Simhasanadvatrimshika 21.p6

21.p6

anargalena rājñe taptodakavṛttāntaḥ kathitaḥ. tac chrutvā rājā tena saha tat sthānaṃ gataḥ. sūryo 'py astaṃgataḥ. ardharātrisamaye tā divyāḥ striyas tasmāt sarovarāt taptodakamadhyān nirgatya devasya samīpaṃ gatvā ṣoḍaśopacārapūjāṃ vidhāya nṛtyagītādinā devam upasthāya prabhāte yāvad āgacchanti, tāvat tāsāṃ madhye kācit sūrāṅganā rājānaṃ dṛṣṭvā samavadat: bhoḥ saumya, ehi mama nagaram prati gacchāmaḥ. iti tac chrutvā rājā tayā saha nirgataḥ. tāḥ sarvās taptodakamadhye praviṣṭāḥ satyaḥ pātāle nijanagare gatāḥ. rājā 'pi taptodakamadhye nimagnas tābhiḥ saha gataḥ. tatas tāḥ sarvāḥ striyas tasya nīrājanādyupacāraṃ kṛtvā procuḥ. bho mahāsattva, tava sadṛśaḥ śauryadhairyādisaṃpanno nā 'sti. tarhy asya rājyasyā 'dhipatir bhava; vayaṃ sarvāḥ striyas tava sevāṃ kariṣyāmaḥ. rājño 'ktam: mamā 'nena rājyena prayojanaṃ nā 'sti; mamā 'pi rājyam asti; aham etat kautūhalaṃ draṣṭuṃ samāgato 'smi.

Anargala told the king the story of the boiling water. Hearing that, the king went with him to that place. The sun set as well. At midnight, those divine women emerged from that lake, out of the midst of the boiling water, approached the deity, offered sixteen modes of worship, and after attending upon the deity with dance, song, and the like, as they were departing at dawn, one celestial maiden among them saw the king and said: 'O gentle one, come, let us go to my city.' Hearing that, the king set out with her. They all entered the midst of the boiling water and went to their own city in the nether world. The king too plunged into the midst of the boiling water and went with them. Then all those women, having performed the lustration and other rites of honour for him, said: 'O great-souled man, there is none endowed with bravery, fortitude, and other virtues like you. Therefore become the sovereign of this kingdom; all of us women will attend upon you.' The king said: 'I have no need of this kingdom; I too have a kingdom; I came here only to see this marvel.'