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 498 <strong>Vessantara</strong>-Jåtaka<br />
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 498]<br />
Thus did Maddī s<strong>in</strong>g the praises of Himavat <strong>in</strong> these stanzas, as though she were dwell<strong>in</strong>g<br />
there<strong>in</strong>. Here endeth the Praise of Himavat. 1<br />
Now Queen Phusatī thought: "A harsh comm<strong>and</strong> has been laid upon my son: what will he<br />
do? I will go <strong>and</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d out." In a covered carriage she went, <strong>and</strong> tak<strong>in</strong>g up her position at<br />
the door of their chamber, she overheard their converse <strong>and</strong> uttered a bitter lamentation.<br />
Describ<strong>in</strong>g this, the Master said:<br />
"She heard the pr<strong>in</strong>cess <strong>and</strong> her son, the talk that passed between,<br />
Then bitterly she did lament, that great <strong>and</strong> glorious queen.<br />
"Better dr<strong>in</strong>k poison, better leap from off a cliff, say I,<br />
Or better b<strong>in</strong>d a strangl<strong>in</strong>g noose about my neck <strong>and</strong> die:<br />
Why banish they <strong>Vessantara</strong> my unoffend<strong>in</strong>g son?<br />
So studious <strong>and</strong> free from greed, giv<strong>in</strong>g to all who came,<br />
Respected by his rival k<strong>in</strong>gs, of great <strong>and</strong> glorious fame,<br />
Why banish they <strong>Vessantara</strong>, my unoffend<strong>in</strong>g son?<br />
His parents' prop, who did respect his elders every one,<br />
Why banish they <strong>Vessantara</strong>, my unoffend<strong>in</strong>g son?<br />
Belovèd by the k<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> queen, by all his kith <strong>and</strong> k<strong>in</strong>,<br />
Belovèd by his friends, the realm <strong>and</strong> all that are there<strong>in</strong>,<br />
Why banish they <strong>Vessantara</strong>, my unoffend<strong>in</strong>g son?"<br />
1<br />
Himavanta-vaṇṇanā.