Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace

Translation 587 Vessantara-Jåtaka
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 587]
The six royal persons were restored to their senses, and all the people cried out at the
marvel, how the rain fell on the group of kinsfolk, and the great earth did quake. This the
Master explained as follows:
"When these of kindred blood were met, a mighty sound outspake,
That all the hills reechoed round, and the great earth did quake.
God brought a mighty cloud wherefrom he sent a shower of rain,
When as the King Vessantara his kindred met again.
King, queen, and son, and daughter-in-law, and grandsons, all were there,
When they were met their flesh did creep with rising of the hair.
The people clapt their hands and loud made to the king a prayer:
They called upon Vessantara and Maddī, one and all:
"Be thou our lord, be king and queen, and listen to our call!" 1
Vessantara's Return
Then the Great Being addressed his father:
"You and the people, countryfolk and townsfolk, banished me,
When I upon my royal throne was ruling righteously."
The king replied, to allay his son's resentment:
"It was ill done of me indeed to ruin the innocent,
When by the people's voice I drove my son to banishment."
After reciting this verse, he added yet another, to ask for relief from his own sorrow:
"A father's or a mother's pain, or sister's, to relieve,
A man should never hesitate his very life to give."
1 Scholiast: "Here ends the Section of the Six Princes (Chakhattiya-khaṇḍaṁ)."