The villagers also think that pain can punish or clean past sins They believe the mother s suffering may remove the wrongs done before Their idea is simple if she suffers now her future life will be lighter The line shows how they try to explain her pain by connecting it with moral reasons It is their way of giving meaning to sickness Suffering As Purification The villagers also see pain as a path to purity Just after this line they say nbsp May the poison purify your flesh of desire nbsp This means the poison and the pain may help remove human weaknesses Their belief makes the mother s suffering seem like a cleansing process This view is old but it shows how they mix faith with daily life Comfort And Community Their words also work as comfort They want the mother to feel hope By saying her pain will reduce misfortunes of your next birth they try to give a purpose to her suffering Even if their ideas are not scientific their aim is to support her in the darkest moment The phrase sins of your previous birth shows the villagers strong belief in past lives and moral cause They use this idea to explain suffering to give comfort and to connect pain with spiritual meaning Through this line the poet shows how old beliefs shape their thoughts and actions during the long night of fear