{"collection":"Khuddaka Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_cp9/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_cp9","id":"suttacentral_cp9","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/cp9/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Khuddaka Nikaya"],"text":"\u201cShe who was my mother, the aristocrat lady named Phussat\u012b, was Sakka\u2019s beloved queen in past lives. Knowing that she was at the end of life, the lord of gods said this: \u2018I grant you ten favors, my dear, whatever favor you wish.\u2019 When he said this the queen replied to Sakka: \u2018In what way am I deficient? How am I displeasing to you? You send me from this lovely place, like the wind a feeble tree.\u2019 When she said this Sakka replied to her: \u2018You have done nothing wrong, nor are you not beloved to me. But your life lasts only so long, your time of death will come. Accept the ten supreme favors I offer to you.\u2019 She accepted the offerings of Sakka, full of joy and happiness. Having conceived me, Phussat\u012b was blessed with the ten favors. Then Phussat\u012b, having passed from there, was reborn as an aristocrat in the city of Jetuttara, where she married Sa\u00f1jaya. Once I was conceived in the womb of my dear mother Phussat\u012b, because of my power, my mother always delighted in giving. She gave to the destitute, the ailing and aging, to beggars, travelers, and folk, to ascetics and brahmins, and the dispossessed, and to those who had nothing. Having carried me for ten months, she was proceeding around the city when Phussat\u012b gave birth to me in the middle of the peasant\u2019s street. My name was not from my mother\u2019s side, nor from my father\u2019s. I was born there in the peasant\u2019s street, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m called Vessantara. When I was a boy of only eight years old, sitting in the stilt longhouse, I thought of giving gifts. \u2018I would give my heart and my eyes, my flesh and blood too.\u2019 I announced that I would give my body, if anyone asked me. Reflecting on my state of mind, so undisturbed and steadfast, the earth quaked there, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests. Every fortnight, the fifteenth, and the sabbath when the moon was full, I mounted the tusker Paccaya and went to give gifts. From the country of Kali\u1e45ga, the brahmins came to me, requesting the royal elephant, that was lucky and deemed as auspicious. \u2018Our nation is suffering from drought, food is scarce and famine abounds, please give the noble elephant the all-white supreme elephant.\u2019 \u2018I give without hesitation what you ask of me, brahmins. I do not hide what I have, for my heart is happy to give. When supplicants come to me it is unbefitting to refuse. Let not my vow be broken, I shall give the mighty elephant.\u2019 Taking the elephant by the trunk, and a bejeweled ceremonial vessel, I sprinkled water on the hand, and gave the elephant to the brahmins. Then again when I was giving the all-white supreme elephant, the earth quaked again, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests. At the gift of the tusker, angry Sivian folk gathered and banished me from my kingdom, saying: \u2018Go to Crooked Mountain.\u2019 While they were ejecting me, I was undisturbed and steadfast, I asked one favor: to perform a great offering. When I asked, all the Sivian folk granted me that one favor. Sounding the drums, I gave a great offering. And as the sound went forth, there was a great tumult and upset. They drove me out because of giving, but I just gave again. Elephants, horses, chariots, male and female slaves, cattle, and riches: after giving this great gift I then left the city. After leaving the city, I turned back to look, at which the earth quaked, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests. Having given away my four-horse chariot, I was standing at the crossroads alone with no partner, and I said to Queen Madd\u012b: \u2018Madd\u012b, you take Ka\u1e47h\u0101, for she, as the younger sister, is the lighter. I shall take J\u0101li, for he, as the brother, is heavier.\u2019 Like a pink or white lotus, Madd\u012b picked up Ka\u1e47h\u0101jin\u0101. Like a golden statue, I picked up J\u0101li, the aristocrat. High-born and delicate, four aristocrat folk traveled ground even and uneven, going to Crooked Mountain. Whenever men would come along, coming the other way along the road, we asked them in the middle of the street, \u2018Where is Crooked Mountain?\u2019 Seeing us there, they spoke to us kindly, \u2018It will be hard for you,\u2019 they explained, \u2018for Crooked Mountain is far.\u2019 If the children saw fruit on a tree in the forest, then for the sake of that fruit, the children cried. Seeing the children cry, the tall, massive trees bent down of their own accord, within reach of the children. Seeing this marvel, so astonishing and hair-raising, Madd\u012b, beautiful in every limb, exclaimed in celebration: \u2018Such a marvel in the world, so astonishing and hair-raising, due to the power of Vessantara, the trees bent down of their own accord.\u2019 Native spirits, out of compassion, shortened the path, so that on the very day they set out, they arrived at the kingdom of Ceta. Sixty thousand kings were living at M\u0101tula then. All raised their cupped palms, and approached, weeping. There they held conversation with the folks of Ceta and their children. Then, leaving that place, they arrived at Crooked Mountain. The lord of gods addressed Vissakamma of great psychic power: \u2018Build a hermitage, well-made and delightful, with a hall of leaves.\u2019 After hearing Sakka\u2019s words, Vissakamma of great psychic power built a hermitage, well-made and delightful, with a hall of leaves. Having plunged into the forest, quiet and undisturbed, we four persons lived there in the mountains. Myself and Queen Madd\u012b, with both J\u0101li and Ka\u1e47h\u0101jin\u0101, dispelling each other\u2019s sorrow lived then in that hermitage. While caring for the children, I was not idle in the hermitage. Madd\u012b gathered fruit, and provided for three people. While I was living in the forest, a traveler came to me and asked for my children, both J\u0101li and Ka\u1e47h\u0101jin\u0101. When I saw the supplicant approaching, I felt so full of joy. Taking both my children, I gave them to the brahmin then. When I gave away my own children, to the brahmin J\u016bjaka, the earth quaked again, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests. And then Sakka descended in the guise of a brahmin. He asked me for Queen Madd\u012b, virtuous, and devoted. Taking Madd\u012b by the hand, filling clasped hands with water, with a confident heart, I gave Madd\u012b to him. As Madd\u012b was being given, gods applauded in the welkin, and the earth quaked again, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests. J\u0101li and Ka\u1e47h\u0101jin\u0101 my daughter, and Queen Madd\u012b my devoted wife: I gave them up without a second thought, because it was solely for awakening. I had no dislike of my children, nor for Queen Madd\u012b. But because omniscience is precious to me, I gave my loved ones away. Later on in the mighty forest, we were reunited by my mother and father. Crying pitifully, they spoke of my happiness and sadness. With deep conscience and prudence, I approached them, at which the earth quaked, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests. Later on in the mighty forest, having left the forest with my family, I entered the delightful city Jetuttara, the capital city. The seven gems rained down, raining forth from a mighty cloud, and the earth quaked again, and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests. Even this insentient earth, with no knowledge of happiness or sadness, quaked seven times at the power of my giving.\u201d","title":"Vessantara\u2019s Conduct","tradition":"Khuddaka Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1245}