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 588 <strong>Vessantara</strong>-Jåtaka<br />
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 588]<br />
The Bodhisat, who had been desirous of resum<strong>in</strong>g his royalty, but had refra<strong>in</strong>ed from<br />
say<strong>in</strong>g so much <strong>in</strong> order to <strong>in</strong>spire respect, now agreed; whereupon the sixty thous<strong>and</strong><br />
courtiers, his birthmates, cried out—<br />
"’Tis time to wash, O mighty k<strong>in</strong>g—wash off the dust <strong>and</strong> dirt!"<br />
But the Great Be<strong>in</strong>g replied, "Wait a little." Then he entered his hut, <strong>and</strong> took off his<br />
hermit's dress, <strong>and</strong> put it away. Next he came out of the hut, <strong>and</strong> said, "This is the place<br />
where I have spent n<strong>in</strong>e months <strong>and</strong> a half <strong>in</strong> ascetic practices, where I atta<strong>in</strong>ed the<br />
summit of perfection <strong>in</strong> giv<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> where the earth did quake": thrice he went about the<br />
hut rightwise <strong>and</strong> made the five-fold prostration before it. 1 Then they attended to his hair<br />
<strong>and</strong> beard, <strong>and</strong> poured over him the water of consecration, while he shone <strong>in</strong> all his<br />
magnificence like the k<strong>in</strong>g of the gods. So it is said,<br />
"Then did the K<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Vessantara</strong> wash off the dust <strong>and</strong> dirt."<br />
Great was his glory: every place quaked that he looked on, those skilled <strong>in</strong> auspicious<br />
words uttered them, they caught up all manner of musical <strong>in</strong>struments; over the mighty<br />
ocean there was a sound like the noise of thunder; the precious elephant they brought<br />
richly caparisoned, <strong>and</strong> gird<strong>in</strong>g himself with the sword of price he mounted the precious<br />
elephant, whilst the sixty thous<strong>and</strong> courtiers, his birthmates, compassed him around <strong>in</strong><br />
gorgeous array.<br />
Maddī also they bathed <strong>and</strong> adorned <strong>and</strong> spr<strong>in</strong>kled with the water of consecration, <strong>and</strong> as<br />
they poured the water they cried aloud, "May <strong>Vessantara</strong> protect thee!" with other words<br />
of good omen. The Master expla<strong>in</strong>ed it thus:<br />
"With washen head <strong>and</strong> goodly robes <strong>and</strong> ornaments of state,<br />
Girt with his awful sword he rode the elephant his mate. 2<br />
And then the sixty thous<strong>and</strong> chiefs, so beauteous to view,<br />
His birthmates, came about their lord <strong>and</strong> did obeisance due.<br />
1<br />
Touch<strong>in</strong>g the earth with forehead, elbows, waist, feet, <strong>and</strong> knees.<br />
2<br />
paccayo: "born on the same day as himself." (Scholiast)
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