Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace
Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace
Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace
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Translation 542 <strong>Vessantara</strong>-Jåtaka<br />
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 542]<br />
"Yes, yes, my father, I behold the brahm<strong>in</strong> whom you see;<br />
He comes as though a boon to ask; our guest he needs must be."<br />
And with these words, to shew him honour, the boy rose up from his seat, <strong>and</strong> went to<br />
meet the brahm<strong>in</strong>, offer<strong>in</strong>g to relieve him of his baggage. The brahm<strong>in</strong> looked at him, <strong>and</strong><br />
thought, "This must be Jāli, the son of <strong>Vessantara</strong>: from the very first I will speak harshly<br />
to him." So he snapt his f<strong>in</strong>gers at him, cry<strong>in</strong>g—"Go away, go away!" The boy thought,<br />
"A harsh man this, to be sure!" <strong>and</strong> look<strong>in</strong>g at his body, he perceived <strong>in</strong> him the eighteen<br />
blemishes of a man. But the brahm<strong>in</strong> came up to the Bodhisatta, <strong>and</strong> politely greet<strong>in</strong>g<br />
him, said:<br />
"O holy man, we trust that you are prosperous <strong>and</strong> well,<br />
With gra<strong>in</strong> to glean <strong>and</strong> roots <strong>and</strong> fruit abundant where you dwell.<br />
Have you been much by flies <strong>and</strong> gnats <strong>and</strong> creep<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs annoyed,<br />
Or from wild beasts of prey have you immunity enjoyed?"<br />
The Bodhisatta answered politely:<br />
"I thank you, brahm<strong>in</strong>, <strong>and</strong> reply: we prosper <strong>and</strong> are well<br />
With gra<strong>in</strong> to glean <strong>and</strong> roots <strong>and</strong> fruit abundant where we dwell.<br />
From flies <strong>and</strong> gnats <strong>and</strong> creep<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs we suffer no annoy,<br />
And from wild beasts of prey we here immunity enjoy. 1<br />
Seven months we have lived happy <strong>in</strong> this forest, <strong>and</strong> have not<br />
Once seen a brahm<strong>in</strong>, as we now see you, godlike, I wot,<br />
With vilva-staff <strong>and</strong> t<strong>in</strong>der-box, <strong>and</strong> with the waterpot.<br />
Welcome, O brahm<strong>in</strong>! blest the chance directed you this way;<br />
Come, enter with a bless<strong>in</strong>g, come <strong>and</strong> wash your feet, I pray.<br />
The t<strong>in</strong>dook <strong>and</strong> the piyal leaves, the kāsumāri sweet,<br />
And fruits like honey, brahm<strong>in</strong>, take the best I have, <strong>and</strong> eat.<br />
And this cool water from a cave high hidden on a hill,<br />
O noble brahm<strong>in</strong>, take of it, dr<strong>in</strong>k if it be your will." 2<br />
After these words, the Great Be<strong>in</strong>g thought: "Not without cause is this brahm<strong>in</strong> come to<br />
this great forest; I will ask him the reason without delay "; <strong>and</strong> he recited this stanza:<br />
1 See p. 532, l<strong>in</strong>e 16, above; Fausbøll, vol. V, p. 323, l<strong>in</strong>e 16, <strong>and</strong> p. 377, l<strong>in</strong>e 21 (Cowell,<br />
vol. V, pp. 171 <strong>and</strong> 199); cp. Fausbøll, vol. IV, p. 427, l<strong>in</strong>e 26 (Cowell, vol. IV, p. 266).<br />
2 See p. 532, l<strong>in</strong>e 31, above.