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teeth like jasmine buds. 977. “Whose hands and feet, well-nourished, are like the juice of lac? Who is he, with lips like a bimba fruit, shining like the sun by day? 978. “Like a great sal tree in bloom on Himavā at the end of winter, who is he, in a white cloak, shining like a victorious Indra? 979. “Adorned with golden studs, with a jeweled handle, who is he, entering the assembly, drawing his sword slightly? 980. “Golden, varied, beautiful, well-made, with beautiful stitching; Who is he, taking off his sandals, having bowed to the Great Sage?” 981. “Those Nāgas are Dhataraṭṭhas, endowed with power and fame; Born from the ocean, these Nāgas are mighty.” The Bhūridatta Jātaka, the sixth. 544. The Candakumāra Jātaka (7) 982. “There was a king, a cruel doer, the sole king of Pupphavatī; He asked the brahmin kinsman, Khaṇḍahāla, the foolish purohita. 983. ‘Tell me the path to heaven, you, brahmin, skilled in Dhamma and discipline; How do people, having done merits, go from here to a good destination?’ 984. ‘Having given great gifts, and having slain the blameless, O king; Thus do people, having done merits, go to a good destination.’ 985. ‘What then is that great gift, and who are the blameless in this world? Tell us this, we shall sacrifice and give gifts.’ 986. ‘One should sacrifice with sons, O king, with chief queens and citizens; With bulls and four noble steeds, one should sacrifice with all fourfold, O king.’” 987. “Having heard that, in the inner palace, the princes and queens were to be slain; There arose a single cry, a dreadful, exceedingly loud sound.” 988. “Go and tell the princes, Canda, Sūriya, and Bhaddasena; Sūra and Vāmagotta, that you are to be abundant for the sacrifice.” "Tell the princesses, Upasenā, Kokilā, and Muditā; And Princess Nandā, Indeed, be abundant for the sacrifice." "Also my chief queen Vijayā, Erāvatī, Kesinī, and Sunandā; Endowed with excellent marks, Indeed, be abundant for the sacrifice." "And tell the householders, Puṇṇamukha, Bhaddiya, and Siṅgāla; And also householder Vaḍḍha, Indeed, be abundant for the sacrifice." "There the householders, Gathered with sons and wives, said: 'Make all of us ascetics, O god, Or else announce us as slaves.'" "My elephant Abhayaṅkara, Nāḷāgiri, the very tall, Varūṇadanta; Bring them quickly, indeed, They will be for the sacrifice." "Also the excellent horses, Kesī, Surāmukha, Puṇṇaka, and Vinataka; Bring them quickly, indeed, They will be for the sacrifice." "Also the bull, the herd-leader Anoja, Nisabha, the lord of cattle, bring them to me; Let them gather everything, I will sacrifice, I will give gifts." "Prepare everything, For the sacrifice at sunrise; And command the princes, Let them enjoy this night." "Arrange everything, For the sacrifice at sunrise; Now tell the princes, Today is indeed their last night." "His mother said to him, Weeping, having come from the palace: 'Indeed, your sacrifice, my son, Will be with four sons.'" "All my four sons, When the moon is being slain; A sacrifice with sons, a sacrifice..." having sacrificed, I will go to a good destination, to heaven.’’ 1000. “Do not believe that, my son, that a good destination comes from a sacrifice of sons; This is the path to hell, this is not the path to heavens. 1001. “Give gifts, Koṇḍañña, harmlessness to all beings, future and present”; This is the path to a good destination, not the path through a sacrifice of sons.” 1002. “By the words of the teachers, I will slay the moon and the sun; Having sacrificed with sons, hard to abandon, I will go to a good destination, to heaven.” 1003. “Your father also said this, the one who controls his own born son; ‘Your sacrifice, my son, will be with four sons’.” 1004. “All my four sons, while the moon is being slain; Having sacrificed with sons, I will go to a good destination, to heaven.” 1005. “Do not believe that, my son, that a good destination comes from a sacrifice of sons; This is the path to hell, this is not the path to heavens. 1006. “Give gifts, Koṇḍañña, harmlessness to all beings, future and present; This is the path to a good destination, not the path through a sacrifice of sons.” 1007. “By the words of the teachers, I will slay the moon and the sun; Having sacrificed with sons, hard to abandon, I will go to a good destination, to heaven.” 1008. “Give gifts, Koṇḍañña, harmlessness to all beings, future and present; Surrounded by sons, you, rule the kingdom and the country.” 1009. “Do not kill us, O king, give us as slaves to Khaṇḍahāla; Even though bound in chains, we will tend elephants and horses. 1010. “Do not kill us, O king, give us as slaves to Khaṇḍahāla; Even though bound in chains, we will clear away elephant dung. 1011. “Do not kill us, O king, give us as slaves to Khaṇḍahāla; Even though bound in chains, we will clear away horse dung. 1012. “Do not kill us, O king, give us as slaves to Khaṇḍahāla; If these are your wishes, even exiled from the country; We will wander for alms.” 1013. “Suffering Indeed, you bore me, Lamenting, for life's desire; Release now the princes, Let the sacrifice for sons be enough for me. 1014. Indeed, it was told to me before, This is difficult, hard to achieve; Then, for our prepared sacrifice, Why do you cause disruption? 1015. All go to a good destination, Those who sacrifice and those who cause to sacrifice; And those who approve, Of such a great sacrifice by sacrificers. 1016. Then why did the people before, Cause the brahmins to recite blessings? Then, without reason, O king, you kill us for the sacrifice. 1017. Before, when we were young, You did not strike, you did not kill; From youth, having reached adulthood, Blameless, father, we are killed. 1018. Mounted on elephants, mounted on horses, See us, O great king, armed; In battle or when fighting, Indeed, heroes like us are not for sacrifice. 1019. Or when the border is disturbed, Or in the forests, they employ ones like us; Then, without reason, In an improper place, father, we are killed. 1020. Even those birds, Who live having made grass houses; Even their sons are dear, Then you, O king, kill us. 1021. Do not trust him, Khaṇḍahāla would not kill me; For having killed me, Immediately after, O king, he would kill him too. 1022. They give excellent villages, excellent towns, And wealth to him, O great king; And even choice alms, These eat in every family. 1023. Even for such as these, They wish to do harm, O great king; Mostly these, O king, are ungrateful brahmins. 1024. Do not kill us, O king, Give us as slaves to Khaṇḍahāla; Even in chains, We will tend elephants and horses. 1025. Do not kill us, O king, Give us as slaves to Khaṇḍahāla; Even in chains, We will clear elephant dung. 1026. Do not kill us, O king, Give us as slaves to Khaṇḍahāla; Even in chains, We will clear horse dung. Do not kill us, O god, Give us as slaves to Khaṇḍahāla; Whose desires are yours, Even exiled from the kingdom; We will wander for alms. 1028. Indeed, you cause me suffering, Lamenting, for you desire life; Release the princes now, Let the sacrifice of sons be enough for me. 1029. Indeed, it was told to me before, That this is difficult, hard to achieve; But for our prepared sacrifice, Why do you cause an obstruction? 1030. All go to a good destination, Who sacrifice, and who cause to sacrifice; And who approve, Of such a great sacrifice by those sacrificing. 1031. If indeed, having sacrificed sons, They depart from here to the deva-world; Let the brahmin sacrifice first, Afterwards, you too, O king, may sacrifice. 1032. If indeed, having sacrificed sons, They depart from here to the deva-world; Let Khaṇḍahāla himself, Sacrifice with his own sons. 1033. Khaṇḍahāla, knowing this, Why does he not kill his own sons? And all his relatives, And does not kill himself? 1034. All go to hell, Who sacrifice, and who cause to sacrifice; And who approve, Of such a great sacrifice by those sacrificing. 1035. If indeed he who kills is purified, And the slain one goes to a heavenly abode; Then let the 'bhovādis' kill the 'bhovādis', And those who believe them. 1036. How is it then that those desiring sons, Householders and their wives, Do not cry out to the king in the city, "Do not kill your own son!" 1037. How is it then that those desiring sons, Householders and their wives, Do not cry out to the king in the city, "Do not kill your own-born son!" 1038. I am indeed desirous of the king's welfare, And beneficial to all the country; Let there be no opposition, The country does not express resentment through me. 1039. Go, you wives, And tell your father k And Khandahāla; Do not kill the princes, The innocent, like lions. 1040. ‘‘Go, you wives, And tell father Khandahāla; Do not kill the princes, Who are desired by all the world.’’ 1041. ‘‘Oh, if only I had been born, In families of chariot-makers; Or in families of scavengers, or in families of merchants; Then the king would not kill me for a sacrifice today.’’ 1042. ‘‘All you women, go, To the noble Khandahāla; Fall at his feet, I see no fault (in them).’’ 1043. ‘‘All you women, go, To the noble Khandahāla; Fall at his feet, What wrong, sir, have we done?’’ 1044. ‘‘Sela laments piteously, Seeing her brothers brought (for sacrifice); Indeed, a sacrifice has been prepared for me, By father, desiring heaven.’’ 1045. ‘‘Vasula turns and turns, Before the king; Do not kill us, father, We are young, having attained youth.’’ 1046. ‘‘This is your father, Vasula, Be reconciled with your father; You cause me pain, Lamenting in the inner palace; Release the princes now, Enough for me with a sacrifice of sons.’’ 1047. ‘‘Indeed, it was told to me before, That this is difficult to do, and difficult to accomplish; But for our prepared sacrifice, Why do you cause disruption?’’ 1048. ‘‘All go to a good destination, Who sacrifice, and who cause to sacrifice; And those who approve,