1.1“Yā me ahosi janikā,“She who was my mother,1.2phussatī nāma khattiyā;the aristocrat lady named Phussatī,1.3Sā atītāsu jātīsu,was Sakka’s beloved queen1.4sakkassa mahesī piyā.in past lives.

2.1Tassā āyukkhayaṁ ñatvā,Knowing that she was at the end of life,2.2devindo etadabravi;the lord of gods said this:2.3‘Dadāmi te dasa vare,‘I grant you ten favors,2.4varabhadde yadicchasi’.my dear, whatever favor you wish.’

3.1Evaṁ vuttā ca sā devī,When he said this the queen3.2sakkaṁ punidamabravi;replied to Sakka:3.3‘Kiṁ nu me aparādhatthi,‘In what way am I deficient?3.4kiṁ nu dessā ahaṁ tava;How am I displeasing to you?3.5Rammā cāvesi maṁ ṭhānā,You send me from this lovely place,3.6vātova dharaṇīruhaṁ’.like the wind a feeble tree.’

4.1Evaṁ vutto ca so sakko,When she said this Sakka4.2puna tassidamabravi;replied to her:4.3‘Na ceva te kataṁ pāpaṁ,‘You have done nothing wrong,4.4na ca me tvaṁsi appiyā.nor are you not beloved to me.

5.1Ettakaṁyeva te āyu,But your life lasts only so long,5.2cavanakālo bhavissati;your time of death will come.5.3Paṭiggaṇha mayā dinne,Accept the ten supreme favors5.4vare dasa varuttame’.I offer to you.’

6.1Sakkena sā dinnavarā,She accepted the offerings of Sakka,6.2tuṭṭhahaṭṭhā pamoditā;full of joy and happiness.6.3Mamaṁ abbhantaraṁ katvā,Having conceived me,6.4phussatī dasa vare varī.Phussatī was blessed with the ten favors.

7.1Tato cutā sā phussatī,Then Phussatī, having passed from there,7.2khattiye upapajjatha;was reborn as an aristocrat7.3Jetuttaramhi nagare,in the city of Jetuttara,7.4sañjayena samāgami.where she married Sañjaya.

8.1Yadāhaṁ phussatiyā kucchiṁ,Once I was conceived in the womb8.2okkanto piyamātuyā;of my dear mother Phussatī,8.3Mama tejena me mātā,because of my power,8.4sadā dānaratā ahu.my mother always delighted in giving.

9.1Adhane āture jiṇṇe,She gave to the destitute, the ailing and aging,9.2yācake addhike jane;to beggars, travelers, and folk,9.3Samaṇe brāhmaṇe khīṇe,to ascetics and brahmins, and the dispossessed,9.4deti dānaṁ akiñcane.and to those who had nothing.

10.1Dasa māse dhārayitvāna,Having carried me for ten months,10.2karonte puraṁ padakkhiṇaṁ;she was proceeding around the city10.3Vessānaṁ vīthiyā majjhe,when Phussatī gave birth to me10.4janesi phussatī mamaṁ.in the middle of the peasant’s street.

11.1Na mayhaṁ mattikaṁ nāmaṁ,My name was not from my mother’s side,11.2napi pettikasambhavaṁ;nor from my father’s.11.3Jātettha vessavīthiyā,I was born there in the peasant’s street,11.4tasmā vessantaro ahu.and that’s why I’m called Vessantara.

12.1Yadāhaṁ dārako homi,When I was a boy12.2jātiyā aṭṭhavassiko;of only eight years old,12.3Tadā nisajja pāsāde,sitting in the stilt longhouse,12.4dānaṁ dātuṁ vicintayiṁ.I thought of giving gifts.

13.1‘Hadayaṁ dadeyyaṁ cakkhuṁ,‘I would give my heart and my eyes,13.2maṁsampi rudhirampi ca;my flesh and blood too.’13.3Dadeyyaṁ kāyaṁ sāvetvā,I announced that I would give my body,13.4yadi koci yācaye mamaṁ’.if anyone asked me.

14.1Sabhāvaṁ cintayantassa,Reflecting on my state of mind,14.2akampitamasaṇṭhitaṁ;so undisturbed and steadfast,14.3Akampi tattha pathavī,the earth quaked there,14.4sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

15.1Anvaddhamāse pannarase,Every fortnight, the fifteenth,15.2puṇṇamāse uposathe;and the sabbath when the moon was full,15.3Paccayaṁ nāgamāruyha,I mounted the tusker Paccaya15.4dānaṁ dātuṁ upāgamiṁ.and went to give gifts.

16.1Kaliṅgaraṭṭhavisayā,From the country of Kaliṅga,16.2brāhmaṇā upagañchu maṁ;the brahmins came to me,16.3Ayācuṁ maṁ hatthināgaṁ,requesting the royal elephant,16.4dhaññaṁ maṅgalasammataṁ.that was lucky and deemed as auspicious.

17.1‘Avuṭṭhiko janapado,‘Our nation is suffering from drought,17.2dubbhikkho chātako mahā;food is scarce and famine abounds,17.3Dadāhi pavaraṁ nāgaṁ,please give the noble elephant17.4sabbasetaṁ gajuttamaṁ’.the all-white supreme elephant.’

18.1Dadāmi na vikampāmi,‘I give without hesitation18.2yaṁ maṁ yācanti brāhmaṇā;what you ask of me, brahmins.18.3Santaṁ nappatigūhāmi,I do not hide what I have,18.4dāne me ramate mano.for my heart is happy to give.

19.1Na me yācakamanuppatte,When supplicants come to me19.2paṭikkhepo anucchavo;it is unbefitting to refuse.19.3Mā me bhijji samādānaṁ,Let not my vow be broken,19.4dassāmi vipulaṁ gajaṁ.I shall give the mighty elephant.’

20.1Nāgaṁ gahetvā soṇḍāya,Taking the elephant by the trunk,20.2bhiṅgāre ratanāmaye;and a bejeweled ceremonial vessel,20.3Jalaṁ hatthe ākiritvā,I sprinkled water on the hand,20.4brāhmaṇānaṁ adaṁ gajaṁ.and gave the elephant to the brahmins.

21.1Punāparaṁ dadantassa,Then again when I was giving21.2sabbasetaṁ gajuttamaṁ;the all-white supreme elephant,21.3Tadāpi pathavī kampi,the earth quaked again,21.4sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

22.1Tassa nāgassa dānena,At the gift of the tusker,22.2sivayo kuddhā samāgatā;angry Sivian folk gathered¹22.3Pabbājesuṁ sakā raṭṭhā,and banished me from my kingdom, saying:22.4‘vaṅkaṁ gacchatu pabbataṁ’.‘Go to Crooked Mountain.’

23.1Tesaṁ nicchubhamānānaṁ,While they were ejecting me,23.2akampitamasaṇṭhitaṁ;I was undisturbed and steadfast,23.3Mahādānaṁ pavattetuṁ,I asked one favor:23.4ekaṁ varamayācisaṁ.to perform a great offering.

24.1Yācitā sivayo sabbe,When I asked, all the Sivian folk24.2ekaṁ varamadaṁsu me;granted me that one favor.24.3Sāvayitvā kaṇṇabheriṁ,Sounding the drums,24.4mahādānaṁ dadāmahaṁ.I gave a great offering.

25.1Athettha vattatī saddo,And as the sound went forth,25.2tumulo bheravo mahā;there was a great tumult and upset.25.3Dānenimaṁ nīharanti,They drove me out because of giving,25.4puna dānaṁ dadātayaṁ.but I just gave again.

26.1Hatthiṁ asse rathe datvā,Elephants, horses, chariots,26.2dāsiṁ dāsaṁ gavaṁ dhanaṁ;male and female slaves, cattle, and riches:26.3Mahādānaṁ daditvāna,after giving this great gift26.4nagarā nikkhamiṁ tadā.I then left the city.

27.1Nikkhamitvāna nagarā,After leaving the city,27.2nivattitvā vilokite;I turned back to look,27.3Tadāpi pathavī kampi,at which the earth quaked,27.4sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

28.1Catuvāhiṁ rathaṁ datvā,Having given away my four-horse chariot,28.2ṭhatvā cātummahāpathe;I was standing at the crossroads28.3Ekākiyo adutiyo,alone with no partner,28.4maddideviṁ idamabraviṁ.and I said to Queen Maddī:

29.1‘Tvaṁ maddi kaṇhaṁ gaṇhāhi,‘Maddī, you take Kaṇhā,29.2lahukā esā kaniṭṭhikā;for she, as the younger sister, is the lighter.29.3Ahaṁ jāliṁ gahessāmi,I shall take Jāli,29.4garuko bhātiko hi so’.for he, as the brother, is heavier.’

30.1Padumaṁ puṇḍarīkaṁva,Like a pink or white lotus,30.2maddī kaṇhājinaggahī;Maddī picked up Kaṇhājinā.30.3Ahaṁ suvaṇṇabimbaṁva,Like a golden statue,30.4jāliṁ khattiyamaggahiṁ.I picked up Jāli, the aristocrat.

31.1Abhijātā sukhumālā,High-born and delicate,31.2khattiyā caturo janā;four aristocrat folk31.3Visamaṁ samaṁ akkamantā,traveled ground even and uneven,31.4vaṅkaṁ gacchāma pabbataṁ.going to Crooked Mountain.

32.1Ye keci manujā enti,Whenever men would come along,32.2anumagge paṭippathe;coming the other way along the road,32.3Maggante paṭipucchāma,we asked them in the middle of the street,32.4‘kuhiṁ vaṅkantapabbato’.‘Where is Crooked Mountain?’

33.1Te tattha amhe passitvā,Seeing us there,33.2karuṇaṁ giramudīrayuṁ;they spoke to us kindly,33.3Dukkhante paṭivedenti,‘It will be hard for you,’ they explained,33.4dūre vaṅkantapabbato.‘for Crooked Mountain is far.’

34.1Yadi passanti pavane,If the children saw fruit34.2dārakā phaline dume;on a tree in the forest,34.3Tesaṁ phalānaṁ hetumhi,then for the sake of that fruit,34.4uparodanti dārakā.the children cried.

35.1Rodante dārake disvā,Seeing the children cry,35.2ubbiddhā vipulā dumā;the tall, massive trees35.3Sayamevoṇamitvāna,bent down of their own accord,35.4upagacchanti dārake.within reach of the children.

36.1Idaṁ acchariyaṁ disvā,Seeing this marvel,36.2abbhutaṁ lomahaṁsanaṁ;so astonishing and hair-raising,36.3Sāhukāraṁ pavattesi,Maddī, beautiful in every limb,36.4maddī sabbaṅgasobhanā.exclaimed in celebration:

37.1Accheraṁ vata lokasmiṁ,‘Such a marvel in the world,37.2abbhutaṁ lomahaṁsanaṁ;so astonishing and hair-raising,37.3Vessantarassa tejena,due to the power of Vessantara,37.4sayamevoṇatā dumā.the trees bent down of their own accord.’

38.1Saṅkhipiṁsu pathaṁ yakkhā,Native spirits, out of compassion,38.2anukampāya dārake;shortened the path,38.3Nikkhantadivaseneva,so that on the very day they set out,38.4cetaraṭṭhamupāgamuṁ.they arrived at the kingdom of Ceta.

39.1Saṭṭhirājasahassāni,Sixty thousand kings39.2tadā vasanti mātule;were living at Mātula then.²39.3Sabbe pañjalikā hutvā,All raised their cupped palms,39.4rodamānā upāgamuṁ.and approached, weeping.

40.1Tattha vattetvā sallāpaṁ,There they held conversation40.2cetehi cetaputtehi;with the folks of Ceta and their children.40.3Te tato nikkhamitvāna,Then, leaving that place,40.4vaṅkaṁ agamu pabbataṁ.they arrived at Crooked Mountain.

41.1Āmantayitvā devindo,The lord of gods addressed41.2vissakammaṁ mahiddhikaṁ;Vissakamma of great psychic power:41.3Assamaṁ sukataṁ rammaṁ,‘Build a hermitage, well-made and delightful,41.4paṇṇasālaṁ sumāpaya.with a hall of leaves.’

42.1Sakkassa vacanaṁ sutvā,After hearing Sakka’s words,42.2vissakammo mahiddhiko;Vissakamma of great psychic power42.3Assamaṁ sukataṁ rammaṁ,built a hermitage, well-made and delightful,42.4paṇṇasālaṁ sumāpayi.with a hall of leaves.

43.1Ajjhogāhetvā pavanaṁ,Having plunged into the forest,43.2appasaddaṁ nirākulaṁ;quiet and undisturbed,43.3Caturo janā mayaṁ tattha,we four persons43.4vasāma pabbatantare.lived there in the mountains.

44.1Ahañca maddidevī ca,Myself and Queen Maddī,44.2jālī kaṇhājinā cubho;with both Jāli and Kaṇhājinā,44.3Aññamaññaṁ sokanudā,dispelling each other’s sorrow44.4vasāma assame tadā.lived then in that hermitage.

45.1Dārake anurakkhanto,While caring for the children,45.2asuñño homi assame;I was not idle in the hermitage.45.3Maddī phalaṁ āharitvā,Maddī gathered fruit,45.4poseti sā tayo jane.and provided for three people.

46.1Pavane vasamānassa,While I was living in the forest,46.2addhiko maṁ upāgami;a traveler came to me46.3Āyāci puttake mayhaṁ,and asked for my children,46.4jāliṁ kaṇhājinaṁ cubho.both Jāli and Kaṇhājinā.

47.1Yācakaṁ upagataṁ disvā,When I saw the supplicant approaching,47.2hāso me upapajjatha;I felt so full of joy.47.3Ubho putte gahetvāna,Taking both my children,47.4adāsiṁ brāhmaṇe tadā.I gave them to the brahmin then.

48.1Sake putte cajantassa,When I gave away my own children,48.2jūjake brāhmaṇe yadā;to the brahmin Jūjaka,48.3Tadāpi pathavī kampi,the earth quaked again,48.4sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

49.1Punadeva sakko oruyha,And then Sakka descended49.2hutvā brāhmaṇasannibho;in the guise of a brahmin.49.3Āyāci maṁ maddideviṁ,He asked me for Queen Maddī,49.4sīlavantiṁ patibbataṁ.virtuous, and devoted.

50.1Maddiṁ hatthe gahetvāna,Taking Maddī by the hand,50.2udakañjali pūriya;filling clasped hands with water,50.3Pasannamanasaṅkappo,with a confident heart,50.4tassa maddiṁ adāsahaṁ.I gave Maddī to him.

51.1Maddiyā dīyamānāya,As Maddī was being given,51.2gagane devā pamoditā;gods applauded in the welkin,51.3Tadāpi pathavī kampi,and the earth quaked again,51.4sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

52.1Jāliṁ kaṇhājinaṁ dhītaṁ,∥Jāli and Kaṇhājinā my daughter,52.2maddideviṁ patibbataṁ;and Queen Maddī my devoted wife:52.3Cajamāno na cintesiṁ,I gave them up without a second thought,52.4bodhiyāyeva kāraṇā.because it was solely for awakening.

53.1Na me dessā ubho puttā,∥I had no dislike of my children,53.2maddidevī na dessiyā;nor for Queen Maddī.53.3Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ,But because omniscience is precious to me,53.4tasmā piye adāsahaṁ.I gave my loved ones away.

54.1Punāparaṁ brahāraññe,Later on in the mighty forest,54.2mātāpitusamāgame;we were reunited by my mother and father.54.3Karuṇaṁ paridevante,Crying pitifully,54.4sallapante sukhaṁ dukhaṁ.they spoke of my happiness and sadness.

55.1Hirottappena garunā,With deep conscience and prudence,55.2ubhinnaṁ upasaṅkami;I approached them,55.3Tadāpi pathavī kampi,at which the earth quaked,55.4sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

56.1Punāparaṁ brahāraññā,Later on in the mighty forest,56.2nikkhamitvā sañātibhi;having left the forest with my family,56.3Pavisāmi puraṁ rammaṁ,I entered the delightful city56.4jetuttaraṁ puruttamaṁ.Jetuttara, the capital city.

57.1Ratanāni satta vassiṁsu,The seven gems rained down,57.2mahāmegho pavassatha;raining forth from a mighty cloud,57.3Tadāpi pathavī kampi,and the earth quaked again,57.4sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

58.1Acetanāyaṁ pathavī,Even this insentient earth,58.2aviññāya sukhaṁ dukhaṁ;with no knowledge of happiness or sadness,58.3Sāpi dānabalā mayhaṁ,quaked seven times58.4sattakkhattuṁ pakampathā”ti.at the power of my giving.”

59.1Vessantaracariyaṁ navamaṁ.