Hitopadesha 1.49.p1

1.49.p1

ity ākarṇya hiraṇyakaḥ prahṛṣṭa-manāḥ pulakitaḥ san abravīt-sādhu mitra ! sādhu | anenāśrita-vātsalyena trailokyasyāpi prabhutvaṃ tvayi yujyate | evam uktvā tena sarveṣāṃ kapotānāṃ bandhanāni chinnāni | tato hiraṇyakaḥ sarvān sādaraṃ sampūjya āha-sakhe citragrīva ! sarvathātra jāla-bandhana-vidhau sati doṣam āśaṅkya ātmani avajñā na kartavyā | yataḥ-

When King Golden-skin heard this answer his heart was charmed, and his fur bristled up for pure pleasure. "Nobly spoken, friend," said he, "nobly spoken! with such a tenderness for those that look to thee, the Sovereignty of the Three Worlds might be fitly thine." So saying he set himself to cut all their bonds. This done, and the pigeons extricated, the King of the Mice gave them his formal welcome. "But, your Majesty," he said, "this capture in the net was a work of destiny; you must not blame yourself as you did, and suspect a former fault. Is it not written—

And you know the verse,