Vessantara’s ConductVessantaracariya

“She who was my mother,“Yā me ahosi janikā, the aristocrat lady named Phussatī,phussatī nāma khattiyā; was Sakka’s beloved queenSā atītāsu jātīsu, in past lives.sakkassa mahesī piyā.

Knowing that she was at the end of life,Tassā āyukkhayaṁ ñatvā, the lord of gods said this:devindo etadabravi; ‘I grant you ten favors,‘Dadāmi te dasa vare, my dear, whatever favor you wish.’varabhadde yadicchasi’.

When he said this the queenEvaṁ vuttā ca sā devī, replied to Sakka:sakkaṁ punidamabravi; ‘In what way am I deficient?‘Kiṁ nu me aparādhatthi, How am I displeasing to you?kiṁ nu dessā ahaṁ tava; You send me from this lovely place,Rammā cāvesi maṁ ṭhānā, like the wind a feeble tree.’vātova dharaṇīruhaṁ’.

When she said this SakkaEvaṁ vutto ca so sakko, replied to her:puna tassidamabravi; ‘You have done nothing wrong,‘Na ceva te kataṁ pāpaṁ, nor are you not beloved to me.na ca me tvaṁsi appiyā.

But your life lasts only so long,Ettakaṁyeva te āyu, your time of death will come.cavanakālo bhavissati; Accept the ten supreme favorsPaṭiggaṇha mayā dinne, I offer to you.’vare dasa varuttame’.

She accepted the offerings of Sakka,Sakkena sā dinnavarā, full of joy and happiness.tuṭṭhahaṭṭhā pamoditā; Having conceived me,Mamaṁ abbhantaraṁ katvā, Phussatī was blessed with the ten favors.phussatī dasa vare varī.

Then Phussatī, having passed from there,Tato cutā sā phussatī, was reborn as an aristocratkhattiye upapajjatha; in the city of Jetuttara,Jetuttaramhi nagare, where she married Sañjaya.sañjayena samāgami.

Once I was conceived in the wombYadāhaṁ phussatiyā kucchiṁ, of my dear mother Phussatī,okkanto piyamātuyā; because of my power,Mama tejena me mātā, my mother always delighted in giving.sadā dānaratā ahu.

She gave to the destitute, the ailing and aging,Adhane āture jiṇṇe, to beggars, travelers, and folk,yācake addhike jane; to ascetics and brahmins, and the dispossessed,Samaṇe brāhmaṇe khīṇe, and to those who had nothing.deti dānaṁ akiñcane.

Having carried me for ten months,Dasa māse dhārayitvāna, she was proceeding around the citykaronte puraṁ padakkhiṇaṁ; when Phussatī gave birth to meVessānaṁ vīthiyā majjhe, in the middle of the peasant’s street.janesi phussatī mamaṁ.

My name was not from my mother’s side,Na mayhaṁ mattikaṁ nāmaṁ, nor from my father’s.napi pettikasambhavaṁ; I was born there in the peasant’s street,Jātettha vessavīthiyā, and that’s why I’m called Vessantara.tasmā vessantaro ahu.

When I was a boyYadāhaṁ dārako homi, of only eight years old,jātiyā aṭṭhavassiko; sitting in the stilt longhouse,Tadā nisajja pāsāde, I thought of giving gifts.dānaṁ dātuṁ vicintayiṁ.

‘I would give my heart and my eyes,‘Hadayaṁ dadeyyaṁ cakkhuṁ, my flesh and blood too.’maṁsampi rudhirampi ca; I announced that I would give my body,Dadeyyaṁ kāyaṁ sāvetvā, if anyone asked me.yadi koci yācaye mamaṁ’.

Reflecting on my state of mind,Sabhāvaṁ cintayantassa, so undisturbed and steadfast,akampitamasaṇṭhitaṁ; the earth quaked there,Akampi tattha pathavī, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

Every fortnight, the fifteenth,Anvaddhamāse pannarase, and the sabbath when the moon was full,puṇṇamāse uposathe; I mounted the tusker PaccayaPaccayaṁ nāgamāruyha, and went to give gifts.dānaṁ dātuṁ upāgamiṁ.

From the country of Kaliṅga,Kaliṅgaraṭṭhavisayā, the brahmins came to me,brāhmaṇā upagañchu maṁ; requesting the royal elephant,Ayācuṁ maṁ hatthināgaṁ, that was lucky and deemed as auspicious.dhaññaṁ maṅgalasammataṁ.

‘Our nation is suffering from drought,‘Avuṭṭhiko janapado, food is scarce and famine abounds,dubbhikkho chātako mahā; please give the noble elephantDadāhi pavaraṁ nāgaṁ, the all-white supreme elephant.’sabbasetaṁ gajuttamaṁ’.

‘I give without hesitationDadāmi na vikampāmi, what you ask of me, brahmins.yaṁ maṁ yācanti brāhmaṇā; I do not hide what I have,Santaṁ nappatigūhāmi, for my heart is happy to give.dāne me ramate mano.

When supplicants come to meNa me yācakamanuppatte, it is unbefitting to refuse.paṭikkhepo anucchavo; Let not my vow be broken,Mā me bhijji samādānaṁ, I shall give the mighty elephant.’dassāmi vipulaṁ gajaṁ.

Taking the elephant by the trunk,Nāgaṁ gahetvā soṇḍāya, and a bejeweled ceremonial vessel,bhiṅgāre ratanāmaye; I sprinkled water on the hand,Jalaṁ hatthe ākiritvā, and gave the elephant to the brahmins.brāhmaṇānaṁ adaṁ gajaṁ.

Then again when I was givingPunāparaṁ dadantassa, the all-white supreme elephant,sabbasetaṁ gajuttamaṁ; the earth quaked again,Tadāpi pathavī kampi, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

At the gift of the tusker,Tassa nāgassa dānena, angry Sivian folk gatheredsivayo kuddhā samāgatā; and banished me from my kingdom, saying:Pabbājesuṁ sakā raṭṭhā, ‘Go to Crooked Mountain.’‘vaṅkaṁ gacchatu pabbataṁ’.

While they were ejecting me,Tesaṁ nicchubhamānānaṁ, I was undisturbed and steadfast,akampitamasaṇṭhitaṁ; I asked one favor:Mahādānaṁ pavattetuṁ, to perform a great offering.ekaṁ varamayācisaṁ.

When I asked, all the Sivian folkYācitā sivayo sabbe, granted me that one favor.ekaṁ varamadaṁsu me; Sounding the drums,Sāvayitvā kaṇṇabheriṁ, I gave a great offering.mahādānaṁ dadāmahaṁ.

And as the sound went forth,Athettha vattatī saddo, there was a great tumult and upset.tumulo bheravo mahā; They drove me out because of giving,Dānenimaṁ nīharanti, but I just gave again.puna dānaṁ dadātayaṁ.

Elephants, horses, chariots,Hatthiṁ asse rathe datvā, male and female slaves, cattle, and riches:dāsiṁ dāsaṁ gavaṁ dhanaṁ; after giving this great giftMahādānaṁ daditvāna, I then left the city.nagarā nikkhamiṁ tadā.

After leaving the city,Nikkhamitvāna nagarā, I turned back to look,nivattitvā vilokite; at which the earth quaked,Tadāpi pathavī kampi, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

Having given away my four-horse chariot,Catuvāhiṁ rathaṁ datvā, I was standing at the crossroadsṭhatvā cātummahāpathe; alone with no partner,Ekākiyo adutiyo, and I said to Queen Maddī:maddideviṁ idamabraviṁ.

‘Maddī, you take Kaṇhā,‘Tvaṁ maddi kaṇhaṁ gaṇhāhi, for she, as the younger sister, is the lighter.lahukā esā kaniṭṭhikā; I shall take Jāli,Ahaṁ jāliṁ gahessāmi, for he, as the brother, is heavier.’garuko bhātiko hi so’.

Like a pink or white lotus,Padumaṁ puṇḍarīkaṁva, Maddī picked up Kaṇhājinā.maddī kaṇhājinaggahī; Like a golden statue,Ahaṁ suvaṇṇabimbaṁva, I picked up Jāli, the aristocrat.jāliṁ khattiyamaggahiṁ.

High-born and delicate,Abhijātā sukhumālā, four aristocrat folkkhattiyā caturo janā; traveled ground even and uneven,Visamaṁ samaṁ akkamantā, going to Crooked Mountain.vaṅkaṁ gacchāma pabbataṁ.

Whenever men would come along,Ye keci manujā enti, coming the other way along the road,anumagge paṭippathe; we asked them in the middle of the street,Maggante paṭipucchāma, ‘Where is Crooked Mountain?’‘kuhiṁ vaṅkantapabbato’.

Seeing us there,Te tattha amhe passitvā, they spoke to us kindly,karuṇaṁ giramudīrayuṁ; ‘It will be hard for you,’ they explained,Dukkhante paṭivedenti, ‘for Crooked Mountain is far.’dūre vaṅkantapabbato.

If the children saw fruitYadi passanti pavane, on a tree in the forest,dārakā phaline dume; then for the sake of that fruit,Tesaṁ phalānaṁ hetumhi, the children cried.uparodanti dārakā.

Seeing the children cry,Rodante dārake disvā, the tall, massive treesubbiddhā vipulā dumā; bent down of their own accord,Sayamevoṇamitvāna, within reach of the children.upagacchanti dārake.

Seeing this marvel,Idaṁ acchariyaṁ disvā, so astonishing and hair-raising,abbhutaṁ lomahaṁsanaṁ; Maddī, beautiful in every limb,Sāhukāraṁ pavattesi, exclaimed in celebration:maddī sabbaṅgasobhanā.

‘Such a marvel in the world,Accheraṁ vata lokasmiṁ, so astonishing and hair-raising,abbhutaṁ lomahaṁsanaṁ; due to the power of Vessantara,Vessantarassa tejena, the trees bent down of their own accord.’sayamevoṇatā dumā.

Native spirits, out of compassion,Saṅkhipiṁsu pathaṁ yakkhā, shortened the path,anukampāya dārake; so that on the very day they set out,Nikkhantadivaseneva, they arrived at the kingdom of Ceta.cetaraṭṭhamupāgamuṁ.

Sixty thousand kingsSaṭṭhirājasahassāni, were living at Mātula then.tadā vasanti mātule; All raised their cupped palms,Sabbe pañjalikā hutvā, and approached, weeping.rodamānā upāgamuṁ.

There they held conversationTattha vattetvā sallāpaṁ, with the folks of Ceta and their children.cetehi cetaputtehi; Then, leaving that place,Te tato nikkhamitvāna, they arrived at Crooked Mountain.vaṅkaṁ agamu pabbataṁ.

The lord of gods addressedĀmantayitvā devindo, Vissakamma of great psychic power:vissakammaṁ mahiddhikaṁ; ‘Build a hermitage, well-made and delightful,Assamaṁ sukataṁ rammaṁ, with a hall of leaves.’paṇṇasālaṁ sumāpaya.

After hearing Sakka’s words,Sakkassa vacanaṁ sutvā, Vissakamma of great psychic powervissakammo mahiddhiko; built a hermitage, well-made and delightful,Assamaṁ sukataṁ rammaṁ, with a hall of leaves.paṇṇasālaṁ sumāpayi.

Having plunged into the forest,Ajjhogāhetvā pavanaṁ, quiet and undisturbed,appasaddaṁ nirākulaṁ; we four personsCaturo janā mayaṁ tattha, lived there in the mountains.vasāma pabbatantare.

Myself and Queen Maddī,Ahañca maddidevī ca, with both Jāli and Kaṇhājinā,jālī kaṇhājinā cubho; dispelling each other’s sorrowAññamaññaṁ sokanudā, lived then in that hermitage.vasāma assame tadā.

While caring for the children,Dārake anurakkhanto, I was not idle in the hermitage.asuñño homi assame; Maddī gathered fruit,Maddī phalaṁ āharitvā, and provided for three people.poseti sā tayo jane.

While I was living in the forest,Pavane vasamānassa, a traveler came to meaddhiko maṁ upāgami; and asked for my children,Āyāci puttake mayhaṁ, both Jāli and Kaṇhājinā.jāliṁ kaṇhājinaṁ cubho.

When I saw the supplicant approaching,Yācakaṁ upagataṁ disvā, I felt so full of joy.hāso me upapajjatha; Taking both my children,Ubho putte gahetvāna, I gave them to the brahmin then.adāsiṁ brāhmaṇe tadā.

When I gave away my own children,Sake putte cajantassa, to the brahmin Jūjaka,jūjake brāhmaṇe yadā; the earth quaked again,Tadāpi pathavī kampi, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

And then Sakka descendedPunadeva sakko oruyha, in the guise of a brahmin.hutvā brāhmaṇasannibho; He asked me for Queen Maddī,Āyāci maṁ maddideviṁ, virtuous, and devoted.sīlavantiṁ patibbataṁ.

Taking Maddī by the hand,Maddiṁ hatthe gahetvāna, filling clasped hands with water,udakañjali pūriya; with a confident heart,Pasannamanasaṅkappo, I gave Maddī to him.tassa maddiṁ adāsahaṁ.

As Maddī was being given,Maddiyā dīyamānāya, gods applauded in the welkin,gagane devā pamoditā; and the earth quaked again,Tadāpi pathavī kampi, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

Jāli and Kaṇhājinā my daughter,Jāliṁ kaṇhājinaṁ dhītaṁ, and Queen Maddī my devoted wife:maddideviṁ patibbataṁ; I gave them up without a second thought,Cajamāno na cintesiṁ, because it was solely for awakening.bodhiyāyeva kāraṇā.

I had no dislike of my children,Na me dessā ubho puttā, nor for Queen Maddī.maddidevī na dessiyā; But because omniscience is precious to me,Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, I gave my loved ones away.tasmā piye adāsahaṁ.

Later on in the mighty forest,Punāparaṁ brahāraññe, we were reunited by my mother and father.mātāpitusamāgame; Crying pitifully,Karuṇaṁ paridevante, they spoke of my happiness and sadness.sallapante sukhaṁ dukhaṁ.

With deep conscience and prudence,Hirottappena garunā, I approached them,ubhinnaṁ upasaṅkami; at which the earth quaked,Tadāpi pathavī kampi, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

Later on in the mighty forest,Punāparaṁ brahāraññā, having left the forest with my family,nikkhamitvā sañātibhi; I entered the delightful cityPavisāmi puraṁ rammaṁ, Jetuttara, the capital city.jetuttaraṁ puruttamaṁ.

The seven gems rained down,Ratanāni satta vassiṁsu, raining forth from a mighty cloud,mahāmegho pavassatha; and the earth quaked again,Tadāpi pathavī kampi, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.

Even this insentient earth,Acetanāyaṁ pathavī, with no knowledge of happiness or sadness,aviññāya sukhaṁ dukhaṁ; quaked seven timesSāpi dānabalā mayhaṁ, at the power of my giving.”sattakkhattuṁ pakampathā”ti.