Simhasana Dvatrimsika Page 15

  Dharma and glory alone are abiding.

  “‘And further,

  This body is but temporary.

  Affluence does not last for ever.

  Death is ever imminent.

  What one should do is

  to accumulate holy merit.

  “‘Furthermore,

  Wealth is as dust upon the feet;

  youth, is as the torrent

  of a mountain stream;

  trembling like a drop of water

  is the human condition;

  and life itself is as foam.

  Dharma lifts the bar to heaven’s gate.

  One who does not follow it

  will burn in the fire of grief

  when he is struck by remorse

  and overcome by age.”

  ‘Having thus reflected, the king addressed those people: “Where are you taking this poor man?”

  “‘We are going to sacrifice him to the goddess,” they replied. “Why?” he asked. They said: “The goddess will be pleased with our offering of this man. She will then fulfil our desires.”

  “‘O you people!” said the king, “this man is so puny, and terrified to boot. What satisfaction will the goddess get from the sacrifice of his person? So, let him go. I offer myself instead. My limbs are stout and strong, and the goddess will be content with my flesh. Sacrifice me to her.”

  ‘With these words Vikramaditya freed the victim and, going up to the goddess, put his sword to his own throat. At that the deity caught hold of the sword and said: “Mighty hero, I am deeply satisfied with your steadfastness and wish to help others. Choose a boon.”

  “‘Goddess!” prayed the king, “if you are pleased with me, then renounce the sacrifice of human flesh from now.” “So be it,” the goddess said, and the people cried: “O King, you are indeed like a great tree. You do not seek comfort for yourself, but bear tribulations for the sake of others. Thus,

  The tree suffers the sharp summer heat

  upon its head, but with its shade

  it gives comfort to those

  who seek shelter under it.

  This is your nature too.

  Unmindful of your own ease,

  you endure pains every day

  for the sake of the people.”2

  ‘And the king took leave of them, and returned to his own city.’

  After recounting this story, the statuette told King Bhoja: ‘Your Majesty, sit on this throne if you too have such fortitude and magnanimity.’ But the king heard her and remained silent.

  29. The Chiromancer

  On another occasion, as King Bhoja was about to ascend the throne after making all the arrangements for his coronation, the twenty-ninth statuette spoke to him: ‘O King, only that person may sit on this throne who has the magnanimity of Vikramaditya.’

  “‘And what was that like?” asked the king. The statuette said: ‘The noble King Vikrama ruled an empire from the city of Avanti. Once a man learned in the science of chiromancy came there. He knew how to tell the past, the present and the future, and the auspicious and inauspicious portents, from the bodily marks of men and women. In the outskirts of Avanti he was wonderstruck to see a man’s footprint marked with the lotus sign.’

  “‘Is this the footprint of some king?” the chiromancer wondered. “But how can he be travelling alone and on foot? Let me go ahead and see.” Proceeding further, he saw a porter with a load of wood on his head. “Alas!” he said, downcast, “with such a mark, if this man is merely a wood-carrier, then my attempt to study the science of chiromancy has been fruitless. What is the point of going to Avanti? I will go back.”

  ‘After stopping for some time, the chiromancer thought again: “Since I have come this far, I will carry on to the capital and see what Vikramaditya is like.” So he went to Avanti and saw Vikrama in the assembly hall.

  ‘After seeing the king, the diviner was seized with a deep despair. The king was good at reading faces, and realized that the man was distressed. “O stranger,” he asked, “how is it that you have become dejected on coming here?” “Sire,” the man replied, “on the road I saw a man bearing all the marks of a king, but he was a mere porter with a load of wood. Here I see you, who rule an empire stretching to the sea, but the marks on your body are entirely unfavourable. I am therefore dismayed at the inconsistencies of my science.”

  “‘O scholar,” the king then said, “generally sciences cover both rules and exceptions. You should consider carefully what is the rule and what is the exception in this case.” The chiromancer marvelled at his words. “How deep is the king’s understanding,” he reflected, “and how sweet is his speech and powerful his comprehension!” Recapitulating all chiromancy in essence, he said: ‘O King, this science describes in general numerous attributes of men and women, denoting both favourable and unfavourable portents. But this is the exception: even if there is every auspicious mark on a person’s body, they are all rendered invalid should there be a mark like a crow’s foot on the palate.”

  ‘On hearing this the king had the wood-carrier brought to the assembly. A cake of cornmeal was placed on his palate, and this established a crow’s foot there. “Is there any other exception?” the king asked. “If someone’s body has all the inauspicious marks, they would nevertheless count as favourable if the intestines from that person’s left side are spotted,” the chiromancer replied. Drawing out his dagger to test this, as the king was about to rip open the left side of his own abdomen, the chiromancer restrained his hand. “Do not be so audacious, O King,” he said. “The intestines inside your belly are bound to be spotted, otherwise how could you have such fortitude and heroic courage? For,

  Wealth is reflected in one’s bones,

  happiness in the flesh,

  indulgence in the skin,

  travel in the gait, and

  authority in one’s voice.

  But all depends on heroic courage.”

  ‘Thus, O King,’ the statuette concluded, ‘if you have such heroism and fortitude, then you may sit on this throne.’

  30. The Magician’s Reward

  The thirtieth ancient statuette addressed Bhoja when he came again to ascend the excellent throne. ‘O King,’ she said, ‘sit on this throne if you have the generosity and the other virtues like Vikrama.’ ‘O statue,’ replied the king, ‘tell me a tale of his generosity.’

  ‘Listen, Majesty,’ said the statuette. ‘Once King Vikrama was seated upon the throne, attended by all the nobles and the princes. At that time there came a magician who, after giving him the benediction, “Live for ever!” said, “Sire, you are acquainted with all the arts. Many magicians have come before you and displayed their skills. Be kind enough to view my expertise today.” “We do not have time now,” the king told him, “it is already time to bathe and to eat. We will see it in the morning.”

  ‘The king attended the assembly on the following morning, together with all the nobles who had come to wait on him. As the courtiers smiled, looking at the magician who had presented himself, and wondering what unprecedented artifice he would exhibit, another personage entered the royal council chamber and saluted the king.

  ‘The new arrival was a giant of a man, with a great beard and a radiant face. He carried a sword in his hand, and was accompanied by an extremely attractive woman. Young and beautiful, she was dressed in a garment of Chinese silk decorated with designs, and a scarf fragrant with camphor and betel over her breast. The couple’s deportment was in keeping with their class and appearance as they stood before the king.

  “‘Who are you?” asked the king. “I am a servant of Indra,” the man replied. “He cursed me once, so I wander on the earth. This is my wife. A war has now begun between the gods and the demons, O King, and I am going there. Let this lovely girl stay with Your Majesty till I return. A woman is a great treasure that should never be left in anyone’s power. But Your Majesty has an immaculate reputation for being a brother to other men’s wives, and so I decided to leave her with y
ou. In the spirit of helping others, you must guard my wife with every care.”

  ‘The man then departed, flying up into the sky with his weapon, while the magician remained standing and everyone looked on. As he disappeared from view there was a terrible shouting in the sky, “Kill! Kill! Strike! Strike!” and all the people seated in the assembly craned their necks, looking upwards with great curiosity. Within moments the man’s bloodstained arm and sword fell from the sky in the middle of the royal assembly hall. “Alas, this hero has been slain by the opposing warriors in the battle!” everyone said. “One of his arms with the sword has fallen here!” And even as the assemblage spoke thus, the head also feel down, followed by the torso.

  ‘The woman had also seen this. “Sire,” she cried out to the king, “My husband has been killed by his enemies, fighting on the field of battle. His head, his sword arm, and even his trunk have fallen here. I must go to my beloved before he is claimed by the heavenly nymphs. Please provide me with fire.”

  “‘My girl,” the king replied “why should you burn yourself? I will look after you like my own daughter. Preserve your body.” “What is this you say, sire!” she retorted. “My master, for whom this body existed, has been felled in the battle field by enemy warriors. For whom will I preserve it now? Moreover, you should not speak thus. Even mindless people know that a woman follows her husband. Thus,

  Moonlight goes with the moon,

  lightning merges in the cloud,

  and women follow the husband.

  This is admitted even by the mindless.”1

  ‘She then fell at the king’s feet, begging that a fire be provided. He tried to dissuade her many times, but the beauty loved her lord and would not relent. She arranged straightaway a wooden pyre, distributed her personal effects and ornaments to deserving people, and forcefully entered the fire with the body of her beloved.

  ‘While the king was mourning the couple’s death, in that very moment the warrior suddenly appeared from somewhere. As before, he was gigantic, radiant of face, and armed with a sword. Coming up to the king, he put round his neck a garland of flowers from the celestial wishing tree, on which bees greedy for pollen were still swarming. He then conveyed a message from Indra, and began to give all kinds of information about the battle.

  ‘The entire assembly was stricken with astonishment at this arrival. The king was amazed. ‘Your Majesty,” said the warrior, “I went from here to heaven. There was a mighty battle there between great Indra and the demons. Many of the latter were killed, and some ran away. At the end of the battle the king of the gods graciously told me: ‘Commander, I am seeing you after long. Where were you all this time?’ ‘I spent all these days on earth on account of the master’s curse,’ I replied. ‘But on learning that the master was going to war with the demons, I came here to be of help.”’

  “‘Great Indra was very pleased. ‘O commander,’ he said, ‘from now onwards you need not stay on earth. Your curse is ended. I am delighted with you. Take this bracelet of gold, studded with the nine gems.’ And taking off the bracelet from his own wrist he placed it himself in my hands. ‘Master,’ I then told him, ‘at the time of coming here I left my wife with Vikramaditya. I will fetch her and return immediately.’ So I have come. You are a brother to the wives of other men. Give back my wife, and I will return with her to heaven.”

  ‘The king was speechless with amazement. “O King,” the warrior said again, “why are you silent?” Those sitting nearby said: “She entered the fire with her husband.” “But I am alive!” the man exclaimed, “with whom did she enter the fire? You are the king’s servants. You only speak his mind. It is well said about appointed officials,

  “Whether it is lawful or not,

  whatever the king says,

  that his retainers echo,

  word for word.”

  ‘The king was totally at a loss for a reply. But, after thinking for a moment the wise Vikramaditya made up his mind and uttered a verse:

  “How clever is the application

  of learning which makes even

  the false appear as true.

  ‘All the courtiers were wonderstruck on hearing the king. “What is this that the master says?” they thought, without understanding its purport. But the warrior said: “Your Msgesty, my wife is in your harem. Tell me if I may bring her out.” “Bring her,” replied the king, and he brought his wife from the inner apartment, and took his place before the monarch who hung his head. Then spoke the magician: “O King! O best of kings and brother to other men’s wives! O King Vikrama, wish-fulfiller of all supplicants! Live for ever! I am a magician, and I have displayed to you this feat of the science of magic.

  ‘The king was filled with wonder. At that moment there came his treasurer and said: “Master, the king of Pāndya has sent his tribute to Your Majesty.” “What has he sent?” the king asked. “Listen with care, master,” said the treasurer,

  Eighty millions of gold,

  ninety-three measures of pearls,

  fifty load bearing elephants,

  the odour of whose rut attracts

  the bees, three hundred horses,

  and a hundred slave girls

  skilled in all the arts:

  this is what the Pāndyan king

  has sent for His Majesty,

  the illustrious King Vikrama.”

  “‘O treasurer,” the king said, “give all this to the magician.” And it was so given.’

  After telling this story, the statuette said to King Bhoja: ‘Your Majesty, sit on this throne if you have such generosity.’ And the king remained silent.

  31. The Genie’s Tale

  Bhoja had brought the earth under his supreme sway. Wishing once again to ascend the excellent throne, he approached the thirty-first statuette. ‘King Bhoja,’ she said, ‘you may have the pleasure of mounting this throne only if you possess the daring of Vikramaditya.’

  ‘Tell me, beautiful one, what was his daring like?’ the worthy monarch asked. ‘Listen, O King,’ said the statuette. ‘During Vikramaditya’s reign a yogi once came to see him in the assembly. He was a digambara, one who goes naked. All his limbs were sprinkled with ash, and on his forehead he bore the triple mark,1 also in ash. He wore clogs of gemstone on his feet, and looked a veritable Śiva, the repository of all knowledge. The high-minded king marvelled at seeing him, and greeted him with all honours.

  ‘The naked yogi placed a fruit in the king’s hands after pronouncing a benediction:

  May the Lord Vishnu, devotion to whom

  is the price of salvation even as the bridal fee

  is for marrying a maiden, fulfill the wishes

  of Your Majesty, his devotee.

  ‘Sitting down, he then said: “O King, I am going to perform a fire sacrifice in the great cemetery on the fourteenth day of the dark half, that is the moonless night, of the month of Mārgaśīrsha.2 Your Majesty is a benefactor of others and the greatest of heroes. So you must be my assistant on this occasion.

  “‘What will I be required to do?” asked the king. “Not far from the cemetery is a śamī tree,” the naked one said, “and on it lives a genie. You will need to bring him to me,3 maintaining complete silence.” The king promised to do this.

  ‘On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight the ascetic collected the material for the fire sacrifice and took position in the great cemetery. The king also went there at midnight. He was shown the way to the śami tree and, getting to it, he put the corpse possessed by the genie on his shoulder. As he was returning to the cemetery, the genie said: “O King, tell a story to relieve the travail of this journey.” But the king said nothing, for he feared he would break the silence. “O ruler,” the genie spoke again, “you are not telling a story as you fear to break the silence. So I will recount one instead. At its end, if you do not reply to my question for the same reason even though you know the answer, your head will burst into a thousand pieces.” The genie then narrated:

  The Balance of Virtu
e

  ‘On the southern side of the Himalaya is a city called Vindhyavati. There reigned a king named Suvichāra, who had a son, Jayasena. The latter once went to the forest to hunt. Pursuing an elephant he saw there, he entered a dense jungle through which he somehow found the way back to the city. While he was returning alone, he noticed a river in the middle of the forest.

  ‘A brahmin was performing his midday devotions there. The foolish prince addressed him with arrogance: “Brahmin, hold my horse till I drink water and come back. Do it straightaway, right now itself.” Spoken to in this way, the brahmin retorted angrily; “Prince, am I your servant to hold your horse? Is it because of ignorance or affluence, pride or youth, or some perversity of princely passion that you speak thus?” The king’s son was incensed, and, consumed by the pride of youth, he struck the brahmin with his whip. Smarting under the lash, the noble brahmin went to the palace gate and raised an outcry.

  ‘The king was sitting on the seat of judgement. He called the brahmin and listened to the entire story about his wicked son. Eyes red with anger, he cursed his offspring with many a harsh word, and instructed his minister: “Exile him from the state for assaulting a brahmin. This is an irrevocable order. Carry it out.”

  ‘The minister knew his duties and was skilled in executing orders. “Sire,” he said on this occasion, “the prince is now competent to bear the burdens of government. Why are you exiling him from the country? This will not be proper.” “It is proper, minister,” said the king. “It will be appropriate because he struck the brahmin’s person with a whip. Intelligent people should not incur the enmity of brahmins. It is said,

  A wise person does not eat poison,

  nor play with serpents.

  Nor should he censure yogis

  or antagonize brahmins.