Simhasanadvatrimshika 10.p3

10.p3

etad yogivacanaṃ śrutvā purohito rājño 'gre sarvaṃ tadvacanam akathayat. tato rājā svayam eva darśanārtham āgatya taṃ namaskṛtyo 'paviṣṭaḥ. tena saha goṣṭhīṃ kurvan yad-yat pṛcchati tat sakalam api kathayati. tadanantaram atisaṃtuṣṭo rājā pratidinaṃ tatsamīpam āgatya nānāvidhādhyātmagoṣṭhīṃ kurvann ekadā tam apṛcchat: bhoḥ svāmin, bhavatāṃ kati varṣāṇi jātāni? teno 'ktam: bho rājan, kim etat pṛcchasi? nītividā puruṣeṇa svam āyur na kathanīyam. navai 'tāni gopyāni:

Hearing the ascetic's answer the house-priest went and told the king all that he had said. So the king came thither to see for himself, and sat down after making an obeisance. And as he converst with him, all the things which the king askt he told him. Thereupon the king was greatly pleased; and he came and visited him every day, and converst with him variously on the subject of the supreme soul. One day he askt him: "My lord, how old is your worship?" He replied: "O king, why do you ask that? A man conversant with the rules of conduct should not tell his age. These nine things must be guarded: 3. Nine things one must guard in secret: age, wealth, a hole in the house-wall, a charm, a remedy, sexual intercourse, a gift, an honor, and a disgrace.