[108] 11. [The woman said:]
"Formerly, when a bhikkhu (bhikkhu) gone forth approached and I was asked,
I gave him thread (sutta);
as the result (vipāka) of that, abundant fruit is obtained,
and many¹ crores of cloths arise for me.
Strewn with flowers, delightful, is this mansion (vimāna),
of manifold variegated design, frequented by men and women;
and I both enjoy it and clothe myself —
possessed of abundant wealth, and still it is not exhausted.
In consequence² of the result of that same deed (kamma),
happiness and pleasure are obtained here.
Having gone back once again to the human world,
I shall do meritorious deeds (puñña) — lead me there, noble sir (ayyaputta)!"
[The vimāna-peta said:]
"Seven hundred years have you been here;
old and aged will you be there,
and all your relatives have died.
Having gone there from here, what will you¹ do?"
[The woman said:]
"Only seven years has it been since I came here,
endowed with divine happiness.
Having gone back once again to the human world,
I shall do meritorious deeds — lead me, noble sir!"
Taking her firmly by the arm,
he led her back once again² — an old woman, utterly feeble —
and said: "You should tell other people, too, who come here:
'Do meritorious deeds — happiness is obtained.'"
"I have seen how, through good left undone,
petas (departed spirits) are afflicted, and humans likewise;
but having done a deed that is to be experienced as happiness,
beings — devas and humans — stand established in happiness."
The Thread Peta Story (Suttapetavatthu), the eleventh.
#1 Burmese ed.: "bahukā." 2 The reading "anvāya" is also found.
#1 Burmese ed.: "kiṃ" ("what"). 2 Burmese ed.: this word ("punareva") is absent.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.