Simhasanadvatrimshika 20.p1

20.p1

Again, as the king was about to sit upon the throne, another statuette said: "O king, let him who possesses generosity and the other virtues of Vikrama sit upon this throne." The king said: "O statuette, tell the story of his generosity." She said: "O king, listen: King Vikrama rules the kingdom for six months and travels to other lands for six months. Once, having gone abroad and wandered through various lands, he reached a city named Padmālaya. Seeing outside that city a lake with crystal-clear water in a pleasure-grove, he drank water there and sat down. Then some other men—some foreigners, some locals—came, drank water, sat down, and conversed among themselves: 'Ah, we have seen many lands, we have seen many sacred bathing places, we have climbed mountains that were exceedingly rugged and inaccessible to anyone, but nowhere have we gained the sight of an extraordinary man.' Another said: 'How could the sight of an extraordinary man come about? Where a great master of accomplishments resides, it is impossible to go; the path is treacherous; there are many obstacles along the way; there is even the destruction of the body. By an effort through which one first meets one's own destruction, who will enjoy its fruit? For this reason, a wise man should first and foremost protect himself. And it is said: "The body is indeed the primary instrument of righteousness." And likewise: