[798] "Why then, sire, did you of old have brahmins pronounce blessings (sotthāna) upon us,
and now, for no cause at all, have us slain for the sake of a sacrifice (yañña)?
Formerly, in the days of our childhood, you did not slay us, nor have us slain;
now, grown from childhood and come to youth, father, though doing no wrong, we are being slain.
Behold us, great king, mounted on elephants, mounted on horses, girt in armor,
in battle or amid the fighting — for such as we are not for the sake of a sacrifice.
When the frontier is in revolt, or in the forest wilds, it is such as we whom they deploy;
yet now, for no cause, father, we are slain — in what is no fitting place.
Whatever mother birds there be, dwelling in houses of grass they have made —
even to them their young are dear; yet you, sire, have us slain.
Do not put your trust in him — 'Khaṇḍahāla would not slay me' —
for having slain me, sire, straight after he may slay even you.
A choice village, a choice town they give him, and wealth besides, great king;
and, receiving the choicest morsels, these men eat in family after family.
Even to such as these they wish to work treachery, great king;
for these brahmins, sire, are for the most part ungrateful.
Do not slay us, sire; give us as slaves to Khaṇḍahāla:
even bound in chains, we would tend the elephants and horses.
Do not slay us, sire; give us as slaves to Khaṇḍahāla:
even bound in chains, we would clear away the elephant-dung.
Do not slay us, sire; give us as slaves to Khaṇḍahāla:
even bound in chains, we would clear away the horse-dung.
Do not slay us, sire; give us as slaves to Khaṇḍahāla,
if such be your wishes; even banished from the realm,
we will fare about seeking alms (bhikkhācariyā)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.