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The Tham Vessantara-jAtaka - Khamkoo

The Tham Vessantara-jAtaka - Khamkoo

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eplied, “<strong>The</strong> Great Being <strong>Vessantara</strong> gave the elephant to us. Who are you?” <strong>The</strong>y<br />

mocked the crowd with insulting gestures, went on through the city and went out by the<br />

north gate. <strong>The</strong> people of the city were so angry with the Great Being; they gathered at<br />

gate of the royal palace and shouted their discontent. Tena vuttaM : That is why in<br />

explaining to Venerable SAriputta, the Buddha spoke the stanzas thus: SamA kulaM<br />

puraM Asi gho so ca vipulo mahAhatthinAge padinnamhi sivInaM raTThavaDDhano : <strong>The</strong><br />

Buddha told SAriputta, that when he was King <strong>Vessantara</strong> and while giving away the<br />

elephant, there arose such a terrible noise, such a great uproar, when the elephant was<br />

given away, the earth shook. 35 <strong>The</strong> citizens, trembling at heart for this loss, informed<br />

the king. <strong>The</strong>refore it is said: UgA ca rAjaputtA ca : Lords and princes, tradesmen and<br />

Brahmins, mahouts and guards charioteers and soldiers, one and all, all the country<br />

people and all the Sivi people, when they saw the elephant being led away, told the king<br />

thus: VidhamaM deva te raTThaM putto vessantaro tava kathaM no hatthi naM dajjA<br />

raTThassa pUjitaM : “You Majesty, Your son, <strong>Vessantara</strong> is ruining your kingdom, How<br />

could he give away our elephant so honoured in the kingdom? How could he give away<br />

the gigantic elephant, with tusks like poles, experienced on all battlefields, the white<br />

best of all elephants? <strong>The</strong> rutting destroyer of our enemies, covered with its white<br />

blanket, tusked, white as Mount KelAla, with its cowries, its white umbrella, its cushion,<br />

its keeper, its attendants; that noble bearer, the royal mount? He has given away this<br />

precious thing.” After saying this, they continued thus: Annam pAnaGca so dajjA vattha<br />

senAsanAni ca etaM kho dAna patirUpam etaM kho brAhmaBAraham. Deva : King Sir,<br />

Should one give food and drink, clothes or a place to live, that would be a good gift and<br />

quite worthy of Brahmins.<br />

35<br />

Actually here in this place according to the PTS and Comrich’s translations there are three gAthAs but<br />

in this Th. VJ version there is only one gAthA.<br />

239

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