Parable of the Burning House.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Soothill, William Edward and Kumārajīva
Some who become jackals,
Enter into a village,
Their bodies scabbed with sores,
Without even one whole eye,
By all the village boys
They are beaten and stoned,
Suffering bitter pains,
At times even to death.
When they have thus died,
Each receives a snake’s body,
Of shape as long as
Five hundred yojanas;
Deaf and stupid, without feet,
They wriggle about on their bellies,
By many kinds of insects
Stung and devoured,
Day and night in misery
Without cessation;
Because of slandering this Sutra,
Such is their punishment.
Should they become human beings,
Their natural powers are dull;
Dwarfed, ugly, palsied, and lame,
Blind, deaf, and humpbacked;
Whatever they say,
No one believes;
Their breath is vile,
They are demon-possessed,
They are needy and menial,
Ordered about by others.
Often ill and emaciated,
Having none on whom to rely;
Even those on whom they depend
Take no notice of them;
If they should get anything,
It is speedily forgotten;
If they practise means of healing
And follow the usual treatment,
Other ailments will be added,
Or, their patients will die;