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

161 procure this Pudmini* for him. The minister was astounded at this unreasonable demand; his duty, however, was to obey; so he despatched couriers in different direc- tions, to seek for information, with instructions that if they found a person answering the description given them, to bring her without delay to court. The minister himself proceeded to an island called Jumboo-Dweep,† where a woman was said to have been seen of such beauty and qualifications as to entitle her to the designation of Pud- mini,—at least so the minister was informed. He searched for her, however, in vain. After his fruitless search he returned to the city, as did also the couriers from the other quarters. The king was much grieved to learn the unsuc- cessful termination of his minister’s journey, which only added to his passion, instead of in any way tending to lessen it. His malady increased to such an extent that he abstained almost altogether from food and rest. The minis- ter was the only person who during this period conducted the business of the state; and though he was just and forbearing, yet the people began to show signs of dissatis- faction at the continued absence of the king for no other reason than that he was indulging in a morbid passion for an unknown person. “Things were in this state when a widow named Sham- bae, who was cook to the royal household, hearing of his majesty’s indisposition, presented herself before him, saying, ‘May it please your majesty, I think I can find a way to cure you, if you will let me know the cause of your indis- position,—how your majesty has become so stricken, and what has made this strong impression upon you.’ The king gave her a particular account of all that had occurred to him relative to the diamond he had purchased a short time ago from, as he thought, a citizen in reduced circum-

• The first of the four classes into which women are said to be divided. † The central division of the world; according to some, India. V