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Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One. Minor Collection Jātaka Pāḷi (Part Two) 17. The Forty Nipāta 521. The Tesakuṇa Jātaka (1) 1. “I ask you, Vessantara, O bird, may you be well; What excellent deed should one who wishes to rule do?” 2. “After a long time, father, Kaṃsa, the one who seized Bārāṇasī, Though heedless, my father urged me, his heedful son. 3. “First, one should restrain falsehood, anger, and laughter; Then one should do one’s duties; that, they say, is the vow, O warrior. 4. “That deed of ascetic practice, father, which you undoubtedly did before; What one does when impassioned or hateful, one should not do again from that. 5. “For a heedless warrior, O increaser of the kingdom, All possessions are destroyed; that is called the king’s misfortune. 6. “Prosperity and Misfortune, father, when asked, said this: ‘I delight in a man of effort and energy, who is not envious.’ 7. “In envious, hard-hearted men, in those who spoil their work, Kālakaṇṇī, O great king, the breaker of the wheel, delights. 8. “So you, be kind to all, be a protector of all; Drive away Misfortune, O great king, be a dwelling place for Prosperity. 9. “For a man endowed with prosperity and fortitude, is truly great, O lord of Kāsi; He cuts off the root and top of his enemies. 10. “Even Sakka, the lord of beings, does not neglect effort; He sets his mind on good things, and applies himself to effort. 11. “Gandhabbas, ancestors, gods, are alive for such a one; The deities stand by one who rises up and is not heedless. 12. “So you, not heedless, not angry, father, do your duties; Strive in your duties, for the lazy one does not find happiness. 13. Therein are your rules of conduct, this is the instruction. Enough to make friends happy, and to cause suffering to enemies. You are able, Kuṇḍalinī, you think, O kinswoman of warriors; By one wishing to rule, what good deed should be done? Two are the steps, dear, wherein all is established: the gain of what is not yet gained, and the protection of what is gained. Know your ministers, dear, wise, skilled in purpose; Not gamblers, dear, not drunkards, not destroyers. And whoever, dear, would protect you, and whatever wealth you may have; Like a charioteer holding the reins, let him manage your affairs. With a well-gathered inner circle, overseeing your own wealth; Deposits and loans, do not make through others. Know your own income and expenditure, know your own done and undone; Restrain those who deserve restraint, support those who deserve support. Yourself, the welfare of the country, instruct, O chief of chariots; Lest your unrighteous appointees, destroy your wealth and kingdom. And do not with haste, do or cause to be done your tasks; For a deed done in haste, a fool later regrets. Do not release your superiors, who are greatly enraged; For by anger, many prosperous, families have fallen into ruin. Do not, dear, thinking "I am master," lead to ruin; For women and for men, let there not be a source of suffering for you. For a king without goosebumps, who follows his desires; All possessions are destroyed, that is called the king's misfortune. Therein are your rules of conduct, this is the instruction. Now, a skillful doer of merit, not a drunkard, not a destroyer; Let him be virtuous, O great king, the immoral one is ruined. We asked of the Kosiyan clan... Osika, and Kundalini as well; Now you tell us, jackal, what is the best of strengths. 27. Strength is fivefold in the world, for a great man; Among these, arm-strength, is called the last strength. 28. And wealth-strength, O Long-lived one, is called the second strength; And minister-strength, O Long-lived one, is called the third strength. 29. And noble-birth-strength, that is the fourth, without doubt; All these, the wise man overcomes. 30. That strength is the best of strengths, the foremost, the strength of wisdom; Supported by the strength of wisdom, the wise man finds success. 31. Even if a fool obtains, the excellent, prosperous earth; Against his will, by force, another will take it. 32. Even if he is of noble birth, a khattiya having obtained a kingdom; A foolish lord of Kasi, will not live by all means. 33. Wisdom indeed discerns what is heard, wisdom increases fame and renown; A man endowed with wisdom here, finds happiness even in suffering. 34. And wisdom, for one who does not listen, no one attains; Without approaching the learned, who is firm in Dhamma and unwavering. 35. And he who knows the division of Dhamma, who rises at the right time, not lazy; Who strives at the proper time, the fruit of his action prospers. 36. For one whose virtue is not a proper basis, who resorts to improper bases; For one who acts without perseverance, his aim does not ripen properly. 37. But for one who is inwardly diligent, who resorts to proper bases; For one who acts with perseverance, his aim ripens properly. 38. What is called effort and application, and the protection of what has been acquired; These, my dear, you should practice, do not ruin yourself by inaction; For by inaction, the foolish one, sinks like a reed-house. 39. Practice Dhamma, great king, O Khattiya, towards your mother and father; Having practiced Dhamma here, O king, you will go to heaven. 40. Practice Dhamma, great king, O Khattiya, towards your sons and wives; Having practiced Dhamma here, O king, you will go to heaven. 41. Practice Dhamma, great king, O Khattiya, towards your friends and ministers; Having practiced Dhamma here, O king, you will go to heaven. 42. Practice Dhamma, great king, towards your vehicles and forces; Having practiced Dhamma here, O king, you will go to heaven. 43. Practice Dhamma, great king, in villages and towns... 44. Practice Dhamma, great king, in states and provinces... 45. Practice Dhamma, great king, towards ascetics and brahmins... 46. Practice Dhamma, great king, O Khattiya, towards animals and birds; Having practiced Dhamma here, O king, you will go to heaven. 47. Practice Dhamma, great king, Dhamma practiced brings happiness; Having practiced Dhamma here, O king, you will go to heaven. 48. Practice Dhamma, great king, The gods with Indra, and with Brahmā; Having well-practiced, attained heaven, O king, do not be heedless of Dhamma. 49. These very rules of conduct, this is the instruction; Served by the wise, it is auspicious, they know it completely by themselves. The first, Tesakuṇa Jātaka. 522. Sarabhaṅga Jātaka (2) 50. Adorned, with earrings, well-dressed, with lapis lazuli, pearls, and sword-belts; O excellent charioteers, who are you that stand? How do people know you in the human world?'' 51. ‘‘I am Aṭṭhaka, and this is Bhīmaratha, and this is King Kāliṅga, the exalted one; To see the well-restrained ascetics, we have come here to ask questions.'' 52. ‘‘You stand in the sky, in the air, like the moon on the fifteenth day, traveling its path; I ask you, O Yakka of great power, How are you known in the human world?’’ 53. ‘‘Whom they call Sujampati among the gods, Him they call Maghavā in the human world; That king of gods has arrived here today, To see the well-restrained ascetics.’’ 54. ‘‘We have heard from afar that ascetics have gathered, Mighty, endowed with powers; With a serene mind, I salute you, venerable ones, Who are the best of humans in this living world.’’ 55. ‘‘The scent of ascetics, long-initiated, Released from their bodies, goes with the wind; Go back from here, O thousand-eyed one, The scent of ascetics is impure, O king of gods.’’ 56. ‘‘Let the scent of ascetics, long-initiated, Released from their bodies, go with the wind; Like a fragrant garland of various flowers, We desire this scent, venerable sir; The gods here are not disgusted by it.’’ 57. ‘‘Purindada, lord of beings, glorious, Indra of the gods, Sakka, Maghavā, Sujampati; That king of gods, subduer of the Asura hosts, Desires an opportunity to ask a question.’’ 58. ‘‘Who among these wise ones here, When asked subtle questions, will answer? Both for the three kings, lords of men, And for Vāsava, Indra of the gods?’’ 59. ‘‘This ascetic Sarabhaṅga, the recluse, Since his birth, abstinent from sexual intercourse; A well-disciplined disciple, He will answer their questions.’’ 60. ‘‘Koṇḍañña, answer the questions, The good ascetics ask you; Koṇḍañña, this is the custom among men, That this burden comes to the elder.’’ 61. ‘‘Having been given the opportunity, let the venerable ones ask, Whatever question is desired in their minds; For I will answer each of them for you, Having known this world and the other myself.’’ 62. ‘‘Then Maghavā, Sakka, The seer of purpose, Purindada; Asked the first question, Which he had desired.’’ 63. ‘‘What, having struck, does one never What, the giving up of what do sages praise? Whose harsh words here should one endure? Tell me, Koṇḍañña, this matter. Having slain anger, one never grieves; The giving up of contempt do sages praise. One should endure the harsh words of all; This patience, the saints call supreme. It is possible to endure the words of two, Of an equal or even of a superior; But how should one endure the words of an inferior? Tell me, Koṇḍañña, this matter. Indeed, out of fear one endures the words of a superior, And for the sake of rivalry, those of an equal; But whoever here endures the words of an inferior, This patience, the saints call supreme. How would one discern the fourfold form, Superior, equal, or even inferior? Saints move about in various forms, Therefore, indeed, one should endure the words of all. Not even a great army, Fighting with its king, would obtain this; What a patient good person obtains; Patience is strength, hostilities cease. Having approved your well-spoken words, I ask you another thing, please tell me; How were Daṇḍakī, Nāḷikera, And King Ajjuna, and Kalābu? Tell me the destiny of those evil-doers,