English
Jackals and dogs, Tuliyā and reed-like ones; Yaks, restless ones, leaping ones, Dark ones, monkeys, and picu. 2064. Kakkaṭā and kaṭamāyā, Many ikkā and ox-headed ones; Rhinoceroses, boars, mongooses, Black ones here in great numbers. 2065. Buffaloes, dogs and jackals, Pampakā all around; Ākucchā and pacalākā, And also spotted deer and leopards. 2066. Pelakā and grass-eaters, Lions, cattle-killers; And eight-legged ones, and peacocks, And bhassarā and kukutthakā. 2067. Caṅkora birds, cocks, nāgā, Calling to one another; Cranes, herons, najjuhā, Dindibhā, kuñjavājitā. 2068. Tiger-nosed ones, red-backed ones, Pammakā, jīvajīvaka birds; Partridges, quails, And kulā, and paṭikutthakā. 2069. Mandālakā, celakeṭu, Named bhaṇḍutittira; Celāvakā, piṅgalā, Goṭakā, aṅgahetukā. 2070. And karaviyā, and saggā, And uhuṅkārā, and kukkuhā; Crowded with various flocks of birds, Resounding with various calls. 2071. And here are birds, Blue ones, sweet-voiced ones; They rejoice with their mates, Calling to one another. 2072. And here are birds, Sweet-voiced, white ones; White-crested, auspicious-eyed, Egg-born, with colorful plumage. 2073. And here are birds, Sweet-voiced, white ones; Crested ones with blue necks, Calling to one another. 2074. Kukutthakā, kuḷīrakā, Koṭṭhā, pokkharasātakā; Kālāmeyyā, baliyakkhā, Kadambā, suvasāḷikā. 2075. Yellow ones, red ones, white ones, And here are many nalakā; Vāraṇā and bhiṅgarājā, Kadambā, parrots and cuckoos. 2076. Ospreys, kurarā, swans, Āṭā, parivadentikā; Pākahaṃsā, atibalā, Najjuhā, jīvajīvaka birds. 2077. Pigeons, sun-swans, Ruddy geese, river-frequenters; Vāraṇābhirudā, delightful ones, Both calling at the right time. 2078. And here are birds, Of various colors. many birds. They rejoice with their mates, cooing to one another. 2079. “And there are birds here, many birds of various colors; All sweetly coo, on both sides of Mucalinda. 2080. “And there are birds here, those birds named Karavī; They rejoice with their mates, cooing to one another. 2081. “And there are birds here, those birds named Karavī; All sweetly coo, on both sides of Mucalinda. 2082. “A forest teeming with deer, frequented by elephants; Covered with various creepers, served by plantain-eating deer. 2083. “And here there is much mustard, much wild rice and millet; Rice that ripens without cultivation, and not a little sugarcane there. 2084. “This is a single path, it goes straight to the hermitage; One who arrives there does not find hunger, thirst, or discontent; Where King Vessantara, with his children, dwells. 2085. “Wearing the guise of a brahmin, with a beard and matted hair; Clad in skins, sleeping on the ground, he reveres the fire.” 2086. Having heard this, the kinsman of Brahmā, having circumambulated the ascetic; Departed with a joyful heart, to where Vessantara was. Description of the Great Forest. The Chapter of the Children 2087. “Arise, Jāli, stand up, it looks like an ancient one; I see someone like a brahmin, Nandiya, do not be afraid.” 2088. “I too, father, see him, he who looks like Brahmā; He comes like a traveler, he will be our guest.” 2089. “Is all well with you, sir? Are you free from illness, sir? Do you subsist on gleanings? Are there many roots and fruits? 2090. “Are there few gnats and mosquitoes, and few reptiles? In the forest teeming with wild beasts, is there no harm?” 2091. “All is well with us, brahmin, and we are free from illness, brahmin; And we subsist on gleanings, and there are many roots and fruits. 2092. “And there are few gnats and mosquitoes, and few reptiles; In the forest, full of wild beasts, no harm exists for us. For seven months we have lived, in the forest, grieving for life; This is the first time we see, a brahmin with a divine appearance; Carrying a bamboo staff, a fire-pot and a water-pot. Welcome to you, great brahmin, and your coming is not far; Enter inside, good sir, wash your feet. Tinduka fruits, piyāla fruits, madhuka fruits, kāsumāri fruits; And other small fruits, eat, brahmin, the best of the best. This cool water too, brought from a mountain cave; Drink from it, great brahmin, if you desire. Now, by what appearance, or for what reason, have you arrived in this great forest? Tell me, as I ask you. As a full river, never dries up at any time; So I have come to you as a beggar, give me my sons, as requested. I give, I do not waver, I am the master, take them, brahmin; The princess went in the morning, she will return in the evening from gathering. Stay for one night, and in the morning you may go, brahmin; After she has bathed and adorned herself, then they will wear garlands. Stay for one night, and in the morning you may go, brahmin; Covered with various flowers, adorned with various scents; Filled with various roots and fruits, go and enjoy, brahmin. I do not wish to stay, going is pleasing to me; There might be an obstacle for me, go now, O best of charioteers. This is not suitable for a beggar, to cause an obstacle; Women know charms, they take everything from the left. To one who gives a gift with faith, she saw her mother for a month; She might also cause an obstacle, go now, O best of charioteers. Take leave of your sons, lest they see their mother; To one who gives a gift with faith, thus merit increases. Take leave of your sons, lest they see their mother; Having given wealth to one like me, the king will go to heaven.” 2107. “If you wish to see my faithful wife, show Jāli and Kaṇhājinā to my grandfather as well. 2108. Seeing these children, charming and sweet-speaking, he will be pleased, joyful, and delighted, and will give you much wealth.” 2109. “I fear being cut off, listen to me, prince; the king might give me to royal punishment, sell me, or kill me; the conqueror, wealth, and servants, are for the despicable brahmin.” 2110. “Seeing these children, charming and sweet-speaking, the great king, established in righteousness, the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis, having obtained joy and delight, will give you much wealth.” 2111. “I will not do that which you advise me; I will take the children as servants for the brahmin woman.” 2112. Then the children, distressed, hearing the hunter’s words, ran this way and that, both Jāli and Kaṇhājinā. 2113. “Come, dear son, beloved son, fulfill my perfection; anoint my heart, do my bidding. 2114. Be my vehicle and boat, unwavering in the ocean of existence; I will cross to the other shore of birth, I will save the world with its gods.” 2115. “Come, dear daughter, beloved daughter, fulfill my perfection; anoint my heart, do my bidding. 2116. Be my vehicle and boat, unwavering in the ocean of existence; I will cross to the other shore of birth, I will uplift the world with its gods.” 2117. Then taking the children, both Jāli and Kaṇhājinā, the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis gave them as a gift to the brahmin. 2118. Then taking the children, both Jāli and Kaṇhājinā, he gave them to the brahmin, delighted, the children, the supreme gift. 2119. Then it was terrifying, then it was hair-raising; when the children were given, the earth trembled. 2120. Then it was terrifying, then it was hair-raising; when the king, with clasped hands, gave the beloved children, B to the brahmin he gave a gift, the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis’ realm.” 2121. “Then that cruel brahmin, with his teeth cut a creeper; with the creeper he bound their hands, with the creeper he beat them. 2122. “Then that brahmin took a rope, and took a stick; beating them, he led them away, while the Sivi king looked on.” 2123. “Then the princes departed, released to the brahmin; with eyes full of tears, he looked at his father. 2124. “Like a trembling fig leaf, he worshipped his father’s feet; having worshipped his father’s feet, he spoke this word: 2125. “Mother and father have gone out, and you, father, are giving us away; until we see mother, then, father, give us away. 2126. “Mother and father have gone out, and you, father, are giving us away; do not, father, give us away, until mother also comes to us; then this brahmin may, as he wishes, sell us or kill us. 2127. “He has crooked feet, and blind nails, and a pendulous belly; a long upper lip, restless, yellowish, with a broken nose. 2128. “Pot-bellied, with a broken back, and uneven eyes; with iron-like beard, green hair, marked with wrinkles. 2129. “He is tawny and bent, misshapen and very rough; clad in skins, inhuman, terrifying. 2130. “Is he a human or a yakkha, a flesh and blood eater; having come from the village to the forest, he asks you for wealth, father. 2131. “As we are being led away by this demon, why, father, do you look on? Surely your heart is of stone, of iron, firmly bound. 2132. “You do not know us, bound, by this brahmin seeking wealth; by this urgent, cruel one, who drives us like cows. 2133. “Let Kaṇhā stay here, she knows nothing; like a doe intoxicated with milk, separated from the herd, she cries out. 2134. “This is not so painful to me, for this can be obtained again; but that I do not see mother, that is more painful than this. 2135. This is not such a pain for me, for this can be obtained again; But that I do not see father, that is more painful to me than this. That poor mother, surely, will grieve for a long time; Not seeing Kaṇhājina, the maiden of charming sight. That poor father, surely, will grieve for a long time; Not seeing Kaṇhājina, the maiden of charming sight. That poor mother, surely, will grieve long in the hermitage; Not seeing Kaṇhājina, the maiden of charming sight. That poor father, surely, will grieve long in the hermitage; Not seeing Kaṇhājina, the maiden of charming sight. That poor mother, surely, will grieve for a long time; At midnight or at night, she will dry up like a river. That poor father, surely, will grieve for a long time; At midnight or at night,