Simhasanadvatrimshika 5.p5

5.p5

ato mama nadyuttaraṇaṃ kāryam sāmānyam; rājakāryaṃ balavat. karṇadhāreṇo 'ktam: mahat tad rājakāryaṃ kim? maṇihāreṇa bhaṇitam: aham adyai 'va daśaratnāni gṛhītvā rājasamīpaṃ nā 'gamiṣyāmi ced ājñābhañgād rājā mama nigrahaṃ kariṣyati. nāvikeno 'ktam: tarhi teṣāṃ ratnānāṃ madhye mama pañca ratnāni dāsyasi yadi, tarhi tvāṃ nadīm uttārayiṣyāmi. tato maṇihāras tasya nāvikasya tanmadhye pañca ratnāni dattvā nadīm uttīrya rājasamīpam āgatya tasya haste pañca ratnāni dadau. rājā 'bravīt: bho maṇihāra, kiṃ pañcai 'va ratnāni samānītāni? avaśiṣṭāni pañca ratnāni kiṃ kṛtāni? maṇihāreṇo 'ktam: deva, śrūyatām; vijñāpyate. asmān nagarān nirgatya tena vaṇijā saha tannagaraṃ gataḥ; tena daśaratnāni dattāni. tāni gṛhītvā tasmān nagarān nirgatya yāvad āgacchāmi, tāvan mārge vṛṣṭir atiprabalā samabhūt. tayā nady eko 'bhayataṭam atilañghya navodakā pravahati. mayā 'py aṣṭānāṃ divasānāṃ madhye svāmicaraṇau draṣṭavyāv iti vicārya nadyuttāraṇāya nāvikasya pañca ratnāni dattāni, pañca samānītāni. yady aṣṭadivasānāṃ madhye nā 'gamyate cet, ājñābhañgāt svāminaś cetasi khedaḥ syāt. uktaṃ ca:

Thus my crossing the river is a matter of general rule, but the king’s business is more important.” The oarsman said: “What is this so important business of the king?” The carrier of the gems replied: “If I do not come into the king’s presence this very day bringing ten jewels, the king’s command will be broken, and he will punish me.” The boatman said: “Then if you will give me five of those jewels, I will take you across the river.” So the carrier of the gems gave the boatman five of the jewels, and crossing the river came into the king’s presence, and gave five jewels into his hand. The king said: “Carrier of the gems, why have you brought only five jewels? What have you done with the other five?” The gem-carrier said: “O king, listen, and I will tell you. I left this city with that merchant, and came to his city, and he gave me the ten jewels. And when I had taken them and left that town, as I was returning home, upon the way there came a very violent rainstorm. And by reason thereof a certain river had overflowed both its banks and was rushing along in a fresh torrent. Now I reflected that I was bound to look upon your majesty’s feet within eight days; and so I gave a boatman five jewels to take me across the river, and brought the other five with me. If I had not returned within the eight days, your majesty would have been offended because of the breaking of your command. And it is said: 4.