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2. An elder of Kuṇḍinagara, a dweller at Sānuvāsī,
Poṭṭhapāda by name, an ascetic with faculties developed.
His mother, his father, and his brother — wretched, denizens of Yama's world (yamaloka) —
having done evil deeds, went from here to the world of petas (petaloka).
Wretched, racked by needle-[sharp hunger] (sūcikaṭṭhā), exhausted, naked, and emaciated,
shrinking with dread, in great terror, they do not show themselves — doers of cruel deeds.
His brother, having ventured forth — naked, alone on a solitary path —
crouching down on all fours, presented himself to the elder.
But the elder, paying no heed, passed on in silence;
so he made himself known to the elder: "I am your brother, gone to the petas.
Your mother and father, venerable sir — wretched, denizens of Yama's world —
having done evil deeds, have gone from here to the world of petas.
Wretched, racked by needle-[sharp hunger], exhausted, naked, and emaciated,
shrinking with dread, in great terror, they do not show themselves — doers of cruel deeds.
Have compassion, you who are compassionate: having given, dedicate it to us;
by the gift that you have given will those doers of cruel deeds subsist."
The elder, when he had walked for alms, and twelve other bhikkhus,
gathered together in one place for the taking of the meal.
The elder said to them all: "Give me what you have received;
I shall make a meal-offering to the Saṅgha (saṅghabhatta), out of compassion for my relatives."
They made it over to the elder; the elder invited the Saṅgha.
Having given, the elder dedicated it to his father, his mother, and his brother:
"Let this be for my relatives; may my relatives be happy!"
Immediately upon the dedication food arose —
clean, exquisite, well prepared, of many flavors and curries;
thereupon the brother showed himself — of fine complexion, strong, and happy:
"Abundant is the food, venerable sir; but see — we are naked.
Exert yourself, venerable sir, in such a way that we may obtain clothing."
The elder, having gathered rags from a rubbish heap,
made the tatters into a cloth and gave it to the Saṅgha of the four quarters (cātuddisa saṅgha).
Having given, the elder dedicated it to his father, his mother, and his brother:
"Let this be for my relatives; may my relatives be happy!"
Immediately upon the dedication garments arose;
and then, clad in fine garments — of fine complexion, strong, and happy — he showed himself to the elder:
"However many coverings there are in the realm of King Nanda,
more numerous than these, venerable sir, are our clothes and coverings —
of silk and of wool, of linen and of cotton,
abundant and of great price; and they hang suspended in the sky,
and we clothe ourselves in whichever is dear to the mind.
Exert yourself, venerable sir, in such a way that we may obtain a house."
The elder, having made a leaf-hut, gave it to the Saṅgha of the four quarters.
Having given, the elder dedicated it to his father, his mother, and his brother:
"Let this be for my relatives; may my relatives be happy!"
Immediately upon the dedication houses arose —
peaked mansions and dwellings, laid out and measured in proportioned parts:
"Not among humans are there such houses as ours here;
even such as there are among the gods — such are our houses here,
blazing brilliantly, they shine all around the four quarters.
Exert yourself, venerable sir, in such a way that we may obtain drink."
The elder, having filled a water-vessel (karaka), gave it to the Saṅgha of the four quarters.
Having given, the elder dedicated it to his father, his mother, and his brother:
"Let this be for my relatives; may my relatives be happy!"
Immediately upon the dedication drinking water arose —
lotus ponds, deep and four-square, well fashioned,
with cool water and lovely fords, cool, free from foul smell,
covered over with paduma and uppala lotuses, filled with water and lotus filaments.
Having bathed and drunk there, they showed themselves to the elder:
"Abundant is the drinking water, venerable sir; but our evil deeds bear fruit for us in suffering (dukkha):
wandering about, we limp upon gravel and kusa-grass thorns.
Exert yourself, venerable sir, in such a way that we may obtain a vehicle."
The elder, having obtained a sandal (sipāṭikā), gave it to the Saṅgha of the four quarters.
Having given, the elder dedicated it to his father, his mother, and his brother:
"Let this be for my relatives; may my relatives be happy!"
Immediately upon the dedication the petas came by chariot:
"We have been shown compassion, venerable sir, with food and with clothing,
with a house, with the gift of drinking water, and with the gift of a vehicle — with both [these];
we have come, venerable sir, to venerate you, a sage compassionate in the world."
The Peta-Story of the Elder Sānuvāsī, the second.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.