所行藏（Sujato 英译）第 9 阅读页 · CP9 · Vessantara’s Conduct · 1/2

The Conduct Leading to BuddhahoodThe Conduct Leading to BuddhahoodThe Chapter With AkittiThe Chapter With Akitti

The Perfection of Giving (9th)The Perfection of Giving (9th)Vessantara’s ConductVessantara’s Conduct“She who was my mother,“She who was my mother,

the aristocrat lady named Phussatī,the aristocrat lady named Phussatī,was Sakka’s beloved queenwas Sakka’s beloved queenin past lives.in past lives.

Knowing that she was at the end of life,Knowing that she was at the end of life,the lord of gods said this:the lord of gods said this:‘I grant you ten favors,‘I grant you ten favors,

my dear, whatever favor you wish.’my dear, whatever favor you wish.’When he said this the queenWhen he said this the queenreplied to Sakka:replied to Sakka:

‘In what way am I deficient?‘In what way am I deficient?How am I displeasing to you?How am I displeasing to you?You send me from this lovely place,You send me from this lovely place,

like the wind a feeble tree.’like the wind a feeble tree.’When she said this SakkaWhen she said this Sakkareplied to her:replied to her:

‘You have done nothing wrong,‘You have done nothing wrong,nor are you not beloved to me.nor are you not beloved to me.But your life lasts only so long,But your life lasts only so long,

your time of death will come.your time of death will come.Accept the ten supreme favorsAccept the ten supreme favorsI offer to you.’I offer to you.’

She accepted the offerings of Sakka,She accepted the offerings of Sakka,full of joy and happiness.full of joy and happiness.Having conceived me,Having conceived me,

Phussatī was blessed with the ten favors.Phussatī was blessed with the ten favors.Then Phussatī, having passed from there,Then Phussatī, having passed from there,was reborn as an aristocratwas reborn as an aristocrat

in the city of Jetuttara,in the city of Jetuttara,where she married Sañjaya.where she married Sañjaya.Once I was conceived in the wombOnce I was conceived in the womb

of my dear mother Phussatī,of my dear mother Phussatī,because of my power,because of my power,my mother always delighted in giving.my mother always delighted in giving.

She gave to the destitute, the ailing and aging,She gave to the destitute, the ailing and aging,to beggars, travelers, and folk,to beggars, travelers, and folk,to ascetics and brahmins, and the dispossessed,to ascetics and brahmins, and the dispossessed,

and to those who had nothing.and to those who had nothing.Having carried me for ten months,Having carried me for ten months,she was proceeding around the cityshe was proceeding around the city

when Phussatī gave birth to mewhen Phussatī gave birth to mein the middle of the peasant’s street.in the middle of the peasant’s street.My name was not from my mother’s side,My name was not from my mother’s side,

nor from my father’s.nor from my father’s.I was born there in the peasant’s street,I was born there in the peasant’s street,and that’s why I’m called Vessantara.and that’s why I’m called Vessantara.

When I was a boyWhen I was a boyof only eight years old,of only eight years old,sitting in the stilt longhouse,sitting in the stilt longhouse,

I thought of giving gifts.I thought of giving gifts.‘I would give my heart and my eyes,‘I would give my heart and my eyes,my flesh and blood too.’my flesh and blood too.’

I announced that I would give my body,I announced that I would give my body,if anyone asked me.if anyone asked me.Reflecting on my state of mind,Reflecting on my state of mind,

so undisturbed and steadfast,so undisturbed and steadfast,the earth quaked there,the earth quaked there,and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.

Every fortnight, the fifteenth,Every fortnight, the fifteenth,and the sabbath when the moon was full,and the sabbath when the moon was full,I mounted the tusker PaccayaI mounted the tusker Paccaya

and went to give gifts.and went to give gifts.From the country of Kaliṅga,From the country of Kaliṅga,the brahmins came to me,the brahmins came to me,

requesting the royal elephant,requesting the royal elephant,that was lucky and deemed as auspicious.that was lucky and deemed as auspicious.‘Our nation is suffering from drought,‘Our nation is suffering from drought,

food is scarce and famine abounds,food is scarce and famine abounds,please give the noble elephantplease give the noble elephantthe all-white supreme elephant.’the all-white supreme elephant.’

‘I give without hesitation‘I give without hesitationwhat you ask of me, brahmins.what you ask of me, brahmins.I do not hide what I have,I do not hide what I have,

for my heart is happy to give.for my heart is happy to give.When supplicants come to meWhen supplicants come to meit is unbefitting to refuse.it is unbefitting to refuse.

Let not my vow be broken,Let not my vow be broken,I shall give the mighty elephant.’I shall give the mighty elephant.’Taking the elephant by the trunk,Taking the elephant by the trunk,

and a bejeweled ceremonial vessel,and a bejeweled ceremonial vessel,I sprinkled water on the hand,I sprinkled water on the hand,and gave the elephant to the brahmins.and gave the elephant to the brahmins.

Then again when I was givingThen again when I was givingthe all-white supreme elephant,the all-white supreme elephant,the earth quaked again,the earth quaked again,

and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.At the gift of the tusker,At the gift of the tusker,angry Sivian folk gatheredangry Sivian folk gathered

and banished me from my kingdom, saying:and banished me from my kingdom, saying:‘Go to Crooked Mountain.’‘Go to Crooked Mountain.’While they were ejecting me,While they were ejecting me,

I was undisturbed and steadfast,I was undisturbed and steadfast,I asked one favor:I asked one favor:to perform a great offering.to perform a great offering.

When I asked, all the Sivian folkWhen I asked, all the Sivian folkgranted me that one favor.granted me that one favor.Sounding the drums,Sounding the drums,

I gave a great offering.I gave a great offering.And as the sound went forth,And as the sound went forth,there was a great tumult and upset.there was a great tumult and upset.

They drove me out because of giving,They drove me out because of giving,but I just gave again.but I just gave again.Elephants, horses, chariots,Elephants, horses, chariots,

male and female slaves, cattle, and riches:male and female slaves, cattle, and riches:after giving this great giftafter giving this great giftI then left the city.I then left the city.

After leaving the city,After leaving the city,I turned back to look,I turned back to look,at which the earth quaked,at which the earth quaked,

and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.and Mount Sineru, wreathed in forests.Having given away my four-horse chariot,Having given away my four-horse chariot,I was standing at the crossroadsI was standing at the crossroads

alone with no partner,alone with no partner,and I said to Queen Maddī:and I said to Queen Maddī:‘Maddī, you take Kaṇhā,‘Maddī, you take Kaṇhā,

for she, as the younger sister, is the lighter.for she, as the younger sister, is the lighter.