CONTEXT OF CHAPTER XXXIX.

TRANSLATION OF CHAPTER XXXVIII., vv. 80 to 114.

AND he (Dhátusena) had two sons,-Kassapa, whose mother was 80 unequal in rank (to his father), and Moggallána, a mighty man, whose mother was of equal rank (with his father). Likewise also he had a 81 beautiful daughter, who was as dear unto him as his own life. And he gave her (to wife) unto his sister's son, to whom also he gave the office of chief of the army. And he (the nephew) scourged her on the thighs, 82 albeit there was no fault in her. And when the king saw that his daughter's cloth was stained with blood, he learned the truth and was 83 wroth, and caused his nephew's mother to be burnt naked. From that time forth he (the nephew) bare malice against the king; and he joined himself unto Kassapa, and tempted him to seize the kingdom and betray 84 his father. And then he gained over the people, and caused the king his father to be taken alive. And Kasappa raised the canopy of dominion 85 after that he had destroyed the men of the king's party and received the support of the wicked men in the kingdom. Thereupon Moggallána 86 endeavoured to make war against him. But he could not obtain a sufficient force, and proceeded to the Continent of India with the intent to raise an army there.

66

And that he might the more vex the king, who was now sorely 87 afflicted because that he had lost the kingdom, and that his son 88 (Moggallána) had abandoned him, and he himself was imprisoned, this wicked general spake to Kassapa the king, saying, "O king, the treasures of the royal house are hidden by thy father." And when the king said unto him, "Nay," he answered saying, "Knowest 89 thou not, O lord of the land, the purpose of this thy father? He treasureth up the riches for Moggallána." And when the base man 90 heard these words he was wroth, and sent messengers unto his father, saying, "Reveal the place where thou hast hid the treasure." Thereupon the king thought to himself, saying: "This is a device 91 whereby the wretch seeketh to destroy us"; and he remained silent. And they (the messengers) went and informed the king thereof. And 92 his anger was yet more greatly increased, and he sent the messengers 93 back unto him again and again. Then the king (Dhátusena) thought to himself, saying, "It is well that I should die after that I have seen my friend and washed myself in the Kálavápi." So he told the messengers saying, "Now, if he will cause me to be taken to Kálavápi, then shall I be able to find out (the treasure)." And when they went and told 94 the king thereof he was exceeding glad, because that he desired greatly to obtain the treasure, and he sent the messengers back (to his father) with a chariot. And while the king, with his eyes sunk in grief, proceeded (on the journey to Kálavápi), the charioteer who drove 95 the chariot gave him some of the roasted rice that he ate. And the 96 king ate thereof and was pleased with him, and gave him a letter for Moggallána that he might befriend him and bestow on him the office of doorkeeper. Such, alas, is the nature of prosperity! It fleeth like 97 the lightning. What prudent man will be beguiled thereby !

98 And when his friend, the Elder, heard that the king was coming, he 99 preserved and set apart a rich meal of beans with the flesh of waterfowls, that he had obtained, saying, "The king loveth this (sort of meat)." And the king went up and made obeisance unto him and sat 100 beside him. And when they had thus seated themselves, it seemed to them both as if they enjoyed the pleasures of a kingdom. And they held much discourse with each other, and quenched the great sorrow 101 (that burned within them). And after that the Elder had prevailed on the king to eat of the meal (which was ready), he exhorted him in divers ways, and expounded to him the nature of this world, and persuaded him that he should be diligent (in working out his salvation).

102

Then the king went up to the tank, and after that he had plunged therein and bathed and drank of its water as it pleased him, he turned 103 to the king's servants and said, "O friends, this is all the treasure that I possess ! And when the king's servants heard these words they 104 took him back to the city and informed the king. Then the chief of men was exceeding wroth and said, "This man hoardeth up riches for his son; and so long as he liveth will he estrange the people of the island (from me)." And he commanded the chief of the army, saying, 105 "Kill my father." Thereupon he (the general), who hated him exceed

ingly, was greatly delighted and said, "Now have I seen the last of my 106 enemy." And he arrayed himself in all his apparel, and went up to the 107 king, and walked to and fro before him. And when the king saw this he said to himself, "This wretch would fain send me to hell by afflicting my mind as he hath afflicted my body. What shall it profit me 108 then to provoke my anger against him?" So the lord of the land extended his goodwill towards him, and said, "I have the same feeling 109 towards thee as I have towards Moggallána." But he (the general) shook his head and laughed him to scorn. And when the king saw it he knew that he would surely be put to death on that day. Then this 110 violent man stripped the king naked, and bound him with chains inside 111 the wall (of his prison) with his face to the east, and caused it to be plastered up with clay. What wise man, therefore, after that he hath seen such things, will covet riches, or life, or glory!

112

Thus this chief of men, Dhátusena, whom his son had put to death, went to the abode of the chief of the gods after he had reigned eighteen years.

113 Now this king, while he yet built the bank of the Kálavápi, saw a 114 certain priest meditating and in a trance; and because that he could not rouse him therefrom he caused the priest to be covered over with earth (and so buried him). And they say that this was the reward, in this life, of that act.

Mr. Turnour has translated this Chapter; but it contains so many material errors that I thought it best to translate the above portion of it from the original Páli. I annex, however, his translation of this portion, italicising such passages as are materially incorrect :

TURNOUR'S TRANSLATION. Page 259, vv. 80 to 114.

He had two sons born of different, but equally illustrious, mothers

named Kassapo and the powerful Moggalláno. He had also a daughter as dear to him as his own life. He bestowed her, as well as the office of chief commander, on his nephew. This individual caused her to be flogged on her thighs with a whip, although she had committed no offence. The rája, on seeing his daughter's vestments trickling with blood, and learning the particulars, furiously indignant, caused his (nephew's) mother to be burnt naked. From that period (the nephew), inflamed with rage against him, uniting himself with Kassapo, infused into his mind the ambition to usurp the kingdom; and kindling at the same time an animosity in his breast against his parent, and gaining over the people, succeeded in capturing the king alive. Thereupon Kassapo, supported by all the unworthy portion of the nation, and annihilating the party who adhered to his father. raised the chhatta. Moggalláno then endeavoured to wage war against him, but being destitute of forces, with the view of raising an army, repaired to Jambudipo.

In order that he might aggravate the misery of the monarch, already wretched by the loss of his empire as well as the disaffection of his son, and his own imprisonment, this wicked person (the nephew) thus inquired of the rája Kassapo: "Rája, hast thou been told by thy father where the royal treasures are concealed?" On being answered "No," "Ruler of the land, (observed the nephew,) dost thou not see that he is concealing the treasures for Moggalláno ?" This worst of men, on hearing this remark, incensed, despatched messengers to his father with this command: "Point out where the treasures are." Considering that this was a plot of that malicious character to cause him to be put to death, (the deposed king) remained silent; and they (the messengers) returning, reported accordingly. Thereupon, exceedingly enraged, he sent messengers over and over again (to put the same question). (The imprisoned monarch) thus thought: "Well, let them put me to death after having seen my friend and bathed in the Kálawápi tank,” and made the following answer to the messenger: "If ye will take me to the Kálawápi tank, I shall be able to ascertain (where the treasures are)." They, returning, reported the same to the rája. That avaricious monarch, rejoicing (at the prospect of getting possession of the treasures), and assigning a carriage with broken wheels, sent back the messengers.

While the sovereign was proceeding along in it, the charioteer who was driving the carriage, eating some parched rice, gave a little thereof to him. Having ate it, pleased with him, the rája gave him a letter for Moggalláno, in order that he might (hereafter) patronise him and confer on him the office of " Dwáranáyako" (chief warden).

Thus, worldly prosperity is like unto the glimmering of lightning. What reflecting person, then, would devote himself (to the acquisition) thereof!

His friend, the thero, having heard (the rumour) "The rája is coming," and bearing his illustrious character in mind, laid aside for him. some rice cooked of the "masa" grain, mixed with meat, which he had received as a pilgrim; and saying to himself, "The king would like it," he carefully preserved it. The rája, approaching and bowing down

to him, respectfully took his station on one side of him. From the manner in which these two persons discoursed, seated by the side of each other, mutually quenching the fire of their afflictions, they appeared like unto two characters endowed with the prosperity of royalty. Having allowed (the rája) to take his meal, the thero in various ways administered consolation to him; and illustrating the destiny of the world, he abstracted his mind from the desire to protract his existence.

Then, repairing to the tank, diving into and bathing delightfully in it and drinking also of its water, he thus addressed the royal attendants: "My friends, these alone are the riches I possess." The messengers, on hearing this, conducting him to the rája's capital, reported the same to the monarch. The sovereign, enraged, replied: “As long as this man lives, he will treasure his riches for his (other) son, and will estrange the people in this land (from me)"; and gave the order, "Put my father to death." Those who were delighted (with this decision) exclaimed, "We have seen the back (the last) of our enemy." The enraged monarch, adorned in all the insignia of royalty, repaired to the (imprisoned) rája, and kept walking to and fro in his presence. The (deposed) king, observing him, thus meditated: "This wretch wishes to destroy my mind in the same manner that he afflicts my body; he longs to send me to hell: what is the use of my getting indignant about him? what can I accomplish?" and then benevolently remarked, "Lord of statesmen! I bear the same affection towards thee as towards Moggalláno?" He (the usurper) smiling, shook his head. The monarch then came to this conclusion: "This wicked man will most assuredly put me to death this very day." (The usurper) then stripping the king naked, and casting him into iron chains, built up a wall, embedding him in it, exposing his face only to the east, and plastered that wall over with clay.

What wise man, after being informed of this, would covet riches, life, or prosperity!

Thus the monarch Dhátuseno, who was murdered by his son in the eighteenth year of his reign, united himself with (Sakko) the ruler of devas.

66

This rája, at the time he was improving the Kálavápi tank, observed a certain priest absorbed in the " Samadhi” meditation; and not being able to rouse him, from that abstraction, had him buried under the embankment (he was raising) by heaping earth over him. This was the retribution manifested in this life, for that impious act.