Simhasanadvatrimshika f6.p4

f6.p4

iti saṃcintyai 'kadā 'vasaraṃ prāpya rājānam abravīt: bho rājan, vijñāpanam asti. rājño 'ktam: kiṃ tad? brūhi. mantriṇo 'ktam: yad etad bhānumatī sabhāmadhye 'rdhāsana upaveśyate tan mahad anucitaṃ kriyate. asūryaṃpaśyā rājadārā iti śāstrakāravacanam. anyac ca: atra nānāvidho janaḥ samāgatya tāṃ paśyati. rājño 'ktam: sarvam api jñāyate mayā; kiṃ karomi? mama mahatī prītir asyām; imāṃ vihāya kṣaṇam api sthātuṃ na śaknomi. mantriṇo 'ktam: tarhy evaṃ kriyatām. rājño 'ktam: kim? tan nirūpaya. teno 'ktam: citrakam āhūya tena paṭasyo 'pari bhānumatyā rūpaṃ lekhayitvā puraḥsthitabhittipradeśe saṃghaṭayya draṣṭavyaṃ tasyāḥ svarūpam. tad vacanaṃ rājñaś citte lagnam. tato rājā citrakam āhūyo 'ktavān: bhoś citraka, bhānumatyā rūpaṃ citre lekhanīyam. tena citrakeṇo 'ktam: bho deva, tasyā rūpaṃ pratyakṣeṇa vilokya paścād yathāvayavaṃ likhāmi. tac chrutvā bhānumatī śṛṅgāritā tasmai darśitā ca.

Thinking thus, having found an opportunity on one occasion, he said to the king: “O King, I have a petition.” The king said: “What is it? Speak.” The minister said: “That Bhānumatī is seated on half of the throne in the midst of the assembly—that is very improperly done. ‘A king's wives are not to be seen by the sun,’ such is the statement of the treatise-writers. Moreover, various kinds of people come here and look upon her.” The king said: “All this is understood by me; what can I do? I have immense love for her; leaving her, I cannot remain even for a moment.” The minister said: “Then let it be done thus.” The king said: “How? Explain that.” He said: “Summoning a painter, having him paint the likeness of Bhānumatī upon a canvas, and having it mounted on a section of the wall standing before you, her likeness may be viewed.” That speech struck the king's heart favorably. Then the king, having summoned a painter, said: “O painter, Bhānumatī's likeness is to be painted in a picture.” That painter said: “O King, having observed her form directly with my own eyes, I shall afterwards paint her according to her limbs.” Hearing that, Bhānumatī was adorned and shown to him.