Simhasanadvatrimshika 22.p2

22.p2

bho brāhmaṇa, kutaḥ samāgato 'si? brāhmaṇo 'ktam: ahaṃ kaścit tīrthayātrakaḥ pṛthivīparyaṭanaṃ karomi. bhavatā kutaḥ samāgatam? rājā 'vadat: ahaṃ bhavādṛśaḥ kaścit tītrthayātrakaḥ. brāhmaṇena rājānaṃ samyag avalokya bhaṇitam: bho nātha, ko bhavān? atitejasvī dṛśyase; rājalakṣaṇāni sarvāṇi dṛśyante. tvaṃ siṃhāsanārhaḥ pṛthivīparyaṭanaṃ kimarthaṃ karoṣi? athavā lalāṭalikhitaṃ ko vā laṅghayati? uktaṃ ca: hariṇā 'pi hareṇā 'pi brahmaṇā 'pi surair api lalāṭalikhitā rekhā parimārṣṭuṃ na śakyate. 4 tasya vanaṃ śrutvā rājñā 'py aṅgīkṛtam; kutaḥ, yuktiyuktatvāt. uktaṃ ca: yuktiyuktam upādeyaṃ vacanaṃ bālakād api anyac ca tṛṇavat tyājyam ayuktaṃ padmajanmanaḥ. 5 rājñā bhaṇitam: bho brāhmaṇa, kimartham atiśrānta iva dṛśyase? teno 'ktam: śramakāraṇaṃ kiṃ kathayāmi? atyantakaṣṭaṃ prāpto 'smi. rājā 'vadat: kathyatāṃ tasya kāranam. brāhmṇeno 'ktam: bho rājan, śrūyatām. atra samīpe nīlo nāma parvato 'sti. tatra kāmākṣī nāma devatā 'sti. tatra pātālavivaradvāraṃ pinaddham āste. tat kāmākṣīmantrajapena samudghāṭyate. tanmadhye rasasya kumbho 'sti. tena rasenā 'ṣṭau dhātavaḥ suvarṇā bhavanti. dvādaśavarṣaparyantaṃ kāmākṣīmantrajapaḥ kṛtaḥ. paraṃ vivaradvāraṃ no 'dghaṭyate. tenā 'tiduḥkhaṃ gato 'smi. rājā 'bravīt: tat sthānaṃ darśaya; mayā ko 'py upāyaḥ kriyate. tatas tena rājñe tat sthānaṃ darśitam. tatra rātrau dvāv api nidrāṃ gatau. rājñaḥ svapne devatā samāgatya bhaṇati: bho rājan, tvaṃ kimartham āgato 'si?

4. The mark written on the forehead (by destiny) cannot be wiped out even by Viṣṇu, Çiva, Brahmā, or the gods." Hearing his words the king also agreed to them, because they were of sound sense. And it is said:

5. One should give heed to sensible advice tho it come from a child, and on the other hand one should reject like a worthless blade of grass unreasonable advice, altho it come from a man of glorious lineage.

The king said: "O brahman, why do you appear so worn out?" He replied: "Why should I tell the cause of my weariness? I am in the greatest trouble." The king said: "Tell me the cause of it." The brahman said: "O king, listen. Near here there is a mountain named Nīla, where there is a goddess Kāmākṣī. Here is the entrance to an underground cave, which is closed, and is to be opened by reciting the Kāmākṣī-charm. Inside this cave is a vessel containing quicksilver, by means of which the eight minerals are turned into gold. For twelve years I have recited the Kāmākṣī-charm, but the door of the cave has not been opened. On this account I am much distrest." The king said: "Show me the place, and I will devise some means or other." So he showed the place to the king, and at night they both slept there. The goddess came in a dream and said to the king: "O king, why have you come here? The door of the cave here will not be opened unless it is sprinkled with the blood of a man bearing the thirty-two superior marks." Hearing these words of the goddess the king went to the door of the cave, and as he was putting his sword to his throat, the goddess said: "O king, I am satisfied with you, choose a wish." The king said: "O goddess, if you are satisfied, then give the quicksilver to this brahman." The goddess said: "So be it," and opened the door of the cave and gave the brahman the quicksilver. The brahman went to his own place, praising the king; and the king returned to his own city.