[100] [Tissā:]
"Naked you are and ugly to look upon, emaciated, your veins standing out;
O you of protruding ribs, O lean one — who are you, that you stand here?"
[The petī (female ghost) Mattā replied:]
"I am Mattā; you are Tissā: I was your co-wife (sapattī) in the past.
Having done evil deeds, I have gone from here to the world of ghosts (petaloka)."
[Tissā:]
"What wrong, then, was done by body, by speech, or by mind?
Through the ripening of what deed have you gone from here to the world of ghosts?"
[Mattā:]
"I was fierce-tempered and harsh, envious, stingy, and deceitful;
having spoken evil words to you, I have gone from here to the world of ghosts."
[Tissā:]
"It is true — I know it myself, how fierce-tempered you were;
but I would ask you something else: why are you smeared with dust?"
[Mattā:]
"You had bathed your head and were clad in clean garments, adorned;
but I indeed was adorned far more richly than you.
While I looked on, you conversed with our husband;
thereupon great envy arose in me, and anger was born in me.
Then, taking up dust, I strewed you over with dust;
through the ripening of that deed, I am therefore smeared with dust."
[Tissā:]
"It is true — I know it myself: you strewed me with dust;
but I would ask you something else: why are you devoured by the itch?"
[Mattā:]
"Gathering medicinal herbs, we both went to the forest;
you brought back herbs, but I brought pods of cowhage (kapikacchu).
While you were unaware, I strewed your bed with them;
through the ripening of that deed, I am therefore devoured by the itch."
[Tissā:]
"It is true — I know it myself: you strewed my bed;
but I would ask you something else: why are you naked?"
[Mattā:]
"There was a gathering of friends; an assembly of relatives took place;
you were invited together with our husband, but I indeed was not.
While you were unaware, I took away your garment;
through the ripening of that deed, I am therefore naked."
[Tissā:]
"It is true — I know it myself: you took away my garment;
but I would ask you something else: why do you smell of excrement?"
[Mattā:]
"Your perfume, your garland, and your costly unguent
I flung into the cesspit: that evil was done by me;
through the ripening of that deed, I therefore smell of excrement."
[Tissā:]
"It is true — I know it myself: that evil was done by you;
but I would ask you something else: why are you destitute?"
[Mattā:]
"What wealth there was in the house was the same for us both;
yet, though there were things fit for giving at hand, I made no island of refuge for myself;
through the ripening of that deed, I am therefore destitute.
At that very time you said to me: 'You are given to evil deeds —
for by evil deeds a happy destination is not easily won.'"
[Tissā:]
"You took me the wrong way, and moreover you envied me;
see what the ripening of evil deeds is like!
Those slave-women of your household that there were, and those very same ornaments —
they now wait upon others: possessions are not everlasting.
Now Bhūta's father will come home from the shop;
perhaps he may give you something — do not go from here just yet."
[Mattā:]
"Naked I am and ugly to look upon, emaciated, my veins standing out;
this is a thing of shame for women — let not Bhūta's father see me."
[Tissā:]
"Come then, what shall I give you, or what shall I do for you,
whereby you may be happy, endowed with all that you desire?"
[Mattā:]
"Four bhikkhus from the Saṅgha, and four more as individuals —
feed eight bhikkhus, and dedicate the offering (dakkhiṇā) to me:
then I shall be happy, endowed with all that I desire."
[Narrative:]
"So be it," she assented; and having fed eight bhikkhus
and clothed them with garments, she dedicated the offering to her.
Immediately upon the dedication the result arose:
food, clothing, and drink — this is the fruit of the offering.
Then, pure, clad in clean raiment, wearing the finest of Kāsi cloth,
in variegated garments and ornaments, she approached her co-wife.
[Tissā:]
"O deity (devatā), you who stand with surpassing beauty,
making all the quarters shine like the morning star (osadhī):
by what is such beauty yours? By what does this prosper for you here,
and there arise for you whatever enjoyments are dear to the heart?
I ask you, goddess (devī) of great power:
what merit did you do when you were a human being?
By what is your power so ablaze,
and your radiance shines forth in every direction?"
[The devatā Mattā:]
"I am Mattā; you are Tissā: I was your co-wife in the past.
Having done evil deeds, I went from here to the world of ghosts;
but through the gift you have given, I rejoice, with nothing to fear from any quarter.
Long may you live, sister, together with all your relatives!
The sorrowless, stainless place, the abode of those who wield power (vasavattī) —
having practiced the Dhamma here and given gifts, O lovely one,
having dispelled the stain of stinginess together with its root,
blameless, you shall enter that place in heaven."
The Mattāpetivatthu, the third.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.