Simhasanadvatrimshika 22.p1

22.p1

punar api rājā yāvat siṃhāsana upaveṣṭuṃ prayatate, tāvad anyayā puttalikayo 'ktam: bho rājan, asmin siṃhāsane tenai 'vā 'dhyāsitavyam, yasya vikramasyau 'dāryādiguṇā bhavanti. rājño 'ktam: bhoḥ puttalike, kathaya tasyau 'dāryavṛttāntam. sā 'bravīt. bho rājan, śṛṇu. vikramādityo rājyaṃ kurvann ekadā pṛṭhvīparyaṭanārthaṃ nirgatya nānāvidhatīrthadevālayapuraparvatādikaṃ dṛṣṭva kadācin mahāratnamayaprākāraparivṛtam abhraṃlihaprāsādopaśobhitaṃ nānāvidhaśivālayaharimandirasahitam ekṃ nagaram apaśyat. tatra nagarabāhyasthitaviṣṇugṛhaṃ gatvā tatrasthitasarovare snātvā devaṃ namaskṛtya: mayā jñātaṃ jagannātha maunam eva bhavatstavaḥ; na janati paro brahmā hariṃ vācām agocaram. 1 nā 'nyaṃ vadāmi na śṛṇomi na cintayāmi, nā 'nyaṃ smarāmi na bhajāmi na cā 'śrayāmi, muktvā tvadīyacaraṇambujam; ādareṇa śrīśrīnivāsapuruṣottama dehi dāsyam. 2 karacaraṇakṛtaṃ vā karmavākkāyajaṃ vā śravaṇanayanajaṃ vā mānasaṃ vā 'parādham vihitam avihitaṃ vā sarvam etat kṣamasva, jaya jaya karuṇābdhe śrīpate śrimukunda. 3 ityādivākyaiḥ stutvā raṅgamaṇḍapa upaviṣṭaḥ. tamin samaye kaścid brāhmanaḥ samāgatya rājasamīpa upaviṣṭaḥ. rājā 'vadat:

When the king again attempted to mount the throne, another statue said: "O king, only he who has the magnanimity and other virtues of Vikrama may mount this throne." The king said: "O statue, tell me a tale of his magnanimity." She said: "Hear, O king.

Once while Vikramāditya was king he went forth to travel about the earth. And after visiting all manner of places of pilgrimage, temples, cities, and mountains, he beheld once a certain city surrounded by great jeweled walls, adorned with sky-scraping palaces, and containing various Çiva-shrines and Viṣṇu-houses. He went into a Viṣṇu-house outside this city, and after bathing in the fair pond situated there did homage to the god:

1. "O lord of the world, I know that silence is the only way to sing Thy praise. Not even the supreme Brahmā knows Viṣṇu, who is out of the range of words.
2. No other do I speak of or hear or think on, no other do I call to mind or revere or resort to, save only Thy glorious feet. O glorious Supreme Spirit, who dwellest with Çrī [ = Lakṣmī; the phrase may also be rendered 'habitation of glory'], grant that we may serve Thee with homage.
3. Pardon all my sin, whether done by hand or foot, sprung from action, voice, or body, or originating in the ear or eye or mind, accomplisht or unaccomplisht [that is, merely planned]. Hail, hail, illustrious Mukunda [Viṣṇu], Ocean of mercy, Lord of Glory ['husband of Çrī']."

Having offered these and other praises he sat down in the public hall. At this moment a certain brahman came up and sat down near the king. The king said: "O brahman, whence have you come?" The brahman said: "I am a pilgrim, traveling over the earth. And whence have you come, sir?" The king said: "I am a pilgrim like yourself, sir." The brahman lookt at the king closely, and said: "My lord, who are you? You have the appearance of great glory and bear all the marks of kingship; you are worthy of a throne. Why do you wander about the earth? Rather I should say, who can escape the destiny written on his forehead? And it is said: