In the Minor Collection

Whatever was practised in between here, all that is the ripening of enlightenment.

I will tell of the practice in this cosmic cycle, listen to me.

Having plunged in, dwelt there, an ascetic named Akitti.

Assuming the appearance of a brahmin, approached me for alms.

Having seen him standing at my door, I scattered them with a cartload.

Having abandoned further search for food, I entered the leaf-hut.

Unshaken, unattached, just so I gave.

With rapture, happiness and delight, I spend that day.

Unshaken, unattached, I would give the highest gift.

Desiring omniscience, I performed those deeds."

Wishing to cross the great ocean, I approached the port.

Practicing the wilderness journey, on the heated, hard ground.

'This field has arrived, for a being desirous of merit.

Does not plant seed there, he is not desirous of grain.

If I do not do service there, I am not desirous of merit.

Does not give them wealth and grain, he falls away from his sealed authority.

If I do not give a gift to him, I will decline from merit."

Having paid homage to his feet, I gave an umbrella and sandals.

But fulfilling the gift, thus I gave to him."

A king named Dhanañcaya, endowed with the ten wholesome qualities.

They requested from me the noble elephant, fortunate and deemed auspicious.

Give the excellent elephant, blue, named Añjana.

May my undertaking not be broken, I will give the great elephant.'

Having sprinkled water on the hands, I gave the elephant to the brahmins.

'Why do you give your excellent elephant to beggars?

When that elephant is given away, what will your kingdom do?

Omniscience is dear to me, therefore I gave the elephant."

Named Mahāsudassana, a wheel-turning monarch of great power.

'Who wishes for what, who desires what, to whom should what wealth be given?'

Garments of various colours, who being naked will put on?

Thus evening and morning, I have proclaimed here and there.

In many hundreds of places, wealth was prepared for beggars.

Having obtained whatever wealth he desires, he goes with full hands.

I do not give wealth that is disagreeable, nor is there no accumulation in me.

Having satisfied a physician with wealth, is released from disease.

To fill the deficient mind, I give gifts to paupers;

Free from attachment, without expectation, for the attainment of highest enlightenment."

Venerated by kings, the brahmin Mahāgovinda.

With that I give a great gift, imperturbable, like the ocean.

Omniscience is dear to me, therefore I give the excellent wealth."

A great king named Nimi, wise, seeking what is wholesome.

There I set giving in motion, for deer, birds, men, and so on.

Having made it uninterrupted, I carried on the great giving.

By body, speech, and mind, he seeks to please him.

Having satisfied beings with giving, I wish for the highest enlightenment."

In the city of Pupphavatī, a prince named Canda.

Having generated religious emotion, I carried on the great giving.

Without having given to those worthy of offerings, even for five or six nights.

Where the gain is great, there he carries those wares.

Therefore one should give to another, it will become a hundredfold.

I do not step back from giving, for the attainment of highest enlightenment."

Having sat down in the excellent mansion, thus I thought then.

Even if one were to request my eye, I would give, unmoved."

Seated in the assembly of gods, spoke these words.

Reflecting on various gifts, he did not see anything that could not be given.

Wait a moment, until I know that mind.'

Having become like one blind in appearance, he approached the king.

Having made salutation with joined palms on the head, spoke these words.

Your fame, delighting in giving, has risen among gods and humans.

Give me one of your eyes, and you too sustain yourself with one."

With joined palms, filled with joy, I spoke these words.

You, having understood my mind, have come to ask for my eyes.

A gift never given before, today I will give to the beggar.

Give both eyes, having plucked them out, to the pauper."

Having extracted, he gave, like a palmyra kernel to a beggar.

There is no change of mind, because of enlightenment itself.

Omniscience is dear to me, therefore I gave the eye."

She in past births, was Sakka's dear chief queen.

'I give you ten boons, excellent lady, whatever you wish'.

'What offence is there of mine, why am I odious to you?

You dislodge me from this delightful place, like the wind a tree growing on the earth.'

"Neither have you done any evil, nor are you disagreeable to me.

Accept the ten boons given by me, the excellent best among boons.'

Having included me within, Phussatī, the excellent lady, wished for ten boons.

In the city of Jetuttara, she came together with Sañjaya.

Through my power, my mother, was always delighting in giving.

To ascetics and brahmins who are destitute, she gives gifts to those who own nothing.

In the middle of the merchants' street, Phussatī gave birth to me.

Born here in the merchants' street, therefore he was Vessantara.

Then, having sat down in the mansion, I considered giving a gift.

I would give my body, having declared it, if anyone were to request of me."

The earth trembled there, with Sineru and its forest-wreath.

Having mounted the elephant Paccaya, I approached to give a gift.

They requested from me the noble elephant, fortunate and deemed auspicious.

Give the excellent elephant, all white, the best of elephants.

I do not conceal what exists, my mind delights in giving.

May my undertaking not be broken, I will give the great elephant."

Having sprinkled water on the hands, I gave the elephant to the brahmins.

Then too the earth trembled, with Sineru and its forest-wreath.

They banished him from their own kingdom, 'Let him go to the Vaṅka mountain'.

To carry on the great giving, I requested one boon.

Having sounded the ear-drum, I give the great gift.

Because of giving they banish him, yet again this one gives a gift.

Having given a great gift, I departed from the city then.

Then too the earth trembled, with Sineru and its forest-wreath.

Alone, without a companion, I spoke this to Queen Maddī.

I will take Jāli, for he is heavy, the brother.'

I, like a golden image, took hold of Jāli, the warrior prince.

Treading upon uneven and even ground, we go to the Vaṅka mountain.

We ask those at the road's end, 'Where is Vaṅkanta mountain?'

They experience suffering, far is the Vaṅkanta mountain.

Because of those fruits, the children cry out.

Bending down of their own accord, approach the children.

Maddī, beautiful in all her limbs, uttered an exclamation of approval.

Through Vessantara's power, the trees bent down of their own accord.

On the very day of departure, they reached the Ceta kingdom.

All having become with joined palms, weeping, approached.

They, having departed from there, went to the Vaṅka mountain.

'Make well a charming, well-crafted hermitage, a leaf-hut.'

Made well a charming, well-crafted hermitage, a leaf-hut.

We four people dwell there, in the mountain caves.

Dispelling each other's sorrow, we dwelt in the hermitage then.

Maddī, having brought fruit, nourishes those three people.

He requested my little children, both Jālī and Kaṇhājinā.

Having taken both sons, I gave them to the brahmin then.

Then too the earth trembled, with Sineru and its forest-wreath.

Requested from me Queen Maddī, virtuous and devoted to her husband.

With devoted mind and thought, I gave Maddī to him.

Then too the earth trembled, with Sineru and its forest-wreath.

Giving them away, I did not grieve, because of enlightenment itself.

Omniscience is dear to me, therefore I gave what is dear.

While they were lamenting pitiably, conversing about happiness and suffering.

Then too the earth trembled, with Sineru and its forest-wreath.

I enter the charming city, Jetuttara, the best of cities.

Then too the earth trembled, with Sineru and its forest-wreath.

Yet even it, by the power of my giving, trembled seven times."

Feeding on grass, leaves, vegetables and fruits, avoiding harming others.

We dwelt in one vicinity, seen in the evening and morning.

'Avoid evil deeds, and establish yourselves in the good'.

I told those there, 'Today is the Observance day.'

Having given a gift to one worthy of offerings, observe the Observance day.

Having prepared gifts, they sought one worthy of offerings.

'If I should obtain one worthy of offerings, what gift will I have?

I sustain myself on grass, it is not possible to give grass.

I would give my own self, he will not go away empty-handed."

Approached my dwelling place, to test my giving.

'Good! You have arrived, for the sake of food, near me.

You are endowed with the virtue of morality, harassing others is inappropriate for you.

I will cook myself, you will eat what is cooked.'

He made a great funeral pyre, having made a charcoal chamber.

Having shaken off my dust-covered body, I sat down to one side.

Then having leapt up, I fell, in the midst, amidst the flames.

Appeases disturbance and fever, and gives gratification and joy.

All disturbance is appeased, just as with cool water.

The whole, entire body, I gave to the brahmin."

There was none on earth then, equal to me in virtue.

'A fitting elephant for you, great king, dwells in the forest.

Once seized by the trunk, he will come here by himself.'"

Sent an elephant tamer, a skilful trainer, well-trained.

One pulling up lotus roots and fibres, for the sustenance of his mother.

Having said 'Come, son,' he grasped my trunk.

Today is equal and similar in power to a thousand elephants.

I would be competent against them, even up to the human kingdom.

Do not make alteration in my mind, seeing them throwing me into the stake.

I would indeed not become angry with them, out of fear of breaking my morality."

With the great king Virūpakkha, I went to the world of the gods.

For the purpose of going to that heaven, I undertook moral rules and austerities.

Having determined the four limbs, I lie on the top of the ant-hill.

Whoever has need of this, let him take what is given."

Having put me in a box, he makes me perform here and there.

At Ālampāyana I do not become angry, out of fear of breaking my morality.

Transgression of morality for me is like the overturning of the earth.

I would indeed not break morality, even for the sake of the four continents.

Do not make alteration in my mind, even when being thrown into the box."

Even then I was righteous, devoted to moral rules and austerities.

A snake-catcher, having taken me, plays at the king's gate.

Following his mind, I became like what was thought of.

If I were to become angry with him, I could reduce him to ashes in a moment.

For one who has fallen away from morality, the highest good does not succeed.

I would indeed not break morality, like chaff being scattered."

Having seen existence as peril, I went forth into renunciation.

She too, without concern for the round of rebirths, went forth into renunciation.

Wandering through village and market town, we arrived at Bārāṇasī.

Undisturbed and quiet, in the royal garden we both dwelt.

Having approached, he asked me, 'Who is she to you, whose wife is she?'

'She is not my wife, she shares the same teaching, under one discipline'.

Oppressing her by force, he led her into the inner palace.

Was being dragged away and led off, irritation arose in me.

Right there I restrained the irritation, I did not allow it to grow further.

I would indeed not break morality, because of enlightenment itself.

Omniscience is dear to me, therefore I shall guard morality."

With a fully grown body, powerful, great, dreadful to behold.

Here and there is a place for buffaloes, one here, one there.

Having approached that place, I stand and I lie down.

On the shoulder, on the forehead, on the eyebrows, he urinates and defecates on me.

He ill-treats me at all times, by that I am troubled.

'Destroy this wretched evil one, with horns and with hooves.'"

'Why do you smear me with a corpse, with evil, with what is ignoble?

And my morality would be broken, and the wise would censure me.

Why would I, even for the sake of life, do harassing of others?'

They will kill him, that will be my freedom."

Thus the wise one obtains what is wished for in the mind."

A king of beasts named Ruru, established in supreme morality.

There I took up abode, on the delightful bank of the Ganges.

A man fell into the Ganges, 'whether I live or die'.

Crying a pitiful cry, goes in the middle of the Ganges.

Standing on the bank of the Ganges, I asked 'Who are you, man?'

'Frightened and trembling because of creditors, I leapt into the great river'.

Having entered, I brought him out, in the darkness of the night.

'I request one boon from you, do not tell anyone about me.'

Having taken the king, he approached my presence.

The king, having heard the word, prepared an arrow for him;

'Right here I will have killed the betrayer of friends, the ignoble one.'

'Let him remain, great king, I become your servant at will.'

For I was moral then, because of enlightenment itself."

Mātaṅga by name, virtuous and well concentrated.

I dwelt upstream, the brahmin dwelt downstream.

There, having abused me, he cursed me with the splitting of my head.

Having looked at him, I could reduce him to ashes, as it were.

It fell upon his very own head, by exertion I released him from that.

For I was moral then, because of enlightenment itself."

A great demon named Dhamma, having compassion for the whole world.

I wander through village and market town, with friends and retinue.

He wanders here on earth, with friends and retinue.

Clashing shaft against shaft, we both met on the opposite path.

For the purpose of turning aside from the road, a great battle was at hand.

I could reduce him together with his retinue to dust.

Having stepped aside together with my people, I gave the path to the evil one.

The earth gave an opening to the evil demon at that very moment."

A king named Jayaddisa, endowed with virtuous qualities.

Alīnasatta, endowed with virtues, always protecting my attendants.

He seized my father, 'You are my food, do not move.'

His thighs became stiff, having seen the man-eater.

Having given wealth to the brahmin, my father addressed me.

A promise was made by me to the man-eater, for my return again.'

Having laid down the bow and sword, I approached the man-eater.

By that, morality will be broken, when terror is caused in me.

With a mind of friendliness, speaking for his welfare, I spoke these words.

You, having understood the time when cooked, eat me, grandfather.'

And I gave the going forth to him, the constant killer of living beings."

With fangs as weapons, with terrible poison, two-tongued, lord of serpents.

Having determined the four factors, I made my dwelling there.

Whoever has need of this, let him take what is given."

They approached me there, with sticks and clubs in hand.

Having placed me on a carrying pole, the sons of hunters carried me away.

If I wished, I could burn it there with the breath from my nose.

I do not become angry at the Bhoja princes, this is my perfection of morality."

Having seen a dew-drop fallen in the sunshine, I was stirred.

And having paid homage to my mother and father, I requested the going forth.

'This very day, son, proceed with the prosperous, flourishing great earth.'

While they were lamenting pitiably, without longing I gave them up.

Giving them away, I did not grieve, because of enlightenment itself.

Omniscience is dear to me, therefore I gave up the kingdom."

A longed-for, beloved son, renowned as Somanassa.

Respectful to elders, having shame, and skilled in the means of inclusion.

Having planted a park and a flower garden, he lives.

Like a tree hollow inside, like a plantain without core.

Having abandoned shame and the bright qualities, for the sake of livelihood.

Going to suppress that, my father instructed me.

Attend to him according to his wishes, for he is the giver of all desires.'

'Is it well with you, householder, or what shall be brought for you?'

'I will have you killed today, or I will banish you from the kingdom'.

'Is it bearable for you, venerable sir, has honour been shown to you?'

Having heard that word of his, the lord of the earth commanded.

From road to road you should display it, that is the destination for those who scorned the matted-hair ascetic.'

While I was sitting in my mother's lap, dragging me away, they lead me off.

'Show me quickly to the king, I have matters for the king.'

Having seen him, I convinced him, and brought him under my control.

I, having dispelled the darkness, went forth into homelessness.

Omniscience is dear to me, therefore I gave up the kingdom."

Raised in an iron house, by name I was Ayoghara.

This very day, son, proceed with this entire earth.

Having raised my joined palms, I spoke these words.

Without protection in their own homes, they grow with their own relatives.

Raised in an iron house, where moon and sun had little light.

Into suffering more terrible than that, again thrown into an iron house.

If I find pleasure in kingdoms, I would be the lowest of the evil ones.

I shall seek peace, where death may not crush me.'

Like an elephant having cut the bond, I entered the forest grove.

Omniscience is dear to me, therefore I gave up the kingdom."

A sister and seven brothers, were born in a brahmin family.

Having seen existence as peril, I delighted in renunciation.

They invite me with sensual pleasures, 'Maintain the family lineage.'

That was hard for me, like a heated ploughshare.

'What do you desire, my dear, if you do not enjoy sensual pleasures?'

'I do not aspire for the household life, I delight in renunciation.'

Mother and father said thus, 'Let us all go forth, friend.'

Having abandoned immeasurable wealth, we entered the great forest."

There, in an excellent noble family, a great household, I was born.

My mind shrinks back from existence, as if struck by the force of a goad.

'When shall I, having gone forth from home, enter the forest.'

To them too I declared my desire, 'Do not invite me with those.'

He too, following my example, delighted in the going forth.

Even then, having abandoned wealth, we entered the great forest."

By the name 'Mute-cripple', they call me Temiya.

With the passing of days and nights, I alone was born.

Having held the white parasol, my father nourishes me on a bed.

Saw a white umbrella, by which I went to hell.

Having attained judgment, 'How shall I release this?'

She, having seen me suffering, engaged me in three states.

Let all the people despise you, thus will your welfare come to be.'

'I shall do that word of yours, which you speak, O deity;

Joyful, with an agitated mind, I determined upon three factors.

Having determined these limbs, I dwelt for sixteen years.

Having seen me complete, they disparaged me as 'a wretch'."

All having become of one mind, gave thanks for the abandonment.

For the purpose of which austere asceticism was practised, that purpose has been accomplished for me.

Having consecrated him with an umbrella, they caused him to circumambulate the city.

Having taken me out by chariot, the charioteer went to the forest.

The charioteer digs a pit, to bury me in the earth.

I did not break that determination, because of enlightenment itself.

Omniscience is dear to me, therefore I determined upon the ascetic practice.

In determination there is none equal to me, this is my perfection of determination."

Oppressed by a crocodile, I did not obtain passage.

There sat the enemy, the murderer, the crocodile of fierce appearance.

Having trodden upon his head, I stood on the other bank.

In truth there is none equal to me, this is my perfection of truthfulness."

By truth I protected the world, I made the people united."

A young one with unborn wings, a lump of flesh in the nest.

By her contact I live, there is no bodily strength in me.

It approaches us, the fire, the black-pathed one.

Burning gradually, the fire approached me.

Having abandoned me in the nest, freed themselves.

I, without means of going there, thus I thought then.

They have departed, leaving me behind, what am I to do today?

By that truth I will make the highest declaration of truth.

Relying on the power of truth, I made a declaration of truth.

Mother and father have departed, fire, go back.'

Avoided sixteen karīsas, like fire having reached water;

In truth there is none equal to me, this is my perfection of truthfulness."

In the heat of the sun's burning, the water in the lake was exhausted.

Eat the fish day and night, having sat close by.

'By what means indeed might I release my relatives from suffering?'

Established in truth, I released my relatives from that great destruction.

He made a declaration of truth, which is everlasting and eternal in the world.

I do not know of having intentionally harmed even a single living being.

Thunder forth, O Rain-God, destroy the treasure of the crow;

Afflict the crow with sorrow, release the fish from sorrow.'

Filling the high ground and the low, in a moment he rained down.

I caused the great cloud to rain, relying on the power of truth's radiance;

For more than fifty years, I lived without delight.

For I did not tell anyone, discontent roams in my mind.

Connected with former deeds, he obtained impalement.

Having asked permission, I came to my own hermitage.

Three people having come together, came as guests.

The boy, throwing up a ball, angered a venomous snake.

Touched the head of the venomous snake with his hand.

Enraged with supreme anger, bit the child in a moment.

By that I was afflicted, you bear that suffering of mine.

I performed the first act, the highest truth, the excellent best.

And furthermore, this that I have practised, for more than fifty years.

Let the poison be destroyed, may Yaññadatta live.'

Without awakening he arose, and the young man became healthy;

In truth there is none equal to me, this is my perfection of truthfulness."

Seized by the man-eater, I remembered my promise to the brahmin.

Having exhausted these, he led me for the purpose of sacrifice.

I will do according to your wish, if you will come back to me.'

Having approached the charming city, I handed over the kingdom then.

Having given wealth to the brahmin, I approached the man-eater.

Protecting truthful speech, I approached ready to give up my life;

In truth there is none equal to me, this is my perfection of truthfulness."

In the forest wilds, I extended friendliness to lions and tigers.

By spotted deer and boars, surrounded, I dwelt in the forest.

Supported by the power of friendliness, I delight in the forest wilds then."

Having determined supreme morality, I governed the great earth.

By the four ways of supporting others, I support the great multitude.

Dabbasena, having approached, taking by force my city.

Having taken all into his possession, he buried me in a pit.

Having taken them by force, I looked upon him as a dear son;

Village louts, having approached, display no small amount of antics.

They bring as offerings, joyful, with stirred minds.

I am equal towards all, compassion and irritation are not found.

Everywhere I am even-minded, this is my perfection of equanimity."