English
The Book of Eighty The Lesser Swan Jātaka (1) 1. Sumukha, not gathering, the birds are departing; You too go, do not hesitate, there is no companionship for one who is bound. 2. Whether I go or not, I would not be immortal by that; Having attended you when happy, how could I abandon you when in distress? 3. Death with you, or life without you; that death is better, than if I were to live without you. 4. This is not the custom, O great king, that one should abandon you in such a state; Whatever fate is yours, that is mine, it pleases me, O chief of birds. 5. What other fate is there, for one bound by a snare, O great swan? How can that please you, who are free and thinking? 6. What benefit do you see, for me and for you, O bird, and for our remaining relatives, in the destruction of both our lives? 7. That which no one desires, gone into blind darkness; Sacrificing life in such a state, what purpose would it illuminate? 8. How is it, O best of flyers, that you do not understand the benefit in Dhamma? Dhamma, when cultivated, shows benefit to beings. 9. I, looking to Dhamma, and the benefit arisen from Dhamma, and seeing devotion in you, do not long for life. 10. Indeed, this is the custom of the good, that a friend in distress, should not be abandoned, even for life, remembering the principle of Dhamma. 11. This Dhamma has been practiced by you, and your devotion to me is known; Do this favor for me, go, with my permission. 12. Even if this time has come, that which is broken for our relatives by me, may that, O wise one, be perfectly restrained by you. 13. While thus consulting, the noble ones of noble conduct, the fowler appeared, like the bringer of death to the distressed. 14. They, seeing the enemy, long-necked they left, the birds; Both remained silent, not stirring from their seats. 15. And seeing the Dhataraṭṭha, flying up from here and there; Approach quickly, O enemy of birds, towards the chief of birds. 16. And he, approaching quickly, having seized the excellent bird; The fowler trembled, thinking, "It is caught." 17. One was caught and sitting, and another was not caught; Having seized the one that was caught and sitting, looking on without distress. 18. Then he, being perplexed, spoke to the white one; as it sat with an enlarged body, the chief of the flock of birds. 19. Why, though caught by a great snare, does the caught one not flee? And why, though not caught, O strong bird, do you not go? 20. What is this bird to you, that you, free, attend the caught one? Birds leave and go, why do you remain alone? 21. He is my king, O friend of birds, and a friend dear as life to me; I will not abandon him, until the end of time. 22. How then did this bird not see the spread snare? This is a condition for the great, that they should understand adversity. 23. When there is ruin, for a person at the end of life; Then the net and the snare, even when approached, are not perceived. 24. Moreover, O greatly wise one, snares are spread in many ways; They are caught by approaching what is hidden, and thus at the end of life. 25. Is this not with you, a source of happiness in companionship? Will you not permit us, will you not grant us life? 26. You are not caught by me, nor do I wish your death; Go from here quickly if you wish, live long without harm. 27. I do not wish this, except for his life; If you are content with one, release him and eat me. 28. In height and girth, we are both equal in age; There is no gain for you in my life. Therefore, look closely at this, let there be greed in you; First bind me with a snare, afterwards release the lord of birds. Then there will be gain for you, and by granting the request; And friendship with the Dhātaraṭṭhas, will be yours for life. Let the great assembly see us, released by you, gone from here; Friends, ministers, and servants, sons, wives, and relatives. And such friends as these, are not found by many here; As you are to Dhātaraṭṭha, a friend sharing life. Therefore, I release your companion, let the king be your follower; Go quickly from here, and shine among your relatives. He, delighted by the released master, respectful of his master; The crooked-limbed one spoke, uttering words pleasing to the ear. Thus, hunter, may you rejoice, with all your relatives; As I rejoice today, seeing the released lord of birds. Come, I will instruct you, so that you too may obtain; Gain from this Dhātaraṭṭha, and see no evil. Quickly take us both to the inner palace, and show us to the king; Unbound, in our natural state, standing on both sides of the pole. O great king, these are the Dhātaraṭṭha, lords of the geese; This one is indeed the king of the geese, and this other is the general. Without doubt, seeing this, the goose-king, the lord of men; Delighted, joyful, pleased, will give you much wealth. Hearing his words, he carried out the action; Quickly going to the inner palace, he showed the geese to the king; Unbound, in their natural state, standing on both sides of the pole. O great king, these are the Dhātaraṭṭha, lords of the geese; This one is indeed the king of the geese, and this other is the general. “How have these birds, come into your hands? How did the hunter gain mastery over such great ones?” 43. “These snares, O Lord of men, were set in the marshes, wherever I thought was a place for birds to be caught. 44. Having encountered such a snare, the king of swans was caught; He, though unbound, sitting near, spoke to me thus. 45. ‘It is very difficult for the ignoble to achieve such an excellent state; This bird, striving in his master’s cause, is devoted to righteousness. 46. He, worthy of life, giving up his own life, lamenting, sitting there, begged for his master’s life. 47. Hearing his words, I gained faith; Then I released him from the snare, and permitted him to go in peace. 48. ‘He, delighted with his released master, reverent towards his master, the crooked-necked one, spoke words pleasing to the ear. 49. ‘May you, hunter, rejoice, together with all your relatives, just as I rejoice today, seeing the king of birds released. 50. ‘Come, I will instruct you, how you too may obtain gain; This Dhataraṭṭha will bring you profit, and you will see no harm. 51. ‘Quickly take us to the inner palace, and show us both to the king; Unbound, in our natural state, standing on either side. 52. ‘These are Dhataraṭṭha, O great king, the lords of swans; This one is the king of swans, and this one is his general. 53. ‘Without doubt, seeing this king of swans, the lord of men, delighted, joyful, pleased, will give you much wealth.’ 54. Thus, by his words, I brought them both; Here they were, both permitted by me. 55. This bird, so excellent, a bird of supreme righteousness, would surely soften a hunter like me. 56. And I see no other such gift for you, O king, than all these. ‘‘In the village of Uṇikā, see him, O king of men.’’ 57. Seeing the king seated, on a beautiful golden throne; The crooked-bodied one addressed him, speaking words pleasant to the ear. 58. ‘‘Is there well-being for you, sir? Is there freedom from illness for you? Is this prosperous kingdom, ruled by you righteously?’’ 59. ‘‘There is well-being for me, O goose, and freedom from illness, O goose; And this prosperous kingdom, I rule righteously.’’ 60. ‘‘Is there no fault found, among your ministers? And do they not cling to life, for your sake?’’ 61. ‘‘Indeed, no fault is found, among my ministers; Indeed, they do not cling to life, for my sake.’’ 62. ‘‘Is your wife suitable, obedient, and sweet-speaking? Endowed with children, beauty, and fame, compliant with your wishes?’’ 63. ‘‘Indeed, my wife is suitable, obedient, and sweet-speaking; Endowed with children, beauty, and fame, compliant with my wishes.’’ 64. ‘‘Did you, sir, fall into the hands, of a great enemy? Did you experience great suffering, in that first misfortune?’’ 65. ‘‘Did he, having fallen into a trap, beat you with a stick? For such base people, that is their usual custom at once.’’ 66. ‘‘It was safe, great king, even in that misfortune; And he did not treat us, like an enemy in any way.’’ 67. ‘‘The fowler came back, and spoke first; Then this Sumukha, the wise one, replied.’’ 68. ‘‘Hearing his words, he was filled with joy; Then he released me from the snare, and allowed me to go in peace.’’ 69. ‘‘And this was thought by Sumukha, for this purpose; Coming to your presence, desiring wealth for him.’’ 70. ‘‘Welcome indeed are you, sirs, and I am pleased by your sight; And this one also, much wealth, may he obtain as much as he wishes.” 71. “Having satisfied the fowler with enjoyments, the lord of men; Addressed the crooked-limbed one, speaking words pleasing to the ear.” 72. “Whatever matter is subject to the will of those who are devoted; All sovereignty is yours, command that which you desire. 73. “For giving, or for enjoyment, or for whatever else is suitable; This wealth I give to you, I grant you sovereignty.” 74. “And how this wise one, with a pleasant face, might address me; As he wishes, endowed with wisdom, that would be most dear to me.” 75. “Indeed, great king, like a Nāga king in a forest; I am unable to reply, that would not be my discipline. 76. “He is indeed our chief, and you are the supreme being; The protector of the earth, the lord of men, worthy of veneration for many reasons. 77. “When these two are speaking, in the course of a decision; A servant should not interrupt, O lord of men.” 78. “Indeed, the fowler is wise in the Dhamma, an egg-born one; Such a course of action would not be for one who is unskilled. 79. “Thus of noble nature, thus a supreme being; As far as I have seen, I see no other like him. 80. “I am pleased with your nature, and with your sweet words; And this is my wish, that I may see you both for a long time.” 81. “Whatever is to be done