Ja 230 The Second Story about (the King) who Fled
(Dutiyapalāyijātaka)
In the present one ascetic goes about arguing with all he meets, when he meets the Buddha he is intimidated by the radiance of his face, and decides not to argue. The Buddha tells a story of a mighty king who got up a huge army, but when he saw the radiance of the face of the king he intended to overthrow he was intimidated and decided to withdraw.
1. Dhajam-aparimitaṁ, anantapāraṁ,
Duppasahaṁ dhaṅkehi sāgaraṁ va,
Girim-iva anilena duppasayho,
Duppasaho aham-ajja tādisenā ti.
Measureless are the banners, endless on all sides, This compound only occurs here, pāra normally means the far shore, the other side, but here, from context, must mean all sides. as hard to overcome as the ocean by crows, as hard to overcome as a mountain by wind, as hard to overcome as am I now by such.
In this connection, measureless are the banners, having set a peacock feather over my chariots, and lifted up banners that are measureless, an uncountable number.
Endless on all sides, my soldiers and chariots, thinking: “Such are the elephants, such are the horses, such are the chariots, such are the foot soldiers,” without limit of numbers, they are endless on all sides.
Hard to overcome means it is not possible to be overcome, to be overpowered by the enemy.
Like what? As the ocean by crows, as the sea by many crows, because of the suppression of urgency, or because of going beyond, is hard to overcome, so this is hard to overcome.
As hard to overcome as a mountain by wind, but this, my army is as hard to overcome as an unshakeable mountain is by the wind, so is my army hard to overcome with another army.
As hard to overcome as am I now by such, I, being endowed with this army am hard to overcome now by such a force, he said this referring to the Bodhisatta as he stood on the tower.
2. Mā bāli yaṁ vilapi, na hissa tādisaṁ,
Viḍayhase na hi labhase nisedhakaṁ,
Āsajjasī gajam-iva ekacārinaṁ,
Yo taṁ padā naḷam-iva pothayissatī ti.
Fool, do not talk this nonsense, such is not his, when on fire do not receive one who obstructs you, you attack like a solitary elephant, like one who crushes a reed with his foot.
In this connection, fool, do not talk this nonsense means do not talk nonsense to me. Such, thinking: “Endless on all sides are my soldiers and chariots,” thinking such about being able to take the kingdom, it is not his, it is not, this is the meaning.
When on fire, you fool, you are completely on fire with lust, hatred, delusion, conceit and affliction.
Do not receive one who obstructs you, but having overcome, defeated one like me, do not receive one who obstructs you, today I will put to flight whoever comes along the road.
You attack means you go towards.
Like a solitary elephant, means like a solitary, intoxicated, noble elephant.
Like one who crushes a reed with his foot, he who like an intoxicated noble elephant crushes, grinds a reed with his foot, so will he crush you, if you attack, this was said referring to himself.