[826] When this was said, Candā beat herself with the palms of her hands:
"Enough here with life! I shall drink poison; I shall die.
Surely this king has no kinsmen and friends, no true-hearted ones,
who would say to the king, 'Do not have the sons of your own breast slain!'
Surely this king has no kinsmen and friends, no true-hearted ones,
who would say to the king, 'Do not have the sons born of your very self slain!'
These sons of mine too, garlanded, wearing armlets —
offer the sacrifice (yañña) with them, O king, and then set free the sons of Gotamī.
Though you cut me even into a hundred pieces, offer me in sacrifice sevenfold, O great king;
do not slay the eldest son, the guiltless one, who is like a lion.
Though you cut me even into a hundred pieces, offer me in sacrifice sevenfold, O great king;
do not slay the eldest son, on whom all the world sets its hope."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.