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Teeming with various birds, a rock inhabited by kimpurisas. 1908. "To its north-east, is a lake named Mucalinda; Covered with white lotuses, and white fragrant ones. 1909. "That forest, like a cloud, always green with fresh grass; Like a lion seeking prey, entering the forest grove; Covered with flowering trees, and also with fruit trees. 1910. "There, many birds of various colors, with clear, sweet voices; Sing and respond to each other, in trees blooming in season. 1911. "Having gone to the mountain passes, and the sources of rivers; He saw a lotus pond, adorned with karañja and kakudha trees." Filled with broad-scaled fish, With good landing places, much water, Level and four-sided, Sweet and not ill-smelling. To its northeast, Make a leaf-hut. Having made a leaf-hut, Strive for gleaning. Named "Entering the Forest". The Jūjaka Chapter There was a dweller in Kalinga, A brahmin named Jūjaka. He had a young wife, Named Amittatāpanā. They, having gone there, spoke to her, Carrying water from the river. The women reviled her, Having gathered out of curiosity. Surely your mother is an enemy, Surely your father is an enemy, Who gave you to an old man, While you are so young. Indeed, your relatives, to your disadvantage, Consulted in secret, Who gave you to an old man, While you are so young. Indeed, your relatives are enemies, Who consulted in secret, Who gave you to an old man, While you are so young. Indeed, your relatives did evil, Who consulted in secret, Who gave you to an old man, While you are so young. Indeed, your relatives did wrong, Who consulted in secret, Who gave you to an old man, While you are so young. Indeed, your relatives did something unpleasant, Who consulted in secret, Who gave you to an old man, While you are so young. You live an unpleasant life, With an old husband. You who live with an old man, Death is better for you than life. Surely, fair one, your Father and mother, beautiful one, Did not find another husband, Who gave you to an old man, While you are so young. Your ninth-day sacrifice was ill-performed, Your fire-offering was not made, Who gave you to an old man, While you are so young. Surely ascetics and brahmins, Devoted to brahminical conduct, You have reviled in the world, Virtuous and learned ones; You who live with an old man, While you are so young. It is not suffering to be bitten by a snake, It is not suffering by a spear. slain; And that suffering, and that pain, which one sees in an old husband. 1927. “There is no play, there is no delight, with an old husband; There is no friendly talk, even to laugh is not becoming. 1928. “When a young man and a young woman, consult together in private; All sorrows vanish, whatever are in the heart. 1929. “You are young, beautiful, desired by men; Go, stay in your relatives’ home, what will an old man delight in?” 1930. “I will not go, brahmin, to the river to fetch water; Women will abuse me, because of you, old brahmin.” 1931. “Do not do work for me, do not fetch water for me; I will fetch water, do not be angry, lady.” 1932. “I am not born in such a family, that you should fetch water; Thus, brahmin, know, I will not stay in your house. 1933. “If you do not bring me a male slave or a female slave, brahmin; Thus, brahmin, know, I will not stay near you.” 1934. “I have no craft or skill, no wealth or grain, brahmin lady; From where shall I bring a male slave or a female slave for you? I will attend to you, lady, do not be angry, lady.” 1935. “Come, I will tell you, as I have heard; That King Vessantara, lives on Mount Vanka. 1936. “You go and beg him, for a male slave and a female slave, brahmin; He, the Khattiya, will give you, when asked, a male slave and a female slave.” 1937. “I am old and weak, the path is long and very difficult; Do not lament, lady, and do not be displeased; I will attend to you, lady, do not be angry, lady.” 1938. “Just as without going to battle, one is defeated without fighting; Even so, brahmin, you are defeated without going. 1939. “If you do not bring me a male slave or a female slave, brahmin; Thus, brahmin, know, I will not stay in your house; Displeasing to you I will do, that will be suffering for you. 1940. When you see me adorned at festivals and seasons, delighting with others, that will be suffering for you. 1941. From my absence, your lamentation as an old man, will make you more crooked and gray, many will be, brahmin. 1942. Then that brahmin, frightened, submissive to the brahmin woman, afflicted by sensual desire, said this to the brahmin woman: 1943. "Prepare provisions for me, cakes and sweetmeats, and well-made honey-balls, and barley-meal, brahmin woman. 1944. I will bring two young slave children, for sexual purposes, they will attend to you, day and night, untiringly." 1945. Having said this, the kinsman of Brahmā took off his sandals. Then, having consulted, and circumambulated his wife. 1946. He departed with a tearful face, the brahmin, firm in his vow, to the prosperous city of the Sivis, seeking slaves. 1947. Having gone there, he said to those who were assembled there: "Where is King Vessantara? Where can we see the Khattiya?" 1948. Those people who were assembled there said to him: "By you, brahmin, the Khattiya was made an outcast due to excessive giving; he was banished from his own country, and lives on Mount Vanka. 1949. By you, brahmin, the Khattiya was made an outcast due to excessive giving; taking his children and wife, he lives on Mount Vanka." 1950. Driven by the brahmin woman, the brahmin, greedy for desires, endured that suffering in a forest infested with wild beasts, haunted by rhinos and leopards. 1951. Taking a bamboo staff, a fire-pot, and a water-pot, he entered the great forest, where he heard of the giver of desires. 1952. As he entered the great forest, wolves surrounded him. He cried out, lost, the path was far away. 1953. Then that brahmin, having gone, greedy for possessions, unrestrained, to the slope of Vanka when lost, he spoke these verses. 1954. Who knows my Vessantara, the prince, the chief, victorious, unconquered, giver of safety in fear? 1955. Who was a support for beggars, like the earth for beings? Who knows my Vessantara, the great king like the earth? 1956. Who was a refuge for beggars, like the ocean for rivers? Who knows my Vessantara, the great king like the ocean? 1957. With beautiful banks, pure, with cool, delightful water, covered with white lotuses, filled with pollen dust— Who knows my Vessantara, the great king like a lake? 1958. Like a fig tree grown by the path, with cool, delightful shade, a rest for the weary, a refuge for the exhausted— Who knows my Vessantara, the great king like that? 1959. Like a banyan tree grown by the path, with cool, delightful shade, a rest for the weary, a refuge for the exhausted— Who knows my Vessantara, the great king like that? 1960. Like a mango tree grown by the path, with cool, delightful shade, a rest for the weary, a refuge for the exhausted— Who knows my Vessantara, the great king like that? 1961. Like a sal tree grown by the path, with cool, delightful shade, a rest for the weary, a refuge for the exhausted— Who knows my Vessantara, the great king like that? 1962. Like a tree grown by the path, with cool, delightful shade, a rest for the weary, a refuge for the exhausted— Who knows my Vessantara, the great king like that? 1963. And as I lament thus, having entered the great forest, whoever says "I know," he would bring joy to me. 1964. And as I lament thus, having entered the great forest, whoever says "I know," by that one word, he would generate immeasurable merit. 1965. A hunter roaming in the forest heard his lament. "By you, brah..." He was banished, the khattiya, for excessive giving; Expelled from his own country, he lives on the crooked mountain. "By you, brahmin, was he banished, the khattiya, for excessive giving; Taking his children and wife, he lives on the crooked mountain. "A doer of evil, a fool, he came from the country to the forest; Seeking the prince, like a heron for fish in the water. "To him I will not give life here, brahmin; Indeed, this arrow, shot by me, will drink his blood. "Having cut off your head, and torn out your heart with its vessels; I will sacrifice to the birds of the path, with your flesh, brahmin. "With your flesh and fat, and your brain, brahmin; I will offer a sacrifice, having cut out your heart. "That will be well-sacrificed, well-offered by me, with your flesh, brahmin; And you will not take the prince's wife and children." "A brahmin messenger is inviolable, son of Ceta, listen to me; Therefore, one does not kill a messenger, this is an ancient law. "All the Sivis are consumed with grief, his father wishes to see him; And his mother is weak, her eyes will soon fail. "I am sent as a messenger for them, son of Ceta, listen to me; I will take the prince, if you know, tell me. "To my dear one, a dear messenger, I give you a full bowl"; "And this gourd of honey, and a haunch of venison, brahmin; And I will tell you the place, where the wish-giver dwells." "This is the rock, great brahmin, the Gandhamādana mountain; Where King Vessantara, with his children, dwells. "Wearing the guise of a brahmin, with matted hair and beard; Clad in skins, he sleeps on the ground, and worships the fire. "These blue trees appear, bearing various fruits; Rising like cloud-peaks, blue as collyrium mountains. "Dhavas, assakaṇṇas, khadiras, salas, phandanas Māluvā creepers; They tremble in the wind, like youths who have drunk once. 1980. Above, in the tree-rows, Sounds like a concert are heard; Cuckoos and flocks of cuckoos, Fly from tree to tree. 1981. As if calling one who departs, stirred by branches and leaves; As if delighting one who arrives, gladdening the residents; Where King Vessantara, with his sons, dwells. 1982.