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Garlands, and scents, and unguents, lamps, beds, and lodging, clothing, food and drink, we gave gifts respectfully there. 1619. That was my vow, that was my holy life, of that well-practiced..." This is the result of debt; This is the arising of power, glory, strength, and energy, and this great mansion, O wise one, is mine.” 1620. “If you have obtained this mansion, and know the fruit of merits; Therefore, practice the Dhamma diligently, so that you may not lose the mansion again.” 1621. “There are no ascetics or brahmins here, to whom we might give food and drink; Explain this matter to me, when asked, how we may not lose the mansion again.” 1622. “You have dependents here, sons and wives, and those who live by you; Towards them, in word and deed, be always blameless. 1623. “Thus, O Nāgī, maintaining blamelessness, in word and deed; Having stayed here in the mansion for as long as life lasts, you will go from here to the deva world.” 1624. “Indeed, that excellent king sorrows, without you, for whom you are life; Even if afflicted with suffering, meeting you, a person, though sick, would find happiness.” 1625. “Indeed, O Nāgī, you speak the Dhamma, a supreme and well-practiced path to welfare; In such adversities, the distinction of those like me becomes evident.” 1626. “Tell us, was this obtained in vain? Tell us, was this won by gambling? He says it was obtained by Dhamma, how then did you come into his hand?” 1627. “The king who was master there, him he won by gambling; That king, having been defeated, gave me to him; I was obtained by Dhamma, not by violence. 1628. Just as the Nāga Varuṇa, questioned the wise one; So too the Nāga maiden, questioned the wise one. 1629. Just as the wise one pleased the Nāga Varuṇa, when questioned; So too the wise one pleased the Nāga maiden, when questioned. 1630. Knowing both of them to be delighted, the wise one, fearless, unafraid, with no hair standing on end, thus spoke to Varuṇa, the Nāga king. 1631. “Do not hinder, O Nāga, I am coming, for your purpose, this body; Heart with the meat you need for your purpose, I myself will do as you wish.” 1632. “Wisdom is indeed the heart of the wise, We are well-pleased with your wisdom; May the one of unblemished name get a wife today, May he bring her to the Kurus this very day.” 1633. Then Punṇaka, delighted and elated, Having obtained the Naga maiden Irandhatī, With a joyful and pleased heart, Spoke thus to the chief of the Kuru leaders: 1634. “You have united me with a wife, And I will do your work in return; And I give you this jewel-gem, I will bring you to the Kurus this very day.” 1635. “May this friendship of yours be invincible, With your beloved wife, Kaccāna;” Joyful, pleased, and glad-hearted, He gave the gem and the couch to the lord of men. 1636. Then Punṇaka, taking the chief of the Kuru leaders, Seated him before him on the seat; And brought the leader of incomparable wisdom To the city of Indapattha. 1637. As quickly as a man’s mind can go, Even swifter than that it was; Punṇaka brought the chief of the Kuru leaders To the city of Indapattha. 1638. “This city of Indapattha appears, And charming mango groves in parts; I am united with my wife, And you have reached your own home.” 1639. Then Punṇaka, having set down the chief of the Kuru leaders In the middle of the hall of justice; Mounted his noble steed of incomparable color, And departed through the air, through the sky. 1640. Seeing him, the king, greatly pleased, Rose and embraced him with his arms; And sat down, unwavering, in the chief seat In the middle of the hall of justice. 1641. “You are our guide, like a harnessed chariot, The Kurus rejoice at your sight; Tell me, when asked, this matter: How did the youth get his release?” 1642. “The one you called a youth, O king, He is not a human, O best of heroes; If you have heard of a Yakkha named Punṇaka, He is indeed a kinsman of King Kuvera.” 1643. "The earth-bearing nāga named Varuṇa, Great, pure, endowed with beauty and strength; His younger sister's daughter I desired, Irandhatī was that nāga maiden. 1644. "For the sake of that slender-waisted beloved, He sought to lead me to death; But he was reunited with his wife, And I was permitted, and the gem was obtained." 1645. "A tree has grown well at my gate, Its trunk is wisdom, its branches are virtue; It stands firm in purpose and in Dhamma, Bearing fruit like cattle, covered with elephants, cattle, and horses. 1646. "Amidst the sounds of dance, song, and music, A man destroyed the army; Now he has come to our dwelling, Pay homage to this tree. 1647. "All those who are rich through my support, Let them all appear today; Making strong offerings, Pay homage to this tree. 1648. "All those who are imprisoned in my realm, Let them all be freed from their bonds; Just as he was released from his bonds, So let these be released from their bonds. 1649. "Let them lift the ploughs this month, Let brahmins eat rice with meat; Let those who do not drink intoxicants drink intoxicants, From full and overflowing bowls. 1650. "Let them always clear the great roads, And establish strong protection in the realm; So that they do not harm one another, Pay homage to this tree." 1651. The royal women and the princes, The merchants and the brahmins; Brought much food and drink, To the wise one. 1652. Elephant-riders, soldiers, Charioteers, foot-soldiers; Brought much food and drink, To the wise one. 1653. The country folk gathered, And the townspeople gathered; Brought much food and drink, To the wise one. 1654. Many people were pleased, Seeing the wise one arrive; When the wise one had arrived, A waving of garments took place. The Ninth, the Vidhura Jātaka. 547. The Vessantara Jātaka (10) The Story of the Ten Boons 1655. Phussatī O beautiful one, choose ten boons; You, the foremost on earth, whatever is dear to your heart.” 1656. “Homage to you, King of Devas, what evil have I done? You remove me from my pleasant place, like wind a tree.” 1657. “You have done no evil, nor are you displeasing to me; But your merit is exhausted, that is why I speak thus to you. 1658. “Your death is near, separation will come; Accept these boons from me, the ten I offer.” 1659. “If you grant me a boon, Sakka, lord of all beings; May I be in the dwelling, of the good King Sivi. 1660. “With blue eyes, blue eyebrows, and blue-eyed like a doe; Named Phussati, may I be there, Purindada. 1661. “May I bear a son, a giver of boons, one sought by beggars, unselfish; Honored by rival kings, famous and glorious. 1662. “When I am carrying a child, may my waist not be prominent; May my belly not be prominent, like a drawn bow, smooth. 1663. “May my breasts not sag, may I have no grey hairs, Vāsava; May no dust cling to my body, and may I release those condemned to death. 1664. “Where peacocks and cranes cry, where groups of excellent women gather; Crowded with dwarfs and hunchbacks, praised by cooks and bards. 1665. “Resounding with many-colored gongs, where liquor and meat are offered; In the dwelling of the good King Sivi, may I be his beloved queen.” 1666. “Those ten boons given by me, O all-beautiful one; In the kingdom of King Sivi, all those boons you shall receive.” 1667. Having said this, Maghavā, the King of Devas, husband of Sujā; Having given the boon to Phussati, Vāsava rejoiced. Thus ends the Story of the Ten Boons. Hemavanta 1668. “With overgrown armpit hair, nails, and body hair, with dirty teeth, and dusty heads; Raising their right arm, what do these brahmins ask of me?” 1669. “We ask for a jewel, O Deva, the prosperity of the Sivis; Give us the excellent elephant, with tusks like a ploughshare, with a long trunk.” 1670. “I give, I do not hesitate.” I give, what the brahmins ask of me; The rutting elephant, the tusked, the supreme elephant, fit to be mounted." 1671. Descending from the elephant's back, the king, with a mind for giving; Gave a gift to the brahmins, the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis. 1672. Then it was terrifying, then it was hair-raising; When the elephant-chief was given, the earth trembled. 1673. Then it was terrifying, then it was hair-raising; When the elephant-chief was given, the city was agitated then. 1674. The city was in commotion, and a great loud noise; When the elephant-chief was given, the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis. 1675. Nobles and princes, merchants and brahmins; Elephant-riders, soldiers, charioteers, foot-soldiers. 1676. And the entire guild, and the Sivis assembled; Seeing the elephant being led away, they reported to the king. 1677. Your son Vessantara, O god, is destroying your kingdom; How can he give us the elephant, the chief of the kingdom? 1678. How can he give us the elephant, with tusks like a ploughshare, with long tusks; Skilled in all battles, the all-white, supreme elephant? 1679. Covered with a yellow-red blanket, in rut, crushing enemies; The tusked, with a fly-whisk, white, like Mount Kailasa. 1680. With a white parasol, with ornaments, with a fly-whisk, with an elephant-driver; The foremost vehicle, the royal mount, he gave the elephant to the brahmins. 1681. "Whoever gives food and drink, clothing, beds, and seats; That is indeed a suitable gift, that is indeed worthy of brahmins. 1682. This is your royal lineage, our prosperity-increaser of the Sivis; How can your son Vessantara divide the elephant, Sanjaya? 1683. If you do not heed this word of the Sivis; I think the Sivis will take you, along with your son, into their hands." 1684. "Let the country perish, and the kingdom be destroyed; I will not because of the word of the Sivis, the blameless prince, I would banish from my own kingdom, for he is my own son. 1685. “Let the country perish if it must, and the kingdom be destroyed; I will not, because of the word of the Sivis, banish the blameless prince