Simhasanadvatrimshika 25.p5

25.p5

etad daivajñavacanaṃ śrutvā rājā 'bravīt: bho daivajña, asyā 'varṣaṇasya nivāraṇe ko 'py upāyo nā 'sti kim? daivajñeno 'ktam: tato nā 'sti kimapi; grahahomādyanuṣthānaṃ kriyate cet, vṛṣṭir bhaviṣyati. tato rājā śrotriyān brāhmaṇān āhūya teṣāṃ purataḥ pūrvavṛttāntam uktvā tair homaṃ kārayitum upakrāntavān. tataḥ sarvo 'pi homasaṃgrahaḥ samānītaḥ, brāhmaṇaiḥ kalpoktaprakāreṇa navagrahahavanaṃ kṛtam, homasādguṇyārthaṃ pūrṇāhutir dattā; rājñā dravyānnavastrādinā brāhmaṇāḥ saṃtoṣitāḥ, daśa dānāni dattāni; tato bhūridānena dīnāndhabadhirakubjādayaḥ saṃtoṣitāḥ; paraṃ vṛṣṭir na bhavati. tadabhāvena sarvo 'pi loko bubhukṣitaḥ paraṃ kleśam agamat. rājā 'pi teṣāṃ duḥkhena svayaṃ duḥkhitaḥ sann ekadā yajñaśālāyām upaviṣto yāvac cintayati, tāvad aśarīriṇī vāg āsīt: bho rājan, puraḥsthitadevālayavāsinyā āśāpūriṇyā devatāyāḥ purato dvātriṃśallakṣaṇayuktasya puruṣasya balir dīyate cet, vṛṣṭir avaśyaṃ bhaviṣyati. tac chrutvā rājā devālayaṃ gatvā devīṃ praṇamya yāvat kaṇṭhe khaḍgaṃ nidadhāti, tāvad devatayā dhṛto bhanitaś ca: bho rājan, tava dhairyeṇa prasannā 'smi; varaṃ vṛṇīṣva.

Because of the lack of rain the whole people were famine-stricken and in great distress. And the king himself was distrest because of their sorrow. One time when he had entered into the sacrificial house and was deep in meditation, an immaterial voice was heard: “O king, if a man bearing the thirty-two superior marks is offered before the wish-granting goddess who dwells in the temple before you, rain will certainly come.” Hearing this the king went into the temple and made obeisance to the goddess, and when he put his sword to his throat, the goddess checkt him and said: “O king, I am propitiated by your heroism; choose a wish.” The king said: “O goddess, if you are propitiated, then ward off the drought.” The goddess said: “I will do so.” Thereupon the king went to his own house.