Simhasanadvatrimshika 15.p1

15.p1

punar api rājā yāvat siṃhāsana upaviśati, tāvad anyā puttalikā vadati: bho rājan, yo vikramasadṛśo rājā so 'smin siṃhāsana upaveṣṭuṃ kṣamo nā 'nyaḥ. rājño 'ktam: bhoḥ puttalike, kathaya tasyau 'dāryavṛttāntam. sā kathayati: śṛṇu rājan. vikrame rājyaṃ kurvati sati tasya purohito vasumitraḥ; so 'tyantarūpavān sakalakalākovidaś ca, rājño 'tyantapriyatamaḥ paropakārī sarvalokasyā 'tipriyo mahādhanasaṃpannaś ca. tata ekada tena vicāritam: upārjitānāṃ pāpānāṃ gaṅgāsnānād anyat kṣayakaraṃ nā 'sti. uktaṃ ca:

When the king was again mounting the throne, another statue said: “O king, whatsoever king is like Vikrama, he and no other is worthy to mount upon this throne.” The king said: “O statue, tell me a tale of his magnanimity.” And she said: “Hear, O king.

While Vikrama was king, his house-priest was Vasumitra. And he was very handsome, and skilled in all the arts, and very dear to the king; also he was a benefactor of others and beloved of all people, and blest with great riches. One time he reflected: “Except by bathing in the Ganges, there is no other way of destroying the store of evil deeds a man has laid up. And it is said: