[1083]
Like men drunken, like men outworn, the beggars (vanibbakā) sank down together
as the great king, fosterer of the realm of the Sivis, was departing.
"Alas, sirs, they have cut down the tree, the tree that gave all manner of fruit —
in that they banish from the realm Vessantara, who has done no wrong!
Alas, sirs, they have cut down the tree, the tree that bore all manner of fruit —
in that they banish from the realm Vessantara, who has done no wrong!
Alas, sirs, they have cut down the tree, the tree that granted every wish —
in that they banish from the realm Vessantara, who has done no wrong!
Alas, sirs, they have cut down the tree, the tree that brought every savour that could be desired —
in that they banish from the realm Vessantara, who has done no wrong!"
The old, the young, and the men of middle age
stretched forth their arms and wailed
as the great king, fosterer of the realm of the Sivis, was departing.
The diviners, the eunuchs, and the women of the king's household
stretched forth their arms and wailed
as the great king, fosterer of the realm of the Sivis, was departing.
The women, too, who were in that city wailed
as the great king, fosterer of the realm of the Sivis, was departing.
The brahmins (brāhmaṇā) and the ascetics, and the other beggars besides,
stretched forth their arms and wailed: "It is injustice indeed, sirs!" —
in that King Vessantara, while bestowing gifts in his own city,
at the word of the Sivis departs from his own realm.
Having given seven hundred elephants, decked with every ornament,
tuskers with girths of gold, clothed in trappings of gold,
mounted by their drivers with lance and goad in hand —
this King Vessantara departs from his own realm.
Having given seven hundred horses, decked with every ornament,
thoroughbreds by birth, Sindh steeds, swift of carriage,
mounted by their riders bearing sword and bow —
this King Vessantara departs from his own realm.
Having given seven hundred chariots, harnessed, with banners hoisted,
covered with leopard-hide and with tiger-hide, decked with every ornament,
manned by their charioteers, bow in hand, bearing shields —
this King Vessantara departs from his own realm.
Having given seven hundred women, each one standing in a chariot,
girt about with chains of gold, adorned with gold,
with yellow ornaments, yellow raiment, decked with yellow adornments,
long-lashed, smiling, shapely, slender of waist —
this King Vessantara departs from his own realm.
Having given seven hundred milch cows, all with milk-pails of bronze —
this King Vessantara departs from his own realm.
Having given seven hundred slave-women and seven hundred slave-men —
this King Vessantara departs from his own realm.
Having given elephants, horses, chariots, and women adorned —
this King Vessantara departs from his own realm.
Then there was what was fearsome, then there was what made the hair stand on end:
when the great gift had been bestowed, the earth quaked.
Then there was what was fearsome, then there was what made the hair stand on end:
that the king, with palms joined in reverence, departs from his own realm.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.