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

2 fragrance around the place. The rivers, lakes, and wells were full. The temples were built in the most costly man- ner, and no expense had been spared to add to their beauty and splendour. The king was greatly commended for his generosity and bravery, and all the rajahs subject to him paid him homage, and were regular in their tributes, and preserved to the very letter the terms of their treaties. The Veytal was also propitious to the monarch,—he always presented himself invisibly, when the king invoked his pre- sence. King Vickramadetea was handsome in his person, excelled in learning, and accomplished in every respect. He was well acquainted with the occult and sacred sciences, and possessed a kind and affable disposition. He loved his minister as a brother, and placed every reliance upon him. No suitor or seeker after justice ever returned from the presence of this noble monarch without realising his wish, as the king delighted to relieve, and rejoiced in such acts of justice and benevolence. It so happened, that in the midst of so much prosperity and happiness a cloud hung over the king. An able and experienced astrologer, a person of some note and reputa- tion, had appeared among them, and predicted at the time of his birth, that the king would receive his death-blow at the hands of a person born of a virgin seven years old. This, as may well be imagined, caused the monarch considerable consternation ; and when he ascended the throne he had a number of spies placed in and around the palace, and also in various parts of his dominions, with strict injunctions to watch narrowly all suspicious characters, and to bring such before him, so as by a timely warning to avert the impend- ing danger, if possible. Being apprehensive lest he should fall a victim to the threatened fate, he had his emissaries even at the courts of the petty rajahs ; and he once travelled from city to city, through forests and glens, en- quiring of all he met whether a virgin seven years old had been delivered of a son ; a journey which extended over a period of upwards of six months.