Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace

Translation 557 Vessantara-Jåtaka
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 557]
"Last night I saw a bad dream; I will collect my fruits and roots and get me betimes to the
hermitage." Trembling she searched for the roots and fruits: the spade fell from her hand,
the basket fell from her shoulder, her right eye went a-throbbing, fruit-trees appeared as
barren and barren trees as fruitful, she could not tell whether she were on head or heels. 1
"What can be the meaning," she thought, "of this strangeness to-day!" and she said—
"Down falls my spade, a throbbing now in my right eye I feel,
The fruitful trees unfruitful seem, all round me seems to reel!"
And when she turned at evening time to go, the day's work done,
Wild beasts beset her homeward path at setting of the sun.
"The hermitage is far, methinks, the sun is sinking low
And all the food they have to eat is what I bring, I know.
And there my prince sits all alone within the leafy hut,
The hungry children comforting: and I returning not.
It is the time of evening meal, O woe is me! ’tis late:
Thirsting for water or for milk my children me await;
They come to meet me, standing like calves looking for their dam;
Like wild-goose chicks above the lake—O wretched that I am!
This is the sole and only path, with ponds and pits around:
And I can see no other road now I am homeward bound.
O mighty monarchs of the woods, O royal beasts, I cry,
Be brothers now in righteousness, 2 and let me safe go by!
I am a banisht prince's wife, a prince of glory fair;
As Sītā did for Rāma, so I for my husband care.
When you go home at evening time, your children you can see:
So Jāli and Kaṇhājinā be given once more to me!
Here are abundant roots and fruits, much food I have to chew:
The half I offer now to you: O let me safely go!
1
dasa disā na paññāyiṁsu.
2 Scholiast: She appeals to them as a princess.