Simhasanadvatrimshika 31.p13

31.p13

bho mantrin, yena hastena brāhmaṇas tāḍitaḥ, tasya hastasya chedaḥ kārya iti yāvat tasya hastaṃ chedayati, tāvad eva sa brāhmaṇaḥ samāgatya bhaṇati: bho rājan, tava sutenā 'jñānavaśāt tathā kṛtam; adyaprabhṛty evaṃvidham anucitaṃ na kariṣyati. mama kāraṇād asau kumāro rakṣaṇīyaḥ. ahaṃ prasanno jāto 'smi. tasya vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā svaputraṃ visasarja. brāhmaṇo 'pi nijasthānam agāt. iti kathāṃ kathayitvā vetālo vadati: bho rājan, anayor madhye guṇādhikaḥ kaḥ? rājñā vikrameṇa bhaṇitam: rājā guṇādhikaḥ. tac chrutvā maunabhaṅgo jāta iti vetālaḥ śamītaruṃ jagāma. rājā 'pi punas tatra gatvā taṃ skandhe samāropya yāvad āgacchati, tāvat punar api kathāṃ kathayati. evaṃ kathānāṃ pañcaviṃśatiḥ kathitā vetālena. tato vetālaḥ sūkṣmabuddhikalāvaidagdhyakṛpāsattvaudāryādiguṇān nirīkṣya prasanno jātaḥ. tato vetālena vikramādityo bhaṇītaḥ: bho rājan, ayaṃ digambaras tvāṃ nihantuṃ prayatnaṃ karoti. rājño 'ktam: katham? iti. vetāleno 'ktam: yadā tvaṃ māṃ tatra nayiṣyasi, tadā sa evaṃ bhaṇiṣyati: bho rājan, tvam atīvaśrānto 'si. idānīm agnikuṇḍaṃ pradakṣiṇīkrtya daṇḍavat praṇamya nijasthānaṃ gacche 'ti. yadā tvaṃ praṇāmaṃ kurvan namro 'si, tadā sa digambaraḥ khaḍgena tvāṃ nihaniṣyati, tatas tava māṃsena havanaṃ kariṣyati. tatra home māṃ brāhmaṇaṃ kariṣyati; evaṃ kriyamāṇe tasyā 'ṇimādyaṣṭasiddhayo bhaviṣyanti. vikrameṇo 'ktam: mayā kiṃ kriyate? vetāleno 'ktam: tvam evaṃ kuru. yadā digambaras tvām namaskṛtya gacche 'ti vadiṣyati, tvayai 'tad eva vaktavyam:

End of emboxt story: The prince who insulted a brahman Having told this story the vetāla said: “O king, of these two which was the more virtuous?” King Vikrama said: “The king was the more virtuous.” Hearing this, because the silence was broken, the vetāla returned to the çamī tree. But the king returned thither again and put him upon his shoulder; and as he was coming back the vetāla again told a story. In this way twenty-five stories were told by the vetāla. Thereupon the vetāla became propitiated, perceiving his clever wit, skill in the arts, compassion, courage, magnanimity, and other virtues. And the vetāla said to Vikramāditya: “O king, this naked ascetic is endeavoring to kill you.” The king said: “How?” The vetāla replied: “When you shall bring me thither, he will say to you: ‘O king, you are very tired, so now turn your right side to the sacrificial fireplace (and pass around it so), and make a complete prostration, and then go to your own place.’ And when you are bent over making the obeisance, then that naked ascetic will slay you with a sword, and will make a sacrifice with your flesh. And in this offering he will make me into a brahman, and by so doing will obtain the eight Magic Powers of minuteness and so on [see pages 178 and 179].” Vikrama said: “What shall I do?” The vetāla replied: “Do thus. When the naked ascetic tells you to make obeisance and go, this is what you must say: ‘I am a universal emperor; all the kings make obeisance before me, but I have never made obeisance at all. So I do not know how to make obeisance. You do it first, and show me, and when I have seen it, afterwards I will do it.’ Thereupon when he bends over to make obeisance, do you cut off his head. I will make an offering for you, and the eight Magic Powers shall be yours.” Thus instructed by the vetāla King Vikrama did even so. And the vetāla, becoming himself a brahman, had an offering made, and made the complete oblation with the head of that naked ascetic. And the king received the eight Great Magic Powers. Then the vetāla said: “O king, I am satisfied with you, choose a wish.” The king replied: “If you are satisfied with me, then raise up that naked ascetic from the dead; and whenever I shall call upon you, do you come.” The vetāla agreed, and raised up the ascetic, and went to his own place. But King Vikrama gave those eight Great Magic Powers to the ascetic, and went to his own city.