Simhasanadvatrimshika 17.p7

17.p7

rājño 'ktam: bho mātaraḥ, yadi prasannā bhavatyaḥ, tarhi mama gṛhe saptamahāghaṭāḥ pratidinaṃ suvarṇaparipūrṇā yathā bhavanti, tathā kurvantu. tābhir uktam: tvam evaṃ māsatrayaṃ pratidinaṃ svaśarīram agnau hoṣyasi cet, vayaṃ tathā kariṣyāmaḥ. rājā 'pi tathā 'stv ity uktvā pratidinam agnau svaśarīraṃ juhoti. ekadā vikramārko rāje 'māṃ vārttāṃ śrutvā tat sthānaṃ samāgatya pūrnāhutisamaye svayam evā 'gnau papāta. tato yoginībhiḥ parasparaṃ bhaṇitam: adya naramāṃsam atīvasvādutaraṃ vartate, tasya hṛdayaṃ mahāsārabhūtam asti. iti punas taṃ saṃjīvya bhaṇitam: bho mahāsattva, ko bhavān? tava śarīratyāge kiṃ prayojanam? teno 'ktam: mayā paropakārārtham agnau śarīraṃ hutam. yoginībhir bhaṇitam: tarhi vayaṃ prasannāḥ smaḥ, varaṃ vṛṇīṣva. rājño 'ktam. yadi mama prasannā bhavatyaḥ, tarhy ayam rājā pratidinaṃ maraṇān mahat kaṣṭaṃ prapnoti, tan nivāraṇīyam, asya saptamahāghatāḥ suvarṇena pūraṇīyāḥ. yoginībhis tathā kariṣyāma ity aṅgīkṛtya sa rājā maraṇān nivāritaḥ, ghaṭāś ca suvarṇena pūritāḥ.

One time King Vikramārka heard a report of this; and going to the place, at the time of the complete-oblation he threw himself into the fire. And the witches said to one another: "Today the human flesh is much sweeter than usual, and the man's heart is very sound and good." And when they had brought him to life again they said: "Great hero, who are you? What purpose have you in sacrificing your body?" He replied: "I have offered my body in the fire in order to serve others." The witches said: "Then we are satisfied with you; choose a wish." The king answered: "If your ladyships are satisfied with me, let this king here be releast from the great pain which he suffers by reason of his daily death, and let his seven great jars be filled with gold.” The witches consented, saying “We will do so.” So they saved that king from death, and filled his jars with gold. And King Vikrama returned to his own city.