[1] "Your magnificent seat of gold
goes swift as thought wherever you wish;
adorned, wearing garlands,¹ finely clothed,
you shine like lightning on the crest of a cloud.
By what is such beauty (vaṇṇa) yours? By what does this prosper for you here?
And by what do there arise for you whatever enjoyments (bhogā) are dear to the mind?
I ask you, devī of great power:
what merit (puñña) did you make when you were a human being?
By what are you of such blazing power,
and by what does your beauty shine forth in all directions?"
That deity (devatā), delighted at being questioned by Moggallāna,
when asked the question, declared of what deed (kamma) this is the fruit:
"When I was a human being among humans,
I gave a small seat to guests who arrived;
I paid homage, I made the añjali salutation,
and I gave a gift according to my means.
By that is such beauty mine; by that does this prosper for me here;
and by that there arise for me whatever enjoyments are dear to the mind.
I declare to you, bhikkhu of great power,
what merit I made when I was a human being:
by that am I of such blazing power,
and my beauty shines forth in all directions."
The Pīṭha Mansion (Pīṭhavimānaṃ), the first.
¹ In the European edition: "malyadhare" …
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.