History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c23.s1.104

c23.s1.104

*P e s ā c a*. Again seven. Both the readings *pisāca* and *pesāca*² occur, of which Buddhaghosa accepts the former, and contents himself with stating that the total of goblins is in fact very large. We believe that the word is adjectival, and refers to seven births as *pisācas* or goblins, which the soul must experience before its release from *saṃsāra*.