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A PROSE TRANSLATION OF THE INTRODUCTORY 

 STANZAS OF THE " KUSA-JATAKA." 



Communicated by Lionel F. Lee, Esq. 



The following pages contain a literal prose translation 

 of the introductory stanzas of the Kusa-Jataka, one of the 

 Pansiyapanas Jataka. 



This (t Jataka" is said to have been translated from the 

 original Pali by Alajiyawanna Mohotal, a. D. 1610, (vide 

 James De Alwis' Sidat Sangarawa, p.p. ccvii. — ccviii.), and 

 is deemed one of the finest specimens of poetry in the lan- 

 guage, although Alajiyawanna can hardly be defended 

 from the charge of plagiarism, which Mr, De Alwis proves 

 against him. Not only is the versification and metrical 

 arrangement of this work admirable ; the phraseology 

 and metaphor are as much to be admired. The translation 

 of the whole of the poem in the Society's Journal would 

 usurp too much space, and I therefore submit the introduc- 

 tory stanzas for perusal, as a fair specimen of the whole 

 work. 



Stanza I. 



I worship the supreme sage, teacher of the three 

 worlds, who is as a sun in the midst of the gross darkness 

 of heathendom ; as the night opening flower-like moon to his 

 followers ; as a jewel of virtue in a great ocean. 



II. 



I ever worship the inestimable doctrines preached to 

 the whole world, by him who, when he had explained the 



