Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace
Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace
Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Translation 529 <strong>Vessantara</strong>-Jåtaka<br />
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 529]<br />
Throng<strong>in</strong>g among the leafy twigs they bid the stranger come,<br />
Welcome the guest, delight<strong>in</strong>g all who make the woods their home,<br />
Where with his children now abides <strong>Vessantara</strong> the k<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
With brahm<strong>in</strong>'s dress, with hook <strong>and</strong> spoon, the ascetic's matted hair,<br />
Sk<strong>in</strong>clad he lies upon the ground, <strong>and</strong> tends the fire with care."<br />
Moreover he said, <strong>in</strong> praise of the hermitage:<br />
"Mango, rose-apple, jackfruit, sāl, all k<strong>in</strong>ds of myrobolan,<br />
Bo, golden t<strong>in</strong>dook, many more, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the banyan; 1<br />
Plenty of figs, all grow<strong>in</strong>g low, all ripe, as sweet as sweet,<br />
Dates, luscious grapes, <strong>and</strong> honeycomb, as much as you can eat.<br />
The mango-trees are some <strong>in</strong> flower, some with the fruit just set,<br />
Some ripe <strong>and</strong> green as any frog, while some are unripe yet.<br />
A man may st<strong>and</strong> beneath the trees <strong>and</strong> pluck them as they grow:<br />
The choicest flavour, colour, taste, both ripe <strong>and</strong> unripe shew.<br />
It makes me cry aloud to see that great <strong>and</strong> wondrous sight,<br />
Like heaven where the gods abide, the garden of delight.<br />
Palmyra, date-palm, coconut grow <strong>in</strong> that forest high,<br />
Festoons of flowers garl<strong>and</strong>ed as when the banners fly,<br />
Blossoms of every hue <strong>and</strong> t<strong>in</strong>t like stars that dot the sky.<br />
1<br />
Other trees mentioned are: kapittha (Feronia Elephantum), kapitthana = kapitana?<br />
(Thespesia Populneoides).