Simhasanadvatrimshika 7.p7

7.p7

Having reflected in this manner at length, he summoned Vedic brahmins, heard from them of the gifts of cows, land, brides, knowledge, food, water, and so forth set forth in the Dānakhaṇḍa taught by Hemādri, and, having presented those gifts to worthy recipients, with a purified heart he thought again: 'This practice of vows of gift-giving and the like undertaken by me will bear fruit only when I go to Dvāravatī and see Kṛṣṇa.' Having so reflected, he set out for Dvāravatī. Going to the seashore, he summoned a boatman, gave him abundant wealth, took beggars, ascetics, foreigners, the destitute, and others aboard the ship, and as he was travelling with them, exchanging pleasant words and holding discourses on righteousness, a small mountain was seen in the midst of the sea. On that mountain stood a great temple. Then, entering the temple, worshiping the goddess Bhuvaneśvarī with the sixteen modes of worship including incense and flowers, and bowing down, just as he cast his gaze upon her left side, he saw a couple, a man and a woman, whose heads had been severed, and he noticed letters inscribed on the face of the wall standing before him: 'Whichever benevolent person, endowed with great fortitude, worships Bhuvaneśvarī with the blood of his own neck, then this pair of man and woman will come to life.' Having read what was thus inscribed, full of wonder, Dhanada boarded the ship once more, went to Dvāravatī, saw Kṛṣṇa, bowed down, and praised him: