Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace

Translation 566 Vessantara-Jåtaka
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 566]
"In hills, woods, caves I cannot see by whom their death has come:
The very ravens do not caw, the very birds are dumb."
Then Maddī, dame of high renown, princess of royal birth,
Lamenting with her arms outstretcht fell down upon the earth."
"She's dead!" thought the Great Being, and trembled. "Ah, this is no place for Maddī to
die! Had she died in Jetuttara city, great pomp there would have been, two kingdoms
would have quaked. But I am alone in the forest, and what can I do?" Great trouble came
upon him; then recovering himself somewhat, he determined to do what he could. Rising
up he laid a hand on her heart, and felt it to be still warm: he brought water in a pitcher,
and although for seven months past he had not touched her body, in his distress he could
no longer keep to the ascetic's part, but with tears in his eyes he raised her head and laid it
upon his lap, sprinkling it with water, and chafing her face and bosom as he sat. Then
Maddī after a little while regains her senses, and, rising up in confusion, does obeisance
to the Great Being, and asks, "My lord Vessantara, where are the children gone?" "I have
given them," says he, "to a brahmin." The Master thus explained it:
"He sprinkled her with water as she fell down faint as dead,
And when she had come back again to consciousness, he said":—