Simhasanadvatrimshika 20.p1

20.p1

punar api rājā yāvat siṅhāsana upaviśati, tāvad anyā puttalikā 'bravīt: bho rājan, yasya vikramasyau 'dāryādiguṇā bhavanti, so 'smin siṅhāsana upaviśatu. rājā 'vadat: bhoḥ puttalike, kathaya tasyau 'dāryavṛttāntam. sā 'bravīt: bho rājan, śrūyatām. vikramo rājā ṣaṇmāsaṃ rājyaṃ karoti, ṣaṇmāsaṃ deśāntaraṃ gacchati. ekadā deśāntaragato nānādeśān paribhramya padmālayaṃ nāma nagaram agamat. tannagarād bahir udyānavane 'tivimalodakaṃ sarovaraṃ dṛṣṭvā tatro 'dakapānaṃ vidhāyo 'paviṣṭaḥ. tato 'nye kecana vaideśikāḥ kecana svadeśikā āgatya jalapānaṃ vidhāyo 'paviṣṭāḥ, parasparaṃ goṣṭhīṃ kurvanti: aho asmābhir anekadeśā dṛṣṭāḥ, bahūni tīrthāni dṛṣṭāni, atidurgamāḥ kairapy anadhigamyāḥ parvatā ārūḍhāḥ, param ekatrā 'pi mahāpuruṣadarśanaṃ nā 'bhūt. anyena bhaṇitam: kathaṃ mahāpuruṣadarśanaṃ bhaviṣyati? yatra mahāsiddho 'sti, tatra gantum aśakyam; mārgo durgamaḥ; madhye 'nekavighnāḥ; dehasyā 'pi nāśo bhavati. yeno 'dyamena prathamam ātmanāśaṃ prāpnoti, tasya phalaṃ ko 'nubhaviṣyati? ataḥ kāraṇāt prathamam ātmai 'va rakṣaṇīyo buddhimatā. uktaṃ ca: śarīram ādyaṃ khalu dharmasādhanam iti. tathā ca:

When the king was again ascending the throne, another statue said: "O king, let him ascend this throne who has the magnanimity and other virtues of Vikrama." The king said: "O statue, tell me a tale of his magnanimity." And she said: "Hear, O king.

King Vikrama was wont to reign for six months at a time, and to travel in foreign countries for six months. Once when he was on his travels and had visited various countries he came to a city named Padmālaya. In a grove outside of this city he saw a lovely lake of very pure water; and having drunk of the water in the grove, he took his seat. At that time there were a number of other persons, some natives of the country and some strangers, who had come there and sat down after drinking of the water. They were saying to one another: "Well, we have seen many countries, and visited many places of pilgrimage, and have climbed difficult mountains, inaccessible to any one, but never have we seen a truly great man anywhere." Another said: "How should one see a great man? Where a great saint is, it is impossible to go; the way is very difficult, and there are numerous obstructions in the path. One would lose even his life. Who will get any benefit from an undertaking thru which he himself perishes before its completion? Therefore a wise man should protect himself first of all. And it is said: The body, I say, is the first requisite for religious performance. [Cf. page 106, line 10.] And so: 1. Wife, fortune, fields, and sons, also good and evil deeds, may be replaced again and again, but the body we have only for once. Therefore a wise man should not attempt reckless deeds. And so: 2.