Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace

Translation 559 Vessantara-Jåtaka
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 559]
"The children, dusty, close to home, are wont to meet me here
Like calves that seek the mother-cow, like birds above the mere.
Like little deer, with prickt-up ear, they meet me on the way:
With joy and happiness they skip and frolick in their play:
But Jāli and Kaṇhājinā I cannot see to-day.
As goat and lioness may leave their young, a bird her cage,
To seek for food, so have I done their hunger to assuage:
But Jāli and Kaṇhājinā I cannot see to-day.
Here are their traces, close by home, like snakes upon the hill,
The little heaps of earth they made all round, remaining still:
But Jāli and Kaṇhājinā I cannot see to-day.
All covered up with dust to me my children used to run,
Sprinkled with mud, but now indeed I can see neither one.
Like kids to welcome back their dam they ran from home away
As from the forest I returned; I see them not to-day.
Here they were playing, here this yellow vilva fruit let fall:
But Jāli and Kaṇhājinā I cannot see to-day.
These breasts of mine are full of milk, my heart will break withal:
But Jāli and Kaṇhājinā I cannot see to-day.
They used to cling about my hips, one hanging from my breast:
How they would meet me, dust-begrimed, at time of evening rest!
But Jāli and Kaṇhājinā I cannot see to-day.
Once on a time this hermitage became our meeting-ground:
But now I see no children here, the whole place spins around.