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So delicate; It is not fitting to live in the forest, In the terrible, uninhabited wilderness. 245. Maddi, hearing the king's Smiling with a steadfast mind; With a confident heart, She spoke thus to her lord. 246. "These are my loving thoughts, And a fearful mind in the forest; These are your, O great king, Sharp, loving thoughts. 247. My swift stream flows, Towards you, like the ocean; Always love's water, O king, Like the Ganges to the sea. 248. Death with a loving heart, Life with a fearful mind; That death is better, Than this long life. 249. Making a wall of mangoes, O king, As a fence before the city; Preventing various fears, I would go, harming no one. 250. Here I would be, with a loving heart, Having taken to Vanka Mountain; Seeking fruits and berries, I would live with you. 251. Thus, showing her courage, She satisfied the king, Like one dwelling in the Himalayas, With her own nature. 252. When you see dancers, Young men wearing garlands; Playing in the horse-pleasant grove, You will remember your kingdom. 253. When you see singers, Looking into each other's faces; Young men in the forest thicket, You will remember your kingdom. 254. When you see an elephant, Evening and morning in the Brahma forest; Wandering without a companion, You will remember your kingdom. 255. Hearing the sound of a herd of elephants, Roaring fully; Like the sound of a striking elephant, You will remember your kingdom. 256. Seeing a deer in the evening, Come to the grove of five trees; What is the use of dancing for another man? You will remember your kingdom. 257. When you hear the deep sound, Of the flowing Indus River; And the song of the Kinnaras, You will remember your kingdom. 258. Hearing the sound of a lion's roar, Of a tiger, a bear, or a leopard; And the sound of a sword, You will remember your kingdom. 259. When you see a peacock surrounded, By birds with colorful tails and wings; A peacock dancing, You will remember your kingdom. 260. When you see in winter, Trees flowering on the earth; Fragrant scents blowing, You will remember your kingdom. 261. When in the winter month, You see the green earth; Covered with ladybugs, You will remember your kingdom." You will remember. 162. Then Queen Phusatī, Stood grieving for her son; At the door of the royal chamber, Wondering what was happening. 263. She lamented mournfully, Speaking words to each other; Hearing that, Queen Phusatī, Spoke to her daughter-in-law. 264. Better to be poisoned, Or thrown from a mountain; Or tied with a deadly rope, Life has no meaning for me. 265. A master of the Vedas, a generous giver, A non-miserly, glorious one; Why banish my son Vessantara, Who is innocent? 266. Honored by kings, A teacher for the whole world; Why banish my son Vessantara, Who is innocent? 267. Mournfully lamenting, And shedding tears, Phusatī, Quickly spoke to her daughter-in-law, And went to see Siñcaya. 268. Then Queen Siñcaya, Clearly spoke these words; Revealing various strategies, Skilled in clever arguments. 269. Like honeyed palāsa fruits, Or mangoes ready to fall; Thus will this kingdom be, When the innocent is banished. 270. Like a swan with clipped wings, In a pond without water; Abandoned by his ministers, The king will languish alone. 270. I tell you, great king, This matter has gone too far; Do not, at the urging of the Sivi people, Banish the innocent. 172. Hearing the queen's words, The righteous king, a follower of Dhamma; Righteously spoke to the queen, The grieving mother. 273. This Vessantara, dear lady, Is dearer to me than life itself; Yet I banish him, Following the law of Dhamma. 274. In the Sivi kingdom, According to the ancient royal tradition; I am only doing what is customary, Restraining my own son. 275. Hearing the king's words, Distressed and with a trembling heart; Again lamenting, Thus wailed Phusatī. 276. Whose banners used to be, Adorned with blooming kanikāra flowers; Which followed him as he went, Alone he will now go. 277. With the color of an Indagopaka insect, Gāndhāra blankets and woolen cloths; Which followed him as he went, Alone you will now go. 278. Who used to travel by elephant, In a palanquin, or by chariot; Today, on foot... The king of Sorā, How does the traveler go? 279. How, with body anointed with sandalwood, Awakening with dance and song; A rough hide and hoof, And abandoning a full bowl? 280. Entering the great forest, Wearing bark cloth instead of fine linen; A coarse garment made of kusa grass, How will he endure it? 281. Having worn clothes from Kasi, And garments of khoma and ṭumpara; Wearing garments of kusa grass, How will Maddi soften them? 282. Having traveled in palanquins, And in chariots; Today, without a lap to lean on, The traveler goes on foot. 283. Having walked on gold- Embellished slippers; Today, without joy or pleasure, The traveler goes on foot. 284. Having gone among thousands of women, And ponds adorned with lotuses; Today, without joy or pleasure, She goes alone to the forest. 285. Having heard the sound of jackals, She often trembles; Living in the great forest, How will the timid one live? 286. Having heard the sound of owls, She often trembles; Living in the great forest, How will the timid one live? 287. Like a bird whose young are killed, Seeing the empty nest; I will grieve with sorrow, Returning to this empty city. 288. Like a kururi whose young are killed, Seeing the empty nest; I will run here and there, Not seeing my beloved sons. 289. Thus, by the words of Vila, The innocent prince; Has been banished from the kingdom to the forest, I think my life is over. 290. Having heard the lament of Phusati, All the Sivi kings; Raising their arms, they cried, When the palanquin arrived. 291. Having heard the sound of crying, Overwhelmed with sorrow; The palanquin bearers also cried, At Vessantara's residence. 292. The women of the court and the princes, The merchants and the Brahmins; Raising their arms, they cried, At Vessantara's residence. 293. The elephant riders and the army, The charioteers and the foot soldiers; Raising their arms, they cried, At Vessantara's residence. 294. At the end of that night, When the sun had risen; They announced to the king, To go to the place of giving. 295. Then in the morning, the king of Sori. Then, Adorned with ornaments, He approached the alms-hall, Accompanied by a great crowd. 296. Seeing what was to be given In the alms-halls, he prepared it; And commanded the ministers, The king, with a delighted mind. 297. "Give clothes to those who want clothes, Give liquor to the thirsty; Food to those who want food, Distribute it properly. 298. Whatever they desire to receive, Give that to them; Do not turn away any beggar Who has come to the alms-halls." 299. Then it was frightening, Then it was hair-raising; When the great gift was given, The earth trembled. 300. They lamented Vessantara, As if the king had fallen; Praising him in various Ways, thus spoke the merchants: 301. "Having given us Vessantara, The king, the giver of gifts; Soon from the kingdom, He will go forth to the forest. 302. Having given seven hundred elephants, Adorned with all ornaments; This Vessantara from here, Will depart from the kingdom. 303. Having given seven hundred horses, Sindhu steeds, swift vehicles; This Vessantara from here, Will depart from the kingdom. 304. Having given seven hundred chariots, With banners raised aloft; This Vessantara from here, Will depart from the kingdom. 305. Having given seven hundred maidens, Beautiful and adorned; This Vessantara from here, Will depart from the kingdom. 306. Having given seven hundred cows, All with milk pails ready; This Vessantara, the king, Will depart from the kingdom. 307. Having given seven hundred slave girls, And seven hundred male slaves; This Vessantara, the king, Will depart from the kingdom." 308. Then there arose a sound, A great tumultuous noise; The city was in confusion, It was hair-raising. 309. Having given the great gift, Vessantara, without stinginess; Accompanied by ministers, He went to his residence. 310. Then with Maddi, To his parents' presence; He went to pay homage, In a decorated chariot. 311. Having paid homage to his father, The Bodhisatta spoke with joined hands; Thus declaring, He went... He was going quickly. 312. My father is banishing me, Who am harmless to the kingdom; Because of the words of the Sivis, Therefore, I go to the forest. 313. Tomorrow, great king, When the sun has risen, I will depart from the kingdom, I will go to Vanka mountain. 314. In the forest, filled with wild beasts, Where swords and skins are laid out; I will do meritorious deeds, You sink in the mire. 315. Then, like a flowing river, Having gone to his mother's side; Having paid homage, he announced, Thus, to his own mother. 316. Permit me, mother, I will go to Vanka mountain; I will do meritorious deeds in the forest, Renunciation pleases me. 317. Having heard that, with tearful face, His mother spoke thus; I permit you, my son, May your renunciation be successful. 318. This Maddi, my daughter-in-law, Is tender and delicately nurtured; Living with her husband, What will she do alone in the forest? 319. Having heard his mother's words, Vessantara, with hands clasped; Spoke these gentle words, Making known his own mind. 320. I would not dare, mother, To take her to the forest against her will; If she wishes, let her come, If she does not wish, let her stay. 321. Then the great king Began to entreat his daughter-in-law; Do not, like sandalwood, Bear dust and dirt. 322. Having worn Kasi garments, She wore a garment of grass and bark; Life in the forest is difficult, Do not go, endowed with beauty. 323.