English
‘‘This pain is not so great for me, it can be endured by a man; But that I do not see my father, that is more painful than this. 317. ‘‘That poor mother, for a long night, will surely weep; At midnight or in the night, she will dry up like a river. 318. ‘‘That poor father, for a long night, will surely weep; At midnight or in the night, he will dry up like a river. 319. ‘‘For rising and serving their feet, and for massaging their feet; Sāma, father, lament— ...they will wander in the great forest. This second dart shakes my heart; Because I do not see the blind ones, I think I shall lose my life. Do not lament so much, Sāma, of beautiful sight; I, becoming a worker, will support them in the great forest. And I am skilled in archery, renowned as 'firm-bowed'; I, becoming a worker, will support them in the great forest. Seeking food for the deer, and roots and fruits of the forest; I, becoming a worker, will support them in the great forest. Which is that forest, Sāma, where your mother and father are? I will support them as you did, as you supported them. This is a single path, O King, which is at my head; Going from here half a league, there is their dwelling; Where my mother and father are, support them, having gone from here. Homage to you, O King of Kāsī, homage to you, promoter of Kāsī; My blind mother and father, support them in the great forest. I raise my hands in salutation to you, O King of Kāsī, homage to you; To my mother and father, you should speak my salutation. Having said this, that Sāma, the youth of beautiful sight; Fainted from the poison's power, and became unconscious. That king lamented, with much compassion; "I thought I was ageless and deathless, I did not know this before; Seeing Sāma dead, there is no escape from death." He who spoke to me, though afflicted by poison; Now, when such time has come, he speaks nothing to me. Surely I go to hell, there is no doubt for me in this; For then was evil done, a long-lasting sin. There are those who speak of him, the doer of evil in the village; But in the uninhabited forest, who can speak of me? Indeed, young men recall deeds in the village when they meet; But in the uninhabited forest, who will recall me? will weep.’’ 334. That deity disappeared, on the Gandhamādana mountain; Out of compassion for the king, spoke these verses. 335. ‘‘Indeed, great king, you have committed an evil deed; Three innocent father and son, were killed by one arrow. 336. Come, I will teach you, how you may attain a good destiny; Righteously support the blind in the forest, I believe that is your good destiny. 337. That king, having lamented, with much compassion; Taking a water pot, departed facing south. 338. ‘‘Whose footstep is this, like that of a human? This is not Sāma’s sound, who are you, sir? 339. Sāma walks quietly, he places his feet quietly; This is not Sāma’s sound, who are you, sir?’’ 340. ‘‘I am the king of Kāsī, they know me as Pīḷiyakkha; Leaving my kingdom out of greed, I roam hunting deer. 341. I am skilled in archery, renowned as 'Strong-bow'; Even an elephant would not escape me, if it came within arrow-shot.’’ 342. ‘‘Welcome, great king, and you have not come too far; You are a lord who has arrived, declare what is here. 343. Tinduka fruits, piyāla fruits, madhuka fruits, kāsumāri fruits; Small fruits, eat, king, choose the best. 344. This cool water too, brought from a mountain cave; Drink from it, great king, if you desire.’’ 345. ‘‘The blind cannot see in the forest, who brought you these fruits? This provision seems to me, to be for one who is not blind.’’ 346. ‘‘Young, youthful, not too tall, Sāma, of beautiful appearance; His hair is long and black, and curled at the ends. 347. He indeed, having brought fruits, and taking a water pot from here; Went to the river for water, I believe he has not come far.’’ 348. ‘‘I killed that Sāma, who was your attendant; The young man you speak of, Sāma of beautiful appearance. 349. His hair is long and black, and curled at the ends; In those blood-stained ones, Sāma lies, slain by me. 350. "Why do you speak of fine cloth, Saying 'Sāma is slain'? Hearing 'Sāma is slain', My heart trembles. 351. Like a young fig tree's Coral-red leaves stirred by wind; Hearing 'Sāma is slain', My heart trembles." 352. "O Pārikā, the king of Kāsī, He pierced Sāma, who was like a deer, With an arrow in anger; May we not wish evil upon him." 353. "A dear son, hard-won, Who supported the blind in the forest; That only son I have slain, How can my mind not be angry?" 354. "A dear son, hard-won, Who supported the blind in the forest; That only son I have slain, Yet the wise speak of non-anger." 355. "Do not lament so much, Saying 'Sāma is slain'; I, becoming a worker, Will support you in this great forest. 356. I am skilled in archery, Known as 'firm-bowed'; I, becoming a worker, Will support you in this great forest. 357. Seeking food for deer, And roots and fruits of the forest; I, becoming a worker, Will support you in this great forest." 358. "This is not right, great king, This is not fitting for us; You are our king, We bow at your feet." 359. "Speak the Dhamma, O hunter, Reverence has been shown by you; You are our father, You are our mother, O Pārikā." 360. "Homage to you, O King of Kāsī, Homage to you, increaser of Kāsī; We raise our hands in reverence to you, Until Sāma is brought back. 361. Rolling at his feet, And seeing his face and arms; Consoling ourselves, We await the time (of his return)." 362. The great forest, teeming with wild beasts, Appears like the sky; Where Sāma lies slain, Like the moon fallen to earth. 363. The great forest, teeming with wild beasts, Appears like the sky; Where Sāma lies slain, Like the sun fallen to earth. 364. The great forest, teeming with wild beasts, Appears like the sky; Where Sāma lies slain, Covered with dust, disfigured. Vast, infested with wild beasts, It appears like the sky's edge; Where Sāma lies slain, Right here in the hermitage. Even if there are thousands, Hundreds, and ten thousands; No fear for us exists, In the forest, among the beasts. Then, taking the blind ones, The king of Kāsī in the great forest; Holding their hands, he went, Where Sāma had been slain. Having seen Sāma fallen, Their son, covered with dust; Cast away in the great forest, Like the moon fallen to earth. Having seen Sāma fallen, Their son, covered with dust; Cast away in the great forest, Like the sun fallen to earth. Having seen Sāma fallen, Their son, covered with dust; Cast away in the great forest, They pitifully lamented. Having seen Sāma fallen, Their son, covered with dust; Raising their arms, they cried out, "Oh, this is indeed injustice!" Truly, you are negligent, Sāma, of beautiful sight; Who, at this very time, Speaks nothing at all to me. Truly, you are distressed, Sāma, of beautiful sight; Who, at this very time, Speaks nothing at all to me. Truly, you are angry, Sāma, of beautiful sight; Who, at this very time, Speaks nothing at all to me. Truly, you are fast asleep, Sāma, of beautiful sight; Who, at this very time, Speaks nothing at all to me. Truly, you are displeased, Sāma, of beautiful sight; Who, at this very time, Speaks nothing at all to me. Matted, tangled, dust-covered hair, Who now will arrange it? This Sāma has passed away, The attendant of the blind. Who, taking the broom for me, Will sweep the hermitage? Sama is dead, the attendant of the blind. 379. “Who now will bathe them, with cold and warm water? Sama is dead, the attendant of the blind. 380. “Who now will feed them, with roots and fruits of the forest? Sama is dead, the attendant of the blind.” 381. Seeing Sama fallen, her son covered in dust, Afflicted by sorrow for her son, the mother spoke a truth. 382. “By the truth that Sama, formerly was a doer of Dhamma, By this utterance of truth, may Sama’s poison be destroyed. 383. “By the truth that Sama, formerly was a chaste one, By this utterance of truth, may Sama’s poison be destroyed. 384. “By the truth that Sama, formerly was a speaker of truth, By this utterance of truth, may Sama’s poison be destroyed. 385. “By the truth that Sama, was a supporter of his mother and father, By this utterance of truth, may Sama’s poison be destroyed. 386. “By the truth that Sama, was respectful to elders in the family, By this utterance of truth, may Sama’s poison be destroyed. 387. “By the truth that Sama, was dearer to me than life, By this utterance of truth, may Sama’s poison be destroyed. 388. “Whatever merit was done, by me and by your father, By all that wholesome deed, may Sama’s poison be destroyed.” 389. Seeing Sama fallen, his son covered in dust, Afflicted by sorrow for his son, the father spoke a truth. 390. “By the truth that Sama, formerly was a doer of Dhamma, By this utterance of truth, may Sama’s poison be destroyed. 391. “By the truth that Sama, formerly was a chaste one, By this utterance of truth, may Sama’s poison be destroyed. 392. “By the truth that Sama, formerly was a speaker of truth, By this utterance of truth, may Sama’s poison be destroyed. 393. “By the truth that Sama, was a supporter of his mother and father, By this utterance of truth, may Sama’s poison be destroyed. 394. “By the truth that Sama, was respectful to elders in the family, By thi Indeed, by the utterance of truth, let the poison of Sāma be destroyed. 395. By which truth this Sāma is dearer to me than life; By this utterance of truth, let the poison of Sāma be destroyed. 396. Whatever merit has been done by me and by your mother; By all that wholesome deed, let the poison of Sāma be destroyed. 397. That deity, having disappeared on Gandhamādana mountain, Out of compassion for Sāma, spoke this truth. 398. I, on Gandhamādana mountain, a long-time resident; No one is dearer to me than Sāma exists; By this utterance of truth, let the poison of Sāma be destroyed.