Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 274

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CHAPTER NINE other wishing-tree on earth except the king.' The Brāhman agreed and set out with flowers, fruit, et cetera to attend upon the king, like one who wished for jewels upon the ocean.
Now at one time Kaušāmbi was completely blockaded by the King of Campā with unlimited forces, like the sky by the rainy season with clouds. Satānika stayed inside Kaušāmbi with his army waiting for a suitable time, like a serpent in its hole. After a long time the King of Campā started with a diminished army to go to his own home in the rainy season, like a rājahansa.
At that time Seduka had gone to a garden for flowers and saw him with his diminished army like the moon at dawn with the stars without light. He went quickly to Satānika and informed him: Your enemy goes away with a diminished army, like a serpent with its fangs drawn. If you go after him now, then he can be taken easily. For even a stronger man, if exhausted, can be defeated by one who is not exhausted.'
The king approved his proposition and set out with a complete army, cruel by means of the van of the army that was powerful from a rain of arrows. Then the King of Campā's soldiers in the rear, perished unseeing. Who is able to see in the case of an unexpected stroke of lightning? The King of Campā escaped, a solitary fugitive, and the King of Kaušāmbi seized his elephants, horses, treasure, et cetera.
Satānika, delighted, entered Kaušāmbi and magnanimously said to the Brāhman Seduka, “ Tell me what to give you.' The Brāhman said to him: 'I shall make my request after I have consulted my wife. For householders there is no other source of consideration except the housewife.' Very delighted, the Brāhman told all this to his wife and she, very shrewd, thought to herself: “If I have him take a village, et cetera from the king, then he will take other wives. Surely wealth leads to pride.' 'You must ask for a daily audience, a front seat, food, and a dinar gratuity,' she