Simhasanadvatrimshika 19.p5

19.p5

evam bhanitvā balinā vikramāya rajñe raso rasāyanaṃ ca dattam. tato rājā tasmād anujñāṃ prāpya bilān nirgato 'śvam āruhya yavād rājamarga āgacchati, tāvan mahādainyagrasto dāridryapīḍitaḥ saputraḥ kaścid vṛḍdhabrāhmaṇaḥ samāgatyā 'nekāśīrvādān kṛtvā bhaṇati. bho yajamāna, aham atyantadāridryapīdito bahukutumbī brāhmaṇaḥ, adya sakuṭumbasya mama kimapi bhojanaparyāptaṃ dhanaṃ dehi. mahatyā kṣudhā pīḍitā vayam. rājñā bhaṇitam: bho brāhmaṇa, idānīṃ mama haste kimapi dhanaṃ nā 'sti, paraṃ raso rasāyanaṃ ce 'ti vastudvayam asti. anena rasena saṃparke sati saptadhātavaḥ suvarṇā bhavanti. idaṃ rasāyanaṃ yas tu sevate, sa jarāmaraṇavarjito bhaviṣyati. ubhayor madhya ekaṃ gṛhāṇa. tadā pitro 'ktam: yena rasāyanena jarāmaraṇavarjito bhaviṣyati, tad dīyatām. putreṇo 'ktam: kiṃ kriyate tena rasāyanena? jarāmaraṇarahitenā 'pi punar dāridryam evā 'nubhavitavyam. yena rasena dhātusaṃparke sati suvarṇaṃ bhavati, sa raso grāhyaḥ. ity ubhayor vivādo jātaḥ. tato rājo 'bhayor vivādaṃ śrutvā rasaṃ rasāyanaṃ ca tābhyāṃ dadau. tato rājānaṃ stutvā nijālayaṃ gatau. rājā 'py ujjayinīm āgataḥ.

Thus speaking Bali gave King Vikrama a potion and an elixir. Then the king took leave of him and went out from the cave, and mounted his horse. And as he came back to the highway he was met by a certain aged brahman, with his son, tormented with dire misery and opprest with poverty, who after pronouncing various blessings said: “Noble patron, I am a brahman opprest with great poverty, and I have a large family. Give me enough money that I may get something to eat today for myself and my family. We are opprest with great hunger.” The king said: “Brahman, I have no money at hand just now, but I have two valuable things, a potion and an elixir. When mixt with this potion the seven minerals turn to gold; and whoever employs this elixir will be freed from old age and death. Take one of the two.” Then the father said: “Give me the elixir by which one may become free from old age and death.” The son said: “What is the use of the elixir? Even if we were freed from old age and death, we should still continue to be subject to poverty. Let us take the potion by which, when it is mixt with minerals, gold is produced.” Thus a quarrel arose between them. And the king, hearing their quarrel, gave them both the potion and the elixir. Thereupon they both went to their own abode, praising the king. And the king returned to Ujjayinī.