Simhasanadvatrimshika 19.p1

19.p1

punar api rājā yāvat siṃhāsana upaviśati, tāvad anyā puttalikā 'vadat: bho rājan, tava vikramasyau 'dāryādiguṇā bhavanti cet, tarhy asmin siṃhāsana upaviśa. rājño 'ktam: bhoḥ puttalike, kathaya tasyau 'dāryavṛttāntam. sā 'bravīt: bho rājan, śrūyatām. vikrama ūrvīṃ śāsati sati sarvo 'pi loka ānandaparipūrṇahṛdayo 'bhūt; brāhmaṇāḥ ṣaṭkarmaniratāḥ, striyaḥ pativratāḥ, śatāyuṣaḥ puruṣāḥ, vṛkṣāḥ sadāphalayuktāḥ, kāmavarṣī parjanyaḥ, mahī sarvadā saṃpūrṇasasyavatī; lokānāṃ pāpād bhayam atithīnāṃ pūjā jīveṣu kṛpā gurūṇāṃ sevā satpātre dānam; evaṃ prajāsu pravṛttir āsīt. tata ekadā rājā siṃhāsana upaviṣto 'bhūt. tatra sabhāyām upaviṣṭāḥ kīdṛgvidhāḥ sāmantā rājakumārāḥ; kecit stutipāṭhakair virudāvaliṃ pāṭhayanti; kecano 'ddhatāḥ svabhujabalaṃ svayam eva stuvanti; kecana ṣaḍviṃśaddaṇḍāyudhasādhanābhijñāḥ śmaśrulā yuvāno 'nyonyaṃ hasanti; kecana śaraṇāgataparipālanapravaṇāḥ; kecana paratraviṣaye sāvadhānāḥ; kecana dharmasaṃgrahakāriṇaḥ; evaṃvidhā rājakumārā rājānaṃ sevante. tadā kaścin mṛgavadhaḥ samāgatya rājānaṃ praṇamyā 'vadat: bho deva, araṇyamadhye kaścid añjanaparvatākāro mahān varāhaḥ samāgato 'sti. taṃ deva samāgatya paśya. tasya vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā tair eva rājakumāraiḥ saha vanaṃ gataḥ; nadītaṭasthitanikuñjāntargataṃ varāham apaśyat. tataḥ sa varāho vīrāṇāṃ kolāhalaṃ śrutvā tasmān nikuñjān nirgataḥ. tadanantaraṃ sarve 'pi rājakumārā ahamahamikayā svahastakauśalāni darśayantaḥ ṣaḍviṃśadāyudhāni tasyo 'pari cikṣipuḥ. sa varāhas tāny āyudhāny agaṇayan sarvān rājakumārān vañcayitvā parvatāntargataṃ kandaraṃ viveśa. rājā 'pi tasya pṛṣṭhato lagnaḥ san parvatam agamat. tatra parvate kaṃcana biladvāraṃ dṛṣṭvā svayaṃ biladvāraṃ praviṣṭo mahaty andhakāre kiyad dūraṃ gataḥ. uttaratra mahāprakāśo 'bhut. tataḥ kiyaddūre nagaram ekam suvarṇamayaprākāraṃ śubhrābhraṃlihaprāsādopaśobhitaṃ devatālayopava- nādibhir alaṃkṛtaṃ samastavastuparipūrṇavipaṇibhūṣitaṃ dhanikalokasamākulaṃ nānāvllāsinījanasaṃsevyamānam atimanoharam apaśyat. tatra praviśya vipaṇimadhye yāvad gacchati, tāvad atimanoharaṃ dinakaramaṇḍalasadṛśaṃ rājabhavanam apaśyat. tatra virocanasuto balī rājyaṃ karoti. rājā rājabhavanaṃ praviṣṭaḥ siṃhāsanopaviṣṭena balinā jhaṭ iti samāgatyā 'liṅgito 'tiramaṇīyasiṃhāsana upaveśitaḥ pṛṣṭaś ca: bhoḥ svāminah, bhavantaḥ kutaḥ samāgatāḥ? vikrameṇo 'ktam: ahaṃ bhavatsaṃdarśanārthaṃ samāgato 'smi. balino 'ktam: adyā 'haṃ dhanyo 'smi; adya mama saṃtatīḥ pavitrībhūtā saṃpadaś ca saphalā jātāḥ, yato bahunā puṇyena bhavanto 'smadgṛhān āgatāḥ. adyā 'smatkulasaṃtatiḥ sukṛtinī.

When the king was again ascending the throne, another statue said: "O king, if you have the magnanimity and other virtues of Vikrama, then 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 ruling the earth the hearts of all people were filled with joy. The brahmans were devoted to the six rites [see SR 24.0⁴⁷], women were faithful to their husbands, men lived a hundred years; trees were ever fruitful; the rain-god rained whenever desired; the earth always yielded full crops; mankind manifested fear of evil, hospitality, compassion to living creatures, reverence for those to whom reverence was due, and generosity to worthy persons. Such was the behavior of the king's subjects. One day the king was mounted upon his throne, when there came into his assembly various vassal princes. Some of them caused panegyric verses to be read by their bards; some themselves arrogantly boasted of their own strength of arm; some, bearded youths skilled in the use of all the twenty-six offensive weapons, jested with one another; some were given to the defense of suppliants who applied to them; some were concerned with the affairs of the next world; some with laying up stores of righteousness. Of such sorts were the princes who attended the king.

At this time a certain hunter came in, and bowing to the king said: "Sire, a certain boar, as great as Mount Añjana, has come into the forest; come and see him, sire!" Hearing his words the king with those same princes went into the forest, and saw the boar just as he disappeared into a thicket on the bank of a stream. And hearing the noise of the men the boar came out of the thicket. And immediately all the princes, vying with one another in exhibiting their skill of hand, discharged the twenty-six sorts of weapons upon him. But the boar, not heeding those weapons, and eluding all the princes, entered a glen which led into a mountain. And sticking close behind him the king too came to the mountain; and seeing in that mountain the mouth of a cave, he also entered into it. After going some distance in deepest darkness, further on he saw a great light; and at some distance from this point he saw a very beautiful city. Its walls were of gold; it was adorned with fair palaces reaching to the sky, and decorated with shrines and (sacred) groves and so on; it boasted markets full of all manner of riches, and was filled with wealthy men; and it was crowded with all manner of wanton houris. Entering in here he came to the market-place, and saw there a royal palace as beautiful as the sun's disk. There Bali the son of Virocana reigned. As soon as the king entered the palace, instantly he was presented to Bali, sitting upon the throne. And Bali embraced him, and seated him upon a very beautiful throne, and askt him: "My lord, why has your majesty come here?" Vikrama said: "I came to behold your majesty." Bali said: "Today I am made happy; today my lineage is purified, and my fortune has borne fruit, since by great merit I have deserved that your majesty visit my house. Today fortune has come to the lineage of my family.