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

180 themselves at the expense of the king, set out on their respective journeys. Moheeny likewise bestowed her charity very liberally on others who had assisted her in the cele- bration. That day seemed very long to the king, so impa- tient was he to enjoy the society of the beautiful female who had tantalised him so long. It was scarcely dusk, when he sent for Shambae to carry a message from him to Moheeny. "Prince Sewdass and his companion Hurridass, having taken some refreshment in Moheeny's apartment, were engaged in concerting plans of escape. In the mean time Moheeny sent for Shambae, and said to her, 'Good mother, the vow I made to secure the king for my husband has been fulfilled by your kind aid, for which I cannot sufficiently thank you. I shall ever remember it with feelings of gratitude.' Saying this, Moheeny approached her, and, holding her hand, respectfully forced her to sit down on a raised seat. No sooner was the widow seated than Moheeny shut the door of the apartment, and Hurri- dass beckoned to the prince to lose no time. 'Take the bar, and worship first the widow's head and then her feet,' said he. The hint was immediately taken by the prince, who got up, and, taking the bar, struck the widow on the head with such force that she fell dead without a groan. He repeated the blow in his fury, though Shambae showed no sign of life. Hurridass then rapidly collected all the treasure, among which he found the paduck* which Moheeny had lost, and having made it into a bundle, he put on the invaluable clogs, took Sewdass and Moheeny one on each shoulder, muttered the charm that had been taught him by the hermit, and they were immediately transported back to the cave. The prince was lost in surprise at the miraculous aid afforded by the clogs, and thanked Hurridass for his kindness and the trouble he had taken in saving them from the danger they had just escaped. Moheeny set about relating to them all that had occurred to her subsequent to

• The centre diamond.