“Yā me ahosi janikā, phussatī nāma khattiyā;
phussatī → phusatī (bj, pts-vp-pli2)“She who was my mother, the aristocrat lady named Phussatī, Sā atītāsu jātīsu, sakkassa mahesī piyā.was Sakka’s beloved queen in past lives.

Tassā āyukkhayaṁ ñatvā, devindo etadabravi;Knowing that she was at the end of life, the lord of gods said this: ‘Dadāmi te dasa vare, varabhadde yadicchasi’.‘I grant you ten favors, my dear, whatever favor you wish.’

Evaṁ vuttā ca sā devī, sakkaṁ punidamabravi;When he said this the queen replied to Sakka: ‘Kiṁ nu me aparādhatthi, kiṁ nu dessā ahaṁ tava;‘In what way am I deficient? how am I displeasing to you? Rammā cāvesi maṁ ṭhānā, vātova dharaṇīruhaṁ’.You send me from this lovely place, like the wind a feeble tree.’

Evaṁ vutto ca so sakko, puna tassidamabravi;When she said this Sakka replied to her: ‘Na ceva te kataṁ pāpaṁ, na ca me tvaṁsi appiyā.‘You have done nothing wrong, nor are you not beloved to me.

Ettakaṁyeva te āyu, cavanakālo bhavissati;But your life lasts only so long, your time of death will come. Paṭiggaṇha mayā dinne, vare dasa varuttame’.Accept the ten supreme favors I offer to you.’

Sakkena sā dinnavarā, tuṭṭhahaṭṭhā pamoditā;She accepted the offerings of Sakka, full of joy and happiness. Mamaṁ abbhantaraṁ katvā, phussatī dasa vare varī.Having conceived me, phussatī was blessed with the ten favors.

Tato cutā sā phussatī, khattiye upapajjatha;Then Phussatī, having passed from there, was reborn as an aristocrat Jetuttaramhi nagare, sañjayena samāgami.in the city of Jetuttara, where she married Sañjaya.

Yadāhaṁ phussatiyā kucchiṁ, okkanto piyamātuyā;Once I was conceived in the womb of my dear mother Phussatī, Mama tejena me mātā, sadā dānaratā ahu.because of my power, my mother always delighted in giving.

Adhane āture jiṇṇe, yācake addhike jane;
addhike → paṭṭhike (pts-vp-pli1); pathike (mr)She gave to the destitute, the ailing and aging, to beggars, travelers, and folk, Samaṇe brāhmaṇe khīṇe, deti dānaṁ akiñcane.to ascetics and brahmins, and the dispossessed, and to those who had nothing.

Dasa māse dhārayitvāna, karonte puraṁ padakkhiṇaṁ;Having carried me for ten months, she was proceeding around the city Vessānaṁ vīthiyā majjhe, janesi phussatī mamaṁ.when Phussatī gave birth to me in the middle of the peasant’s street.

Na mayhaṁ mattikaṁ nāmaṁ, napi pettikasambhavaṁ;My name was not from my mother’s side, nor from my father’s. Jātettha vessavīthiyā, tasmā vessantaro ahu.I was born there in the peasant’s street, and that’s why I’m called Vessantara.

Yadāhaṁ dārako homi, jātiyā aṭṭhavassiko;When I was a boy of only eight years old, Tadā nisajja pāsāde, dānaṁ dātuṁ vicintayiṁ.sitting in the stilt longhouse, I thought of giving gifts.

‘Hadayaṁ dadeyyaṁ cakkhuṁ, maṁsampi rudhirampi ca;‘I would give my heart and my eyes, my flesh and blood too.’ Dadeyyaṁ kāyaṁ sāvetvā, yadi koci yācaye mamaṁ’.I announced that I would give my body, if anyone asked me.

Sabhāvaṁ cintayantassa, akampitamasaṇṭhitaṁ;Reflecting on my state of mind, so undisturbed and steadfast, Akampi tattha pathavī, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.the earth quaked there, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Anvaddhamāse pannarase, puṇṇamāse uposathe;Every fortnight, the fifteenth, and the sabbath when the moon was full, Paccayaṁ nāgamāruyha, dānaṁ dātuṁ upāgamiṁ.I mounted the tusker Paccaya and went to give gifts.

Kaliṅgaraṭṭhavisayā, brāhmaṇā upagañchu maṁ;From the country of Kaliṅga, the brahmins came to me, Ayācuṁ maṁ hatthināgaṁ, dhaññaṁ maṅgalasammataṁ.requesting the royal elephant, that was lucky and deemed as auspicious.

‘Avuṭṭhiko janapado, dubbhikkho chātako mahā;‘Our nation is suffering from drought, food is scarce and famine abounds, Dadāhi pavaraṁ nāgaṁ, sabbasetaṁ gajuttamaṁ’.please give the noble elephant the all-white supreme elephant.’

Dadāmi na vikampāmi, yaṁ maṁ yācanti brāhmaṇā;‘I give without hesitation what you ask of me, brahmins. Santaṁ nappatigūhāmi, dāne me ramate mano.
nappatigūhāmi → nappatiguyhāmi (si, mr); nappaṭiguyhāmi (sya1ed, sya2ed)I do not hide what I have, for my heart is happy to give.

Na me yācakamanuppatte, paṭikkhepo anucchavo;When supplicants come to me it is unbefitting to refuse. Mā me bhijji samādānaṁ, dassāmi vipulaṁ gajaṁ.Let not my vow be broken, I shall give the mighty elephant.’

Nāgaṁ gahetvā soṇḍāya, bhiṅgāre ratanāmaye;Taking the elephant by the trunk, and a bejeweled ceremonial vessel, Jalaṁ hatthe ākiritvā, brāhmaṇānaṁ adaṁ gajaṁ.I sprinkled water on the hand, and gave the elephant to the brahmins.

Punāparaṁ dadantassa, sabbasetaṁ gajuttamaṁ;Then again when I was giving the all-white supreme elephant, Tadāpi pathavī kampi, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.the earth quaked again, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Tassa nāgassa dānena, sivayo kuddhā samāgatā;At the gift of the tusker, angry Sivian folk gathered Pabbājesuṁ sakā raṭṭhā, ‘vaṅkaṁ gacchatu pabbataṁ’.and banished me from my kingdom, saying: ‘Go to Crooked Mountain.’

Tesaṁ nicchubhamānānaṁ, akampitamasaṇṭhitaṁ;While they were ejecting me, I was undisturbed and steadfast, Mahādānaṁ pavattetuṁ, ekaṁ varamayācisaṁ.I asked one favor: to perform a great offering.

Yācitā sivayo sabbe, ekaṁ varamadaṁsu me;When I asked, all the Sivian folk granted me that one favor. Sāvayitvā kaṇṇabheriṁ, mahādānaṁ dadāmahaṁ.Sounding the drums, I gave a great offering.

Athettha vattatī saddo, tumulo bheravo mahā;And as the sound went forth, there was a great tumult and upset. Dānenimaṁ nīharanti, puna dānaṁ dadātayaṁ.They drove me out because of giving, but I just gave again.

Hatthiṁ asse rathe datvā, dāsiṁ dāsaṁ gavaṁ dhanaṁ;Elephants, horses, chariots, male and female slaves, cattle, and riches: Mahādānaṁ daditvāna, nagarā nikkhamiṁ tadā.after giving this great gift I then left the city.

Nikkhamitvāna nagarā, nivattitvā vilokite;After leaving the city, I turned back to look, Tadāpi pathavī kampi, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.at which the earth quaked, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Catuvāhiṁ rathaṁ datvā, ṭhatvā cātummahāpathe;Having given away my four-horse chariot, I was standing at the crossroads Ekākiyo adutiyo, maddideviṁ idamabraviṁ.alone with no partner, and I said to Queen Maddī:

‘Tvaṁ maddi kaṇhaṁ gaṇhāhi, lahukā esā kaniṭṭhikā;‘Maddī, you take Kaṇhā, for she, as the younger sister, is the lighter. Ahaṁ jāliṁ gahessāmi, garuko bhātiko hi so’.I shall take Jāli, for he, as the brother, is heavier.’

Padumaṁ puṇḍarīkaṁva, maddī kaṇhājinaggahī;Like a pink or white lotus, maddī picked up Kaṇhājinā. Ahaṁ suvaṇṇabimbaṁva, jāliṁ khattiyamaggahiṁ.Like a golden statue, I picked up Jāli, the aristocrat.

Abhijātā sukhumālā, khattiyā caturo janā;High-born and delicate, four aristocrat folk Visamaṁ samaṁ akkamantā, vaṅkaṁ gacchāma pabbataṁ.traveled ground even and uneven, going to Crooked Mountain.

Ye keci manujā enti, anumagge paṭippathe;Whenever men would come along, coming the other way along the road, Maggante paṭipucchāma, ‘kuhiṁ vaṅkantapabbato’.
vaṅkantapabbato → vaṅkata … (bj, sya1ed, sya2ed, pts-vp-pli1-2)we asked them in the middle of the street, ‘Where is Crooked Mountain?’

Te tattha amhe passitvā, karuṇaṁ giramudīrayuṁ;Seeing us there, they spoke to us kindly, Dukkhante paṭivedenti, dūre vaṅkantapabbato.‘It will be hard for you,’ they explained, ‘for Crooked Mountain is far.’

Yadi passanti pavane, dārakā phaline dume;If the children saw fruit on a tree in the forest, Tesaṁ phalānaṁ hetumhi, uparodanti dārakā.then for the sake of that fruit, the children cried.

Rodante dārake disvā, ubbiddhā vipulā dumā;
ubbiddhā → ubbiggā (si); ubbhiggā (sya1ed, sya2ed, km); ubbidhā (pts-vp-pli1)Seeing the children cry, the tall, massive trees Sayamevoṇamitvāna, upagacchanti dārake.bent down of their own accord, within reach of the children.

Idaṁ acchariyaṁ disvā, abbhutaṁ lomahaṁsanaṁ;Seeing this marvel, so astonishing and hair-raising, Sāhukāraṁ pavattesi, maddī sabbaṅgasobhanā.
Sāhukāraṁ → sādhukāraṁ (sabbattha)Maddī, beautiful in every limb, exclaimed in celebration:

Accheraṁ vata lokasmiṁ, abbhutaṁ lomahaṁsanaṁ;‘Such a marvel in the world, so astonishing and hair-raising, Vessantarassa tejena, sayamevoṇatā dumā.due to the power of Vessantara, the trees bent down of their own accord.’

Saṅkhipiṁsu pathaṁ yakkhā, anukampāya dārake;Native spirits, out of compassion, shortened the path, Nikkhantadivaseneva, cetaraṭṭhamupāgamuṁ.
Nikkhantadivaseneva → nikkhantadivaseyeva (bj, pts-vp-pli2)so that on the very day they set out, they arrived at the kingdom of Ceta.

Saṭṭhirājasahassāni, tadā vasanti mātule;Sixty thousand kings were living at Mātula then. Sabbe pañjalikā hutvā, rodamānā upāgamuṁ.All raised their cupped palms, and approached, weeping.

Tattha vattetvā sallāpaṁ, cetehi cetaputtehi;There they held conversation with the folks of Ceta and their children. Te tato nikkhamitvāna, vaṅkaṁ agamu pabbataṁ.Then, leaving that place, they arrived at Crooked Mountain.

Āmantayitvā devindo, vissakammaṁ mahiddhikaṁ;
vissakammaṁ → vissukammaṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed, pts-vp-pli1); visukammaṁ (mr)The lord of gods addressed vissakamma of great psychic power: Assamaṁ sukataṁ rammaṁ, paṇṇasālaṁ sumāpaya.‘Build a hermitage, well-made and delightful, with a hall of leaves.’

Sakkassa vacanaṁ sutvā, vissakammo mahiddhiko;After hearing Sakka’s words, vissakamma of great psychic power Assamaṁ sukataṁ rammaṁ, paṇṇasālaṁ sumāpayi.built a hermitage, well-made and delightful, with a hall of leaves.

Ajjhogāhetvā pavanaṁ, appasaddaṁ nirākulaṁ;Having plunged into the forest, quiet and undisturbed, Caturo janā mayaṁ tattha, vasāma pabbatantare.we four persons lived there in the mountains.

Ahañca maddidevī ca, jālī kaṇhājinā cubho;Myself and Queen Maddī, with both Jāli and Kaṇhājinā, Aññamaññaṁ sokanudā, vasāma assame tadā.dispelling each other’s sorrow lived then in that hermitage.

Dārake anurakkhanto, asuñño homi assame;While caring for the children, I was not idle in the hermitage. Maddī phalaṁ āharitvā, poseti sā tayo jane.Maddī gathered fruit, and provided for three people.

Pavane vasamānassa, addhiko maṁ upāgami;While I was living in the forest, a traveler came to me Āyāci puttake mayhaṁ, jāliṁ kaṇhājinaṁ cubho.and asked for my children, both Jāli and Kaṇhājinā.

Yācakaṁ upagataṁ disvā, hāso me upapajjatha;When I saw the supplicant approaching, I felt so full of joy. Ubho putte gahetvāna, adāsiṁ brāhmaṇe tadā.Taking both my children, I gave them to the brahmin then.

Sake putte cajantassa, jūjake brāhmaṇe yadā;When I gave away my own children, to the brahmin Jūjaka, Tadāpi pathavī kampi, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.the earth quaked again, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Punadeva sakko oruyha, hutvā brāhmaṇasannibho;And then Sakka descended in the guise of a brahmin. Āyāci maṁ maddideviṁ, sīlavantiṁ patibbataṁ.He asked me for Queen Maddī, virtuous, and devoted.

Maddiṁ hatthe gahetvāna, udakañjali pūriya;Taking Maddī by the hand, filling clasped hands with water, Pasannamanasaṅkappo, tassa maddiṁ adāsahaṁ.with a confident heart, I gave Maddī to him.

Maddiyā dīyamānāya, gagane devā pamoditā;As Maddī was being given, gods applauded in the welkin, Tadāpi pathavī kampi, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.and the earth quaked again, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Jāliṁ kaṇhājinaṁ dhītaṁ, maddideviṁ patibbataṁ;Jāli and Kaṇhājinā my daughter, and Queen Maddī my devoted wife: Cajamāno na cintesiṁ, bodhiyāyeva kāraṇā.I gave them up without a second thought, because it was solely for awakening.

Na me dessā ubho puttā, maddidevī na dessiyā;I had no dislike of my children, nor for Queen Maddī. Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, tasmā piye adāsahaṁ.But because omniscience is precious to me, I gave my loved ones away.

Punāparaṁ brahāraññe, mātāpitusamāgame;Later on in the mighty forest, we were reunited by my mother and father. Karuṇaṁ paridevante, sallapante sukhaṁ dukhaṁ.Crying pitifully, they spoke of my happiness and sadness.

Hirottappena garunā, ubhinnaṁ upasaṅkami;
garunā → garūnaṁ (sya1ed, sya2ed, mr)With deep conscience and prudence, I approached them, Tadāpi pathavī kampi, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.at which the earth quaked, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Punāparaṁ brahāraññā, nikkhamitvā sañātibhi;Later on in the mighty forest, having left the forest with my family, Pavisāmi puraṁ rammaṁ, jetuttaraṁ puruttamaṁ.I entered the delightful city jetuttara, the capital city.

Ratanāni satta vassiṁsu, mahāmegho pavassatha;The seven gems rained down, raining forth from a mighty cloud, Tadāpi pathavī kampi, sineruvanavaṭaṁsakā.and the earth quaked again, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Acetanāyaṁ pathavī, aviññāya sukhaṁ dukhaṁ;Even this insentient earth, with no knowledge of happiness or sadness, Sāpi dānabalā mayhaṁ, sattakkhattuṁ pakampathā”ti.quaked seven times at the power of my giving.”

Vessantaracariyaṁ navamaṁ.