[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Epic, Poetry, Drama & Narrative](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit) › [Story collections and fables](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories) › [Simhasanadvatrimshika](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana) › 20.6 # Simhasanadvatrimshika 20.6 Siṃhāsanadvātriṃśikā 20.6 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [20.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana.20.6) kleśasyā 'ṅgam adattvā sukham eva sukhāni ne 'ha labhyante; madhubhin mathanāyastair āśliṣyati bāhubhir lakṣmīm. || 6 || > A prudent man should not undertake fruitless tasks, those which are hard to finish, those which imply destruction, and those which are impossible to perform. Furthermore: 3. Let a wise man, even if he be in dire straits, never climb a rugged and difficult mountain full of many beasts of prey. Furthermore, let a man do what he does only after deliberation, and not attempt a task which promises small results.” But when the king heard these words he said: “Strangers, why do you speak thus? Everything is hard for a man to attain only so long as he does not act with manliness and courage. And it is said: 4. Many good things that are hard to get may be obtained when desired. Bold-hearted men ought not to rate their bodies on a par with a good opportunity! And so: 5. Sometimes water falls from the sky into a ditch, but it may also come from the world below. Fate is incomprehensible and mighty; but is not human action also mighty in this world? 6. In perfect ease, and without exposing the body to pain, no happy state is attainable in this world. The Slayer of Madhu \[Viṣṇu\] embraces Lakṣmī with arms that are weary with churning the ocean. 7. How could Viṣṇu’s consort \[Lakṣmī = Fortune\] fail to be fickle, even tho he is a Man-lion? — since he always spends four months in sleep, lying on the water. 8. Supreme happiness is hard for a man to obtain as long as he does not act manfully. > — Franklin Edgerton 1926, Vikrama's Adventures, or The Thirty-two Tales of the Throne - [Previous: 20.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana.20.5) - [Next: 20.p6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana.20.p6) - [Up: 20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana.20) ## Translations (2) - [Vikrama's Adventures, or The Thirty-two Tales of the Throne](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-edgerton.20.p4.2) — Franklin Edgerton 1926, English - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.20.6) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana.20.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana.20.6) · Pramāṇa