Simhasanadvatrimshika f7.p20

f7.p20

tad vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā sāścaryo bhūtvā yāvad yavanikām apakarṣati, tāvac chāradānandanaḥ pratyakṣeṇa dṛṣṭaḥ; rājaprabhṛtibhiḥ sarvair namaskrṭaḥ. tadā mantrinā pūrvavṛttāntaḥ kathitaḥ. tato rājā bahuśrutaṃ mantriṇam uvāca: bho mantrin, tava saṃsargeṇa mamā 'pakṛtir durgatiś ca gatā. ataḥ puruṣeṇa satāṃ saṃsargo vidheyaḥ; teno 'bhayam api prayojanaṃ bhavati. tathā hi: vārayati vartamānām āpadam āgāminīṃ ca satsevā, tṛṣṇāṃ ca harati pītaṃ gaṅgāyā durgatiṃ cā 'mbhaḥ. 20 anyac ca: mahataḥ kaṣṭāc ca mama putro rakṣitaḥ. rājñā satāṃ mahākulīnānāṃ bhavādṛśāṃ saṃgrahaḥ kartavyaḥ. uktaṃ ca: saṃgrahaṃ nākulīnasya sarpasye 'va karoti yaḥ, sa eva ślāghyate rājā samyaggārūḍiko yathā. 21 iti nānāprakāraiḥ stutikadambakair mantriṇaṃ stutvā vastrādinā saṃbhāvya rājā rājyam akarot.

Hearing that speech, the king was filled with wonder, and as he drew aside the curtain, Śāradānandana was seen in person; he was bowed to by all, beginning with the king. Then the minister related the previous story. Thereupon the king said to the learned minister: 'O minister, through association with you my misfortune and distress have vanished. Therefore a man should cultivate association with the good; through that, both purposes are achieved. For indeed: Service to the good wards off present and future misfortune, and the water of the Gaṅgā, when drunk, removes thirst and distress. 20 And furthermore: My son has been protected from great calamity. A king should make an alliance with good men of high birth like you. And it is said: He who associates with one not of noble birth [is] as [one who associates] with a snake; only that king is praised who is like a proper master of snake-lore. 21' Having thus praised the minister with various collections of praises and honoured him with garments and other gifts, the king ruled his kingdom.