Simhasanadvatrimshika 11.p3

11.p3

ekadā rājā rājyabhāraṃ mantriṣu nidhāya svayaṃ yogiveṣeṇa deśāntaraṃ nirgataḥ. yatrā 'tmanaś cittasya sukhaṃ bhavati, tatra katicid dināni tiṣṭhati; yatrā 'ścaryaṃ paśyati, tatrā 'pi kālaṃ nayati. evaṃ paryaṭatas tasyai 'kasmin divase mahāraṇye sūryo 'staṃ gataḥ; rājā vṛkṣamūlam āśrityo 'paviṣṭaḥ. tasya vṛkṣasyo 'pari vṛddhaś ciraṃjīvī nāma kaścit pakṣirājo 'bhūt. tasya putrāḥ pautrāś ca prātar deśāntarālaṃ gatvā svodarapūraṇaṃ vidhāya sāyaṃkāle pratyekam ekaikaṃ phalam ādāya vṛddhāya tasmai ciraṃjivine pratidinaṃ prayacchanti. sādhu ce 'dam ucyate:

One time the king laid the burden of government upon his ministers and went himself into a far country in the guise of an ascetic. Wherever his own fancy listed he remained several days; and wherever he saw any remarkable thing he abode some time. As he was thus wandering about, one day the sun set on him in the midst of a jungle. And the king went up and sat down at the foot of a tree. In the top of this tree dwelt a certain aged bird-king named Long-lived [Ciraṃjīvin]. His sons and grandsons were wont to go forth in the morning to different parts of the country; and when they had filled their own bellies, at eventime they returned each day and brought to that aged Long-lived each one fruit. And this is well said: 3. Manu has declared that aged parents, a faithful wife, and a young son are to be supported, even tho they have committed a hundred misdeeds.