Petavatthu(Ghost stories)1.2

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1.1 Pig Headed Ghost

While the teacher(Lord Buddha) was staying at Kalandak-nivapa (squirrels grove) in Veluvana monastery in Rajagaha (Rajagir), he told this story of the pig headed ghost. Once upon a time in the times of earlier Lord Kassapa (an earlier Buddha) , a monk , subdued his body from sins but due to lacking restraint in speech , abused monks. After death he was reborn in hell. After he had roasted there for one Buddha interval, he left and was reborn in the present Buddha-period near Rajagaha, at the foot of the Vulture peak(Mount Gijjhakuta). As a result of that very offence, he was afflicted with hunger and thirst. his body was gold colored, but his mouth was like that of a pig.

At that time venerable elder monk Narada was staying at Vulture peak. With bowl and robe, he set out very early in the morning for alms. On his way to Rajagaha city he saw the peta(ghost) on the road. In asking him about the deed he had done, he spoke the following stanza :

1."Your body golden all over, illuminating all regions; but your mouth is simply that of a pig. what deed you have done in previous lives?"

2. "In my body I was subdued; in my speech I was not restrained. Therefore, I have such an appearance as you see, Narada".

The peta also gave the elder this advice:

3. "So Narada, I myself, tell you this which you see for yourself. Do not commit evil with your mouth, else indeed you become one with pig mouth".

Then the venerable Narada, having made his round for alms in Rajagaha, returned from collecting alms and told this incident to the teacher(Buddha), Buddha told him that he also had seen that peta earlier and  used this story for  teaching Dhamma.