Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace

Translation 582 Vessantara-Jåtaka
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 582]
Chakhattiyakhaṇḍaṁ
The Section of the Six Princes 1
On the banks of Lake Mucalinda, Prince Jāli caused them to intrench a camp: the
fourteen thousand chariots he set facing the road by which they came, and a guard here
and there to keep off lions, tigers, rhinoceros, and other wild beasts. There was a great
noise of elephants and so forth; this the Great Being heard, and scared to death thought
he—"Have they killed my father and come hither after me!" Taking Maddī with him he
climbed a hill and surveyed the army. Explaining this, the Master said:
"The noise of this approaching host Vessantara did hear;
He climbed a hill and looked upon the army, full of fear.
O listen, Maddī, how the woods are full of roaring sound,
The neighing of the horses hear, the banners see around.
Can they be hunters, who with pits or hunting-nets or knives
Seek the wild creatures in the woods with shouts to take their lives?
So we, exiled though innocent, in this wild forest land,
Expect a cruel death, now fallen into an enemy's hand."
When she had heard these words, she looked at the army, and convinced that it was their
own army, she recited this stanza to comfort him:
1 [Title added from the scholiast. -- jrb]