṃ paṭisandhiṃ gahetvā sattamāsādhikāni satta vassāni antokucchismiṃ vasitvā satta divasāni yonimukhe tiriyaṃ nipajji. Evaṃ, bhikkhave, sīvali, tadā nagaraṃ uparundhitvā gahitakammena ettakaṃ kālaṃ niraye paccitvā catunnaṃ cūḷadvārānaṃ pidahitattā tato cuto tassā eva mātu kucchiyaṃ paṭisandhiṃ gahetvā ettakaṃ kālaṃ kucchiyaṃ vasi. Navamadhuno dinnattā lābhaggayasaggappatto jātoti.

Now his mother asked what her son was doing, and on learning the facts, said, “My son is a simpleton. Go tell him to close the lesser gates and blockade the city completely.” When the king received his mother’s message, he did as she told him to. The citizens were unable any longer to leave the city, and on the seventh day killed their own king and gave the kingdom to the hostile king. Because he committed this act, he was reborn at the end of his life in the Hell of Avīci. After suffering torment in this Hell until this great earth was elevated a league, because he closed the four lesser gates, he passed from that existence, was conceived in the womb of his mother, and remained in her womb for seven months and seven years, lying across the mouth of the womb for seven days. Thus, monks, through the demerit acquired by Sīvali in besieging the city at that time, he was tormented in Hell for so long a period; and because he closed the lesser gates, when he was conceived in the womb of his mother, he remained in her womb for so long a time; because he gave the fresh honey in alms, he reached the pinnacle of gain.