When Venerable Mahāsattva Maudgalyayana first obtained the six kinds of Abhijñā (supranormal) powers, he first observed where his mother was. Upon observation, his mother had fallen into hell! How did she fall into hell? Because when his mother was alive, she liked to eat fish, turtles, shrimps and crabs. That would not have been a big deal, but she especially liked to eat fish roe. You say this fish roe, how many lives are there in it once she eats it? A lot!
Because she did not believe in Buddha, Dharma, or Sangha, she committed the sins of not believing in the Three Jewels (Three Refuges) and slandering the Three Jewels; plus, she committed the sin of killing, so she fell into hell. Although Venerable Mahāsattva Maudgalyayana had attained the six Abhijñā (supranormal) powers, he was still unable to save her.
