Vessantara-Jataka in Pali and English - MyWebSpace

Translation 520 Vessantara-Jåtaka
[Fausbøll, Jåtaka, vol. VI, p. 520]
So he gave orders to Vissakamma: "Go, pray, and in the dells of Mount Vaṁka, build a
hermitage on a pleasant spot." Vissakamma went and made two hermitages with two
covered walks, rooms for the night and rooms for the day; alongside of the walks he
plants rows of flowering trees and clumps of banana, and makes ready all things
necessary for hermits. Then he writes an inscription, "Whoso wishes to be a hermit, these
are for him," and driving away all unhuman creatures and all harsh-voiced beasts and
birds, he went to his own place.
The Great Being, when he beheld a path, felt sure that it must lead to some hermits'
settlement. He left Maddī and the two children at the entrance of the hermitage, and went
in; when seeing the inscription, he recognized that Sakka's eye was upon him. He opened
the door and entered, and putting off his bow and sword, with the garments which he
wore, he donned the garb of a hermit, took up the staff, and coming forth entered the
covered walk and paced up and down, and with the quietude of a Pacceka Buddha
approached his wife and children. Maddī fell at his feet in tears; then with him entering
the hermitage, she went to her own cell and donned the ascetic dress. After this they
made their children to do the like. Thus the four noble hermits dwelt in the recesses of
Mount Vaṁka.
Then Maddī asked a boon of the Great Being. "My lord, do you stay here with the
children, instead of going out in search of wild fruits; and let me go instead."
Thenceforward she used to fetch the wild fruits from the forest and feed them all three.
The Bodhisatta also asked her for a boon. "Maddī, we are now hermits; and woman is the
canker of chastity. Henceforward then, do not approach me unseasonably." She
consented.
By the power of the Great Being's compassion, even the wild animals, all that were
within three leagues of their borders, had compassion one of another. Daily at dawn,
Maddī arises, provides water for their drinking and food to eat, brings water and toothbrush
for cleansing the mouth, sweeps out the hermitage, leaves the two children with
their father, basket, spade, and hook in hand