English
for supreme friends, that has been done by you for us; We have undoubtedly attained that devotion of yours towards us. 82. “And indeed, it is a great interval for our relatives; By our absence, there is suffering among many families. 83. “For the removal of their sorrow, we are permitted by you; That, having circumambulated Having done [that], we shall see our kinsfolk, O king. 84. Surely I find great joy from seeing you. And this is also a great benefit, it would be from the trust of kinsfolk. 85. Having said this, Dhataraṭṭha, the king of geese, to the king of men, having attained supreme speed, went to the assembly of kinsfolk. 86. They, having arrived healthy, having seen the supreme birds, the geese made a 'kek' sound, a loud cry arose. 87. They, delighted by their released master, respectful of their master, surrounded all around, the egg-born, having obtained their reliance. 88. Thus, the benefits of those who have friends, all are auspicious, just as Dhataraṭṭha and the geese went to the assembly of kinsfolk. 89. These geese are departing, crooked-bodied, driven by fear. O green-feathered, gold-colored one, depart freely, O Sumukha. 90. Having abandoned me, the kinsfolk, alone, fallen into a snare, they go, not looking back. Why do you remain behind alone? 91. Fly away, O best of flyers, there is no companionship for the bound one. Do not cause trouble for yourself, who is free, depart freely, O Sumukha. 92. I will not, even though overcome by suffering, O Dhataraṭṭha, abandon you. My life or death will be with you. 93. I will not, even though overcome by suffering, O Dhataraṭṭha, abandon you. You should not urge me to engage in ignoble deeds. 94. I am your young companion and friend, and I stand by you in your heart. I am known to you as a general, most excellent and supreme among geese. 95. How will I boast, having gone from here among kinsfolk? Having abandoned you, O best of flyers, what will I say, having gone from here? Here I will give up my life, not ignoble. This is indeed the Dhamma, Sumukha, that you stand on the noble path; You who would not abandon me, your lord and friend. As I look upon you, no fear arises in me. You attain life for me, being such a one. While these noble ones, of noble conduct, were thus conversing, the fowler, taking his stick, came rushing swiftly. Seeing him approaching, Sumukha cried out loudly; The swan stood before the king, reassuring the hunter. Do not fear, best of flyers, such ones do not fear. I will apply a method, suitable and connected to Dhamma; By that means, you will quickly be freed from the snare. Hearing that well-spoken word, of Sumukha, the fowler, with hair standing on end, raised his joined hands in salutation. Never have I heard or seen, a bird speaking human speech; A crooked-bodied one, calling himself noble, uttering human words. What kind of bird are you, free, yet attending to one bound? Birds leave and go, why do you remain alone? He is my king, friend of birds, I acted as his general; I cannot abandon him in distress, the lord of birds. He is my lord for the great flock, may he not go to ruin alone; Therefore, good fowler, may this lord be pleased. You are of noble conduct, crooked-bodied one, who honors his food; I release your lord for you, go both of you, as you please. If by your own effort, you have released the swan; We accept from you, good sir, this gift of fearlessness. But if not by your own effort, you have released the swan; You, not being master, releasing us, would commit theft, hunter. Whose servant you are, O king Let him bring it to him as he wishes; There the restrained king will act as he knows. Thus spoken, the fowler, the golden-colored, green-feathered ones; taking both with his hands, put them into the cage. Those birds in the cage, both of shining color; Sumukha and Dhataraṭṭha, the hunter took and departed. Being carried away, Dhataraṭṭha, said this to Sumukha: "I greatly fear, Sumukha, for Sāmā of the auspicious thighs; knowing our death, she will then kill herself. And the young geese, Sumukha, of good gold, with golden feathers; like a heron on the seashore, will surely lament piteously." "Thus, so great in the world, an immeasurable great leader; should he grieve for one woman, this is not like those with wisdom. As wind takes scent, both good and bad; a fool, like raw and ripe (food), greedy, like a blind man for meat. Not knowing how to discern in matters, you appear foolish to me; you do not know what should be done and what should not, though the time has arrived. Half-mad you speak, who thinks women are superior; for they are common to many, like a liquor house to drunkards. They are illusion and mirage, sorrow, sickness, and misfortune; and they are harsh bonds, death's snares, dwelling in caves; the man who trusts in them, is the lowest of men among men." "What has been known by the elders, who is able to blame that? Women, called 'great beings', have arisen in the world. Play is placed in them, delight is established in them; seeds grow in them, whereby beings are born; who among them would be disgusted, having obtained life through living beings. You alone, no other, Sumukha, are devoted to women's affairs; therefore, when fear arises today, wisdom is born from the fearful. Everyone who has fallen into doubt, the fearful one endures fear; and the wise, great... "For this purpose, kings desire a brave minister; for a brave one wards off calamity in his own turn. "May the king's cooks not cut us up today in the great kitchen; for indeed, the color of the leaves has killed it like a bamboo fruit. "Even when freed, he did not wish to fly, he himself went into bondage; He has now fallen into doubt, take hold of the meaning, not the mouth." "So you should apply that method, which is fitting and conducive to righteousness; By your skillful device, seek my life." "Do not fear, chief of birds, for such as you do not fear; I will apply a method, fitting and conducive to righteousness; By my skillful device, you will quickly be freed from the snare." That hunter, with the swan in a cage, approached the king's gate; 'Announce me to the king, Dhataraṭṭha has arrived.' Seeing them, both resembling merit, endowed with auspicious marks; The king, truly self-controlled, addressed his ministers. "Give the hunter clothes, food, drink, and provisions; Let him have as much gold as he desires." Seeing the hunter pleased, the King of Kasi then spoke: "If this, friend Khemaka, is full of swans, How did you, snare in hand, approach the delightful middle? How did you seize the one surrounded by his relatives?" "Today is my seventh night, since I came to the feeding grounds; Searching for its tracks, I stayed vigilant by the pot. Then I saw its tracks, as it moved seeking food; There I laid my snare, and thus I caught that bird." "Hunter, these are two birds, yet you say it is one. Is your mind confused, or do you wish to deceive?" "He whose red palms, bright like molten gold, stand pressed against his chest, he has come into my snare." "But this noisy bird, unbound, to the bound one, stood claiming to be noble, abandoning human speech." "Then why now, fair-faced one, do you stand with jaws pressed shut? Or having come to my assembly, are you afraid and do not speak?" "I am not afraid, lord of Kasi, having entered your assembly. I will not speak from fear, a word in such a matter." "I see no allies for you, nor chariots, nor foot soldiers; nor leather or armor, nor armed archers." "Nor gold or silver, nor a well-built city; a fortress with a deep moat, strong towers and ramparts; where having entered, fair-faced one, you would not fear what should be feared." "I have no need for allies, nor for a city, nor for wealth. We travel pathless paths, we are sky-dwellers." "We are learned and wise, skillful in discerning meaning. We speak words full of meaning, established in truth." "What will it do for you, untruthful, ignoble one? For a liar, a hunter, even well-spoken words." "By the words of Brahmins, I made this place safe. And safety was proclaimed by you, in these ten directions." "Having entered your pond, with clear, pure water; and abundant food there, and non-harming for birds here." "Having heard this proclamation, we came to your presence. You bound them with a snare, this speech of yours is false." "Having put falsehood first, and evil craving and greed; both having transgressed the agreement, as" is born." 149. "We do not offend, O Sumukha, nor are we seized by greed; The learned are exceedingly wise, skillful in discerning meaning. 150. "Even a meaningful word, they would utter, having come here; Thus, O good hunter, Sumukha, you have grasped what was said." 151. "Not out of fear, O Lord of Kasi, when life is brought near; Do we speak a meaningful word, having reached the end of time." 152. "Whoever kills a deer with a deer, or a bird with a bird; Or buys knowledge with knowledge, what is more ignoble than that?" 153. "And whoever speaks ignoble words, being steeped in ignoble ways; He falls from both worlds, here and in the hereafter." 154. "One should not be intoxicated when fame is attained, nor be troubled when doubt arises; One should strive in duties, and guard against weaknesses." 155. "Those elders who have passed beyond, having reached the end of their time; Having practiced the Dhamma here, thus they went to heaven." 156. "Having heard this, O Lord of Kasi, uphold the Dhamma in yourself; And release Dhataraṭṭha, the foremost and best of swans." 157. "Let them bring water for the feet, and a worthy seat; I will release from the cage, the glorious Dhataraṭṭha." 158. "And that wise general, skillful in discerning meaning; Who is happy when the king is happy, and distressed when distressed. 159. "Such a one indeed deserves, to eat the master's food; Just as this Sumukha is the king's, a friend sharing life."