Cp 9

Vessantaracariya

“Yā me ahosi janikā, phussatī nāma khattiyā; Sā atītāsu jātīsu, sakkassa mahesī piyā.

Vessantara’s Conduct

“She who was my mother, the aristocrat lady named Phussatī, was Sakka’s beloved queen in past lives.

Tassā āyukkhayaṁ ñatvā, devindo etadabravi; ‘Dadāmi te dasa vare, varabhadde yadicchasi’.

Knowing that she was at the end of life, the lord of gods said this: ‘I grant you ten favors, my dear, whatever favor you wish.’

Evaṁ vuttā ca sā devī, sakkaṁ punidamabravi; ‘Kiṁ nu me aparādhatthi, kiṁ nu dessā ahaṁ tava; Rammā cāvesi maṁ ṭhānā, vātova dharaṇīruhaṁ’.

When he said this the queen replied to Sakka: ‘In what way am I deficient? How am I displeasing to you? You send me from this lovely place, like the wind a feeble tree.’

Evaṁ vutto ca so sakko, puna tassidamabravi; ‘Na ceva te kataṁ pāpaṁ, na ca me tvaṁsi appiyā.

When she said this Sakka replied to her: ‘You have done nothing wrong, nor are you not beloved to me.

Ettakaṁyeva te āyu, cavanakālo bhavissati; Paṭiggaṇha mayā dinne, vare dasa varuttame’.

But your life lasts only so long, your time of death will come. Accept the ten supreme favors I offer to you.’

Sakkena sā dinnavarā, tuṭṭhahaṭṭhā pamoditā; Mamaṁ abbhantaraṁ katvā, phussatī dasa vare varī.

She accepted the offerings of Sakka, full of joy and happiness. Having conceived me, Phussatī was blessed with the ten favors.

Tato cutā sā phussatī, khattiye upapajjatha; Jetuttaramhi nagare, sañjayena samāgami.

Then Phussatī, having passed from there, was reborn as an aristocrat in the city of Jetuttara, where she married Sañjaya.

Yadāhaṁ phussatiyā kucchiṁ, okkanto piyamātuyā; Mama tejena me mātā, sadā dānaratā ahu.

Once I was conceived in the womb of my dear mother Phussatī, because of my power, my mother always delighted in giving.

Adhane āture jiṇṇe, yācake addhike jane; Samaṇe brāhmaṇe khīṇe, deti dānaṁ akiñcane.

She gave to the destitute, the ailing and aging, to beggars, travelers, and folk, to ascetics and brahmins, and the dispossessed, and to those who had nothing.

Dasa māse dhārayitvāna, karonte puraṁ padakkhiṇaṁ; Vessānaṁ vīthiyā majjhe, janesi phussatī mamaṁ.

Having carried me for ten months, she was proceeding around the city when Phussatī gave birth to me in the middle of the peasant’s street.

Na mayhaṁ mattikaṁ nāmaṁ, napi pettikasambhavaṁ; Jātettha vessavīthiyā, tasmā vessantaro ahu.

My name was not from my mother’s side, nor from my father’s. I was born there in the peasant’s street, and that’s why I’m called Vessantara.

Yadāhaṁ dārako homi, jātiyā aṭṭhavassiko; Tadā nisajja pāsāde, dānaṁ dātuṁ vicintayiṁ.

When I was a boy of only eight years old, sitting in the stilt longhouse, I thought of giving gifts.

‘Hadayaṁ dadeyyaṁ cakkhuṁ, maṁsampi rudhirampi ca; Dadeyyaṁ kāyaṁ sāvetvā, yadi koci yācaye mamaṁ’.

‘I would give my heart and my eyes, my flesh and blood too.’ I announced that I would give my body, if anyone asked me.

Sabhāvaṁ cintayantassa, akampitamasaṇṭhitaṁ; Akampi tattha pathavī, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

Reflecting on my state of mind, so undisturbed and steadfast, the earth quaked there, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Anvaddhamāse pannarase, puṇṇamāse uposathe; Paccayaṁ nāgamāruyha, dānaṁ dātuṁ upāgamiṁ.

Every fortnight, the fifteenth, and the sabbath when the moon was full, I mounted the tusker Paccaya and went to give gifts.

Kaliṅgaraṭṭhavisayā, brāhmaṇā upagañchu maṁ; Ayācuṁ maṁ hatthināgaṁ, dhaññaṁ maṅgalasammataṁ.

From the country of Kaliṅga, the brahmins came to me, requesting the royal elephant, that was lucky and deemed as auspicious.

‘Avuṭṭhiko janapado, dubbhikkho chātako mahā; Dadāhi pavaraṁ nāgaṁ, sabbasetaṁ gajuttamaṁ’.

‘Our nation is suffering from drought, food is scarce and famine abounds, please give the noble elephant the all-white supreme elephant.’

Dadāmi na vikampāmi, yaṁ maṁ yācanti brāhmaṇā; Santaṁ nappatigūhāmi, dāne me ramate mano.

‘I give without hesitation what you ask of me, brahmins. I do not hide what I have, for my heart is happy to give.

Na me yācakamanuppatte, paṭikkhepo anucchavo; Mā me bhijji samādānaṁ, dassāmi vipulaṁ gajaṁ.

When supplicants come to me it is unbefitting to refuse. Let not my vow be broken, I shall give the mighty elephant.’

Nāgaṁ gahetvā soṇḍāya, bhiṅgāre ratanāmaye; Jalaṁ hatthe ākiritvā, brāhmaṇānaṁ adaṁ gajaṁ.

Taking the elephant by the trunk, and a bejeweled ceremonial vessel, I sprinkled water on the hand, and gave the elephant to the brahmins.

Punāparaṁ dadantassa, sabbasetaṁ gajuttamaṁ; Tadāpi pathavī kampi, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

Then again when I was giving the all-white supreme elephant, the earth quaked again, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Tassa nāgassa dānena, sivayo kuddhā samāgatā; Pabbājesuṁ sakā raṭṭhā, ‘vaṅkaṁ gacchatu pabbataṁ’.

At the gift of the tusker, angry Sivian folk gathered and banished me from my kingdom, saying: ‘Go to Crooked Mountain.’

Tesaṁ nicchubhamānānaṁ, akampitamasaṇṭhitaṁ; Mahādānaṁ pavattetuṁ, ekaṁ varamayācisaṁ.

While they were ejecting me, I was undisturbed and steadfast, I asked one favor: to perform a great offering.

Yācitā sivayo sabbe, ekaṁ varamadaṁsu me; Sāvayitvā kaṇṇabheriṁ, mahādānaṁ dadāmahaṁ.

When I asked, all the Sivian folk granted me that one favor. Sounding the drums, I gave a great offering.

Athettha vattatī saddo, tumulo bheravo mahā; Dānenimaṁ nīharanti, puna dānaṁ dadātayaṁ.

And as the sound went forth, there was a great tumult and upset. They drove me out because of giving, but I just gave again.

Hatthiṁ asse rathe datvā, dāsiṁ dāsaṁ gavaṁ dhanaṁ; Mahādānaṁ daditvāna, nagarā nikkhamiṁ tadā.

Elephants, horses, chariots, male and female slaves, cattle, and riches: after giving this great gift I then left the city.

Nikkhamitvāna nagarā, nivattitvā vilokite; Tadāpi pathavī kampi, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

After leaving the city, I turned back to look, at which the earth quaked, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Catuvāhiṁ rathaṁ datvā, ṭhatvā cātummahāpathe; Ekākiyo adutiyo, maddideviṁ idamabraviṁ.

Having given away my four-horse chariot, I was standing at the crossroads alone with no partner, and I said to Queen Maddī:

‘Tvaṁ maddi kaṇhaṁ gaṇhāhi, lahukā esā kaniṭṭhikā; Ahaṁ jāliṁ gahessāmi, garuko bhātiko hi so’.

‘Maddī, you take Kaṇhā, for she, as the younger sister, is the lighter. I shall take Jāli, for he, as the brother, is heavier.’

Padumaṁ puṇḍarīkaṁva, maddī kaṇhājinaggahī; Ahaṁ suvaṇṇabimbaṁva, jāliṁ khattiyamaggahiṁ.

Like a pink or white lotus, Maddī picked up Kaṇhājinā. Like a golden statue, I picked up Jāli, the aristocrat.

Abhijātā sukhumālā, khattiyā caturo janā; Visamaṁ samaṁ akkamantā, vaṅkaṁ gacchāma pabbataṁ.

High-born and delicate, four aristocrat folk traveled ground even and uneven, going to Crooked Mountain.

Ye keci manujā enti, anumagge paṭippathe; Maggante paṭipucchāma, ‘kuhiṁ vaṅkantapabbato’.

Whenever men would come along, coming the other way along the road, we asked them in the middle of the street, ‘Where is Crooked Mountain?’

Te tattha amhe passitvā, karuṇaṁ giramudīrayuṁ; Dukkhante paṭivedenti, dūre vaṅkantapabbato.

Seeing us there, they spoke to us kindly, ‘It will be hard for you,’ they explained, ‘for Crooked Mountain is far.’

Yadi passanti pavane, dārakā phaline dume; Tesaṁ phalānaṁ hetumhi, uparodanti dārakā.

If the children saw fruit on a tree in the forest, then for the sake of that fruit, the children cried.

Rodante dārake disvā, ubbiddhā vipulā dumā; Sayamevoṇamitvāna, upagacchanti dārake.

Seeing the children cry, the tall, massive trees bent down of their own accord, within reach of the children.

Idaṁ acchariyaṁ disvā, abbhutaṁ lomahaṁsanaṁ; Sāhukāraṁ pavattesi, maddī sabbaṅgasobhanā.

Seeing this marvel, so astonishing and hair-raising, Maddī, beautiful in every limb, exclaimed in celebration:

Accheraṁ vata lokasmiṁ, abbhutaṁ lomahaṁsanaṁ; Vessantarassa tejena, sayamevoṇatā dumā.

‘Such a marvel in the world, so astonishing and hair-raising, due to the power of Vessantara, the trees bent down of their own accord.’

Saṅkhipiṁsu pathaṁ yakkhā, anukampāya dārake; Nikkhantadivaseneva, cetaraṭṭhamupāgamuṁ.

Native spirits, out of compassion, shortened the path, so that on the very day they set out, they arrived at the kingdom of Ceta.

Saṭṭhirājasahassāni, tadā vasanti mātule; Sabbe pañjalikā hutvā, rodamānā upāgamuṁ.

Sixty thousand kings were living at Mātula then. All raised their cupped palms, and approached, weeping.

Tattha vattetvā sallāpaṁ, cetehi cetaputtehi; Te tato nikkhamitvāna, vaṅkaṁ agamu pabbataṁ.

There they held conversation with the folks of Ceta and their children. Then, leaving that place, they arrived at Crooked Mountain.

Āmantayitvā devindo, vissakammaṁ mahiddhikaṁ; Assamaṁ sukataṁ rammaṁ, paṇṇasālaṁ sumāpaya.

The lord of gods addressed Vissakamma of great psychic power: ‘Build a hermitage, well-made and delightful, with a hall of leaves.’

Sakkassa vacanaṁ sutvā, vissakammo mahiddhiko; Assamaṁ sukataṁ rammaṁ, paṇṇasālaṁ sumāpayi.

After hearing Sakka’s words, Vissakamma of great psychic power built a hermitage, well-made and delightful, with a hall of leaves.

Ajjhogāhetvā pavanaṁ, appasaddaṁ nirākulaṁ; Caturo janā mayaṁ tattha, vasāma pabbatantare.

Having plunged into the forest, quiet and undisturbed, we four persons lived there in the mountains.

Ahañca maddidevī ca, jālī kaṇhājinā cubho; Aññamaññaṁ sokanudā, vasāma assame tadā.

Myself and Queen Maddī, with both Jāli and Kaṇhājinā, dispelling each other’s sorrow lived then in that hermitage.

Dārake anurakkhanto, asuñño homi assame; Maddī phalaṁ āharitvā, poseti sā tayo jane.

While caring for the children, I was not idle in the hermitage. Maddī gathered fruit, and provided for three people.

Pavane vasamānassa, addhiko maṁ upāgami; Āyāci puttake mayhaṁ, jāliṁ kaṇhājinaṁ cubho.

While I was living in the forest, a traveler came to me and asked for my children, both Jāli and Kaṇhājinā.

Yācakaṁ upagataṁ disvā, hāso me upapajjatha; Ubho putte gahetvāna, adāsiṁ brāhmaṇe tadā.

When I saw the supplicant approaching, I felt so full of joy. Taking both my children, I gave them to the brahmin then.

Sake putte cajantassa, jūjake brāhmaṇe yadā; Tadāpi pathavī kampi, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

When I gave away my own children, to the brahmin Jūjaka, the earth quaked again, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Punadeva sakko oruyha, hutvā brāhmaṇasannibho; Āyāci maṁ maddideviṁ, sīlavantiṁ patibbataṁ.

And then Sakka descended in the guise of a brahmin. He asked me for Queen Maddī, virtuous, and devoted.

Maddiṁ hatthe gahetvāna, udakañjali pūriya; Pasannamanasaṅkappo, tassa maddiṁ adāsahaṁ.

Taking Maddī by the hand, filling clasped hands with water, with a confident heart, I gave Maddī to him.

Maddiyā dīyamānāya, gagane devā pamoditā; Tadāpi pathavī kampi, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

As Maddī was being given, gods applauded in the welkin, and the earth quaked again, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Jāliṁ kaṇhājinaṁ dhītaṁ, maddideviṁ patibbataṁ; Cajamāno na cintesiṁ, bodhiyāyeva kāraṇā.

Jāli and Kaṇhājinā my daughter, and Queen Maddī my devoted wife: I gave them up without a second thought, because it was solely for awakening.

Na me dessā ubho puttā, maddidevī na dessiyā; Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, tasmā piye adāsahaṁ.

I had no dislike of my children, nor for Queen Maddī. But because omniscience is precious to me, I gave my loved ones away.

Punāparaṁ brahāraññe, mātāpitusamāgame; Karuṇaṁ paridevante, sallapante sukhaṁ dukhaṁ.

Later on in the mighty forest, we were reunited by my mother and father. Crying pitifully, they spoke of my happiness and sadness.

Hirottappena garunā, ubhinnaṁ upasaṅkami; Tadāpi pathavī kampi, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

With deep conscience and prudence, I approached them, at which the earth quaked, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Punāparaṁ brahāraññā, nikkhamitvā sañātibhi; Pavisāmi puraṁ rammaṁ, jetuttaraṁ puruttamaṁ.

Later on in the mighty forest, having left the forest with my family, I entered the delightful city Jetuttara, the capital city.

Ratanāni satta vassiṁsu, mahāmegho pavassatha; Tadāpi pathavī kampi, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

The seven gems rained down, raining forth from a mighty cloud, and the earth quaked again, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Acetanāyaṁ pathavī, aviññāya sukhaṁ dukhaṁ; Sāpi dānabalā mayhaṁ, sattakkhattuṁ pakampathā”ti.

Even this insentient earth, with no knowledge of happiness or sadness, quaked seven times at the power of my giving.”