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Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. The Vessantara Ballad [Ka] Endowed with thirty-two marks of greatness, The bestower, foremost in giving; May Vessantara deliver us, Wandering in the ocean of existence. [Kha] Wandering in pairs, in pairs, Delighting people, resolute in fame; Maddī approached, Weary in the ocean of existence. [Ga] Now I will tell, Of the origin, delightful there; Grant me your attention, And you poets, applaud. 1. Ninety-one aeons ago, There was a leader named Vipassī; Guiding the trainable to safety, The Buddha with vision arose in the world. 2. In Khema Park, the Buddha, In the beautiful Deer Park; Relying on Bandhumatī, He dwelt in that city then. 3. King Bandhumā ruled, Righteously in that city; The king had two daughters, Beautiful in every way. 4. One was the sole queen, Of Bandhumā, very pleasing; A golden garland worth a thousand, And priceless sandalwood. 5. King Bandhumā gave, The sandalwood to the elder daughter; The golden garland to the younger, When his daughter was born there. 6. Both thought, "This is not without purpose for us; Let us honor the fortunate one, With joyful hearts." 7. Then the elder, Had the sandalwood ground into powder; Going to the monastery, she honored, The golden-hued leader. 8. Scattering the fragrant, Sandalwood in the chamber; She made this wish, "May I be the mother of a Buddha." 9. Having made a golden garland, To adorn the chest; The younger sister honored, The golden-hued Blessed One. 10. She made this wish, "This is my offering; May it remain steadfast on my body, As I wander through existence." 11. Both royal maidens, Having lived as long as they could; Were reborn in heaven, Delighting in happiness and joy. 12. In the worlds of humans and gods, They both wandered happily; For ninety-one aeons, Freed from suffering and woe. 13. In the time of Kassapa, The younger was King Kikī's; Daughter named Uracchadā, Having become... She was fully extinguished. 14. But she was the eldest daughter, Of Kiki, the king there; Named Dhammā, tamed, A celibate maiden. 15. Then having passed away from there, O god, Again and again among humans; She was once the chief queen, Of Pūrindada. 16. Her body was smeared, With red sandalwood paste; By a special meritorious deed, She was known as Phussatī. 17. One day, Sakka, seeing, Her life drawing to an end; Took that goddess with her retinue, To the delightful Nandana grove. 18. Māghava, standing, Near the couch on the auspicious bed; As if lying down, Said this to Phussatī. 19. I will give you ten boons, O Phussatī, beautiful one; Whatever you wish to obtain, I will grant you those boons. 20. Hearing that, the goddess Phussatī, Her hair standing on end; Not knowing her life was ending, Said this to him. 21. What evil, O Sakka, Have I done to you, or what is displeasing to you; That you desire my departure from this delightful place, And speak to me in such a way? 22. No evil have you done, O auspicious one, Nor are you displeasing to me; Your merit is exhausted, Therefore I speak thus to you. 23. Death is near for you, Separation will occur; Accept from me these, Ten boons that I offer. 24. Hearing Sakka's words, Knowing her own death; Wishing to obtain the boons, She said this to Sakka. 25. Having passed away from here, O thousand-eyed one, In the abode of King Sivi; May I be the chief queen named Phussatī, Blue-eyed like a doe. 26. May I have blue eyebrows, May I obtain an excellent son; May I bear him in my womb, With a slender waist, not protruding. 27. May grey hairs not grow, Nor hanging breasts; May dust not cling to my body, And may I also release those condemned to death. 28. Whatever boons you have asked for, Ten of them from me; Given to you with a pleased mind, You will obtain all in the human world. 29. Then having passed away from that deva- World, she desired rebirth; And took rebirth as the chief queen, Of King Madda. 30. After ten months, The queen of Madda gave birth to a daughter; Below She bore a daughter, Of the finest form, Under the shade of a white parasol. 31. Anointed with red sandalwood paste, She shone even more; Therefore, the Brahmins named her, Phussatī. 32. Performing auspicious rites, Like cradle ceremonies; With great care, The royal ladies raised her. 33. Nurses rich in milk and honey, With smooth, plump youth; Fed the royal princess, Sustaining her life. 34. Like old women walking, Hand in hand, arm in arm; They pleased the royal princess, With dances, songs, and plays. 35. With the form of a celestial nymph, Beautiful at sixteen years; Stealing the sight of eyes, Increasing the joy of those who saw her. 36. In the Sivi kingdom, King Jetuttara ruled; He had a son named Siñcaya, Of great fame. 37. Siñcaya, when he came of age, Was handsome like a god; Of noble stature, Skilled in various arts. 38. Siñcaya's father bestowed, The kingdom upon his son; Wishing to see while alive, The great royal glory. 39. Bringing the daughter, Of the Madda king, Phussatī; He made her the chief queen, Of sixteen thousand women. 40. Phussatī and Siñcaya, Looking at each other face to face; With loving eyes, Spoke sweetly to each other. 41. Then Indra thought, "The boons given to Phussatī; Of the ten boons, the boon of a son, Has not yet been fulfilled." 42. "I will fulfill it," In the invincible Nandana grove; He considered the merit, Of Tissa, worthy to be her son. 43. Having passed away, the upward-goer, The Bodhi-deva from there; Went to the Brahma world, And thousand-eyed Indra spoke to him. 44. "Go from here to a good destiny, Out of compassion, O noble one; Take conception, O wise one, In the womb of Siñcaya's queen." 45. Sixty thousand other, Devas subject to passing away; He approached and urged, "Go to a good destiny." 46. The Bodhisatta and others, Agreed, saying "Good!"; Then those devas, having passed away, Came to this human world. 47. The great being was conceived, In Phussatī's womb. At that rebirth; In other families of mortals, They were born separately. 48. When the great being was in the womb, The queen became desirous; Wishing to give a great gift, She released much wealth. 49. At the gate of the royal palace, And in the middle of the city; At the four gates, alms halls Were filled with gifts. 50. Having made six hundred Thousand coins daily; Having distributed to all, She wished to give. 51. The king, understanding the cause, Summoned the Brahmins; Asked the interpreters of omens, To know what would happen. 52. "We know, great king, That in the queen's womb; There will be great joy in giving," Thus spoke the Brahmins. 53. Hearing the Brahmins' words, The king was delighted; He gave gifts, having properly Filled the alms halls. 54. From the moment of conception, Of the wise Bodhisatta; Starting like a wave of the ocean, Great and abundant gain. 55. They sent gifts, To the king in Jambudīpa; By the power of the Bodhisatta, Various regional nobles. 56. He provided comforts, To the queen in conception; The king made her live happily, And did whatever she desired. 57. By the power of the Buddha-seed, The people were joyful; The clouds rained in season, It was a time of good harvest. 58. Playing with her son, Like a mother with the moon; Great joy to all, The people had much. 59. The queen, carrying the womb, When the tenth month was complete; Desired to see the city, Then she announced it to the king. 60. "Good, good," he said, The city like a city of gods; The king had it decorated, To increase the queen's joy. 61. Having placed the queen, In a beautiful, adorned chariot; He had her circumambulate, The entire decorated city. 62. In the middle of Vessa's street, Place to place, path to path; Labor winds blew, As the queen was walking. 63. Understanding the impending birth, The king quickly rejoiced; He had a maternity home built, In that street, with great effort. 64. There she rested. Without fear, Victorious in battle; Pure and stainless son, Like a golden pillar. 65. Opening his eyes, Emerging from his mother's womb; With a pleasing and serene look, He gazed upon his mother's face. 66. "Mother, I will give a gift, Is there anything here to give?" Stretching out his hands, He spoke thus repeatedly. 67. Hearing this, his mother rejoiced, "Give a gift as you wish;" At that moment, she placed A thousand coins in his hand. 68. Like Mahosadha, Vessantara, And Mahāsiddhattha in past lives; He spoke to his mother of enlightenment, Attached to it from the moment of his birth. 69. Seeing this wonder and marvel, The people rejoiced at the birth of the son; Clapping and laughing, They raised a cry of victory. 70. "Vessantara" they called him, A name-taking ceremony; Determined by the Brahmins for him, Born in the merchants' street. 71. On the day of his birth, A celestial being roaming the sky; Brought a young elephant calf, Completely white. 72. Through the Bodhisatta's power, Bringing it as auspicious and revered; She placed it and departed, Safely in the elephant stable. 73. Because of the great being's birth, And making it a cause; The townspeople named him, "Cause" in unison. 74. On that very day were born, The sons of the ministers; Sixty thousand in their homes, Born at the same time as the Great Being. 75. Avoiding excessively long days, He was bathed and cleansed; Sixty-four nurses, Attended to the prince. 76. Nurses skilled in lullabies, Adorned with beautiful forms and youth; With sweet and nourishing milk, Pure and of the finest quality. 77. Each of the sixty thousand nurses, Attended to him; Beautifully they cared for, Those born destined for Buddhahood. 78. Together with sixty thousand, Princes of great fame; With a large retinue,