Simhasanadvatrimshika 2: Story 2: The brahman's unsuccessful sacrifice

2.p1

punar api bhojarājo yāvat siṃhāsana upaveṣṭuṃ samāgataḥ, tāvad anyā puttalikā bhaṇati: bho rājan, vikramasyau 'dāryaṃ tvayi vidyate cet, tarhy asmin siṃhāsana upaviśa. bhojarājo vadati sma: bhoḥ puttalike, kathaya tasya vikramasyau 'dāryavṛttāntam. sā kathayati: bho rājan, śrūyatām. vikramādityo rājyaṃ kurvann ekadā cārān āhūyā 'bravīt: bho dūtāḥ, bhavantaḥ pṛthivīparibhramaṇaṃ kurvantaḥ pṛthivīmadhye yatra-yatra kautukaṃ tīrthaviśeṣaṃ ca vilokayanti, tan mama nivedayantu, aham tatra gamiṣyami. evaṃ kāle gata ekada deśantaraṃ paribhramyā 'gataḥ kaścid dūto rājāṇam abravīt: bho rājan, citrakūṭaparvatanikaṭe tapovanamadhye 'timanoharaṃ devalayam asti tatra parvatoccasthanād vimalā jaladhārā patati. tatra yadi snānaṃ kriyate, tarhi sarveṣāṃ mahāpātakādīnām api kṣayo bhavati. kiṃ ca: yas tu mahāpātakī snānaṃ karoti, tasyā 'ñgād atīvakṛṣṇam udakaṃ niḥsarati. yas tatra snānaṃ karoti, sa puṇyapuruṣaḥ. anyac ca: tatra kaścid brāhmaṇo mahati homakuṇḍe homaṃ karoti, na jñāyate kiyanti varṣāṇi jātāni. pratidinaṃ kuṇḍād bahiḥsthāpitaṃ bhasma parvatākāram asti. sa brāhmaṇaḥ kenāpi saha na bhāṣate.

Once again, as King Bhoja approached to sit upon the throne, another statuette says: "O king, if the generosity of Vikrama exists in you, then sit upon this throne." King Bhoja said: "O statuette, tell the story of that Vikrama's generosity." She says: "O king, listen. While ruling the kingdom, Vikramāditya once summoned his spies and said: 'O envoys, as you wander the earth, wherever within the earth you observe a marvel or an extraordinary sacred site, report that to me; I shall go there.' When time had thus passed, an envoy once returned from wandering through other lands and said to the king: 'O king, near Mount Citrakūṭa, in the midst of a penance-grove, there is a most captivating temple. There, from a high place on the mountain, falls a clear stream of water. If one bathes there, then all evils, even the great sins, are destroyed. Moreover, when a great sinner bathes, very black water pours from his body. Whoever bathes there is a man of merit. Furthermore, a certain brahmin performs oblations there in a huge sacrificial pit; it is not known how many years have passed. The ash deposited outside the pit every day is the size of a mountain. That brahmin speaks to no one.

When King Bhoja again approacht to mount the throne, another statue said: “O king, if the magnanimity of Vikrama is found in you, then mount upon this throne.” King Bhoja said: “O statue, tell me a tale of this Vikrama’s magnanimity.” She said: “Hear, O king.

Once when Vikramāditya was king he called his spies and said: “Messengers, do you, good sirs, travel about the earth, and wherever in the world you observe any strange thing or any unusually distinguisht place of pilgrimage, report it to me, and I will go thither.” Now after the lapse of some time, once a certain messenger came back from his wanderings in foreign parts and said to the king: “O king, in a penance-grove near Mount Citrakūṭa there is a beautiful shrine. From the top of the mountain in that place flows a pure stream of water. If one bathes there, then he is freed from all his crimes, however great. But if ever a great criminal bathes there, the water flows off from his body exceeding black. Whoever bathes there becomes a righteous man. Moreover a certain brahman has been making offerings there in a great sacrificial fireplace, for no one knows how many years. Every day ashes are taken out of the fireplace (and heapt up) mountain-high. And this brahman does not speak with any one. This very remarkable place I have seen.”

2.p2

evam ativicitrataraṃ sthānaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ mayā. tac chrutvā rājā svayam ekākī tena saha tat sthānaṃ gatvā paramānandaṃ prāpya bhaṇati: aho atipavitram etat sthānam. atra sākṣāj jagadambikā nivasati. etat sthānaṃ dṛṣt.vā mano me 'tivimalaṃ bhavati; ity uktvā tatrā 'ntarikṣodake snānaṃ vidhāya devatāṃ praṇamya yatra brāhmaṇo homaṃ karoti tatra gatvā brāhrnaṇam avādīt: bho brāhmaṇa, tava havanam ārabhya kati varṣāṇi jātāni? brāhmaṇeno 'ktam: yadā saptarṣimaṇḍalaṃ revatīnakṣatre prathamacaraṇe sthitam, tadā mayā havanam prārabdham. idānīm aśvinīnakṣatre tiṣṭhati; homaṃ kurvato me varṣaśatam abhūt. tathā 'pi devatā prasannā nā 'bhūt. tac chrutvā rājā devatāṃ smṛtvā svayaṃ homakuṇd.a āhutiṃ cikṣepa. tathā 'pi devatā prasannā nā 'bhūt. tadanantaraṃ rājā svaśiraḥkamalam āhutiṃ dāsyāmī 'ti yāvat kaṇṭhe khaḍgaṃ karoti, tāvad devatā 'ntarāle khaḍgaṃ dhṛtvā 'bravīt: bho rājan, prasannā 'smi, varaṃ vṛṇīṣva. rājñā bhaṇitam:

Thus I have seen a most wondrous place.' Hearing that, the king went alone with him to that place, and experiencing supreme joy, says: 'Ah, this place is exceedingly holy! The Mother of the Universe resides here in bodily form. Seeing this place, my mind becomes exceedingly pure.' Saying this, he bathed there in the waters falling from the sky, bowed to the deity, went to where the brahmin was offering oblations, and said to the brahmin: 'O brahmin, how many years have passed since you began your sacrifice?' The brahmin said: 'When the circle of the Seven Sages stood in the first quarter of the lunar mansion Revatī, I then began the sacrifice. Now it stands in the lunar mansion Aśvinī; a hundred years have passed for me as I perform oblations. Even so, the deity has not become pleased.' Hearing that, the king remembered the deity and himself cast an offering into the sacrificial pit. Even so, the deity did not become pleased. Thereupon the king, thinking, 'I will offer the lotus of my head as an oblation,' was just placing his sword upon his neck when the deity, staying the sword in mid-air, said: 'O king, I am pleased; choose a boon.' The king said:

Hearing this the king, with the messenger as his sole companion, went to that place, and was overjoyed, and said: “Ah, this is a very pure spot; the World-mother dwells here in person. Upon seeing this place, my mind becomes perfectly pure.” So saying, he performed a bath in air (instead of) water, and made obeisance to the deity. Then going to where the brahman was sacrificing, he said to the brahman: “How many years have past by, O brahman, since you began to make sacrifices?” The brahman said: “When the circle of the Seven Seers [the Great Bear] was in the first section of the lunar mansion Revatī, then I began to sacrifice. Now it is in the lunar mansion Açvinī; it is a hundred years that I have been sacrificing. And yet the goddess has not become appeased.” Hearing this the king worshipt the goddess, and himself cast an offering into the fireplace; but even then the goddess was not propitiated. Thereupon the king thought “I will make an offering with my own noble head,” and put his sword to his throat. But at that moment the goddess checkt his sword midway and said: “O king, I am appeased, choose a wish.” The king said: “This brahman has been offering sacrifice for a long time; why are you not propitiated towards him, and why are you so quickly propitiated towards me?” The goddess said: “O king, he makes sacrifice indeed, but there is no soundness in his heart; therefore I am not propitiated. And it is said:

2.p3

ayaṃ brāhmaṇo bahukālaṃ havanaṃ karoti; asmai kimarthaṃ prasannā na bhavasi? mama kimarthaṃ tvaritaṃ prasannā 'si? devatayo 'ktam: bho rājan, ayaṃ havanaṃ karoti, param asya cetasi svāsthyaṃ nā 'sti. ataḥ prasannā na bhavāmi. uktaṃ ca:

'This brahmin has been performing sacrifices for a long time; why are you not pleased with him? Why are you quickly pleased with me?' The deity said: 'O king, he performs sacrifice, but there is no tranquillity in his mind. Therefore I am not pleased. And it is said:

2.1

aṅgulyagreṇa yaj japtaṃ, yaj japtaṃ merulañghane,
vyagracittena yaj japtaṃ, trividhaṃ niṣphalaṃ bhavet. || 1 ||

What is recited with the tips of the fingers, what is recited crossing over the meru-bead,
What is recited with a distracted mind—these three kinds become fruitless. || 1

1. Prayer which is offered with the finger-tips, with the fingers crost, or with thoughts wandering, these three kinds shall be without effect. And so: 2. Not in a stick of wood is God to be found, nor in a stone, nor in a piece of earthenware. For God is found in the heart; therefore the heart is the main thing. Moreover: 3. With regard to a charm, a place of pilgrimage, a brahman, a god, a soothsayer, a remedy, and a preceptor, the success (derived from them) shall be according to one's faith (in them)." The king said: "O goddess, if you are propitiated towards me, then fulfil the desire of this brahman." The goddess said: "O king, your majesty is a benefactor of others, like a mighty tree; you endure hardships with your own person, but avert toil from others. And it is said: 4. Great trees make shade for others, but stand themselves in the heat of the sun; they bear fruit also for others, not for their own profit. And so: 5. For the benefit of others flow the rivers; for the benefit of others cows give milk; for the benefit of others trees bear fruit; for the benefit of others noble men use their powers." Thus praising the king she gave the brahman his wish. Thereupon the king went to his own city.

2.p4

tathā ca:

And likewise:

2.2

na kāṣṭhe vidyate devo, na pāṣāṇe na mṛnmaye;
bhāve hi vidyate devas, tasmād bhāvo hi kāraṇam. || 2 ||

God is not in wood, nor in stone, nor in clay;
God is found in sincere devotion alone; therefore sincere devotion is the cause. || 2

2.p5

kiṃ ca:

Moreover:

2.3

mantre tīrthe dvije deve daivajñe bheṣaje gurau,
yādṛśī bhāvanā yatra, siddhir bhavati tādṛśī. || 3 ||

In a mantra, a sacred site, a brahmin, a deity, an astrologer, medicine, and a guru—
Whatever one's disposition is toward them, such is the spiritual accomplishment that arises. || 3

2.p6

rājā 'bravīt: he devi, yadi mama prasannā jātā 'si, tarhy asya brāhmaṇasya manorathaṃ pūraya. devatayo 'ktam: bho rājan, bhavān paropakārī mahādruma iva; svadehakaṣṭaṃ sahitvā paraśramachedaṃ karoṣi. uktaṃ ca:

The king said: 'O goddess, if you are pleased with me, then fulfill this brahmin's desire.' The deity said: 'O king, you are benevolent towards others, like a great tree; bearing bodily suffering yourself, you remove the toil of others. And it is said:

2.4

chāyām anyasya kurvanti svayaṃ tiṣṭhanti cā 'tape;
phalanti ca parārtheṣu nā 'tmahetor mahādrumāḥ. || 4 ||

Great trees provide shade for another while they themselves stand in the heat;
And they bear fruit for the sake of others, not for their own. || 4

2.p7

tathā ca:

And likewise:

2.5

paropakārāya vahanti nimnagāḥ,
paropakārāya duhanti dhenavaḥ;
paropakārāya phalanti bhūruhaḥ,
paropakārāya satāṃ vibhūtayaḥ. || 5 ||

For the benevolence towards others do rivers flow,
For the benevolence towards others do cows give milk;
For the benevolence towards others do trees bear fruit,
For the benevolence towards others are the riches of the virtuous. || 5

2.p8

iti rājānaṃ stutvā brāhmaṇasya manoratham apūrayat, tato rājā svanagaram agamat. imāṃ kathāṃ kathayitvā puttalikā bhojarājam abravīt: bho rājan, tvayy evaṃvidham audāryaṃ vidyate cet, tarhy asmin siṃhāsana upaviśa. iti dvitīyopākhyānam

Thus praising the king, she fulfilled the brahmin's desire; then the king went to his own city. Having told this story, the statuette said to King Bhoja: "O king, if such generosity exists in you, then sit upon this throne." Thus ends the second tale.

Having told this tale the statue said to King Bhoja: "O king, if such magnanimity is found in you, then mount upon this throne."

Here ends the second story