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."