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

125 One day he arrived at a city called Vodajagonath,* which is a very curious place. He resided there for a year, during which time he met with the same wicked thief who had deprived him of his affectionate Malattee. It happened that as the thief and the prince were seated a little apart from each other in a garden, near some mango trees, a ripe fruit fell just at the feet of the thief, who, without cleaning himself or rising from his seat, raised the mango to his mouth with his hands, and ate it. Prince Soomunt was much surprised at this, as their religion did not admit of such a practice. He therefore addressed the thief. 'Well, friend,' said he, 'you appear as a religious mendicant, and yet have eaten the mango without cleaning yourself. How unmeaning is your garb, then! You are a disgrace to the whole race of mendicants!' The thief replied, 'Friend, some time ago I had the unexpected good fortune of obtain- ing from an usurper an inestimable jewel, in the shape of the most handsome and amiable young lady my eyes ever beheld. I conducted her to my own city, but, before I could introduce her to my dwelling, she played me a sorry trick. I was fool enough to believe all she said, and thus, by my own folly, I destroyed all my hopes of future hap- piness.' In short, he related the whole occurrence to Soomunt, and in conclusion observed, 'I ate the mango in the manner you observed, lest I should be deprived of it as I was of my former prize.' The prince heard him out, with every symptom of disgust and abhorrence, and the thief, after he had done speaking, observing the manner in which his explanation was received, thought it unsafe to remain any longer in that place; he therefore arose and departed on his journey. The prince remained for awhile meditating on the ill luck that had befallen him, for, from what the thief had just told him he was inclined to believe, and did believe, that Malattee was the jewel he had spoken of. He was now satisfied that Malattee had not returned

• The name of the celebrated idol worshipped in Orissa, on the Coromandel coast.