Simhasanadvatrimshika 4.p7

4.p7

devadatto 'pi pitur upadeśam paripalayans tatrai 'va nagare sthitaḥ. ekadā homāya samidāharaṇārthaṃ mahāraṇyaṃ praviṣṭo yāvat samidhaś chinatti, tavad vikramadityo rājā mṛgayārtham vanaṃ gataḥ sukaram anudhāvan mahāraṇyaṃ praviṣṭaḥ puramārgam ajānan devadattaṃ dṛṣtva nagaramargam apṛcchat. tena pṛṣṭo devadattaḥ svayam agre gacchan rājānaṃ nagaram agamayat. tato rājā devadattaṃ bahudhā saṃmānya kasminnapi vyāpāre niyuktavān. tadanantaraṃ bahukālo gatah. ekadā rājñā bhaṇitam: katham ahaṃ devadattakrtopakārād uttīrṇo bhavāmi? yad anena mahato 'raṇyamadhyān nagaram ānītaḥ. tasminn avasare kenacid uktam: aho ayaṃ satpuruṣaḥ; kṛtam upakāraṃ na vismarati. tathā co 'ktam:

One day he went into the jungle to gather firewood for a sacrifice. And while he was cutting the wood, King Vikramāditya came into the forest to hunt, and in chasing a boar entered the jungle. Not knowing the way to the city, and seeing Devadatta, he askt him the way to town. In response to his question Devadatta himself went before and guided the king to the city. Then the king richly rewarded Devadatta and appointed him to a certain office. After this a long time past. And one day the king said: “How can I pay back the favor which Devadatta did for me, in that he guided me from the midst of the great jungle back to town?” At that some one said: “Ah, this is a virtuous man; he does not forget a kindness done him. And thus it is said: