Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace

Translation 555 Vessantara-Jåtaka
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 555]
On hills and forests, and on those that dwell in them, we call,
We reverently bow to greet the spirits, one and all
That haunt this lake; its plants and roots and creepers, and we pray
To wish our mother health: but us the brahmin drives away.
If she would follow after us, let her make no delay.
Straight leads unto the hermitage this path by which we go;
And if she will but follow this, she soon will find us so.
Thou gatherer of wild fruits and roots, thou of the knotted hair,
To see the empty hermitage will cause thee great despair.
Long stayed our mother on her quest, great store she must have found,
Who knows not that a cruel man and greedy hath us bound,
A very cruel man, who now like cattle drives us round.
Ah, had our mother come at eve, and had they chanced to meet,
Had she given him a meal of fruit with honey mixt, to eat,—
He would not drive us cruelly, when he his meal had hent:
Cruel he drove us, and our feet loud echoed as we went!"
So for their mother longing sore the children did lament. 1
1 Scholiast: "Here ends the Children's Section (kumārapaṅhaṁ)."