Simhasanadvatrimshika 14.p9

14.p9

Having thus bowed to the sun, as he was going towards the village, a she-elephant released by the ministers carrying a garland to determine the next king saw the king, placed the garland upon his neck, set him on her back, and led him to the royal palace. Then all the ministers assembled, performed the consecration, and established King Rājaśekhara on the throne. One day, all the rival kings joined together and came to the city to uproot Rājaśekhara. At that time, the king was playing dice with his queen. The queen said: "Lord, why do you sit silently? The city is surrounded by rival kings; at dawn they will seize the city and us too; so it appears. Let some other effort be made!" The king said: "My simple lady, what is the use of effort? When destiny is favourable, every task accomplishes itself; if it is hostile, it is destroyed of itself. Have you not experienced this? Therefore, in prosperity and in ruin, destiny alone is the supreme cause, nothing else. And it is said: