Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace

Translation 515 Vessantara-Jåtaka
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 515]
All the people then, seeing Maddī and Vessantara and the children arrived in this
unbecoming fashion, went and informed the king; and sixty thousand princes came to
him weeping and lamenting.
To explain this, the Master said:
"Seeing him, the Ceta princes came, with wailing and lament.
"Greet thee, my lord: we trust that you are prosperous and well, 1
That of your father and his realm you have good news to tell.
Where is your army, mighty king? and where your royal car?
With not a chariot, not a horse, you now have journeyed far:
Were you defeated by your foes that here alone you are?"
Then the Great Being told the princes the cause of his coming:
"I thank you, sirs; be sure that I am prosperous and well;
And of my father and his realm I have good news to tell.
I gave the saviour elephant, pole-tuskèd, goodly white, 2
Which ever knew the vantage-ground to choose in every fight;
His jewels, and his yak's tail fan; which trampled down the foes,
Long-tuskèd, furious, white as Mount Kelāsa with his snows;
With trappings and white parasol, fit riding for a king,
With leech and driver: yes, I gave away this precious thing.
Therefore the people were in wrath, my father took it ill:
Therefore he banished me, and I now go to Vaṁka hill.
I pray you, tell me of a place to be my dwelling still."
The princes answered:
1 This expression is used twice again below (p. 532, line 14; and p. 584, line 11). See
also Mahābhārata (Calcutta) XII, 13, 727.
2 This description is repeated from above (p. 490).