[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Epic, Poetry, Drama & Narrative](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit) › [Story collections and fables](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories) › [Siṃhāsanadvātriṃśikā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana) › [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt) › 17 # Simhasanadvatrimshika 17 English (machine translation) 17 - **Language:** English ### [17.p1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17.p1) Again, as the king was about to sit upon the throne, another statuette said: "O King, only he who possesses generosity and other virtues of Vikrama is fit to sit upon this throne." The king said: "O statuette, tell the story of his generosity." She said: "Listen, O King. There is no one equal to Vikrama in the virtues of generosity and the like. Through that virtue of generosity, his fame spread across the three worlds. Every petitioner praises that king alone. Moreover, the benedictions of petitioners are for the delight of donors alone, not for warriors. And it is said: ### [17.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17.1) The benedictions of those seeking wealth / are for the pleasure of donors alone; / for heroes, indeed, it is the roar of the war-drum / that brings delight. || 1 ### [17.p2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17.p2) Furthermore: virtues like heroism, knowledge, and ritual practice may belong to everyone, but not the virtue of generosity. And it is said: ### [17.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17.2) All beasts fight, parrots and mainas recite; / whoever bestows a gift, he is a hero and he is a wise man. || 2 ### [17.p3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17.p3) And furthermore: ### [17.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17.3) Those who are heroes by nature, and those who are heroes of compassion, / all of them do not equal a sixteenth part of a hero of generosity. || 3 ### [17.p4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17.p4) Generosity is the one praiseworthy virtue; what use are multitudes of other virtues? ### [17.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17.4) Only because of giving are animals, stones, and trees worshipped. || 4 ### [17.p5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17.p5) The virtue of generosity is considered by me superior to a hundred virtues; / if learning adorns it, what can I say? / If heroism is present there, homage be to it! ### [17.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17.5) And those three, without any pride—this is wondrous indeed! || 5 ### [17.p6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17.p6) Those four \[qualities\] exist in that Vikramārka. Once, in another realm, before a certain king, a bard recited the series of Vikrama's virtues. Hearing that series of virtues, that king, feeling rivalry in his mind, said to the bard: "O bard, why do all bards praise only Vikramārka? Is there no other king?" The bard said: "O king, in generosity, benevolence towards others, boldness, and valour, there is no king like him in the three worlds. In performing benevolence towards others, he has no attachment even to his own body." Hearing his words, that king, thinking in his mind, "I too will perform benevolence towards others," summoned a certain yogin and said: "O yogin, is there any means whereby, every day, fresh wealth may be obtained for the sake of benevolence towards others?" The yogin said: "O king, there is none at all." The king said: "If there is, disclose the means before me; I will accomplish it." The yogin said: "On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, the circle of the sixty-four yoginīs must be worshipped. Having performed the preparatory rite before it with a mantra, an oblation of a tenth part must be made. At the conclusion of the oblation, one's own body itself must be offered into the fire as the final oblation. Then the circle of yoginīs will be pleased; whatever is requested by you, that it will grant." Hearing that, the king, having performed everything, cast himself into the fire at the time of the final oblation. Then the circle of yoginīs, becoming pleased and giving a new body to the king, says: "O king, choose a boon." ### [17.p7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17.p7) The king said: "O mothers, if you are pleased, then act in such a way that seven great jars in my house become filled with gold every day." They said: "If you offer your body into the fire every day in this manner for three months, we will do so." The king too, saying "So be it," offers his own body into the fire every day. Once, King Vikramārka, hearing this news and coming to that place, threw himself into the fire at the time of the final oblation. Then the yoginīs said to one another: "Today human flesh is exceedingly delicious; his heart is of supreme essence." Having thus revived him again, they said: "O noble being, who are you? What was your purpose in abandoning your body?" He said: "I offered my body into the fire for the sake of benevolence towards others." The yoginīs said: "Then we are pleased; choose a boon." The king said: "If you are pleased with me, then this king suffers great agony from dying every day; that must be prevented, and his seven great jars must be filled with gold." The yoginīs, agreeing, saying "We will do so," spared that king from death, and the jars were filled with gold. ### [17.p8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17.p8) King Vikrama also returned to his own city. Having told this story, the statuette said to King Bhoja: "O king, if such benevolence towards others exists in you, then sit upon this throne." Thus ends the seventeenth tale. ## Translations (1) - [Vikrama's Adventures, or The Thirty-two Tales of the Throne](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-edgerton.17.p3) — Franklin Edgerton 1926, English ## Linked texts (1) - [Siṃhāsanadvātriṃśikā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana.17.p1) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.simhasana~en-mt.17) · Pramāṇa