Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace
Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace
Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace
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Translation 582 <strong>Vessantara</strong>-Jåtaka<br />
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 582]<br />
Chakhattiyakhaṇḍaṁ<br />
The Section of the Six Pr<strong>in</strong>ces 1<br />
On the banks of Lake Mucal<strong>in</strong>da, Pr<strong>in</strong>ce Jāli caused them to <strong>in</strong>trench a camp: the<br />
fourteen thous<strong>and</strong> chariots he set fac<strong>in</strong>g the road by which they came, <strong>and</strong> a guard here<br />
<strong>and</strong> there to keep off lions, tigers, rh<strong>in</strong>oceros, <strong>and</strong> other wild beasts. There was a great<br />
noise of elephants <strong>and</strong> so forth; this the Great Be<strong>in</strong>g heard, <strong>and</strong> scared to death thought<br />
he—"Have they killed my father <strong>and</strong> come hither after me!" Tak<strong>in</strong>g Maddī with him he<br />
climbed a hill <strong>and</strong> surveyed the army. Expla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g this, the Master said:<br />
"The noise of this approach<strong>in</strong>g host <strong>Vessantara</strong> did hear;<br />
He climbed a hill <strong>and</strong> looked upon the army, full of fear.<br />
O listen, Maddī, how the woods are full of roar<strong>in</strong>g sound,<br />
The neigh<strong>in</strong>g of the horses hear, the banners see around.<br />
Can they be hunters, who with pits or hunt<strong>in</strong>g-nets or knives<br />
Seek the wild creatures <strong>in</strong> the woods with shouts to take their lives?<br />
So we, exiled though <strong>in</strong>nocent, <strong>in</strong> this wild forest l<strong>and</strong>,<br />
Expect a cruel death, now fallen <strong>in</strong>to an enemy's h<strong>and</strong>."<br />
When she had heard these words, she looked at the army, <strong>and</strong> conv<strong>in</strong>ced that it was their<br />
own army, she recited this stanza to comfort him:<br />
1 [Title added from the scholiast. -- jrb]