One evening Maudgalyayana was meditating next to the Ganges River, and he suddenly saw a number of ghosts coming to the river to drink the water. These ghosts saw him and prostrated themselves before him. They asked him why this fate had befallen them. "I'm hungry all the time," one said."I want to drink from the river, but whenever I try the water boils and burns inside my body. Can you tell me why I am like this?"

"You used to be a fortune-teller," Maudgalyayana replied, "but you lied, cheated and insulted other people. Now you are experiencing the results of your actions."

"My body is constantly torn and chewed by large dogs," a second ghost said."Whenever the wind comes, my flesh grows back again. Can you tell me why?"

"You used to kill animals to sacrifice to your gods, so you are experiencing the results now."

A third ghost came to him."My stomach is like a large urn, but my throat and my limbs are as thin as needles. I cannot eat or drink. Can you tell me why?"

"When you were a government official, you enjoyed bullying the citizens and you were very cruel to them. You taxed them to death and robbed them of their wealth, so you are this way now."

"My head is huge and there are tougues growing all over my body," a fouth ghost wailed."These tongues are constantly bleeding. Can you tell me why?"

"You deceived people. You constantly said things that hurt others. You insulted people all the time and you stirred up bad feelings, so you are this way now."