Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace

Translation 581 Vessantara-Jåtaka
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 581]
Thus the king described the preparation of the road.
But Jūjaka ate too much and could not digest it, so he died on the spot. The king arranged
for his funeral: proclamation was made through the city by beat of drum, but no relative
could be found, and his goods fell to the king again.
On the seventh day, all the host assembled. The king in great ceremony set out with Jāli
as his guide. This the Master explained as follows:
"Then did the mighty host set forth, the army of the land,
And went towards the Vaṁka hill, while Jāli led the band.
The elephant of sixty years gave forth a trumpet sound, 1
Loud trumpeted the mighty beast what time his girth they bound.
Then rattled loud the chariot wheels, then neighed the horses loud,
As the great army marched along the dust rose in a cloud.
For every need provided well the host marcht with a will,
And Jāli led the army on as guide to Vaṁka hill.
They entered in the forest wide, so full of birds and trees,
With every kind of flowering plant and any fruit you please.
There when the forest is in flower, a shower of song is heard,
The twitter here and twitter there of many a bright-winged bird.
A night and day they marcht, and came to the end of their long road,
And entered on the district where Vessantara abode." 2
1 Scholiast: "The people of Kāsi had returned him to Sañjaya, ruin having fallen in their
country; he trumpeted with joy because he expected to see his mother again."
2 Scholiast: "Here ends the Mahārājā Section (Mahārājā-pabbaṁ)."