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 494 <strong>Vessantara</strong>-Jåtaka<br />
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 494]<br />
"So I by that same road shall go as they who do offend:<br />
But first to make a gift, one night <strong>and</strong> day I pray them lend."<br />
"Very good," said the agent, "I will report this to the citizens," <strong>and</strong> away he went.<br />
The man gone, the Great Be<strong>in</strong>g summon<strong>in</strong>g one of his capta<strong>in</strong>s said to him, "To-morrow<br />
I am to make the gift called the gift of the seven hundreds. You must get ready seven<br />
hundred elephants, with the same number of horses, chariots, girls, cows, men slaves <strong>and</strong><br />
women slaves, <strong>and</strong> provide every k<strong>in</strong>d of food <strong>and</strong> dr<strong>in</strong>k, even the strong liquor,<br />
everyth<strong>in</strong>g which is fit to give." So hav<strong>in</strong>g arranged for the great gift of the seven<br />
hundreds, he dismissed his courtiers, <strong>and</strong> alone departed to the dwell<strong>in</strong>g of Maddī; where<br />
seat<strong>in</strong>g himself on the royal couch, he began to address her.<br />
The Master thus described it:<br />
"Thus did the k<strong>in</strong>g to Maddī speak, that lady pass<strong>in</strong>g fair:<br />
"All that I ever gave to thee, or goods or gra<strong>in</strong>, beware,<br />
Or gold or treasure, precious stones, <strong>and</strong> plenty more beside,<br />
Thy father's dower, f<strong>in</strong>d a place this treasure all to hide."<br />
Then out spake Maddī to the k<strong>in</strong>g, that pr<strong>in</strong>cess pass<strong>in</strong>g fair:<br />
"Where shall I f<strong>in</strong>d a place, my lord, to hide it? tell me where?"<br />
<strong>Vessantara</strong> said:<br />
"In due proportion on the good thy wealth <strong>in</strong> gifts bestow,<br />
No other place than this is safe to keep it, well I know."