Simhasanadvatrimshika 5.p1

5.p1

punar api rājā yāvat siṅhāsana upaviśati, tāvad anyayā puttalikayā bhaṇitam: tenai 'va tat siṅhāsanam adhyāsitavyaṃ yasya vikramasyau 'dāryaṃ vidyate. bhojeno 'ktam: bhoḥ puttalike, kathaya tasya vikramasyau 'dāryavṛttāntam. puttalikā bhaṇati: bho rājan, śrūyatām. vikramārke rājyaṃ kurvaty ekadā kaścid ratnavaṇik samāgatya ratnam anarghyam ekaṃ rājahaste samarpitavān. rājā 'pi dedīpyamānaṃ ratnaṃ dṛṣṭvā parīkṣakān ākāryā 'bhaṇat: bhoḥ! parīkṣakāh. kīdṛśam etad ratnam, samīcīnam asamīcīnaṃ vā niścityā 'sya maulyaṃ kurvantu. tais tad ratnaṃ nirīkṣya bhaṇitam: bho rājan, amaulyam etad ratnam. asya maulyam aviditvā 'pi krīyate cet, tarhi mahāpratyavāyo 'smakāṃ bhaviṣyati. teṣāṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā bhūridravyaṃ dattvā 'bravit. bho vaṇig īdṛśam anyad ratnam asti kim? teno 'ktam: deva, tatsadṛśāni ratnānī 'hā 'nītāni na santi, paraṃ tu grāma evaṃvidhāny eva daśaratnam vidyante.

When the king was again mounting upon the throne, another statue said: "Only he may mount upon this throne in whom is found the magnanimity of Vikrama." Bhoja said: "O statue, tell me a tale of this Vikrama's magnanimity." The statue replied: "O king, listen.

While Vikramārka was king there came once a certain jeweler who gave into the king's hands a priceless jewel. When the king saw the brilliant gem he called judges and said: "Judges, determine for me what sort of a jewel this is, whether genuine or false, and put a price upon it." They inspected the jewel and said: "O king, this jewel is priceless. If we, not knowing its value, should buy it, then we might suffer a great loss." Hearing their words the king gave the merchant a large sum of money, and said: "Merchant, have you any other gem like this?" He replied: "Sire, I have not brought any such gems here with me, but in my home town I have ten just such jewels. If you have use for them, pay me the price and take them." Then the king with the help of his judges of gems fixt the price at six crores of gold for each jewel, and gave so much money to the merchant, and sent out with him a certain trusted servant, saying: "Carrier of the gems, if within eight days you return here with the jewels, I will give you a fitting reward.” Said he: “Sire, within eight days exactly I shall behold your feet; if not, let me be punisht.” So speaking the carrier of the gems went with the merchant to his city, and received from him the ten jewels. As he was returning with them along the road, there came a heavy rain. And a certain river swept along there, overflowing both its banks because of the rain.