English
The Section on Longing Pale and emaciated, weak, your complexion and form not as before; Vimalā, tell me when asked, what is this bodily suffering of yours? Among humans, O lord of men, mothers' longing is called a Dhamma; Struck by Dhamma, O elephant-king, Vidhura's... "You long for the moon, or the sun, or even the wind. Indeed, a sight of Vidhura is rare, who here will honor Vidhura?" "Why, father, do you lament? Your face is like a lotus in hand. Why are you so downcast, lord? Do not grieve, you who burn your foes." "Indeed, your mother Irandati desires Vidhura in her heart. Indeed, a sight of Vidhura is rare, who here will honor Vidhura?" "Go seek a husband for her, who here will honor Vidhura." And she, hearing her father's words, went out at night and sought a suitor. "Which Gandharvas, Rakkhasas, or Nāgas, which Kinnaras, or even humans, which wise ones, givers of all desires, will be my husband for a long time?" "Be assured, I shall be your lord, I shall be your husband, O blameless-eyed one. Indeed, such is my wisdom, be assured, you shall be my wife." Irandati spoke to Puṇṇaka, with a mind following a former path: "Come, let us go to my father, he will tell you this matter." Adorned, well-dressed, garlanded, anointed with sandalwood, taking the Yakkha by the hand, she approached her father. "O best of Nāgas, hear my words, act appropriately regarding the dowry. I desire Irandati, unite me with her." "A hundred elephants, a hundred horses, a hundred mule-drawn chariots, a hundred full mansions, filled entirely with various jewels; O Nāga, accept these, give me your daughter Irandati." "First, let me consult my relatives, and friends, and well-wishers. An action done without consulting, that one regrets later." Then that Varuṇa nāga, Having entered his dwelling; Having addressed his wife, Spoke these words. "This Puṇṇaka yakkhā, Asks me for Irandhatī; With much gain of wealth, Let us give him my beloved." "Not by wealth, not by riches, Is our Irandhatī to be obtained; But if the heart of a wise one, Righteously obtained, you bring here; By this 'wealth' the maiden is obtained, No other wealth do we further desire." Then that Varuṇa nāga, Having left his dwelling; Having addressed Puṇṇaka, Spoke these words. "Not by wealth, not by riches, Is our Irandhatī to be obtained; But if you the heart of a wise one, Righteously obtained, bring here; By this 'wealth' the maiden is obtained, No other wealth do we further desire." "Whom some call wise in the world, Him others again call a fool; Tell me, they contradict here, Whom, O Nāga, do you call wise?" "Of King Korabya, Dhanañcaya, If you have heard of the minister named Vidhura; Bring that wise one, righteously obtained, And Irandhatī shall be your handmaiden." And having heard Varuṇa's words, The yakkhā arose, greatly pleased; Being there, he told a man, "Bring a noble steed, yoked right here." "With ears of gold, Hooves of crystal; Of pure Jambonada gold, Its breastplate." Puṇṇaka, mounting the steed, A vehicle fit for gods; Adorned, with hair and beard trimmed, Departed through the sky, in the air. That Puṇṇaka, greedy with desire, Wishing for Irandhatī, the nāga maiden; Having gone to that glorious lord of beings, Spoke thus to Vessavaṇa Kuvera. In a mansion named Bhogavatī, it is called Hiraññavatī; In a city built of gold, established for the circle of serpents. The watchtowers are like camels' necks, with red coral and cat's-eye gems; The palaces here are made of stone, covered with gold and jewels. Mangoes, tilakas, and rose-apples, seven-leaved trees, mucalindas, ketakas; Piyangus, uddālakas, sahās, uparibhaddakas, sinduvārakas. Champakas, nāgamallikās, bhaginīmālās, and here koliyās; These trees, arranged, adorn the serpent's mansion. Date palms here are made of stone, many perpetually blooming with gold; Where dwells Papātika, the great powerful Nāga king Varuṇa. His maiden wife, pure, with a body like a golden creeper; Dark, just arisen, youthful, with breasts like nimba fruits, lovely to behold. With skin reddened like lac-juice, like a kaṇikāra flower blooming in a sheltered spot; Like a celestial nymph, emerged from a cloud with lightning. She, pregnant and greatly astonished, holds the heart of the separated one; "That I give to them, O lord, by that they will give me Irandhatī." That Puṇṇaka, the glorious lord of beings, addressing Vessavaṇa, Kuvera; Being right there, he said to the man, "Bring here a noble steed, yoked." Its ears were made of gold, its hooves of crystal; Of purified Jambonada gold, was its breast-plate. The vehicle that carries the gods, Puṇṇaka mounted the horse; Adorned, with hair and beard trimmed, he departed through the sky, through space. He went to Rājagaha, most delightful, the city of the king of Aṅga, difficult to approach; Abundant in food, with much food and drink, like the city of Vāsava, Masakkasāra. Resounding with flocks of peacocks and cranes. a place frequented by birds, served by flocks of birds; Resounding with various birds, a beautiful courtyard, strewn with flowers, like the Himālaya mountain. 1383. Then Puṇṇaka ascended Mount Vepulla, a rocky peak frequented by kimpurisas; Searching for an excellent jewel, he saw it in the middle of the mountain peak. 1384. Seeing the radiant, excellent, charming, great jewel; Shining with glory, glorious, it shone like lightning in the sky. 1385. He took that precious beryl, named Manohara, of great power; Mounting the swift horse, he departed through the air in the sky. 1386. He went to the city of Indapattha, descended and approached the assembly of the Kurus; Where a hundred were gathered, all united, the yakkha challenged them, unafraid. 1387. “Who here among kings excels? Whom shall we excel with excellent wealth? Whom shall we conquer with an unsurpassed, excellent jewel? Or who will conquer us with excellent wealth?” 1388. “Where is the land of your birth? Your speech is not like that of the Kurus; You are unafraid of our appearance, all of us; Tell me your name and your relatives.” 1389. “I am the young brahmin Kaccāyana, O King, they call me by that complete name; My relatives and kinsmen are in Aṅga, I have come here, O King, for a game of dice.” 1390. “Does the young brahmin have jewels, that a dice-player might win and take them? The king has many jewels; How do you, a poor man, challenge him?” 1391. “This jewel of mine is called Manohara, an excellent, charming jewel; And this swift horse, a terror to enemies; Let a dice-player win these and take them.” 1392. “What will one jewel do, young brahmin? What will one swift horse do? The king has many jewels, and swift horses swift as the wind.” Oh, not a few. Named the Section on Longings. Section on the Jewel 1393. And this jewel-gem of mine, See, you, O best of bipeds; Here are the quarrels of women, And the quarrels of men. 1394. Here are the quarrels of animals, And the quarrels of birds; Naga kings and Supannas, See them depicted in the jewel. 1395. Elephant troops, chariot troops, Horses and armored foot soldiers; This four-fold army, See it depicted in the jewel. 1396. Elephant riders, those in the ranks, Charioteers, foot soldiers; Arrayed divisions of the army, See them depicted in the jewel. 1397. A city full of terraces, With many walls and archways; Lands at the crossroads, See them depicted in the jewel. 1398. Stakes and moats, Ditches and bolts; And watchtowers and gates, See them depicted in the jewel. 1399. See at the archway paths, Many groups of various birds; Swans, cranes, and peacocks, And ruddy geese and cuckoos. 1400. Many colorful cuckoos, Crested birds and chakor partridges; Crowded with groups of various birds, See it depicted in the jewel. 1401. See the city with good walls, Wonderful, hair-raising; Delightful with raised banners, Strewn with golden sand. 1402. See here the shops, Divided, measured in sections; In dwellings and settlements, At junctions, arrangements, and crossroads. 1403. And drinking houses and taverns, Slaughterhouses, rice-cooks' houses; And courtesans and prostitutes, See them depicted in the jewel. 1404. And garland-makers and dyers, Perfumers, then cloth-dealers; Goldsmiths, jewelers, See them depicted in the jewel. 1405. And cooks and butchers, Dancers, actors, singers; Musicians, pot-drummers, See them depicted in the jewel. 1406. See drums and tabors, Conch shells, kettledrums, and small drums; All And other music, see it created in the gem. 1407. Clapping and lutes, dancing and singing well-played; the din of instruments struck, see it created in the gem. 1408. Acrobats and boxers here, magicians and showmen; bards and jesters too, see it created in the gem. 1409. Assemblies are held here, thronged by men and women; stages upon stages, see it created in the gem. 1410. See wrestlers in the assembly, flexing their doubled arms; the defeated and the proud, see it created in the gem. 1411. See at the foot of the mountains, many herds of various beasts; lions, tigers, boars, bears, wolves, hyenas. 1412. Antelopes, wild oxen, buffaloes, red deer, sambar; gazelles and wild boars, herds of wild pigs. 1413. Many colorful musk deer, cats, porcupines; thronged with various kinds of beasts, see it created in the gem. 1414. Rivers with good fords, strewn with golden sand; clear waters flow, frequented by shoals of fish. 1415. Crocodiles and makaras here, and porpoises and turtles; catfish, pāvusa fish, balaja and muñjarohita fish. 1416. Thronged with various kinds of birds, filled with various kinds of trees; lapis lazuli banks, see it created in the gem. 1417. See here lotus ponds, well-divided in four directions; thronged with various kinds of birds, frequented by broad-feathered ones. 1418. Endowed with water all around, the earth ringed by the ocean; furnished with forest kings, see it created in the gem. 1419. See Videha in front, and Goyaniya behind;