[11] Herons (koñca), peacocks, and celestial swans,
and cuckoos of lovely voice fly all about;
strewn with flowers is this delightful mansion (vimāna),
variegated with many a design, frequented by men and women.
There you dwell, O goddess (devī) of great majesty,
while powers (iddhi) of manifold form work their transformations;
and these nymphs (accharā) of yours on every side
dance, sing, and gladden you.¹
You have attained divine power, O one of great majesty:
when you were a human being, what merit (puñña) did you make?
Through what is your majesty thus ablaze,
and why does your radiance (vaṇṇa) shine in all directions?
That deity (devatā), delighted at being questioned by Moggallāna,
when asked the question, explained of what deed (kamma) this is the fruit:
"When I was a human being among humans,
I was a devoted wife (patibbatā), my mind on no other;
watching over (my husband) as a mother watches over her son,
even when angered I spoke no harsh word.
Standing firm in truth, having abandoned false speech,
delighting in giving, my very person given over to kindly aid,
with a confident mind I respectfully gave
an abundant gift of food and drink.
Because of that my radiance is such;
because of that this prospers for me here,
and there arise for me riches —
whatever things are dear to the mind.
I declare to you, O bhikkhu of great might,
what merit I made when I was a human being:
through that is my majesty thus ablaze,
and my radiance shines in all directions."
The Patibbatā Vimāna, the eleventh.
¹ Variant readings noted in the Siam edition: Po. "pamodanti ca"; M. "mamodayanti ca." The translation follows the Siam reading pamodayanti ("gladden you").
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.