Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace

Translation 502 Vessantara-Jåtaka
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 502]
Explaining this matter, the Master said:
"Hearing the queen bewailing sore, straight all together went
The palace dames, their arms outstretcht, to join in her lament.
And in the palace of the prince, prone lying all around
Women and children lay like trees blown down upon the ground.
And when the night was at an end, and the sun rose next day,
Then King Vessantara began his gifts to give away.
"Food to the hungry give, strong drink to those who drink require, 1
Give clothes to those who wish for clothes, each after his desire."
"Let not one suitor hither come go disappointed back,
Shew all respect, and food or drink to taste let no man lack."
And so they gathered thick and fast with joy and merry play,
As Sivi's great and fostering king prepared to go away.
They did cut down a mighty tree that full of fruit did stand,
When the innocent Vessantara they banished from the land.
They did cut down a wishing-tree, with every boon at hand,
When the innocent Vessantara they banished from the land.
They did cut down a wishing-tree, with choicest boons at hand,
When the innocent Vessantara they banished from the land.
Both old and young, and all between, did weep and wail that day,
Stretching their arms out, when the king prepared to go away,
Who fostered Sivi's realm.
Wise women, 2 eunuchs, the king's wives, did weep and wail that day,
Stretching their arms out, when the king prepared to go away,
Who fostered Sivi's realm.
And all the women in the town did weep and wail that day,
When Sivi's great and fostering king prepared to go away.
The brahmans and ascetics too, and all who begged for need,
Stretching their arms out, cried aloud, "It is a wicked deed!"
To all the city while the king his bounty did present,
And by the people's sentence, fared forth into banishment.
1 The scholiast says: "He knew that the gift of spirits brings no fruit with it, but gave it
nevertheless, that tipplers might have the "noble gift" and might not be able to say that
they could not get what they wanted." This shows a tolerance not always seen in the
pious.
2
atiyakkhā: "bhūtavijjā ikkhaṇikā," "women possessed who have seen demons."