Bhojaprabandha 76_218

76_218

3 Bhoja-
After that, knowing those scholars to be angry because of the gift given to the poet Śaṅkara, that great man said: "'Twelve lakhs were given to the poet Śaṅkara'—it is not proper for you to think this. You have not understood the king's intention. In reality, when the worship of Śaṅkara began, the poet Śaṅkara was honored with only one lakh; but considering the eleven Rudras residing within him and manifest by his name to be other visible manifestations of Śaṅkara, one lakh each was given to the poet Śaṅkara himself, regarding him as the embodiment of Śaṅkara—this is the king's intention." He astonished everyone.