Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace

Translation 545 Vessantara-Jåtaka
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 545]
Vessantara said:
When these fair children, sweet of speech, shall come within his sight,
The foster-king of Sivi folk, who always does the right,
Will give you wealth in plenty, filled with pleasure and delight."
Jūjaka said:
"No, no, I will not do this thing which you would recommend:
I'll take the children, on my wife as servants to attend."
The children, hearing these harsh words, slunk behind the hut, and away they ran from
behind the hut, and hid close to a clump of bushes. Even there they seemed to see
themselves caught by Jūjaka: trembling, they could not keep still anywhere, but ran hither
and thither, until they came to the bank of the square lake; where, wrapping the bark
garments tightly about them, they plunged into the water and stood there concealed, their
heads hidden under the lily leaves.
Explaining this, the Master said:
"So Jāli and Kaṇhājinā hither and thither ran,
In deep distress to hear the voice of the pursuing man."
And Jūjaka, when he saw nothing of the children, upbraided the Bodhisatta: "Ho
Vessantara! when you gave me the children just now, as soon as I told you that I would
not go to the city of Jetuttara, but would make the children my wife's attendants, you
made them some sign, and caused them to run away, sitting there like innocence itself!
Such a liar there is not in the world, I'm thinking." The Great Being was moved. "They
have run away, no doubt," he thought, and said aloud, "Do not trouble about it, sir, I'll
fetch them." So he arose and went behind the hut; perceiving that they must have fled to
the woods,