Simhasanadvatrimshika 27.p1

27.p1

Again, as the king was attempting to sit upon the throne, another statuette spoke: “O King, he who possesses the virtues of generosity and the rest, like Vikrama, is fit to sit upon this throne.” Bhoja said, “O statuette, tell the account of his virtues such as generosity.” She said, “Listen, O King. King Vikramārka, for the sake of touring the earth, went from city to a certain city. The kings there, extremely righteous and devoted to the performance prescribed by the Vedas and tradition, properly protected the four castes—brahmins and the rest—residing there; all the people too were devoted to good conduct, fond of guests, and full of compassion. Thinking, ‘I will stay here for five days,’ King Vikrama went to an exceedingly charming temple, bowed to the deity, and sat down in the assembly hall. Meanwhile, someone of exceedingly charming appearance like a prince, wearing silk garments, adorned with various ornaments, his body smeared with sandalwood mixed with fragrant scents such as camphor, saffron, agallochum, and musk, came there along with courtesans; having made diverse amorous conversation, introduction, amusement, and the like with them, he went out again with them. The king also, having seen him, remained wondering, ‘Who is this?’ Then on the second day, that man, having a miserable face, stripped of garments and the like, with only a loincloth remaining, came alone and fell in the temple's assembly hall. Seeing him, the king said, ‘O Devadatta, yesterday you came here with your body adorned with garments, ornaments, and the like, like a prince, attended by courtesans; today, how have you arrived at such a condition of distress?’ He said, ‘O master, why do you ask this? Yesterday I was indeed in that state; now, through the stroke of fate, I am in this state. For indeed: