Simhasanadvatrimshika 14.p8

14.p8

The yogi said: 'How is that?' The king said: 'In the northern region there is a city named Nandivardhana. There a king named Rājaśekhara ruled. He was devoted to the gods and brahmins, and exceedingly righteous. One day, all his kinsmen gathered together, fought with him, seized the kingdom, and expelled him along with his wife. The king, together with his wife and son, went to another land, and reached the outskirts of a certain city. Then the sun set. Accompanied by his son and wife, he went to the foot of a banyan tree and sat down. In that tree were five birds. They spoke to one another; then one said: "The king in this city has died, and he has no offspring. Who will become king?" A second said: "Whoever sits at the foot of this banyan tree, the kingdom will be his." The others said: "So be it." The king also heard the words of the birds. Then sunrise occurred, and every person set about doing his own appointed work. The king also performed his morning twilight rituals and offered libation to the sun, [saying]: