When King Bhoja approached the throne once again in order to mount it, the eighth statuette addressed him: ‘O King, you may mount this throne only when you have an abundance of heroic daring like Vikramaditya.’ At these words the king’s mind was filled with curiosity. He asked about this heroism, and the statuette replied: ‘Through his spies King Vikrama would learn all about various interesting and wonderful incidents and other marvellous accounts from all over the world. It is said:
Cattle perceive through their sense of smell,
brahmins through the scriptures,
and kings through their spies;
other people perceive merely
through their two eyes.
‘Listen, Your Majesty, when one is a king, it becomes necessary to know fully the condition of the people and the mood prevailing everywhere. The people should be nurtured, the wicked punished, and the good protected. The collection of revenue should be just, and the treatment of petitioners equal. These indeed are five sacred rites for kings. As it is said:
Punishing the wicked;
honouring the good;
augmenting the treasury justly;
impartiality among petitioners;
and protection of the realm:
these five are called
the king’s acts of worship.
What use are prayers by a king
who oppresses his subjects? His prayers,
rosaries and fire sacrifices consist in ensuring
that no tears are shed in the country.
‘When Vikrama ruled thus, two of his spies once returned to the royal presence after having travelled round the world. Questioned by the king, they said: “Your Majesty, there is a certain very wealthy merchant in the land of Kashmir. He had a reservoir for water dug with an extent of ten miles, and a temple to the god Nārāyaṇa the Waterborne erected in the middle. But water does not stay in this tank. The merchant had brahmins perform a fourfold sacrifice to the water god Varuna with libations and the rest in order to get the tank filled; but even then the water would not stay.
“‘The merchant was dejected. He would sit every day on the side of the tank, heaving sighs: ‘Alas, the water does not stay here. No method works at all. All this labour has been in vain.’ Once, while he was sitting thus, a supernatural voice was heard from the sky: ‘What is this, merchant’s son? Why do you heave sighs? This tank will have clear water only when it is sprinkled with blood from the neck of a man with the thirty-two auspicious marks, and not otherwise.’
“‘On hearing these words, the merchant immediately applied his mind and thought of a method for accomplishing what he wanted. He had statues made with seven million pieces of gold as the price of blood from the neck of a man bearing the thirty-two marks, and got them set up by the side of the tank with a verse inscribed on a stone pillar there:
If someone bearing the auspicious marks
will sprinkle this tank with blood from
his own neck, these statues of gold are his.
“‘This message has been seen by everyone,” said the spies, “but none at all will accept such a heroic challenge. This is the great marvel we saw.”
‘This king’s curiosity was aroused immediately on hearing this account, and he proceeded with the two spies to the merchant’s reservoir. The temple of the waterborne god was located at its centre, and replicated well the building skill of Viśvakarmā, the divine architect. On eight sides of the temple were eight images of Bhairava, and those of Lambodara and other deities were placed on the border. The Lord of Dance, who is the beloved of the goddess Chandikā was also installed there, his circling arms flung out in a fierce tānḍava whirl.1 In front of the temple was to be seen a glistening stone pillar, fifty hands in height including the pedestal, with a beautiful image of the god Vishnu as a boar on the top. The god Parameśvara was located at a point on the bridge along with twenty-four other images set up in the same place. Food offerings, mainly cakes, were freely distributed at the temple, and the seven golden statues with the inscribed verse had been placed at its front.
‘King Vikramaditya himself saw the enormous reservoir and the enchanting tall temple of Vishnu the Waterborne. Marvelling greatly, he said to himself: “If I sprinkle the blood from my neck in this tank, it will get filled with water. This will benefit all people. It is a time of glory for me today, that I am in a position to help others. This body is bound to perish. Who knows what will happen, and when? Meanwhile I must fill this tank. Life is transitory, but fame abides as long as the moon and the stars.”
‘Vikrama then went into the sanctum of the temple before him, and offered worship and salutations to Vishnu the Waterborne. “O god of the waters,” he cried, “you desire blood from the neck of a man with the thirty-two auspicious marks. Be now satisfied with this blood from my neck, and fill this tank with water.” And as he then put the sword to his throat, the god held the blade, and said: “I am pleased with you, O hero. Choose a boon.”
“‘If you are satisfied,” the king responded, “then make this tank full of water for the benefit of all. But this, and my coming here, should not be known by anyone.” “What depth of character and magnanimity does this man have!” said the god on hearing Vikrama’s reply. And the king returned to his capital. In the morning the people rejoiced to see the tank full, and the golden statues still standing there. “O how has this water come here!” they kept saying.’
After telling this tale, the statuette said to King Bhoja: ‘Your Majesty, sit on this throne if you are also possessed of such magnanimity, benevolence, heroism, worth and similar virtues.’