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Then the virtuous daughter-in-law, Spoke thus to her father-in-law; I do not desire that happiness, Which is without Vessantara. 324. Then the great king, Describing the unbearable dangers in the great forest; Announcing various fears, Asked her not to go to the forest. 325. Whatever dangers there are, great king, Those in the forest; I will endure them all, I will follow my husband. 326. I will go before, Giving food to my husband on the path; Pushing aside with my breast, Grass, reeds, and forest debris. 327. Through many vows and observances, A maiden finds a husband; Widowhood is bitter in the world, Go alone, best of chariots. 328. In various ways they torment, The helpless widow; They speak with abusive words, Even friends and relatives. 329. A river is naked without water, A country is naked without a king; A woman is also naked as a widow, Who has no living brothers. 330. Wisdom is the flag of the chariot, Wisdom is the smoke of the fire; Wisdom is the king of the country, Wisdom is the husband of the woman. 331. If a poor man Has a poor wife; And a rich man a rich one, O king, The gods indeed praise that. 332. How can the hearts be comforted, Of women who are easy to please; Who desire happiness for themselves, When their husbands are suffering? 333. Even the earth bounded by the ocean, Possessing much wealth; Filled with various jewels, Is nothing without Vessantara. 334. I will follow my husband, Wearing the ochre robe; Despised by the steadfast, without glory, And what is widowhood for a woman. 335. Having heard the daughter-in-law's words, The father-in-law was about to give away; The two grandsons right there, The father-in-law then spoke to the daughter-in-law. 336. These young sons, Jālī and Kaṇhājinā, both; Leave them and go with auspicious signs, We will raise them for you. 337. My dear sons, O king, Jālī and Kaṇhājinā, both; They will delight me there, What is life in the forest? 338. Let us go taking the sons, Both of us to Mount Vaṅka, We will live seeing, These ones rejoicing. 339. We will live hearing, The song of the skilled speakers; Of these ones dancing, Wearing garlands in the forest. 340. Having heard the daughter-in-law's words, The father-in-law, with a saddened heart; Thus lamented, Thinking of the two children. 341. Having eaten rice with husks removed, And pure meat sauces; How will the children live, Eating fruits of the trees? 342. Having eaten from bowls of a hundred palas, Of gold and a hundred of silver; How will the children live, Eating from leaves of trees? 343. Having worn clothes of Kāsī, And linen and cotton; How will the children live, Wearing grass and bark clothes? 344. Having traveled in litters, In palanquins and chariots; Running on foot How do the children fare? 345. Sleeping in a hut, Sheltered, with bolted doors; Sleeping at the foot of a tree, How do the children fare? 346. Sleeping on couches, On blankets richly spread; Sleeping on a bed of grass, How do the children fare? 347. Anointed with perfumes, And sandalwood and aloe; Wearing dust and dirt, How do the children fare? 348. Fanned with yak tails, peacock feathers, Their bodies refreshed with ease; Stung by gadflies and mosquitoes, How do the children fare? 349. Then the daughter-in-law spoke to the king, Lamenting, afflicted with grief; Regarding the children, Vessantara's beloved. 350. Do not grieve, O king, Nor be disheartened; As we shall be, So shall the children be. 351. While they were conversing thus, Those of the royal lineage; The night dawned on them, The sun rose. 352. Then they brought and placed, Yoked with four Sindh horses; An adorned chariot, At the royal gate, auspiciously arranged. 353. Having bowed to her father-in-law, Maddi, Taking her two children; Going before her husband, First ascended the chariot. 354. Then Vessantara, having bowed deeply To his mother and father; And having circumambulated them, Quickly ascended the chariot. 355. Then through the auspicious gate, He sent forth the adorned chariot; Gladdening Maddi, The mother of Jāli. 356. As they departed, many people, Reverently paid homage; Seeing Vessantara and Maddi, With hands joined in reverence. 357. Taking leave, he departed, Wishing, "I shall go"; "May you be free from sorrow, happy," Thus he greeted the worshipping people. 358. Standing in the chariot, the noble king, Departed, advising; "Perform meritorious deeds, Such as giving," to the great crowd. 359. As the Bodhisatta departed, His mother thought thus; "He is inclined to give, From the time of his birth." 360. Then, to give a gift, Filled with precious sons; At her son's auspicious sight, She sent many carts. 361. Vessantara, the giver, Reached the place, Giving all to the beggars, Eighteen times a slave, Even giving his own body. 362. As he left the city, Vessantara, his father's city, Wishing to see the city, Then the earth trembled. 363. There, in a space the size of a chariot, The earth split, And turned like a potter's wheel, Facing the city. 364. Having looked at the city, With the chariot facing the city, Standing still to show Maddi, Thus he spoke, laughing. 365. "Listen, Maddi, It looks beautiful; The abode of the best of the Sivas, My father's house." 366. Having sent back the born-together ministers, And the great crowd, He drove the chariot quickly, Delighting Maddi. 367. Four Brahmins came, Following him as he drove; To ask for the Sindhava horses, Maddi saw them then. 368. Maddi, with a soft voice, Announced, "Beggars have come," To her husband, Touching his back. 369. "Good, good," he said, And stopped the chariot; The Brahmins approached, And asked for the Sindhava horses. 370. Rejoicing, he gave, The good Sindhava horses to the Brahmins; The Brahmins took them and went, To their respective dwellings. 371. When the horses were given, Four sons of gods, With the color of Rohicca deer, Drove the chariot and went. 372. "The gods are driving, With the color of Rohicca deer," Knowing this, the wise one, Informing Maddi, spoke thus. 373. "Listen, Maddi, It looks wonderful; Deer with the color of Rohicca, Are driving the right side." 374. Maddi then uttered, A wondrous speech; "By the power of Vessantara, The gods are driving the chariot." 375. Having come, he asked for the chariot, Another Brahmin then; The Bodhisatta gave, The chariot to him without hesitation. 376. As he gave what was dear, Maddi, with a delighted mind, Exclaimed her approval, Always without stinginess or harm. 377. When the chariot was given, in between... The sons of gods received them; All were travelers, To Queen Maddi then they spoke. 378. "You, Maddi, take Kanhajina, She is the younger, light; I will take Jali, He is heavy, the elder brother." 379. The king taking the boy, And the princess the girl; Rejoicing they departed, Speaking pleasantly to each other. 380. Coming to a crossroads, Seeing travelers, They asked and went, "Where is Mount Vankata?" 381. Lamenting bitterly, Asked by the travelers; Thus they reported, "Mount Vankata is far away." 382. Seeing fruit-bearing trees, Near the road, the children; For the sake of those fruits, The parents urged them on. 383. Seeing the children crying, The great trees were agitated; As if bending down, They approached the children. 384. Seeing this wonder, Maddi, resembling a rabbit; With a body full of joy, Thus she sang, delighted. 385. "Wonderful indeed in the world, Amazing, hair-raising, By the power of Vessantara; The trees themselves are bent down." 386. The Yakkhas shortened the path, Out of compassion for the children; As the day ended, They reached Jetaratta. 387. In one day they crossed Thirty yojanas; In the evening, to their uncle, They arrived at the beautiful city. 388. At the city gate, In a hall, they sat down with their children; Relieving their weariness, Comforting the two children. 389. Maddi also, of the Bodhisatta, Wiped the dust from his feet; Massaging his feet, She stood there, victorious. 390. Going out of the hall, She stood in her husband's sight; Looking in every direction, Maddi, weary from the wilderness. 391. The Jetiya surrounded her, Seeing her without companions, They exclaimed to Maddi, "A woman of divine beauty!" 392. Clothed in fine garments, In palanquins and chariots; Today Maddi in the forest, A traveler, runs about. 393. Maddi's arrival, destitute, With her husband and children, Seeing her coming, they went and told, J Having given thus in a moment. 394. Hearing that, the Jetas' leaders, Weeping, approached; At Vessantara's feet, Falling, they asked thus. 395. Is all well, O king, Is all well, O king, no disease? Are your parents healthy, And the Sivis without disease? What is your strength, great king, And what your chariot circle? 396. Without a horse, without a chariot, A long road you have come; Done by enemies, perhaps, You have reached the border region. 397. Then Vessantara, the best of kings, To make known the reason for his coming To the Jeta kings, Spoke these verses. 398. All is well with me, sirs, And indeed, sirs, no disease; And indeed, my parents are healthy, And the Sivis without disease. 399. I gave an elephant, A supreme elephant, all white; To brahmins, adorned, Knowing the field, honored by the kingdom. 400. Therein, the Sivis were angry with me, My parents, with afflicted minds; "You are restrained, O king," "We will go to Vanka mountain." 401. Then those Jeta kings, With minds not giving up strength, Thus appeased the king, Having departed from his kingdom. 402. Welcome to you, great king, And well come your arrival; The lord has come without anger, Declare whatever you desire here. 403. Stay here for a while, In the Jeta kingdom, best of chariots; Until the Jetas go, To the king's presence, to ask.