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like a wound pierced by a dart; Today I do not see my children, Jāli and Kaṇhājina, both. This too, a second s My heart trembles, And is agitated. I do not see my sons, And you do not speak to me. 2224. "If you do not speak to me, Prince, this very night, I think you will see me, Overcome with sorrow, dead by morning." 2225. "Surely Maddī, of excellent thighs, The glorious princess, Went for gleaning in the morning; Why have you come back this evening?" 2226. "Did you not hear the sound, Of those who came to drink at the lake? The roaring of the lion, And the growling of the tiger. 2227. "There was an omen for me, While wandering in the great forest; My digging-stick fell from my hand, And my shoulder also became stiff. 2228. "Then, distressed and frightened, I made a respectful anjali, And saluted all directions, Hoping for safety from this. 2229. "Lest our prince, Be killed by a lion or leopard; Or the children be seized, By bears, wolves, or hyenas. 2230. "A lion, a tiger, and a leopard, Three wild beasts in the forest; They blocked my path, That is why I came back late this evening. 2231. "I, like a young student, Have served my husband and sons, Day and night, A hermitess, a celibate. 2232. "Wearing antelope skins, Gathering roots, fruits, and forest produce; I wander day and night, Indeed, for your sakes, my sons. 2233. "I brought golden turmeric, And pale bamboo shoots; And ripe tree fruits, These are your playthings, my sons. 2234. "Eat this lotus root, Water lily, and wild tamarind; Mixed with small fruits, Along with your sons, O Khattiya. 2235. "Give a lotus to Jāli, And a water lily to the princess; See them dancing, O Mālinī, Call the Sivi children. 2236. "Then listen, O chief of charioteers, To Kaṇhājinā, With her sweet and melodious voice, As she approaches the hermitage. 2237. "Both of us, sharing joy and sorrow, Were banished from the kingdom; Do you see the Sivi children, Both Jāli and Kaṇhājinā? 2238. "Surely ascetics and brahmins, , devoted to the holy life; I cursed in the world, the virtuous and learned; Today I do not see my sons, Jāli and Kaṇhājina, both. 2239. ‘‘These are those rose-apple trees, Vedisā and Sinduvāra trees; Various kinds of trees, But those princes are not seen. 2240. ‘‘These are fig trees and jackfruit trees, And banyan trees and wood-apple trees; Various kinds of fruits, But those princes are not seen. 2241. ‘‘These groves stand here, This river with cool water; Where they used to play before, But those princes are not seen. 2242. ‘‘Various kinds of flowers, On this mountain top; Which they used to wear before, But those princes are not seen. 2243. ‘‘Various kinds of fruits, On this mountain top; Which they used to eat before, But those princes are not seen. 2244. ‘‘These are those elephants and horses, And these are those oxen; With which they used to play before, But those princes are not seen.’’ 2245. ‘‘These are the black antelopes and owls, Many deer of the plantain groves; With which they used to play before, But those princes are not seen. 2246. ‘‘These are the swans and cranes, Peacocks with colorful tails; With which they used to play before, But those princes are not seen.’’ 2247. ‘‘These are those forest thickets, Flowering all the time; Where they used to play before, But those princes are not seen. 2248. ‘‘These are those delightful ponds, Resounding with ruddy geese; Covered with water lilies, And with lotuses and water lilies; Where they used to play before, But those princes are not seen. 2249. ‘‘No wood has been split by them, No water has been drawn by them; Nor has their fire been kindled, Why do you ponder like a dullard? 2250. ‘‘A dear one meeting a dear one, My confusion is dispelled; But today I do not see my sons, Jāli and Kaṇhājina, both.’’ 2251. ‘‘Indeed, O god, I do not see, By whom they were slain and died; Even the crows do not cry out, My children must surely be dead. 2252. ‘‘Indeed, O god, I do not see, By whom they were slain and died; Even the birds do not cry out, My children must surely be dead. She, having lamented there, in mountains and forests; Again going to the hermitage, wept near her husband. "Indeed, my lord, I do not see where they were taken, dead; Even crows do not caw, my children are surely dead. "Indeed, my lord, I do not see where they were taken, dead; Even birds do not chirp, my children are surely dead. "Indeed, my lord, I do not see where they were taken, dead; Wandering at the foot of trees, in mountains and in caves." Thus Maddī, of excellent hips, the renowned princess; Having raised her arms and wept, fell down right there on the ground. That princess, having fallen unconscious, he sprinkled with water; Knowing her to be revived, then he spoke to her thus. "From the very beginning, Maddī, I wished to hide this sorrow from you; A poor, old beggar, a brahmin, came to our dwelling. To him I gave the children, Maddī, do not fear, take heart; Look at me, Maddī, not the children, do not lament so strongly; We shall get children while living, and we shall be free from illness. Children, cattle, and grain, and whatever other wealth is in the house; A good person should give a gift, seeing a beggar who has come; Approve of me, Maddī, for this supreme gift of children." "I approve of you, my lord, for this supreme gift of children; Having given, gladden your mind, be one who gives even more gifts. You, among people who are full of stinginess, O lord of men; Gave a gift to a brahmin, you, the increaser of the Sivis' realm." The earth resounded for you, your sound reached heaven; Lightning came from all sides, like echoes from mountains. For that, they approve of you, both Nārada mountains; Indra and Brahmā, Prajāpati, Soma, Yama, Vessavaṇa; All the devas approve, the Tāvatiṃsa devas with Indra. Thus Maddī, of excellent hips, the renowned princess; Approved of Vessantara, for the supreme gift of children. The Chapter of Maddī by name. The Chapter of Sakka 2267. Then, at the end of the night, towards the rising of the sun; Sakka, in the guise of a brahmin, appeared to them in the morning. 2268. "Are you well, sirs? Are you free from illness, sirs? Do you live by gleaning? Are there many roots and fruits? 2269. "Are there few gnats and mosquitoes, and few reptiles? In this forest, teeming with wild beasts, is there no harm?" 2270. "We are well, O brahmin, and we are free from illness, O brahmin; We live by gleaning, and there are many roots and fruits. 2271. "And there are few gnats and mosquitoes, and few reptiles; In this forest, teeming with wild beasts, no harm exists for me. 2272. "For us, living seven months in this sorrowful forest life; This is the second time we see a brahmin with a divine appearance; Holding a bamboo staff, wearing a deer-skin cloak. 2273. "Welcome, great brahmin, you have not come too far; Enter inside, good sir, and wash your feet. 2274. "Tinduka fruits, piyāla fruits, madhuka, kāsumārī; Small, suitable fruits, eat, brahmin, the best of the best. 2275. "Here is also cool water, brought from a mountain cave; Drink from it, great brahmin, if you desire. 2276. "Now, by what appearance, or for what reason, have you arrived at this great forest? Tell me, as I ask you." 2277. "Just as a full river never dries up at any time; So have I come to ask you, give me your wife, as requested." 2278. "I give, I do not waver, what you ask of me, brahmin; I do not conceal what I possess, my mind delights in giving." 2279. Taking Maddī by the hand, and a water pot; He gave her as a gift to the brahmin, the one who increased the Sivi kingdom. 2280. Then it was terrifying, then it was hair-raising; As he gave up Maddī, the earth trembled. 2281. That Maddī neither frowned, nor was she angry, nor did she cry; She just looked at him silently, "He knows what is best." I am a maiden, his wife, my husband is my lord; Whomever he wishes, to him he may give me, or sell me, or kill me. Knowing their intention, the king of devas said this: All those obstacles are overcome by you, both divine and human. The earth resounds for you, your sound has gone to the heavens; Lightning has come from all sides, like echoes from mountains. For this, they rejoice for you, both Narada mountains; Indra and Brahma, Prajapati, Soma, Yama, Vessavaṇa; All devas rejoice, for he does what is difficult to do. Those who give what is hard to give, those who do deeds hard to do; The ignoble do not imitate them, the Dhamma of the good is hard to follow. Therefore, for the good and the ignoble, their destination from here is different; The ignoble go to hell, the good have heaven as their refuge. That which you gave, O prince, you gave your wife, living in the forest; Having attained the Brahma-vehicle, may that ripen for you in heaven. I give you your wife, Maddī, beautiful in all her limbs; May you be covered by Maddī, and Maddī with her husband. Just as milk and a conch shell, both are of the same color; So may you and Maddī be, with minds and hearts alike. Having been confined here in the forest, may both of you dwell peacefully in the hermitage; You are Khattiyas, endowed with lineage, well-born from mother and father; May you perform merits, giving again and again. I am Sakka, king of devas, I have come to your presence; Choose a boon, O royal sage, I grant you eight boons. If you grant me a boon, Sakka, lord of all beings; May my father rejoice at me, when I arrive home from here; May he invite me with a seat, this is the first boon I choose. May I not approve of the killing of a man, even if he is a wrongdoer; May I release the condemned from execution, this is the second boon I choose. Those who are old, and those who are young, and those who are of middle age; May they all live by me, this is the third boon I choose. May I not go to another's wife, content with my own wife. I would not be negligent;