विक्रम चरित (उज्जैन सम्राट् विक्रमादित्य - पराक्रम, न्याय एवं ३२ पुतलियों की कथा सटीक)

116 clothes brown, converted his dress into that of a devotee, and went roaming about different countries, in the exercise of penance and religious duties. “The princess in the mean time had gone far on her travels. One hot day, as she was leisurely proceeding along, she overheard an altercation between two young men. They were pupils of an ascetic, who, before he died, a short time previous, had bequeathed three different articles to them, which were to be equally divided. They could not, however, come to an amicable settlement as regarded the partition of the bequest. They were yet disputing when the princess, still in disguise, happened to ride past them. They resolved to appeal to her, which was accordingly done. Nearly in the same breath they unfolded to her the cause of their dispute. The princess desired to know what were the three things which had been left to them by their tutor; upon which they produced a wallet, a bowl or plate, and a pair of wooden shoes. The princess then asked them to inform her of the use of these articles. In their simplicity they told her that the plate, if duly reverenced and entreated, would yield forthwith an abundance of shoodpukwan,* that the wallet would produce any amount of gold, and that the shoes would transport their owner to any part of the world on his merely expressing the wish. Malattee, on hearing this explanation, said that she could not pronounce any judgment unless they agreed to abide by it, and to do as she would bid them. Being desirous to put an end to their contention, they at once consented to this, whereupon she pointed to a tree at a distance, and said, ‘He who returns first to me after running to that tree and touching it, shall become the possessor of two of these articles, and the other shall take the remaining one for his share.’ They agreed to this, and, placing the three articles in the hands of their umpire, started away at their utmost speed towards the tree. When they had placed a good distance between them and the princess, the latter, availing herself of the

• Pure confectionery.