English
The Book of the Sixties The Soṇaka Jātaka (1) 1. Having heard of him, I'll give a hundred, a thousand to see Soṇaka; Who will tell me of Soṇaka, my friend from playing in the dust? 2. Then spoke a young brahmin boy, with five topknots; "Having heard me, give a hundred, a thousand to see Soṇaka; I will tell you of Soṇaka, your friend from playing in the dust." 3. In which country is he, in which states and towns? Where did you see Soṇaka? Tell me, as I ask you. 4. Indeed, in your own realm, O king, in your own parkland; Tall, great sal trees, with a blue sheen, delightful. 5. They stand like clouds, charming, leaning on one another; At their root, Soṇaka meditates, without clinging; In a world burning with clinging, he is extinguished. 6. Then the king set out, with his four-fold army; Having had the path leveled, he went to where Soṇaka was. 7. Having gone to the parkland, wandering in the great forest; He saw Soṇaka seated, extinguished amidst the burning. 8. Alas, this monk is wretched, shaven, wrapped in a patched robe; Without mother, without father, he meditates at the foot of a tree. 9. Having heard this speech, Soṇaka said this: "Not wretched, O king, is one who touches the Dhamma with his body. 10. But whoever, having rejected the Dhamma, follows unrighteousness; He, O king, is wretched, evil, inclined to evil." 11. "My name is Arindama, they know me as the King of Kasi; Is your lying down comfortable, Soṇaka, having arrived here?" 12. Always auspicious for the one who strives, for the homeless monk; For them, there is no k They place it on their lips, Not in a pot, not in a ladle. Seeking what is already prepared, By that, the well-behaved ones live. 13. ‘‘Secondly, for the excellent mendicant, For the homeless monk; Blameless alms-food should be eaten, And no one obstructs him. 14. ‘‘Thirdly, for the excellent mendicant, For the homeless monk; Cooled alms-food should be eaten, And no one obstructs him. 15. ‘‘Fourthly, for the excellent mendicant, For the homeless monk; Wandering free in the country, For whom no attachment exists. 16. ‘‘Fifthly, for the excellent mendicant, For the homeless monk; When the city is burning, Nothing of his would burn. 17. ‘‘Sixthly, for the excellent mendicant, For the homeless monk; When the country is being plundered, Nothing of his would be carried away. 18. ‘‘Seventhly, for the excellent mendicant, For the homeless monk; Even a path guarded by thieves, And other brigands; Taking his bowl and robe, The well-behaved one goes safely. 19. ‘‘Eighthly, for the excellent mendicant, For the homeless monk; Whichever direction he goes, He goes without looking back.’’ 20. ‘‘Many are these excellent qualities, Which you, monk, praise; But I am greedy for sensual pleasures, What shall I do, Soṇaka? 21. ‘‘Dear to me are human sensual pleasures, And divine ones are also dear to me; So by what means, Can we obtain both worlds?’’ 22. ‘‘Greedy for sensual pleasures, Delighting in sensual pleasures, Infatuated with sensual pleasures; People, having done evil deeds, Are reborn in a bad destination. 23. ‘‘But those who, having abandoned sensual pleasures, Have gone forth, fearless; Having attained unification, They do not go to a bad destination. 24. ‘‘I will make a comparison for you, Listen to that. Listen, O destroyer of foes; Some wise ones understand the meaning by a simile. 25. Having seen a corpse in the Ganges, being carried into the great ocean; A crow, of little wisdom, mindless, thought. 26. "Indeed, this is a vehicle obtained, and this is no small food"; There at night, there by day, there his mind was engrossed. 27. Eating the flesh of the elephant, drinking the water of the Bhagirathi; Seeing the forest shrines, the bird did not leave. 28. And that descending Ganges, carried the heedless one, devoted to the corpse; Into the ocean, where there is no escape for birds. 29. And that bird, his food exhausted, flew up. Not to the back, not to the front, not north, nor south. 30. He did not reach an island, where there is no escape for birds; And he fell right there, just like a weak one. 31. And the marine fish, crocodiles, makaras, and porpoises; Ate him by force, as he struggled, the helpless one. 32. Just so, O king, and others who enjoy sensual pleasures; If greedy, they will not vomit, they are known to be of crow-wisdom. 33. This simile, O king, has been made to show the meaning; And you will be known by it, whether you will do it or not. 34. Even once or twice, one who is compassionate may speak; Beyond that, he should not speak, in the presence of a master's servant. 35. Having said this, Sonaka, of boundless wisdom, departed; In the sky, in the air, having admonished the king. 36. Who are these royal makers, Sudras who have attained skill; Having entrusted the kingdom I will give it, I am not desirous of the kingdom. 37. "Today I will go forth, Who knows death tomorrow? May I not, like a foolish crow, Fall under the sway of desires." 38. "You have a young son, Dīghāvu, who makes the kingdom prosper; Anoint him to the kingdom, He will be our king." 39. "Quickly bring the prince, Dīghāvu, who makes the kingdom prosper; I will anoint him to the kingdom, He will be your king." 40. Then they brought the prince, Dīghāvu, who makes the kingdom prosper; Seeing him, the king spoke, To his only beloved son. 41. "Sixty thousand villages, Completely full in every way; These, my son, take possession of, I hand over the kingdom to you. 42. Today I will go forth, Who knows death tomorrow? May I not, like a foolish crow, Fall under the sway of desires. 43. Sixty thousand elephants, Adorned with all ornaments; With golden trappings, elephants, Wearing golden caparisons. 44. Mounted by chieftains, With spears and goads in hand; These, my son, take possession of, I hand over the kingdom to you. 45. Today I will go forth, Who knows death tomorrow? May I not, like a foolish crow, Fall under the sway of desires. 46. Sixty thousand horses, Adorned with all ornaments; Of noble breed, Sindhu horses, swift-moving. 47. Mounted by chieftains, Bearing quivers and bows; These, my son, take possession of, I hand over the kingdom to you. 48. Today I will go forth, Who knows death tomorrow? May I not, like a foolish crow, Fall under the sway of desires. 49. Sixty thousand chariots, Equipped, with banners raised; Leopard-skinned and tiger-skinned, Adorned with all ornaments. 50. Mounted by chieftains, With bows in hand, armored; These, my son, take possession of, I hand over the kingdom to you. 51. Today I will go forth, Who knows death tomorrow? May I not, like a foolish crow, Fall under the sway of desires. 52. Sixty thousand cows Young bulls, of the Rohaṇa breed; These, my son, accept, I bestow the kingship upon you. 53. “Today I will go forth, who knows death tomorrow? May I not, like a foolish crow, fall under the sway of desires. 54. “Sixteen thousand women, adorned with all ornaments, with varied clothes and jewels, wearing jeweled earrings; These, my son, accept, I bestow the kingship upon you. 55. “Today I will go forth, who knows death tomorrow? May I not, like a foolish crow, fall under the sway of desires.” 56. “While I was young, father, I heard that my mother died; Without you, father, I cannot even bear to live. 57. “Just as a young elephant follows behind a wild elephant, as it goes through mountain passes, on even and uneven ground. 58. “So I will follow you, taking my son behind; I will be easy for you to support, I will not be a burden to you.” 59. “Just as for a ship at sea, of merchants seeking wealth, if a cargo were to be taken there, the merchants would be in distress. 60. “Just so, this little son, is an obstacle to me; Take this prince, to the pleasure-increasing palace. 61. “There, with shell-braceleted hands, like celestial nymphs in Sakka’s heaven; They will delight him there, and he will delight in them.” 62. Then they took the prince, to the pleasure-increasing palace; Seeing him, the maidens said to Dīghāvu, the prosperity-increasing. 63. “Are you a god, or a gandhabba, or Sakka, the giver of gifts? Who are you, and whose son are you? How are we to know you?” 64. “I am not a god, nor a gandhabba, nor Sakka, the giver of gifts; I am the son of the king of Kāsī, Dīghāvu, the prosperity-increasing; Support me, may it be well with you, I will be your husband.” 65. Then the maidens there said to Dīghāvu, the prosperity-increasing, “Ku “Where has the king arrived? Where has the king gone from here?” 66. “The king has crossed the mud, The king is established on dry land; He has entered a great path, Without thorns, without thickets. 67. “And I have entered a path, Leading to a bad destination; Full of thorns, full of thickets, Where those of bad destiny go.” 68. “Welcome to you, O King, Like a lion to a mountain cave; Instruct us, Great King, You are the master of us all.” The Sonaka Jātaka, the first. 530. The Saṃkicca Jātaka (2) 69. Having seen the king seated, Brahmadatta, the lord of chariots; Then he reported to him, To whom he was compassionate. 70. “Saṃkicca has arrived, Highly esteemed by ascetics; Go out quickly, And swiftly see the great sage.” 71. Then the king, in haste, Having mounted the yoked chariot; Surrounded by friends and ministers, The lord of chariots went forth. 72. Laying aside the five royal insignia, The enhancer of the Kāsī realm; The yak-tail whisk, the turban, The sword, the parasol, and the sandals; 73. The king, alighting from the vehicle, Having set aside the covering; Approached Saṃkicca, Who was seated in the grove. 74. Having approached, that king, Exchanged greetings with the ascetic; Having finished that conversation, He sat down to one side. 75. Seated to one side, Then he thought it was the right time; Then he proceeded to ask, About evil deeds. 76.