[12]
[The Venerable Mahāmoggallāna asked:]
"Having ascended a mansion (vimāna) with pillars of beryl,
lovely, radiant, variously adorned,
there you abide, O goddess (devī) of great majesty,
displaying manifold transformations by psychic power (iddhi);
and these nymphs (accharā) of yours on every side
dance, sing, and give delight.
You have attained divine potency, O you of great majesty:
when you were a human being, what merit (puñña) did you make?
By reason of what is your majesty ablaze like this,
and your complexion radiant in all directions?"
That deity (devatā), elated 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 laywoman follower (upāsikā) of the One with Vision (cakkhumā).
I was one who abstained from the destruction of life;
I shunned taking what was not given in the world;
no drinker of intoxicants,¹ neither did I speak falsehood;
I was content with my own husband;
and with a confident mind I respectfully gave
an abundant gift of food and drink.
Because of that my complexion is such;
because of that it prospers for me here;
and there arise for me possessions,
whatever things are dear to the mind.
I declare to you, bhikkhu of great might,
what I did when I was a human being:
because of that my majesty is ablaze like this,
and my complexion is radiant in all directions."
¹ The Burmese edition (ม.) reads: amajjapāno ca ("and no drinker of intoxicants").
The Second Patibbatā Mansion (Dutiyapatibbatāvimāna), the twelfth.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.