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Simhasanadvatrimshika 3

English (machine translation) 3

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English

3.p1

Once again, as the king was about to sit upon the throne, another statuette said: "O king, this throne should be occupied by one in whom Vikrama's generosity exists." Bhoja said: "O statuette, tell the story of his generosity." She says: "Listen, O king. There is no king on the circle of the earth equal to Vikramārka. In his mind there is no doubt such as 'this one is a stranger, this one is mine'; he protects the entire world. And it is said:

3.1

'This one is mine, or this one is an outsider' is the discrimination of the small-minded;
For the noble-minded, on the other hand, the whole earth is indeed a family. || 1

3.p2

Furthermore, in daring, exertion, and fortitude there is none equal to him, wherefore gods such as Indra offer him assistance. And it is said:

3.2

Exertion, courage, fortitude, intellect, strength, and valor—
for one in whom these six abide, even a god stands in awe.

3.p3

Moreover: O King, when someone fulfills the wish of supplicants, God accomplishes what that person desires. And so it is said:

3.3

When men form a firm resolve, God fulfills their desire,
just as [He provided] Viṣṇu, the discus, and Garuḍa to the weaver in battle.

3.4

One endowed with energy, not given to procrastination,
knowing how actions are performed, free from vices,
valiant, grateful, and resolute in determination—
Lakṣmī herself seeks him out to make her dwelling.

3.p4

Thus King Vikramārka, an abode of all virtues and abundant in every kind of wealth, once reflected in his mind: “Ah, this cycle of worldly existence is without substance; no one knows what will happen to whom, or when. Therefore, acquired wealth is fruitless without giving and enjoyment. Hence, the true fruit of wealth is giving it to a worthy recipient; otherwise it meets only with destruction.” And so it is said:

3.5

Giving, enjoying, and destruction are the three fates of wealth;
for him who neither gives nor enjoys, the third fate befalls it.

3.p5

And likewise:

3.6

When wealth is present, one should give and enjoy; one should not hoard it;
behold in this world, others carry off the honey accumulated by bees.

3.7

Enjoy and give wealth, honor those who deserve honor, and resort to good people;
Lakṣmī is as fickle as a lamp-flame stirred by a very violent wind.

3.8

Giving away acquired wealth is indeed its preservation,
just as an overflow is the preservation of water standing in a tank.

3.p6

Having reflected thus, he undertook to perform a sacrifice with gifts of all his possessions. Then a most delightful pavilion was constructed by craftsmen. Every material for the sacrifice was procured; the divine seers, gandharvas, yakṣas, siddhas, and others were summoned; brahmins arrived; and all kings and kinsmen were assembled. At that time, to summon the Ocean, a certain brahmin was sent to the seashore. He went to the seashore, performed the sixteen modes of worship with fragrance, flowers, and the rest, and said: “O Ocean, King Vikramārka is performing a sacrifice; sent by him, I have come to invite you.” Having offered a handful of flowers into the water, he waited for a moment. No one gave him any reply. Then, as he turned back and was returning toward the settlement, a certain person of glowing body appeared in the form of a brahmin, approached him, and said: “O brahmin, you were sent by Vikrama to invite us; therefore, the respect shown by him has indeed reached us. This alone is the mark of a friend: giving, honoring, and so forth at the proper time.” And so it is said:

3.9

Giving, receiving, disclosing a secret, asking a secret,
eating together, and providing food—these are the sixfold marks of a friend.

3.p7

Moreover, one should not say that friendship perishes among those far apart and grows among those close at hand. In this matter, affection alone is the measure. And so it is said:

3.10

Even when dwelling far away, he is near who is in one's heart;
he who is distant in thought is far away even when standing near.

3.p8

And likewise:

3.11

The peacock is on the mountain, and the cloud is in the sky;
the sun is a hundred thousand leagues away, and the lotus is in the water;
the moon is two hundred thousand leagues away, and the night-lotuses are on the earth;
whoever is one's friend is never far away.

3.p9

“Therefore, I must certainly go by all means. Yet I too have a purpose. I shall give that king four priceless jewels. This is their virtue: one jewel gives whatever object is remembered; by the second jewel, edibles, feasts, and the like, resembling nectar, are produced; from the third jewel, a fourfold army consisting of elephants, horses, chariots, and foot-soldiers comes forth; from the fourth jewel, celestial garments and ornaments are born. Therefore, take these jewels and place them in the king's hand; they are given by the Ocean with great affection.” Thereafter the brahmin took those jewels and went to Ujjayinī. In this way, much time passed; meanwhile, the completion of the sacrifice took place. The king, having performed the ceremonial concluding bath, fulfilled the desires of all the people. The brahmin, seeing the king, presented the jewels and explained the properties of each one. Then the king said: “O brahmin, you have arrived past the time for the sacrificial honoraria. The entire gathering of brahmins has been satisfied by me with honoraria. Therefore, choose whichever one jewel among these four jewels pleases you.” The brahmin said: “O King, having gone home and consulted my wife, my son, and my daughter-in-law, I shall take whatever pleases all of them.” The king said: “Do so.” The brahmin also came to his home and recounted the entire event before them. Hearing this, the son said: “Let us take that jewel which gives the fourfold army; one can easily establish a kingdom.” The father said: “A wise man should not desire a kingdom. Because:

3.12

Reflecting on Rāma's exile, Bali's binding, the Pandavas' forest life,
the destruction of the Vṛṣṇis, Nala's calamity, Bhīṣma's state upon weapons,
Viṣṇu's dwarfhood, and then Arjuna's death, and seeing the lord of Laṅkā
brought to mockery for the sake of kingship—therefore one should not desire it.

3.p10

“Therefore, let us take that by which wealth is obtained. Through wealth everything is attained.” And so it is said:

3.13

There is nothing in this world that cannot be accomplished through wealth;
therefore, a wise man, having resolved firmly, should strive for wealth alone.

3.p11

The wife said: “Let that jewel be taken which produces food of six tastes. Food alone is the sustenance of life for all living beings.” And so it is said:

3.14

Food has been ordained by the Creator as the sustenance of life for mortals;
having disregarded that, a wise man should ask for nothing else.

3.p12

The daughter-in-law said: “The jewel that produces garments, ornaments, and the like should be chosen.

3.15

One should adorn one's body with ornaments in accordance with one's wealth,
for the sake of pure good fortune, and for the increase of life and prosperity. || 15

3.16

Among friends and during festivals, jewelry such as gems
always brings good fortune; the deities too are pleased by the wearing of ornaments.” || 16

3.p13

Thus a dispute arose among the four. Then the brahmin went into the presence of the king and recounted the whole affair of the four. The king, having heard it, gave all four jewels to that brahmin. Having told this story, the statuette said to the king: “O King, generosity is an innate quality, not an accidental one. For:

3.17

Just as fragrance is innate in campaka flowers, luster in pearls,
and sweetness in sugarcane, so is generosity innate. || 17

3.p14

If such generosity exists in you, then sit upon this throne.” Thus ends the third tale.

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