Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace

Translation 497 Vessantara-Jåtaka
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 497]
When you behold the elephant his herd of subjects bring,
The elephant of sixty years, and hear his trumpeting,
To hear the sound you will forget that ever you were king.
The woodland glades, the roaring beasts, and every wished-for thing
When you behold, you will forget that ever you were king.
The deer that come at eventide, the varied flowers that spring,
The dancing frogs—you will forget that ever you were king.
When you shall hear the rivers roar, the fairy creatures sing,
Believe me, you will clean forget that ever you were king.
When you shall hear the screech-owl's note in mountain cave dwelling,
Believe me, you will clean forget that ever you were king.
Rhinoceros and buffalo, that make the woodland ring,
Lion and tiger—you'll forget that ever you were king.
When on the mountain top you see the peacock dance and spring
Before the peahens, you'll forget that ever you were king.
To see the egg-born peacock dance and spread his gorgeous wing
Before the peahens, you'll forget that ever you were king.
The peacock with his purple neck, to see him dance and spring
Before the peahens—you'll forget that ever you were king.
When in the winter you behold the trees all flowering
Waft their sweet odours, you'll forget that ever you were king.
When in the winter you behold the plants all flowering,
The bimbajāla, kuṭaja, and lotus, 1 scattering
Abroad their odours, you'll forget that ever you were king.
When in the winter you behold the forest flowering
And blooming lotus, you'll forget that ever you were king."
1
The plants named are: kuṭaja (Wrightia Antidysenterica), bimbajāla (Momordica
Monadelpha), lemapadmaka (hairy lotus).