Moggallana Bhante:
Dear Devata, your heavenly mango grove is delightful and your mansion is very large. The sound of various musical instruments and the chatting of happy devatas can be heard around the mansion. There is a golden lamp that never goes out. There are trees with fruits made of divine cloth.
What are the meritorious deeds that led to this happiness?
Tell me Devata, what kind of meritorious action did you do when you were in the human world to have gained this beauty that shines in all directions, and to have earned all these wonderful things?
That devata, delighted at being questioned by Arahant Moggallana, gladly explained what she had done that resulted in such great happiness.
Devata:
In my previous life, I was a woman in the human world. I built a monastery and offered it to the Noble Sangha. That monastery was surrounded by mango trees. When the monastery was completed, at the opening ceremony, I decorated the trees with ornaments shaped like mangoes that I made from beautiful cloth. I lit a lamp there and offered alms to the monks. On that day, with a happy mind, I offered that monastery to the Noble Sangha with my own hands.
That is why I have received this delightful heavenly mango grove and large mansion. The sound of various musical instruments and the chatting of happy devatas can be heard around the mansion. There is a golden lamp that never goes out. There are trees with fruits made of divine cloth.
Because of these meritorious deeds, I have been born as a very beautiful devata and enjoy all the wonderful things that delight my heart.
That is why the pure radiance of my body and limbs is stainless and shines in all directions.
Great Bhante, those were the meritorious deeds I did to have such a beautiful body.
