Simhasanadvatrimshika 11.p5

11.p5

tasyā vākyaṃ śrutvā sa pakṣy atmano duḥkhaṃ kathayati. bhos tāta, śrūyatām. asty uttaradeśe śaivālaghoṣo nāma parvataḥ; tatparvatasamīpe palāśanagaram asti. tasmin parvate sthitaḥ kaścid rākṣasaḥ pratidinaṃ nagaram āgatya saṃmukhāgataṃ kaṃcana puruṣaṃ balāt parvataṃ nītvā bhakṣayati. ekadā tannagaravāsibhir janair uktaḥ: bho bakāsura, tvaṃ yathecchaṃ saṃmukhapatitaṃ puruṣaṃ mā bhakṣaya; vayaṃ tubhyam ekaṃ puruṣaṃ pratidinam āhārārthaṃ dāsyāmaḥ. tatas tenā 'ṅgīkṛtam. tadanantaraṃ janaḥ pratidinaṃ gṛhakrameṇai 'kaikaṃ puruṣaṃ tasmai prayacchati. evaṃ mahān kālo gataḥ. adya mama pūrvajanmanimittabhūtasya mitrasya brāhmaṇasya pālī samāyātā. tasyai 'ka eva putraḥ. taṃ putraṃ dadāti cet, saṃtativichedo bhaviṣyati; ātmānaṃ prayacchati cet, bhāryā vidhavā bhaviṣyati, vaidhavyaṃ punar mahāduḥkham. iti teṣāṃ duḥkhenā 'ham api duḥkhī saṃjātaḥ; etan mama duḥkhakāraṇam. tasya vacanaṃ śrutvā tatratyair anyaiḥ pakṣibhir bhaṇitam: aho ayam eva suhṛt, yaḥ suhṛdo duḥkhena svayaṃ duḥkhī bhavati. etad eva mitratvam. uktaṃ ca:

Hearing his words the bird told of his sorrow. “Listen, father. There is in the north country a certain mountain named Çāivālaghoṣa. And near that mountain there is a demon-city. A rākṣasa who has his seat on that mountain came to the city every day and laid violent hands on whatever man he chanst to meet, and took him to the mountain and ate him. One time the people who lived in that city said to the rākṣasa: ‘O Bakāsura, do not eat whatever man you may chance to meet, but we will give you for your food one man every day.’ And he agreed thereunto. Since then the people give to him one man each day, taking each household in turn. In this manner a long time has past; and today the turn has come to a certain brahman, who is my friend from a previous existence. Now he has just one son; and if he gives his son, his family-line will be cut off, while if he gives himself, his wife will be a widow, and widowhood is a great affliction. So on account of the affliction of these people I also am afflicted; and this is the cause of my grief.” Hearing his words the other birds who were there said: “Ah, he is a true friend, since he is himself grieved by the grief of a friend. This is what friendship consists of. And it is said: