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Simhasanadvatrimshika 6

English (machine translation) 6

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English

6.p1

Again, as the king was about to sit on the throne, another statuette said: "O King, only one who possesses generosity like that of Vikrama is capable of ascending this throne." King Bhoja said: "Tell the story of his generosity." She said: "Listen, O King. While Vikramāditya was ruling the kingdom, once in the month of Caitra during the spring festival, accompanied by all the women of his inner quarters, he went to a pleasure garden for recreation. In that grove:

6.1

"Because mango trees, having continuous cascades of honey one after another,
echo with the humming of buzzing swarms of bees,
and grant assistance to the 'kuhū' cooing of haughtily sporting cuckoos,
they make it known on every side: 'The great festival of Caitra is pervaded from here.' || 1

6.p2

And likewise:

6.2

"Borne by the gentle breeze of sandalwood trees,
pollen makes the sky exceedingly dense;
and the charming mango bough, whose tender, tremulous sprouts are brushed by the wings of bees,
spreads joy all around. || 2 ||"

6.p3

In that pleasure grove, adorned with such various trees and flowers, in a pleasure house whose walls were inlaid with sapphires, whose courtyard was made of lovely moonstones, and which was perfumed with various kinds of incense, the king sported for a long time together with women of the four kinds, such as the padminī, who were adorned with fine garments, betel, flowers, and ornaments. Near that grove was a temple of Caṇḍikā. A certain student of the Veda was residing there. Seeing the king arriving there, he thought in his heart: “Ah, my life is being spent in vain practicing austerities! Not even in a dream have I experienced the least pleasure. What sense is there in spending one's time in misery as long as one lives, only to enjoy the fruit of asceticism after death? Others say that the pleasure of the senses is pierced by sorrow and should be avoided by an intelligent person; but this is the reasoning of fools. And it is said:

6.3

‘Pleasure born from the contact of sense objects is to be abandoned by men
because it is touched by suffering’—this is the reasoning of fools.
What person seeking his own benefit would cast away rice grains
rich with excellent white kernels, just because they are covered with husks? || 3

6.p4

Therefore, even by enduring great hardship, one should certainly enjoy the pleasure of women, which is the essence of worldly existence. And it is said:

6.4

In this essenceless worldly existence, a fawn-eyed woman is the essence;
for her sake they desire wealth; and if she is abandoned, of what use is wealth? || 4

6.5

In this essenceless worldly existence, a broad-hipped woman is the essence;
thinking thus indeed, Śambhu placed the lovely woman in half of his body. || 5

6.p5

Now King Vikramārka has arrived here. Having asked him for a royal land grant and married a maiden, I shall enjoy the pleasures of worldly existence.” Having reflected thus and approached the king, he gave a blessing, saying: “May the sidelong glance of Mṛḍānī protect you—

6.6

blended with the mass of nail-rays flashing on the back of her hand, closed in the fist that draws the bowstring,
and bearing the playful charm of bees hovering out of longing for the ear-ornament of blossoming sprouts. || 6 ||”

6.p6

Then the king seated him on a chair and said: “O brahmin, from where have you come?” He said: “I stay right here, performing service to the Mother of the Universe. Fifty years have passed for me while performing her service daily. I am a student of the Veda. Today, at the end of the night, the goddess came to me in a dream and said: ‘O brahmin, you have suffered hardship for so long in my service; I have become pleased with you. Therefore, now enter the householder stage, father a son, and afterwards set your mind on liberation. Otherwise, there is no high destiny for you.’ And it is said:

6.7

Having discharged the three debts, one should direct the mind toward liberation;
but striving for liberation without having discharged them, one falls downward. || 7

6.p7

And likewise: ‘Having been a student of the Veda, one should become a householder; having been a householder, one should become a forest dweller; then, having been a forest dweller, one should renounce the world.’ Moreover: ‘I have told King Vikrama in a dream; he will fulfill your desire’—thus was spoken by the goddess in a dream. I have come to your presence.” In this way he spoke deceitful words before the king. Hearing that, the king thought to himself: “The deity did not speak in a dream; this man is surely telling a lie. Be that as it may, he is nevertheless distressed, and his desire must by all means be fulfilled. And it is said:

6.8

A king, having given a gift to a distressed person, having worshipped an unattended liṅga,
and constantly protecting his dependents, obtains the fruit of an aśvamedha sacrifice. || 8

6.p8

Having reflected thus, he had a city built there, consecrated him, installed him in that city, and gave him a hundred courtesans, fifty elephants, fifty horses, forty chariots, and five thousand warriors to that brahmin; he named the city Caṇḍikāpura. Then the brahmin, having his desire fulfilled, prospered that king with blessings. The king too went to his own city. Having told this story, the statuette said to the king: “O king, if such generosity exists in you, then sit on this throne.” The king remained silent. Thus ends the sixth tale.

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