Mahāvessantarajātaka

Suttapiṭaka · Khuddakanikāya · Jātaka (2) · Vol. 28 · Section 1060

[1060] Let the country cease to be, if it must; let even the kingdom perish: I would not, at the word of the Sivis, banish the guiltless prince from my own kingdom; for he is my own breast-born son. Let the country cease to be, if it must; let even the kingdom perish: I would not, at the word of the Sivis, banish the guiltless prince from my own kingdom; for he is my son, born of my very self. And I could not act treacherously toward him, for he is of noble virtue; ill fame would come upon me, and I should beget much evil — how could we have our son Vessantara slain with a weapon?

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.