[2351]
And he who had attained full awakening (sambodhi), of great might,
smiled in the midst of the assembly;
the bhikkhus whose minds (citta) were thoroughly liberated asked him:
"Not without cause do Buddhas make [a smile] appear."
"The young maiden whom you saw,
clad in the ochre robe, faring in the homeless life—
she indeed at that time was the royal maiden;
I at that time was the king of elephants (nāgarājā).
The hunter who came to the city of Kāsi,
bearing the tusks of that supreme elephant—
graceful, beautiful, matchless upon the earth—
he indeed at that time was Devadatta."
This ancient course of conduct, now high, now low,
fared through many a long night, never fading away,
the Buddha—free of distress, free of sorrow, rid of the dart—
declared, having known it directly for himself.
"Bhikkhus, at that time I myself was there:
I was then the king of elephants. Thus should you remember this birth story (jātaka)."
The Chaddanta Jātaka, the fourth.
[Variant readings noted in the source: ¹ M.: "sa"; ² M.: "sitaṃ akāsi"; ³ M.: "tadā homi."]
5. The Sambhava Jātaka (Sambhavajātaka)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.