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The cloud rained immediately; Heavy rain, a great downpour, Thundering in every direction. 161. Many lightning flashes, Emerged from all around; Rainbows arose, And a meteor fell then. 162. Having obtained the elephant, delighted, The Brahmins then, Through the southern gate, in the middle of the city, Went on the elephant's neck. 163. Surrounded by a great crowd, The Brahmins riding the elephant; All the city dwellers saw, That. To them he said this: 164. "Our elephant, alas! You have ridden here; By whom was it given to you? When was it obtained? From where?" 165. "Vessantara gave it to us, Why do you speak thus? Let us not prolong the talk, Let us go to the city." 166. Having spoken thus, they departed, Through the northern gate; Their minds were agitated, The Kalinga people of the city. 167. Then all the citizens, Were angry with the Bodhisatta; Gathering at the king's gate, They raised an outcry. 168. "Unlawfully, good sir, The elephant, revered by the kingdom, Has been given by the wicked Vessantara, As an adornment to the Brahmins." 169. With agitated minds, all The inhabitants of the city, Going to Siñjaya's Presence, spoke thus: 170. "He destroys the kingdom, Your son Vessantara; He has given the elephant, Revered by the Sivi kingdom." 171. "How could he give the elephant, White, like Mount Kelāsa, Covered with a yellow blanket, A victory ground for heroes?" 172. "If he wished to give, Food, drink, and sustenance, Cloth, a seat, gold, He was free to give as he pleased." 173. "If you do not heed, This word of the Sivi people, They will seize you and your son, Into the hands of the Sivi people." 174. Terrified by this, Hearing the speech of the Sivi people, Siñjaya thought, "They wish To kill my son." 175. Thus he spoke, Quickly, with a distracted mind; Driven by love for his son, Afflicted by the dart of sorrow. 176. "Let the whole country, And the kingdom perish; I will not, at the word of the Sivi people, Banish my own son." 177. "How could I be disloyal to him, Who is content and pure of heart? How could I kill my innocent son, With a weapon?" 178. Hearing his speech, Full of love for his son, The Sivi people spoke openly, Without fear, truthfully thus: 179. "Neither by force, nor by punishment, nor by weapons, Is he worthy of bonds; Banish him from the kingdom to the forest." , He dwells on Vamka mountain. 180. Then that king thought, "To expel him is not right; For now, the Sivas' desire I will speak fair words to them." 181. "As they wish, let them do, Let them banish him from the kingdom; And one request we ask, Let him spend this night here. 182. Let him converse as he pleases, With Jālī and Kanhājina; And also with Maddī, Let him enjoy pleasures." 183. Then, at the night's end, At the sun's rising, Having become united, the Sivas, Let them banish him from the kingdom. 184. Then all the Sivas returned, With delighted minds; Having accepted, "It is well," The Sivi king's word. 185. Then he, the Sivi king, Called a barber, near his son; For the purpose of sending a message, Quickly spoke thus. 186. "Arise, barber, hurrying, Go and tell Vessantara; 'The Sivas, lord, enraged, And the townsfolk have gathered. 187. At the end of this night, At the sun's rising; Having become united, the Sivas, Will banish you from the kingdom.'" 188. The barber, hurrying, Sent by the Sivi king; Approached the beautiful city, Vessantara's dwelling. 189. There he saw the prince, Delighting in his city; Surrounded by ministers, Like Vāsava among the gods. 190. Having bowed, weeping, The barber spoke to Vessantara; "I will tell you sorrow, Do not despise me, bull of chariots. 191. At the end of this night, At the sun's rising; The Sivas, lord, enraged, Will banish you from the kingdom." 192. Having heard this speech, Smiling, with joy; Thus asked the barber, Vessantara, the wise. 193. "For what are the Sivas angry with me, That I do not see a wrong? Explain that to me, barber, Why do they banish me?" 194. Then the barber said this, "They are angry at the elephant gift; The Sivas are displeased, king, Therefore they banish you." 195. Having heard that, the great being, With mind firm in giving; Whose word was never false before, Spoke thus to the barber. I would give my heart, my eye, My right arm too; Gold, gems, gold coins, No external wealth at all. Let them banish me, kill me, Or consume all my flesh and age; I will not cease from giving, Though they cut me into seven pieces. Then, possessed by a deity, The charioteer showed the way, The ancient path, Traveled before by all the banished. "By the bank of the Kontīmārā, Go to the Gīrimā forest path; Where those banished go, Let the virtuous one go there." Having heard that, the Bodhisatta, Accepting it with "Good!", Spoke thus to the townspeople, Seeking a moment alone. "I will give a great gift, Seven hundred each, here today; Tomorrow I will depart, Forgive me night and day." "Good, O god," I will say, To forgive night and day; Having spoken thus to the townspeople, Then the charioteer departed. The Great Being, with a great chariot, Summoned all the workers, And thus declared to them, Eager to give. "Elephants, horses, chariots, women, Male and female slaves, cows; Prepare seven hundred Of each of these, good sirs." "Then various kinds, All kinds of food and drink; Prepare liquor too, Everything fit to be given." Having thus declared, Urged on by loving thoughts, He alone ascended to the palace, To Maddī's delightful chamber. Scented with red sandalwood perfumes, And fragrant waters, He entered the auspicious chamber, The dwelling of Queen Maddī. Seeing her husband coming, With a smiling face, Maddī quickly rose From her seat, like a Renumattā kinnarī. Having risen, Maddī Took the king's left hand With her right hand, Smiling gently. Then, on the auspicious couch, Sitting with her husband, Maddī stood fanning him, Controlled in speech. Having placed Maddī on his lap, Holding the queen's hands, Bringing his face to her face, The king spoke softly. "Whatever wealth I have given you, Whatever paternal wealth you have; All of that, keep it..." O beloved Bhaddā Komārapemikā. 213. Never before, Has my lord spoken thus to me; For a long time, Maddī pondered thus. 214. Then with agitated mind, Maddī spoke thus; Where, O Lord, shall I place, Tell me when asked. 215. Among the virtuous, Maddī, Give alms as is fitting; For there is no refuge, Greater than giving for all beings. 216. This indeed is a treasure, That increases the joy of riches; Giving is the treasure of beings, Thus spoke the king. 217. Maddī said "Well done," And bowed her noble head; The king accepted, And again spoke thus. 218. Jāli and Kaṇhājinā, Are dear to Maddī; Show respect and humility, Towards your mother and father-in-law. 219. Whatever affection, You have for me in separation; If you wish to have it yourself, Attend to it carefully. 220. If it should not be thus, A husband like me being gone; Choose another husband, Do not grieve without me. 221. Then with a gloomy face, Maddī, Spoke thus to the king; An ill-heard thing I hear, Why do you speak thus? 222. I will explain to you, O Bhaddā, The whole reason now; The Sivas are not angry at the gift of elephants, My united Sivas. 223. They will banish me, therefore, From the Sivarāṭṭha; I will give a great gift, Tomorrow in the Komāra assembly. 224. The day after tomorrow I will depart, From the kingdom alone, O beautiful one; Filled with various dangers, I will go to Vaṅka mountain. 225. Having given Jāli, dear to my hand, And Kaṇhājinā, my own offspring; Having abandoned them, I would go, And live alone in the forest. 226. Having heard the king's, Sorrow-increasing words; Like a leaf shaken by the wind, Was Maddī's heart then. 227. Do not speak thus to me, You shake my heart; As if sprinkled with hot oil, My body burns, O king. 228. It is not righteous, O great king, That you should go alone; I too will go with you, Wherever you go, O king. 229. Mar Death with you, Or life without you; Better to die, Than to live apart from you. 230. Having lit a fire, Well-laid with kindling; Better to die there, Than to live apart from you. 231. Like a she-elephant, Following a rutting bull; So I follow you, With my children behind. 232. Then the king considered, The mind of Maddi Devi; Declaring various dangers, He spoke thus, dispelling fear. 233. I will explain to you truly, In the forest, gentle-hearted one; Various dangers, harsh and terrible, That cause the heart to tremble. 234. There is a lion, O beautiful one, The king of beasts, with a harsh roar; He terrifies you with his sound, A beast with sharp, pointed teeth. 235. Leopards, tigers, and black bears too, With sharp, pointed claws; Swords, wild buffaloes of the forest, With sharp, pointed horns. 236. With sharp claws and horns, These could tear a man apart; Cutting him into pieces, They would devour him at the roots of trees. 237. There are ogres and ogresses, Many man-eaters; Searching for men and women, With ugly faces and swords in hand. 238. Then there are pythons and snakes, With terrible poison lurking; Poisonous Rakshasas and jackals, Accustomed to eating blood. 139. And many others exist, Causing fear and terror; Why are you not afraid of these, Dangers that frighten the mind? 240. Do not follow me, As I go, filled with fear; Stay here in the forest, With your companions, timid one. 141. Once, in the beautiful palace, Living with me, O lovely one; Hearing the sound of a hawk, What was the roaring of thunder to me? 242. Once, what awakened me, Speaking "I'm afraid, I'm afraid"; At night, as I lay sleeping, Hearing the sound of a nuluṅka bird. 243. Once, at the sound of thunder, Hearing it during the day near me; Running to embrace me, Why did my hair stand on end? 144. For a goddess so fearful,