Simhasanadvatrimshika 13.p3

13.p3

At the time of this recitation of the Purāṇa, a certain brahmin, while crossing the river with his wife, was swept away by a great flood; crying out in distress, he called to the great crowd of listeners to the Purāṇa on the riverbank: "O gentlemen, run, run! Here I, an old brahmin with my wife, am being carried off by force by the current of the river; let someone rich in courage and righteousness grant the gift of life to me and my wife!" Hearing the cry of him being swept away by the water, all those people merely looked on with curiosity; no one gave him freedom from fear, nor entered the river to rescue him from the current. Then King Vikramārka, giving him freedom from fear, saying "Do not be afraid!", entered the river, pulled the brahmin along with his wife from the great flood, and brought them to the bank. The brahmin, having recovered his senses, said to the king: "O great-spirited one, this body of mine was previously born from my mother and father; now it has received a second birth from you. Therefore, if I do not do some kind turn in return to you, who have done me a great service by giving me my life, my life is indeed in vain. For that reason, whatever merit has been acquired by my chanting the three names [of God] in the waters of the Godāvarī for twelve years, that is given to you. Moreover, whatever merit has been earned through the Kṛcchra, Cāndrāyaṇa, and other penances, take all of that!" Having said this, offering all that merit to the king and giving him a blessing, he departed for his own home with his wife.