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And having been eaten, it destroys twelve evils: hunger, thirst, discontent, weariness from distress; anger, resentment, quarrels, slander, cold, heat, and sloth – this is the supreme essence. 230. It is not proper for me to eat, Mātali, without first giving – this is my supreme vow; Nor is a single meal honored by the noble ones, and one who does not share finds no happiness. 231. Those who kill women, and those who commit adultery, those who betray friends, and those who swear falsely, O virtuous one; all of them are the lowest, the fifth being the stingy; therefore, one should not eat even water without giving. 232. So, whether to a woman or to a man, I will give a gift praised by the wise; Those who are faithful, generous, and free from stinginess here, they are indeed considered pure and truthful. 233. From this, sent by the chief of the gods, four maidens, like golden-skinned ones; Hope and Faith, Splendor and then Modesty Then he came to that hermitage where Kosiyo was. 234. Seeing them, he greatly rejoiced, with beautiful complexion, like a flock of peacocks; Four maidens from the four directions, thus he spoke in the presence of Mātali. 235. "In the eastern direction, who are you, shining goddess, adorned like a brilliant star? I ask you, O golden creeper-bodied one, tell me, which deity are you?" 236. "I am Siri, worshipped by gods and humans, always associating with non-evil beings; Because of the dispute over ambrosia, I have come to you, therefore, share ambrosia with me, O one of excellent wisdom. 237. To whom I wish ambrosia, O great sage, that person rejoices with all desires; Know me as Siri, O best of sacrificers, therefore, share ambrosia with me, O one of excellent wisdom." 238. "By skill, by knowledge and conduct, by wisdom, people endowed are proficient in their own work; Lacking you, they obtain nothing, this is not good, what has been done by you. 239. I see a person, lazy, a great glutton, even of very low birth, an ugly man; Protected by you, Siri, even one of high birth, he sends like a slave, wealthy and happy. 240. You are untrue, associating indiscriminately, I know you are foolish, following the wicked; Such a one does not deserve a seat and water, how then ambrosia? Go, I do not like you." 241. "Who are you, with white fangs, wearing earrings, with diverse armlets, wearing polished conch-shells; With a brilliant complexion, you shine, wearing a red kusagga flower, a garland of blossoms. 242. Like a bewildered deer, disturbed by one holding a bow and arrow, you look around slowly; Who is your companion here, O soft-eyed one? Are you not afraid, alone in this forest grove?" 243. "I have no companion here, O Kosiya, I am a deity born of strength and essence; With the hope of ambrosia, I have come to you, therefore, share ambrosia with me, O one of excellent wisdom." With hope, merchants seeking wealth go, Boarding ships, they go to the ocean; They sink there, or sometimes, They return with lost wealth, their provisions ruined. With hope, farmers plough fields, They sow seeds, making efforts; By calamity or by drought, They find no fruit therefrom. Then men seeking happiness Do their own deeds for their masters, placing hope first; They, having been too oppressed by the master's affairs, Again wander in directions, having gained nothing. Abandoning grain, wealth, and relatives, With hope, minds set on heaven, seeking happiness; They practice even harsh asceticism for a long time, Taking the wrong path, they go to a bad destination. These hopes are considered deceivers, Subdue hope for nectar within yourself; Such a one does not deserve a seat and water, Whence nectar? Go, you are not pleasing to me.'' "Shining brightly with glory, glorious one, Towards the direction called Jighañña; I ask you, with a body like a golden creeper, Tell me, which deity are you?" "I am Faith, worshipped by gods and humans, Always associating with beings free from evil; Having come to you for the dispute over nectar, Share me, O wise one, with nectar." "Taking generosity, self-control, renunciation, and restraint, Some do these with faith; Theft, falsehood, fraud, and also slander, Others do these again, having fallen away from you. A man, discerning among wives, Among those endowed with virtue, and devoted to their husbands; Having removed his desire for women of good family, He places faith again in a slave girl. You yourself, O Faith, associate with others' wives, You do evil, and abandon good; Such a one does not deserve a seat and water, Whence nectar? Go, you are not pleasing to me." "a mayha ruccasi’’. 254. In the hungry night, when dawn breaks, you appear, of supreme form and beauty; Like that, goddess, you appear to me, tell me, what kind of nymph are you? 255. Dark, like a fire-born in summer, stirred by the wind, with a garland of red leaves; Who are you, standing, looking like a gentle deer, as if speaking, yet not uttering a word? 256. I am Hiri, revered by gods and humans, always associating with blameless beings. Having come to you due to a dispute over nectar, I am unable to beg even for nectar; like a wretched begging woman. 257. By righteousness and justice, fair one, you shall obtain, for this is the law, not begging for nectar. Therefore, I invite you, who do not beg, and whatever you wish for nectar, that I shall give you. 258. You, today, in my own hermitage, are invited, O golden creeper-like one; You are to be honored by me with all delicacies, and having honored you, I shall partake of nectar. 259. She, permitted by the radiant Kosīya, indeed, Hiri entered that delightful hermitage; Full of water, honored by noble fruits, always frequented by blameless beings. 260. Many trees and groves here are in bloom, mangoes, piyāla, jackfruit, and kiṃsuka; Moringa, lodda, and also padmaka, kekā, bhaṅgā, tilaka, beautifully in bloom. 261. Sāla, karerī, many jambu trees here, fig, banyan, madhuka, vetasa; Uddālaka, pāṭali, sinduvāra, with delightful fragrance, mucalinda, ketaka. 262. Hareṇukā, veḷukā, keṇu, tinduka, sāmāka, nīvāra, and also cīnaka; Plantains, bananas, many rice plants here, pavīha, ābhūjina, and rice grains. 263. To its northern side, a beautiful pond arose; Not rough, without steep banks, good, excellent. Gandhikā. 264. Therein fish are well-pleased, safe and well-fed; Siṅgū with many curves, entangled, and rohitā with a hundred curves; Teeming with āḷigaggarā, pāṭhīnā and kākamacchakā. 265. Therein birds are well-pleased, safe and well-fed; Swans, cranes, and peacocks, cakkavākā and kukkuhā; Many colorful kuṇālakā, sikhaṇḍī and jīvajīvakā. 266. Therein many diverse herds of deer come to drink; Lions, tigers, and boars, bears, wolves, and hyenas. 267. Palāsādā and gavajā, buffaloes, rohitā, rurū; Eṇeyyā and boars, herds of nīkasūkarā; Many kadalimigā are here, cats and sasakaṇṇikā. 268. The earth-mountain, strewn with various flowers, resounded with birds, served by flocks of birds. 269. She, with dark trees hanging down, shone like a lightning flash in a great cloud; To her, whose well-bound hair was made of kusa grass, pure and fragrant, served by a deer-skin, Atricca, with a couch, spoke this with modesty, "Sit, fair one, this seat is pleasant." 270. When she was on the couch, the Kosiya, wearing matted hair and a deer-skin, desiring, with new leaves and water himself, the great sage, swift, with a sweet smile. 271. She, receiving it with both hands, spoke this to the one with matted hair, delighted; "Indeed, I am now honored by you, Brahmin, I will go to the heaven of the victorious." 272. She, permitted by the radiant Kosiya, exalted, intoxicated with the pride of her beauty; Going to the presence of the thousand-eyed one, "This is nectar, Vāsava, grant me victory." 273. Then Sakka also honored her, Indra and the devas, the excellent divine maiden; She, with joined palms, honored by devas and humans, when she sat on the new couch. 274. That same mother again spoke Go, Mātali, thousand-eyed lord of the gods; Go and speak my words to Kosiya, Kosiya, concerning hope, faith, and prosperity; For what reason was shame stained, O pure one? 275. “Then he lifted that chariot, shining like a royal palace. Like molten gold, like refined gold, adorned with golden patterns. 276. “Many golden moons were placed there, elephants, cows, horses, wild oxen, tigers, leopards; Antelopes and leaping birds were there, sapphire deer, armed with weapons. 277. “There, king-horses, swift as wind, were yoked, a thousand of them, like young nāgas; Adorned with golden nets on their chests, with head-ornaments, swift-moving, unhindered. 278. “Ascending that excellent vehicle, Mātali, he made these directions resound; And the sky, and the mountains, and the forests, he shook the earth with its oceans. 279. “He quickly approached the hermitage, with a cloak over one shoulder, with joined palms; To the learned, aged, and disciplined one, Mātali, the divine brahmin, spoke thus. 280. “Listen to Indra’s words, Kosiya, I am his messenger, Purindada asks you; Kosiya, concerning hope, faith, and prosperity, for what reason was shame stained, O pure one?” 281. “Prosperity seems blind to me, Mātali, faith is impermanent, O charioteer of the gods; Hope is considered deceitful by me, and shame is established in noble qualities.” 282. “Maidens who are protected by their lineage, and old women, and all women with husbands; They restrain the strong desire for men, by their own shame in their hearts. 283. “At the forefront of battle, amidst arrows and darts, of the defeated, falling, fleeing ones; They turn back by shame, abandoning life…” Gone, they accept again, being conscientious. 284. Just as a shore holds back the ocean's force, so by conscience it restrains evil folk; That, honored by the noble in all the world, declare to Indra, O charioteer of gods. 285. Who revealed this view to you, O Kosiya?