[89]
Taking whatever as the occasion,
one who is free from stinginess should give a gift —
whether with regard to the departed (peta) gone before,
or else to the deities of the homestead (vatthudevatā),
or to the Four Great Kings,
the glorious guardians of the world (lokapāla):
Kuvera and Dhataraṭṭha,
Virūpakkha and Virūḷhaka —
these are thereby honored,
and the givers are not without fruit.
For no weeping, no sorrow (soka),
nor any other lamentation (paridevanā),
serves the good of one departed,
though thus the relatives remain.
But this offering (dakkhiṇā) that has been given,
well established in the Saṅgha,
serves his welfare for a long time,
availing him immediately.
End of the Piṭṭhadhītalika-petavatthu, the Fourth.
5. TIROKUḌḌA-PETAVATTHU
On the former deeds of the petas who were relatives of King Bimbisāra
The Blessed One said to King Bimbisāra:
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.