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Simhasanadvatrimshika 9

English (machine translation) 9

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English

9.p1

Once more, as the king was about to sit upon the throne, another statuette said: 'O King, he who possesses the generosity and fortitude of Vikrama is worthy to sit upon this throne.' Bhoja said: 'Tell the account of his generosity.' She said: 'While Vikrama was ruling, Bhaṭṭi was his minister, Govinda the deputy minister, Candra the commander of the army, and Trivikrama the royal priest. That Trivikrama had a son named Kamalākara. By his father's favor, he ate rice with clarified butter, adorned his body with clothes, ornaments, betel, and the like, and lived enjoying worldly pleasures. One day his father said: "Hey Kamalākara, having attained birth as a brahmin, why do you live thus, following your own whims? This soul passes through a hundred births in various wombs; sometimes, by force of good deeds, it attains human birth, and even there birth in a brahmin family is obtained through great merit. Even having obtained that, you have become of wicked conduct! You always wander outside, and come home only at mealtime. What you do is entirely improper. And moreover: this is your time for study; if you do not study at this time, there will be great sorrow in the future. And it is said:

9.1

Those who do not study in childhood, / agitated by desire, their minds ruined in youth, / being despised in old age, / burn in body like a lotus in winter. || 1

9.p2

And likewise:

9.2

Those who have neither learning nor asceticism nor charity, / neither good character nor virtue nor righteousness, / being a burden on the earth in the mortal world, / roam about as beasts in human form. || 2

9.p3

In this cycle of existence, there is no ornament for a man superior to learning. And likewise it is said: 'Learning is indeed a man's supreme beauty, a concealed and hidden [treasure]...'

9.3

wealth;
learning provides enjoyment, renown, and happiness; learning is the guru of gurus;
learning is a kinsman when traveling in a foreign land; learning is the supreme deity;
learning, not wealth, is honoured among kings; a person devoid of learning is a beast. || 3

9.p4

And likewise:
What is the use of noble birth to an embodied soul who is devoid of learning?

9.4

Even a lowborn person, if he is learned, is honoured in the three worlds. || 4

9.p5

O son, as long as I live, you must simply study learning; mastered learning will perform every duty of a kinsman for you. And it is said:

9.5

Like a mother it protects; like a father it directs toward what is beneficial;
like a wife it delights, dispelling weariness;
it spreads renown in all directions and brings forth wealth;
learning indeed performs every duty of a kinsman. || 5

9.p6

Hearing these words of his father, filled with remorse, Kamalākara said, 'When I become omniscient, only then will I look upon this father's face,' and went to the land of Kashmir. There he approached the teacher Candramaulibhaṭṭa, prostrated himself like a staff, and said: 'O master, I am a fool. Hearing of your fame, I have come to study learning. Having taken pity on me, an arrangement should be made by your honour so that I may acquire learning.' Saying this, he prostrated himself like a staff again. Then, accepted by him, he rendered service to him day and night. And likewise it is said:

9.6

Learning [is acquired] by serving the guru, or by abundant wealth,
or else by learning [in exchange for] learning; a fourth [way] is not found. || 6

9.p7

While he was thus rendering service, a long time passed. Then one day, the teacher, taking pity on him, instructed him in the accomplished mantra of Sarasvatī. Having become omniscient through that instruction, that Kamalākara took the teacher's permission and set out to return to his own city. On the way, he arrived at the city of Kāñcī. The king there was Anaṅgasena. In that city there is a certain woman named Naramohinī. She is peerless in beauty; whoever sees her, afflicted with the fever of passion, enters a state of madness. Moreover, whoever sleeps with her to enjoy her, a certain demon living on the Vindhya mountain drinks his blood; he becomes lifeless. Having seen this wonder, Kamalākara also went to his own city. Seeing him arrive, a great celebration took place among his mother, father, and the rest. On the second day, having gone to the royal assembly with his father, [saying]:

9.7

He who bears the swarm of black bees resting on the pale lotus as an auspicious sign,
may that guardian of the heavens grant you prosperity. || 7

9.p8

uttering this blessing for the king, he demonstrated his mastery of the arts in the assembly. Then, honoured by the king with garments and the like, he was asked: 'O Kamalākara, in the country where you went, what different things did you see?' Kamalākara said: 'O master, I saw nothing in that country; but at the time of my return, I saw a wondrous marvel in the city of Kāñcī.' The king said: 'What was seen? Tell me.' Kamalākara said: 'In that city of Kāñcī there is a certain woman named Naramohinī. Whoever sees her enters a state of madness. But whoever sleeps with her, a certain demon living on the Vindhya mountain comes and drinks his blood; then he becomes lifeless. This marvel was seen by me.' Then the king said: 'O Kamalākara, then come, let the two of us go there.' Having come with him to the city of Kāñcī, the king, seeing Naramohinī's beauty, was filled with wonder; he went to her house; honoured by her with washing of feet, anointing, fragrant flowers, and the like, he was addressed: 'O King, today I have become blessed; my house has become worthy of praise, since my courtyard is adorned with the dust of your feet.

9.8

Today, after a very long time, this house of mine has become praiseworthy,
endowed with grace by the touch of your lotus-feet. || 8

9.p9

Master, you should dine in my house.' The king said: 'Just now I have dined and arrived.' Then a betel roll was given by her. In this way a watch of the night passed; Naramohinī went to sleep. In the second watch, the demon arrived and, as he looked at Naramohinī's bed, she was sleeping entirely alone; there was no second person. At the time of his departure, he was seized and killed by the king. Hearing that commotion, Naramohinī woke up and, seeing the slain demon, was delighted, praised the king, and said: 'O King, by your grace I have become fearless; from this day forth the plague of the demon is gone. How can I repay the favor done by you? Moreover, whatever is commanded by you, that I shall do.' The king said: 'If you will do what is said by me, then marry this Kamalākara.' Thereupon that Naramohinī married Kamalākara. Vikrama, too, returned to Ujjayinī. Having told this story, the statuette said to King Bhoja: 'O King, if such generosity, fortitude, and benevolence towards others are found in you, then sit upon this throne.' Hearing that, the king stood silent.

9.p10

Thus ends the ninth tale.

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