Wishing once again to ascend the great throne of Indra, King Bhoja came up to the thirty-second statuette, who surpassed all men in her extraordinary shrewdness. She clapped her hands and burst into laughter, saying: ‘Great king, you have tremendous persistence in wanting to mount the throne of such a prince.’ ‘What was he like, good lady? Tell me,’ said the monarch. ‘Listen, O King,’ she replied, her teeth sparkling like brilliant camphor, ‘to a tale of high virtue of that man of accomplishment.
‘When Bhartrihari became an ascetic, and retired to the forest1, renouncing his kingdom which was rich with grain and treasure, King Vikramaditya took it over with the consent of all the ministers. Adorned with rare qualities, he ruled the land well, demonstrating constant righteousness and pleasing all the people, so that his fame spread throughout the world.
‘The son of a merchant from a neighbouring village once came to trade in Avanti. Amazed to see the conditions there, he told his father on his return: “Father, whatever merchandise comes to Avanti is all purchased swiftly by its people; that which remains is bought in its entirety by nightfall by the king to prevent any aspersion that no one buys the things which come to the city.”
‘The father was a sharp operator. After listening to his son, he had an image made of iron, and named it Poverty. Then he went with it to Avanti, and stood on the highway, telling whoever asked him: “This is Poverty, which I have brought here for sale. The price is one thousand dīnāras.”
‘The image of Poverty had no takers whatsoever. But, in accordance with the king’s orders, his officers took it in the evening after paying the price. Poverty was then placed in the treasury.
‘The arrival of Poverty was noticed by the king’s sevenfold Royal Fortune. That night Fortune appeared before the king in her septuple form, adorned with tinkling jewelled girdles and garlands. He got up hastily to propitiate the deity with bows and salutations, saying:
“Hail to Fortune! With her there,
all virtues are as good as present also;
and with her departure,
they too are as good as gone.
Hail forever to Fortune2,
the ornament of the earth,
for engendering whom the ocean
is called the repository of jewels.
“Hail to Fortune, by union with whom
Krishna became renowned in the three worlds,
and whose offspring is Kāma,
the delighter of people.”
‘After praising her thus, the king enquired of Fortune why she had come in person. “King,” she replied, “I am going away as Poverty has come into your treasury.” “Goddess! Do not go!” the king exclaimed. “All the pleasures of this world depend upon your grace!” “In no way can I stay where Poverty exists,” said Fortune. On hearing this, the king said: “Since the image of Poverty has been accepted by me, it must remain accepted. There are no two ways about it. If you must go, then go.” And Fortune went away.’
‘Then, within moments, there arrived Discrimination. “O King,” said he, “we cannot stay where Poverty exists. Fortune has gone. I too am going.” And though the king pressed him to stay, he also took leave and departed.’
‘Again, within moments, there came Courage, and said to the king: “We cannot stay where Poverty exists. That is why Fortune and Discrimination have already gone. You and I have long been intimate. But now I have come to take leave, for I too must go.”
‘The king was perturbed. “Alas,” he said to himself, “If Courage leaves man, then what is left? For,
Let Fortune go, she is fickle by nature;
let merits leave, with Discrimination
at their head; let Life depart too,
it is ever set to do so; but let
no man be forsaken by Courage.
“‘O Courage,” he then cried, “let even all the others go away, but you must not.” “O King,” Courage replied, ‘In no way can I stay when Poverty is there.” “In that case,” said the king, “here is my head! Take it too. For, what is the use of living without you!” And, drawing his sword, as he was about to cut off his head, Courage caught hold of his hand.
‘Then Courage remained with Vikrama, and his companions, Fortune and Discrimination, came back. Therefore, O King, sit on this throne if you have such courage.’
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