[99] 2.
[The Elder Sāriputta:]
"Naked and of ugly appearance are you,
emaciated, with your veins standing out;
O lean one, with your ribs protruding,
who, pray, are you, that you stand here?"
[The petī:]
"In former times, in other births,
I was your own mother;
reborn in the realm of hungry ghosts (pittivisaya),
I am afflicted with hunger and thirst.
Cast-off, spat-out saliva,
nasal mucus, phlegm,
the fat of bodies as they burn,
and the blood of women who have given birth,
and the blood of the wounded —
whatever runs from nose and severed head —
overcome by hunger, I eat these things
that cling to women and men.
I feed on the pus and blood
of beasts and of human beings;
without shelter, without a home,
the dark bier is my final resort.
Give a gift, my dear son,
and having given, dedicate it to me:
then perhaps I might be released
from feeding on pus and blood."
Having heard his mother's words,
Upatissa, moved by compassion,
addressed Moggallāna,
Anuruddha, and Kappina.
Having had four huts made,
he gave the huts, with food and drink,
to the Saṅgha of the four quarters,
and dedicated the offering (dakkhiṇā) to his mother.
Immediately upon its dedication
the result arose —
food, drink, and clothing:
this is the fruit of the offering.
Thereupon, pure, in clean clothing,
wearing the finest cloth of Kāsi,
adorned with ornate garments and ornaments,
she approached Kolita.
[The Elder Moggallāna:]
"O deity (devatā), you who stand with surpassing beauty,
lighting up all the quarters
like the Osadhī star:
by what is such beauty yours?
By what has this been achieved for you here,
and there arise for you whatever enjoyments are dear to the heart?
I ask you, devī of great power:
what merit did you make when you were a human being?
By what is your power thus ablaze,
and your beauty radiant in every quarter?"
[The deity:]
"In former times, in other births,
I was Sāriputta's mother;
reborn in the realm of hungry ghosts,
I was afflicted with hunger and thirst.
Cast-off, spat-out saliva,
nasal mucus, phlegm,
the fat of bodies as they burned,
and the blood of women who had given birth,
and the blood of the wounded —
whatever ran from nose and severed head —
overcome by hunger, I would eat these things
that cling to women and men;
I would feed on the pus and blood
of beasts and of human beings,
without shelter, without a home,
the dark bier my final resort.
Through Sāriputta's gift I rejoice,
with no fear from any quarter;
venerable sir, I have come to venerate him,
the sage (muni) compassionate in the world."
The Petī Story of the Elder Sāriputta's Mother (Sāriputtattherassa mātupetivatthu), the second.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.