[73] 9. "Adorned, wearing garlands, finely clothed,
with beautiful earrings, hair and beard well-groomed,
your arms decked with fastened ornaments, glorious one —
you are in a divine mansion (vimāna) even as the moon.
Divine lutes (vīṇā) sound forth sweetly,
eight-times-eight of them, well-trained, lovely;
and divine maidens who course in Tidasa (the realm of the Thirty), splendid,
dance and sing and give delight.
You have attained divine power (deviddhi); you are of great might.
When you were a human being, what merit (puñña) did you make?
Through what is your splendor blazing thus,
and your complexion shines in all directions?"
That devaputta, elated, questioned by Moggallāna, … of what deed (kamma) this is the fruit:
"When I was a human being among humans,
having seen ascetics (samaṇa) of goodly appearance,¹
accomplished in true knowledge and conduct (vijjācaraṇa), glorious,
of great learning, virtuous,² and serene,
with a confident mind I respectfully gave them
an abundant gift of food and drink.
Because of that my complexion is such, …
and my complexion shines in all directions."
The Second Kuṇḍalī Mansion, the ninth.
¹ Yu (European edition): "sāravante" — "possessed of worth." ² Yu: "taṇhakkhayūpapanne" — "attained to the destruction of craving (taṇhā)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.