Ja 163 The Story about (King) Susīma
(Susīmajātaka)
In the present laymen decide on giving a gift to the Buddha, and the heretics, although they do not like it, cannot prevent it. The Buddha tells a story of how, in ancient times, a youth had learned the Vedas and elephant lore in one night, so as to be able to fulfil his duties, and sustain his family’s income, given to him by king Susīma, which the brahmins tried to take from them.
1. Kāḷā migā setadantā tavīme,
Parosataṁ hemajālābhichannā,
‘Te te dadāmī,’ ti Susīma brūsi,
Anussaraṁ pettipitāmahānaṁ.
These black creatures, who are white tusked, are yours, over a hundred, covered over with gold, ‘I give these to you,’ said king Susīma, in remembrance of my dead ancestors.
In this connection, ‘I give these to you,’ said king Susīma, I give these for your property, black creatures, with white tusks, more than a hundred elephants all adorned and decorated, I give them to the other brahmins, it is true, it seems, dear Susīma, so he said, this is the meaning.
In remembrance of my dead ancestors, remembering the custom of our own ancestral lineage.
2. Kāḷā migā setadantā mamīme,
Parosataṁ hemajālābhicchannā,
‘Te te dadāmī,’ ti vadāmi māṇava,
Anussaraṁ pettipitāmahānaṁ.
These black creatures, who are white tusked, are mine, over a hundred, covered over with gold, ‘I give these to you,’ said king Susīma, in remembrance of my dead ancestors.
In this connection, ‘I give these to you,’ I give the other brahmins’ elephants to you, it is true, young man, I say, I do not give elephants to the brahmins, this is the meaning.
In remembrance, I remember the performance of my dead ancestors, and I certainly A double negative such as no na, is not used in English, but in Pāḷi it has an emphatic positive sense. remember our dead ancestors. Your dead ancestors performed the elephant ceremony, remembering them, I say so, it is said with this intention.