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I would not fall under the sway of women, this fourth boon I choose. 2297. “May a son be born to me, Sakka, and may he be long-lived; May he conquer the earth righteously, this fifth boon I choose. 2298. “Then, at the end of the night, at the rising of the sun; May divine foods appear, this sixth boon I choose. 2299. “May my giving not diminish, may I not regret after giving; May my mind be serene while giving, this seventh boon I choose. 2300. “Being freed from here, may I go to heaven, a master of excellence; May I not return from there, this eighth boon I choose.” 2301. Hearing her words, the king of devas said this: “Soon, indeed, your father will come to see you from there.” 2302. Having said this, Maghavā, the king of devas, the husband of Sujā; Having granted a boon to Vessantara, departed to the heavenly realm. The Chapter of Sakka. The Chapter of the Great King. 2303. “Whose face is this that shines, like gold purified by fire; Like a gold coin, polished by the mouth of a crucible? 2304. “Both have similar limbs, both have similar marks; One is like Jāli, the other like Kaṇhājinā. 2305. “Like lions emerged from a cave, both are perfectly formed; These children appear to be made of pure gold.” 2306. “From where, venerable Bhāradvāja, did you bring these children? Today you have arrived in the kingdom, where are you going, brahmin?” 2307. “These children, O king, were given to me for a price, Sañjaya; Today is the fifteenth night since I received the children.” 2308. “By what statement, by what proper knowledge, should I believe? Who gave you this gift, the supreme gift of children?” 2309. “He who was a refuge for beggars, like the earth for beings; That King Vessantara, dwelling in the forest, gave me his children. 2310. “He who was a destination for beggars, like the ocean for rivers; That King Vessantara, dwelling in the forest, gave me his children.” 2311. “Indeed, a wicked deed O King, by a faithful householder; How indeed can he give his children, When he is restrained in the forest? 2312. "Listen to this, sirs, All of you gathered here; How did King Vessantara, Give his children while living in the forest? 2313. "He might give a maid and a servant, A horse, a mule-drawn chariot; An elephant, a tusker he might give, How could he give his children?" 2314. "He who has no servant in his house, No horse, no mule-drawn chariot; No elephant, no tusker, no great elephant, What could he give, O grandfather?" 2315. "We praise his giving, And we do not blame, O children; How indeed was his heart, After giving you to the beggars?" 2316. "His heart was full of sorrow, And you saw him hot with grief; With red eyes like a rohinī bird, Father shed tears." 2317. "What Kaṇhājinā said, 'This brahmin, father, Beats me with a stick, As if I were a slave born in the house.'" 2318. "This is no brahmin, father, Brahmins are righteous; A yakkha in brahmin's guise, Is taking us, father, to eat us; As we are led away by the demon, Why do you just look on, father?" 2319. "A king's daughter is your mother, A king's son is your father; Formerly you climbed upon my lap, Why do you now stand far off?" 2320. "A king's daughter is our mother, A king's son is our father; We are the brahmin's slaves, Therefore we stand far off." 2321. "Do not speak so, my dears, My heart is burning; My body is like a funeral pyre, I find no comfort in my seat." 2322. "Do not speak so, my dears, You cause me more sorrow; I will buy you back with wealth, You shall not be slaves." 2323. "What was your price, father, That father gave to the brahmin? Tell me truly, So I may satisfy the brahmin." 2324. "A thousand was my price, father, That father gave to the brahmin; And for the maiden Kaṇhājinā, A hundred elephants." Rise up, steward, quickly, give to the brahmin; A hundred slave-girls, a hundred slaves, a hundred cows, a hundred elephants and bulls; And a thousand gold coins, give as ransom for the sons. Then the steward, quickly, gave to the brahmin; A hundred slave-girls, a hundred slaves, a hundred cows, a hundred elephants and bulls; And a thousand gold coins, gave as ransom for the sons. Having ransomed and bathed, and fed the children; Having adorned them with ornaments, they seated them on their laps. With heads bathed, in clean clothes, adorned with all ornaments; The king, taking them on his lap, the grandfather asked. With earrings, fragrant garlands, adorned with all ornaments; The king, taking them on his lap, spoke these words. Are both your parents, Jāli, well and healthy? Do you live by gleaning? Are there many roots and fruits? Are there few biting insects and mosquitoes, and few reptiles? In the forest, full of wild beasts, is there no harm? Indeed, both my parents, O king, are well and healthy; Indeed, they live by gleaning, indeed, there are many roots and fruits. Indeed, biting insects and mosquitoes, and reptiles are few; In the forest, full of wild beasts, no harm comes to them. Digging up yams and water-lilies, and roots and takkala fruits; Jujubes, marking nuts, and bael fruits, she brings them and nourishes us. Whatever she brings, the gatherer of forest roots and fruits; That, all of us gathered together, we eat at night, not by day. Our mother is thin and pale, bringing tree fruits; Delicate from wind and sun, like a lotus held in hand. Our mother, with thin hair, wandering in the great forest; In a forest full of wild beasts, frequented by rhinoceroses and leopards. Having bound her hair in matted locks, she wore a dirty garment; Wearing a deerskin, she sleeps on the ground, and worships the fire. Sons are dear to people, they are born in the world; But surely for our lord, no affection for his sons arose. And a wrong deed Alas, my son, A great wrong have I done; For at the word of the Sivis, I banished the innocent. 2341. "Whatever wealth I have here, And grain that is found; Let King Vessantara come, And rule the Sivi realm." 2342. "O King, at my word, The best of the Sivis will not come; Let Your Majesty yourself go, And anoint your son with riches." 2343. Then King Sajjaya Addressed the general: "Let elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers, Equip the army; And let townsfolk follow me, And brahmins and royal priests." 2344. Then sixty thousand Warriors, fair to behold; Let them quickly come, arrayed, Adorned with various colors. 2345. Many wearing blue garments, Many clad in yellow; Others with red turbans, Many clad in white; Let them quickly come, arrayed, Adorned with various colors. 2346. As Himavā, bearing fragrances, The mountain Gandhamādana; Covered with various trees, An abode of great beings. 2347. And with divine herbs, The directions shine and are fragrant; Let them quickly come, arrayed, Let the directions shine and be fragrant. 2348. Then fourteen thousand Elephants let them harness; Elephants with golden trappings, Wearing golden caparisons. 2349. Ridden by leaders, With spears and goads in hand; Let them quickly come, arrayed, Displayed on elephant shoulders. 2350. Then fourteen thousand Horses let them harness; Of noble breed, Sindhu horses, swift steeds. 2351. Ridden by leaders, Bearing quivers and bows; Let them quickly come, arrayed, Adorned on horseback. 2352. Then fourteen thousand Chariots let them harness; With iron-wrought rims, With golden-studded sides. 2353. Let them raise banners there, And shields and armor; And let them brandish bows, Strong-bowed, striking warriors; Let them quickly come, arrayed, Chariot-fighters in their chariots. Scattered parched rice and flowers, garlands, perfumes, and unguents; and offerings, let them stand, along the path he will come. In every village, a hundred jars of strong liquor and wine; let them stand along the path, along the path he will come. Meats, cakes, and pastries, sour gruel, mixed with fish; let them stand along the path, along the path he will come. Ghee, oil, curds, milk, millet seeds, much wine; let them stand along the path, along the path he will come. Cooks and butchers, dancers, actors, singers; hand-drummers, pot-drummers, jesters, and lamenters. Let all lutes be struck, drums and kettledrums; let trumpets be blown, and single-mouthed horns resound. Mudiṅgas, paṇavas, conch shells, lizard-skin drums, and other instruments; let kettledrums be struck, and kutumpa kettledrums. That army was great, the Sivi host, set forth; with Jāli as guide, they went to Vaṅka mountain. The elephant trumpets, the sixty-year-old tusker; with its girth tightened, the elephant trumpets. The noble steeds neighed, the sound of chariot wheels arose; dust covered the sky, the Sivi host, set forth. That army was great, set forth, bearing garlands; with Jāli as guide, they went to Vaṅka mountain. They entered a great forest, with many branches and much water; covered with flowering trees, and also fruit-bearing trees. There, many birds, of various colors, with sweet voices; sang in harmony, among the trees blooming in season. Having traveled a long distance, after many days and nights; they reached that region, where Vessantara was. What is it called? The Deed of the Six Princes 2368. “Hearing their clamor, Vessantara was afraid; Having climbed the mountain, Afraid, he surveyed the army. 2369. “Come, Maddī, listen, What kind of clamor is in the forest; Steeds are neighing, And banner-tops are seen. 2370. “Surely these are hunters In the forest, for herds of deer; Having surrounded them with nets, And immediately thrown them into a pit; Crying out loudly, They kill them one by one. 2371. “Just as we, blameless, Are abandoned in the forest; Fallen into the hands of enemies, See the slaughter of the weak.” 2372. “Enemies would not prevail, Like fire in the ocean; Consider that yourself, Perhaps there will be safety from this.” 2373. “Then King Vessantara, Having descended from the mountain; Sat in the leaf-hut, Having made his mind firm.”