Simhasanadvatrimshika f6.p1

f6.p1

viśālāyāṃ nagaryāṃ nando nāma rājā mahāśauryasaṃpannaḥ samabhūt. sa nijabhujabalena sarvān pratyarthinṛpālān svapādapadmopajīvino vidhāyai 'kachattreṇa rājyaṃ karoti sma. tasya putro jayapālaḥ ṣaṭtriṅśaddaṇḍāyudhasādhanābhijñaḥ; mantrī bahuśrutaḥ. tasya rājño bhāryā bhānumatī; sā rājño 'tipriyatamā. so 'pi sarvadā tasyām anuraktaḥ suratasukham anubhavaṅs tiṣṭhati. yadā siṅhāsana upaviśati, tadā bhānumatīm ardhāsana upaveśayati. kṣaṇamātram api tasyā viyogaṃ na sahate. ekadā mantriṇā manasi vicāritam: ayaṃ rājā nirlajjo bhūtvā sabhāmadhye siṅhāsane striyam upaveśayati, : sarve 'pi janās tāṃ paśyanti. mahad etad anucitam. yaḥ kāmī sa ucitānucitaṃ na jānāti. tathā hi: kim u kuvalayanetrāḥ santi no nākanāryas, tridivapatir ahalyāṃ tāpasīṃ yat siṣeve?

In the city of Viśālā, there was a king named Nanda, endowed with great valour. Having made all rival kings depend upon his lotus feet by the strength of his own arm, he ruled under a single umbrella. His son Jayapāla was proficient in the practice of the thirty-six weapons; his minister was Bahuśruta. That king's wife was Bhānumatī; she was exceedingly dear to the king. He too was always enamored of her and remained enjoying the pleasures of sexual love. Whenever he sat on the throne, he would have Bhānumatī sit on half of the throne. He could not bear even a moment's separation from her. Once the minister reflected in his mind: ‘This king, having become shameless, seats a woman on the throne in the midst of the assembly, and all the people look upon her. This is highly improper. A man overwhelmed by passion knows neither proper nor improper. For indeed: Were there no lotus-eyed heavenly nymphs, that the lord of heaven had union with Ahalyā, an ascetic woman?