English
Surely by Nanda's death, you rejoice, O Sirivahana; And I, and Nanda too, will go to Yama's abode. You have mastered divine magic, you performed an illusion for the eyes; You who released Videha, my enemy, who was in my hands. Here, great king, the wise master divine magic; Those wise, thoughtful people release themselves. I have young men, skilled in breaking through barriers; By the path they made, Videha went to Mithila. Look now, great king, at the well-built tunnel; For elephants and horses, for chariots and foot soldiers; Standing as a light, the well-built tunnel. Indeed, a gain for the Videhans, that such wise ones; Dwell in their conquered home, as you are, Mahosadha. Maintenance and protection, double salary; I give ample enjoyments, partake of pleasures and delight; Do not go back to Videha, What will Videha do?’’ 766. ‘‘He who abandons, great king, His master for the sake of wealth; Is blameworthy to both, To himself and to the other; As long as Videha lives, He should not be another’s man. 767. ‘‘He who abandons, great king, His master for the sake of wealth; Is blameworthy to both, To himself and to the other; As long as Videha stands, He should not dwell in another’s realm.’’ 768. ‘‘I give you a thousand gold coins, And eighty villages in Kasi; Four hundred female slaves, I give you a hundred wives; Taking all your retinue, Go safely, Mahosadha. 769. ‘‘Let them give to the elephants, Twice the measure to the horses; Let them satisfy with food and drink, The charioteers and foot soldiers.’’ 770. ‘‘Elephants, horses, chariots, foot soldiers, Take them and go, wise one; Let the great king see you, Videha, having gone to Mithila.’’ 771. ‘‘Elephants, horses, chariots, foot soldiers, A great army is seen; Four-fold, fearsome in appearance, What do you think, wise one?’’ 772. ‘‘Joy, great king, The highest, is seen; Taking all his retinue, Mahosadha has arrived safely.’’ 773. ‘‘Just as four men abandon A corpse in a charnel ground; So have we abandoned you in Kapilavastu, And come here.’’ 774. ‘‘Then by what appearance, Or by what reason; Or by what advantage, Did you free yourself?’’ 775. ‘‘With advantage, Videha, with advantage, With counsel, Khattiya, with counsel; I surrounded the king, As the ocean surrounds Jambudīpa.’’ 776. ‘‘A thousand gold coins were given to me, And eighty villages in Kasi; Four hundred female slaves, A hundred wives were given to me; Taking all my retinue, I have arrived here safely.’’ 777. ‘‘How pleasant indeed is association, With the wise, Senaka; Like birds caught in a cage, Like fish in a net— Thus it is, great king, The wise indeed bring happiness; Like birds caught in a cage, Like fish gone into a net; When fallen into the hands of enemies, Mahosadha released us. Let all lutes be struck, Drums and kettledrums; Let the Magadhan conches blow, Let the melodious drums resound. Royal ladies and princes, Merchants and brahmins; Much food and drink, Brought to the wise one. Elephant riders, cavalry, Charioteers, foot soldiers; Much food and drink, Brought to the wise one. The country folk gathered, The townspeople also gathered; Much food and drink, Brought to the wise one. Many people were pleased, Seeing the wise one arrive; When the wise one arrived, A waving of clothes took place. Whatever jewels there are, In Dhataraṭṭha's abode; Let all of them come to you, Give your daughter to the king. No marriage with Nāgas, Has ever been made by us; That unsuitable marriage, How can we perform? Surely your life is abandoned, Or your kingdom, O lord of men; For when Nāgas are angered, Such ones do not live long. You who are a human, O god, Without power, (you scorn) the powerful; Varuṇa's own son, The Yamuna-born, you despise. I do not despise the king, Dhataraṭṭha, the glorious; For Dhataraṭṭha is indeed the lord, Even of many Nāgas. Even a serpent of great power, Is not fit for my daughter; She is a Khattiya of the Videhas, Well-born, sprung from the ocean. Let Kambala and Assatara arise, Inform all the Nāgas; Let them go forth to Bārāṇasī, And harm no one. In houses, in pits, In streets, in squares, And let them hang on treetops, And be spread out on arches. 792. "I too, with all white ones, The great, very great city, Will surround with my bodies, Generating fear for the Kāsīs." 793. Hearing that word of his, The many-colored serpents, Entered Bārāṇasī, And did not harm anyone. 794. In houses, in ditches, In streets and in squares, They hung on treetops, And were spread out on arches. 795. Seeing them hanging there, Many women cried aloud, Seeing the serpents coiled, Breathing out again and again. 796. Bārāṇasī was afflicted, Became distressed and sick; Raising their arms, they cried out, "Give the daughter to the king!" 797. "In the midst of the flower-bearing forest, Who is the red-eyed one, with extended rays? Who are the ten women, wearing conch bracelets, well-clothed, Standing, paying homage? 798. "Who are you, great-armed one, in the midst of the forest, Shining like fire sprinkled with ghee? Are you some powerful yakkha, Or are you a nāga of great might?" 799. "I am a nāga, powerful, Resplendent, hard to overcome; Angered, I could bite with my power, Even a prosperous country. 800. "Indeed, my mother is Samuddajā, And Dhataraṭṭha is my father; I am Sudassana's younger brother, They know me as Bhūridatta." 801. "That deep, ever-whirling, Terrifying lake you see; That is my divine abode, Inhabited by many hundreds. 802. "Resounding with peacocks and cranes, Blue-watered, from the midst of the forest; Enter the Yamunā, do not be afraid, It is safe, a blessed dwelling." 803. "Having arrived there with your retinue, And with your son, brahmin; Honored with my desires, You will dwell happily, brahmin." 804. "The earth all around, level, With abundant tagara plants; Covered with fireflies, Shines, supremely green. 805. "Delightful forest shrines, Delightful, resounded by swans; With lotuses in full bloom, Stand the ponds..." well-made. 806. “Eight-sided, well-made pillars, all made of beryl; A thousand-pillared palace, full of maidens, shines. 807. “You have attained a celestial mansion, divine through your own merits; Unobstructed, auspicious, delightful, filled with ultimate happiness. 808. “I think you do not desire the mansion of the thousand-eyed one; For your power is vast, like that of glorious Sakka.” 809. “Not even by thought can be reached the power of the glorious one; Of those who serve, who are subject to Indra.” 810. “Desiring that mansion, of the deathless ones, seekers of happiness; Observing the Uposatha, I lie on an anthill.” 811. “And I, seeking game, entered the forest with my son; My relatives do not know whether I am dead or alive. 812. “I address Bhūridatta, the glorious son of Kāsī; If you permit us, may we see our relatives?” 813. “This is indeed my wish, that you should dwell near me; For such pleasures are not easily obtained by humans. 814. “If you do not wish to stay, honored with my pleasures; Permitted by me, go safely and see your relatives.” 815. “Take this divine gem, it brings cattle and sons; You will be healthy and happy, take it and go, brahmin.” 816. “I welcome your words, Bhūridatta; I will go forth, I am old, I do not desire pleasures.” 817. “If there is a breach of the holy life, and wealth is needed; Come without wavering, I will give you much wealth.” 818. “I welcome your words, Bhūridatta; I will come again, if there is a need.” 819. Having said this, Bhūridatta sent four men; “Come, go, arise, quickly take the brahmin.” 820. Hearing his words, the four men arose; Sent by Bhūridatta, they quickly took the brahmin. 821. Holding the auspicious gem ...beautiful, Of good fortune, delightful; A gem endowed with marks, Who found this jewel? "Surrounded on all sides By a thousand red-eyed ones; Today, going on the path, I found this jewel." "This gem, well-practiced, Always honored, revered; Well-held, well-placed, It accomplishes all things. "For one who errs in its use, In placing or holding it; This gem leads to ruin, If practiced improperly. "An unskilled person is not fit To hold this divine jewel; Offer a hundred nishkas, Give this treasure to me." "This jewel is not to be bought by me, Nor with cattle, nor with treasures; This gem, endowed with marks, My jewel is not to be bought." "If this jewel is not to be bought by you, Nor with cattle, nor with treasures; Then by what is this jewel to be bought? Tell me that, as I ask." "Whoever seizes for me a great Naga, Fiery and hard to overcome; To him I will give this gem, Blazing as if with splendor." "Who, in the guise of a brahmin, Is a Supaṇṇa, best of birds; Seeking to conquer a Naga, Searching for his own food?" "I am not the lord of birds, Nor have I seen a Garuḷa; I am skilled in snake-poison, Know me, brahmin, as a healer." "What strength do you possess? What skill is found in you? In what are you so confident, That you do not fear a snake?" "To a forest-dwelling sage, An ascetic for a long time; Supaṇṇa, to Kosiyā, taught The supreme poison-lore. "That one, with a cultivated self, Reciting spells in the mountain caves; I diligently attended him, Day and night, untiringly. "He, then, attended by me, Observant, practicing celibacy; Revealed the divine spell, The venerable one, as I wished. "Confident in those spells, I do not fear serpents; I am a master of poison-destroyers, A They know me as 'lampānoti'. 836. Let us seize the gem, father, Somadatta, understand this; Let us not, by force, abandon the fortune that has come. 837. He who came to your own dwelling, O brahmin, honored you. For such a benefactor, why do you wish evil out of delusion? 838. If you desire wealth, Bhūridatta will give it. Go and ask him, he will give you much wealth. 839. What is in hand, what is in the plate, it is better to eat what is acquired. Let not our visible gain,