English
2374. “Having turned back the chariot, Having halted the army; The father approached his son, Who was dwelling alone in the forest. 2375. “Having dismounted from the elephant’s back, With one shoulder bared, hands clasped in reverence; Surrounded by ministers, He came to sprinkle his son. 2376. “There he saw the prince, Of beautiful form, composed; Seated in the leaf-hut, Meditating, fearless. 2377. “And seeing his father approaching, Longing for his son; Vessantara and Maddī, Went forth to meet him and bowed. 2378. “And Maddī bowed her head to the feet Of her father-in-law; ‘I am Maddī, O god, I worship your feet, your daughter-in-law’; Embracing them there, He stroked them with his hand.” 2379. “Are you well, son, Are you healthy, son; Do you live by gleaning, Are there many roots and fruits? 2380. “Are there few gnats and mosquitoes, And reptiles; In the forest teeming with wild beasts, Is there no harm?” 2381. “We have a livelihood, O god, And of what kind it is; Our livelihood is difficult, Our life is by gleaning. 2382. “Not prosperous Indeed, great king, Like a charioteer taming; These untamed ones, without wealth, He tames us unsuccessfully. 2383. And our flesh is thin, From not seeing father and mother; For us, imprisoned, great king, In the forest, sorrowful for life. 2384. And those heirs of the chief of the Sibis, Whose minds were not satisfied; Jali and Kaṇhajina, both, Are subject to the brahmin; To the urgent, cruel one, Who beats them like cattle. 2385. Those sons of the princess, If you know, tell us; Bring them quickly to us, Like a boy bitten by a snake. 2386. Both princes are bought, Jali and Kaṇhajina, both; Having given wealth to the brahmin, My son, do not fear, take comfort. 2387. Is it well, father, Is it well, father, without illness? Is it well, father, My mother's sight does not fail? 2388. It is well for me, my son, And, my son, without illness; And, my son, your mother's Sight does not fail. 2389. Is your team healthy? Does your vehicle carry well? Is the country prosperous? Does the rain not cease? 2390. And my team is healthy, And my vehicle carries well; And the country is prosperous, And the rain does not cease. 2391. While they were thus conversing, Their mother appeared; The princess at the mountain gate, On foot, without sandals. 2392. And seeing her approaching, The mother longing for her sons; Vessantara and Maddi, Went forth to meet her and bowed. 2393. And Maddi bowed her head At her mother-in-law's feet; "I am Maddi, venerable lady, I, your daughter-in-law, worship your feet." 2394. And the sons, seeing Maddi, Having come safely from afar; Crying, ran towards her, Like young calves to their mother. 2395. And Maddi, seeing her sons, Having come safely from afar; Trembling like Varuni, Sprinkled them with streams of milk from her breasts. 2396. For the reunited relatives, A great cry arose; The mountains echoed, The earth trembled. 2397. Sending forth streams of rain, The god then rained. Then; Then King Vessantara, met with his relatives. 2398. Grandsons, daughters-in-law, son, the king and queen together; When they were gathered, it was hair-raising. 2399. With joined palms they begged him, weeping in the dreadful forest; Vessantara and Maddī, all the people gathered; "You are our lord, O King, rule us both." The Deed of the Six Khattiyas. 2400. "Me, who ruled the kingdom righteously, the people banished; You, and the country folk, and the townspeople gathered." 2401. "Indeed, a wrong was done by us, my son, a great crime committed by me; Who, at the word of the Sīvīs, banished the blameless one." 2402. "By whatever means, one should remove the father's suffering; And the mother's and sister's, even with one's own life." 2403. Then King Vessantara, washed away the dust and grime; Having washed away the dust and grime, he donned the conch-white attire. 2404. Head bathed, clean-robed, adorned with all ornaments; Mounting the elephant, he girded on the sword, the foe-subduer. 2405. Then sixty thousand, warriors of charming appearance; Born with him, scattered around, delighting the lord of chariots. 2406. Then they bathed Maddī too, the Sīvi maidens gathered; "May Vessantara protect her, and Jālī and Kaṇhājinā both; And may the great King Sañjaya protect him." 2407. Having obtained this support, after their former defilement; They lived in joy, in the delightful mountain region. 2408. Having obtained this support, after her former defilement; Lakkhaṇā rejoiced, gladdened, cheerful, reunited with her children. 2409. Having obtained this support, after her former defilement; Lakkhaṇā rejoiced, gladdened, delighted, together with her children. 2410. "I used to eat but once a day, always sleeping on the bare ground; Such was my vow, for your sake, my children. 2411. That vow of mine is fulfilled today, reunited with you, my children; May it protect the mother's side, and the father's side... And also, my son; May King Sañjaya protect you. 2412. Whatever merit has been made, by me and by your father; By all that wholesome deed, may you be ageless and deathless. 2413. Cotton and silk, linen and fine cloth; The mother-in-law sent to her daughter-in-law, with which Maddī shone. 2414. Then golden armlets, a jeweled necklace; The mother-in-law sent to her daughter-in-law, with which Maddī shone. 2415. Then golden armlets, bracelets, a jeweled girdle; The mother-in-law sent to her daughter-in-law, with which Maddī shone. 2416. A high forehead ornament, and various red gems; The mother-in-law sent to her daughter-in-law, with which Maddī shone. 2417. A head ornament, a jingling anklet, a girdle, and foot ornaments; The mother-in-law sent to her daughter-in-law, with which Maddī shone. 2418. With fine threads and excellent threads, she was adorned; The princess shone, like a divine maiden in Nandana. 2419. With head bathed, in clean clothes, adorned with all ornaments; The princess shone, like an apsara in Tāvatiṃsa. 2420. Like a plantain tree touched by the wind, grown in a beautiful creeper forest; With perfect teeth and lips, the princess shone. 2421. Like a human bird, born with beautiful wings; With lips like the fruit of the banyan tree, the princess shone. 2422. And for her, they brought an elephant, like an untamed tusker; Seven cubits high, well-guarded, with tusks like a plough-pole, well-grown. 2423. Maddī mounted that elephant, like an untamed tusker; Seven cubits high, well-guarded, with tusks like a plough-pole, well-grown. 2424. In all that forest, as many wild animals as there were; By Vessantara's power, they did not harm each other. 2425. In all that forest, as many birds as there were; By Vessantara's power, they did not harm each other. 2426. In all that forest, as many wild animals as there were; Together they gathered, when Vessantara set out; the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis. In all that forest, as many birds as there were; gathered together, when Vessantara set out; the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis. In all that forest, as many deer as there were; did not sweetly make sounds, when Vessantara set out; the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis. In all that forest, as many birds as there were; did not sweetly chirp, when Vessantara set out; the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis. The royal road was prepared, adorned with flowers; where Vessantara dwelt, as far as Jetuttara. Then sixty thousand, warriors of charming sight; surrounded him on all sides, when Vessantara set out; the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis. Royal women and princes, merchants and brahmins; surrounded him on all sides, when Vessantara set out; the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis. Elephant riders, cavalry, charioteers, and foot soldiers; surrounded him on all sides, when Vessantara set out; the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis. The country folk gathered, and the townspeople gathered; surrounded him on all sides, when Vessantara set out; the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis. Wearing leather helmets, with spears in hand, well-armored; they went forth in front, when Vessantara set out; the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis. They entered the delightful city, with great walls and archways; endowed with food and drink, and with both dance and song. The country folk were delighted, and the townspeople gathered; when the prince arrived, the prosperity-increaser of the Sivis. A waving of clothes took place, when the giver of wealth arrived; joy entered the city, release from bonds was proclaimed. A rain of gold, the god then rained down; when Vessantara entered, the Si Of the heroes, in the prosperity of the kingdom. 2440. "Then King Vessantara, the noble, having given gifts; At the breaking up of the body, the wise one, he was reborn in heaven." The Vessantara Jataka, the tenth. The Great Section is concluded. The Jataka Collection is concluded.