Vimanavatthu5.4

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5.4 CRAB–SOUP-GIVER-MANSION (54)

(Kakkatakarasadayaka-vimana)

The Bhagava(Lord Buddha) was staying at Rajagaha, in Bamboo Grove. At that time a certain monk practicing insight fell away from that owing to grievous ear ache. The doctor's medicine availed nothing he told the Bhagava(Lord Buddha) who, knowing that crab-soup was a cure, asked him to seek alms in the Magadha field. He went there and stood for alms at the door of a field-keeper's hut. This man having cooked a meal with crab-soup made him be seated and gave him some. Hardly had the monk tasted it than he became well as if bathed with a hundred pitchers. His composure regained by suitable food, he directed his mind (again) to insight and became an arahant(enlightened equal to Buddha) even before he had finished his meal. Telling the field-keeper: "Lay-follower, by the fruit(result) of this merit you will come to be without ill of body and mind," He gave the blessing and went away. When later the field-keeper died, he was reborn in the realm of the Thirty-three(heaven) in a room made of beryl in a twelve-yojana golden Mansion pillared with gems and adorned with seven hundred pinnacled halls. On the door was hung by a string of pearls a gold crab. And the venerable Elder Monk Maha-Moggallana, going there, saw this and asked:

1 "Lofty is this Mansion with jewelled shafts, a dozen yojanas all round, there are seven hundred splendid pinnacled halls and lovely pillars of beryl spread over with the gleaming metal.

2 There do you stay and drink and eat while deva(angel)-like lutes make melody. Here are deva(angel)-like flavours, the five kinds of sense-pleasures, and women decked in gold do dance.

3 Because of what is your beauty such? Because of what do you prosper here, and there arise whatever are those delights that are dear to your heart?

4 I ask you, deva(angel) of great majesty, what merit did you perform when you were born a human being? Because of what is your brilliant majesty thus and your beauty illumines all the quarters(directions)?"

5 That deva(angel)-youth, delighted at being questioned by Moggallana, when asked the question explained of what deed this was the fruit(benefit).

6 "There stands on the door a crab finished in gold to serve as a reminder, and it shines with its ten claws.

7 Because of this is my beauty such. . . and my beauty illumines all the quarter." (As in I.6,7,etc.).