Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace

Translation 568 Vessantara-Jåtaka
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 568]
Then Maddī rejoicing described the miracles in these words:
"The earth did rumble, and the sound the highest heaven fills,
The lightning flared, the thunder woke the echoes of the hills!
Then Nārada and Pabbata both greatly did rejoice,
Yea, all the Three and Thirty Gods with Indra, at that voice. 1
Thus Maddī, dame of royal birth, princess of high degree,
Rejoiced with him: a greater gift than children none can be."
Thus the Great Being described his own gift; and thus did Maddī repeat the tale,
affirming that he had given a noble gift, and there she sat rejoicing in the same gift: on
which occasion the Master repeated the stanza, "Thus Maddī," etc. 2
Sakkapabbaṁ
The Sakka Chapter 3
As they were thus talking together, Sakka thought: "Yesterday Vessantara gave his
children to Jūjaka, and the earth did resound. Now suppose a vile creature should come
and ask him for Maddī herself, the incomparable, the virtuous, and should take her away
with him leaving the king alone: he will be left helpless and destitute. Well, then, I will
take the form of a brahmin, and beg for Maddī. Thus I will enable him to attain the
supreme height of perfection; I shall make it impossible that she should be given to
anyone else and then I will give her back." So at dawn, to him goes Sakka. The Master
explained it thus:
"And so when night was at an end, about the peep of day,
Sakka in brahmin's form to them first early made his way.
1 This couplet is interrupted by four lines, in another metre, mentioning the names of the
gods Indra, Brahma, and Prajāpati, and the kings Soma, Varna, and Vessavana.
2
Scholiast: "Here ends the Chapter of Maddī (Maddi-pabba◊)"
3 [Title added from the scholiast. -- jrb]