The Tham Vessantara-jAtaka - Khamkoo

AthasA kumAro : The children cried with happiness when they see all kinds of
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fruit on the trees which grew on both sides of the road. By the Great Being the trees
bowed down to the reach of his hands. He picked out the ripest fruit and gave it to the
children. SA MaddI : When MaddI saw this, she cried out, “A miracle”. Tena vuttaM :
Therefore, the Buddha explained this to Venerable SAriputta as mentioned in the CAriyA
PiTaka thus: Yadi passanti pavane dArakA phalite dume tesaM phalAnaM hetumhi
uparondanti dArakA : “When the children see the trees full of fruit on the slope, they
started crying for the fruit. Seeing the children crying, the tall trees being sorrowful
bend down their branches to their hands and let them have the fruit. When the beauteous
princess MaddI saw this wonderful sight, she cried out her approval in joy, this thing is
so strange to make one’s hair stand on end. This is wonderful in this world; it is so
strange to make one’s hair stand on end. By the power of Vessantara, the trees bend
down low.” From the city of Jetuttara to the mountain named SuvaBBagiritAla is a
distance of five leagues; from there to the river KontimArA is another five leagues; from
there to the mountain AraGjaragiri is another five; From there to the Brahmin village of
DuniviTTha is also five leagues; and from there to his uncle’s city is ten leagues; thus, the
distance from the city Jetuttara is thirty leagues; But spirits shortened the journey so that
they could reach his uncle’s city in one day.
Tena vuttaM : Therefore, the Teacher told this to Venerable wise SAriputta,
thus: Sankhipimsu pathaM yakkhA anukampAya dArake nikkhanta divase neva
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cetaraTThaM upAgamum : “The Yakkas feeling pity for the children shortened the
journey so that they could reach the kingdom of Ceta on the same day.” TamatthaM
pakAsento satthA Aha : Explaining this to Venerable SAriputta, the Teacher spoke: Te
gantvA dIghamaddhAnaM cetaraTThaM upAgamum iddham phItaM janapadaM bahu
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