[23] 6. "You who stand, O devatā, with surpassing beauty,
illuminating all the quarters like the morning star (osadhī viya tārakā)—
by what is such beauty yours? By what does this succeed for you here,
and there arise for you possessions, whatever are dear to the mind?
I ask you, devī of great power:
what merit (puñña) did you make when you were a human being?
By what are you of power thus ablaze,
and your radiance shines forth in all the quarters?"
That devatā, elated at being questioned by Moggallāna,
being asked the question, explained of what deed (kamma) this is the fruit:
"They knew me as Soṇadinnā, a female lay follower (upāsikā) in Nālandā,
endowed with faith and virtue, ever delighting in sharing.
Clothing and food, lodging and the wherewithal for lamps
I gave to those of upright nature, with a mind clear and confident.
On the fourteenth, the fifteenth, and the eighth day of the fortnight,
and during the special fortnight (pāṭihāriyapakkha),
I kept the Uposatha observance complete in its eight factors,
always well restrained in virtue.
Abstaining from the destruction of life, and⁽¹⁾ restrained⁽²⁾ as to false speech,
far removed from theft, from sexual transgression (aticāra), and from the drinking of intoxicants,
delighting in the five training rules (sikkhāpada), skilled in the noble truths (ariyasacca)—
a female lay follower of the One with Vision, the glorious Gotama.
Because of that my beauty is such, …
and my radiance shines forth in all the quarters."
⁽¹⁾ The Po. and Yu. editions lack the word *ca* ("and"). ⁽²⁾ The Po. and Yu. editions read *susaññatā*, "well restrained."
The Soṇadinnā Mansion (Soṇadinnāvimāna), the sixth.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.