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

188 when the king proposed that she should marry ; and with that view ordered his minister to repair, with a suitable retinue, to the courts of various neighbouring princes, to seek for a personage of befitting rank and position to become the husband of Chitrangee. He also sent several other officers on a like errand. They were engaged in this way for several years, but no eligible consort could be found for the princess. They therefore returned to court, and acquainted the king with the unsuccessful result of their mission, at which he was extremely grieved, and thrown into consider- able anxiety. While he was revolving in his mind what he should next do, the princess, observing the mood he was in, presented herself before her father, and begged him in such moving terms to make her acquainted with the cause of his apparent distress, that he could not refrain from opening his mind to her. ‘My lord,’ said she, ‘be not grieved that you have not been able to procure a fit personage to become my partner for life. Permit me to propose a plan which I trust will prove successful, and ensure the realisa- tion of your wishes. I am sensible of your paternal love and affection, which have for their aim the promotion of my happiness. The scheme I would propose is this : let a large, round, and smooth wooden pillar be erected ; on its top let one thousand small bundles be fastened, in a single row, and under each of these bundles place a ruby. The person who claims my hand in marriage must first climb to the top of the pillar and remove each of the rubies separately from under its respective bundle, and then give me an exact account of the Chitrakoot mountain, as I am very desirous to become acquainted with it. The person who acquits himself of this task to my satisfaction shall be my husband, of whatever degree or condition in life he may be, even if he be poor or deformed. Your majesty need only write notices to this effect, and publish them far. and wide, besides sending them to all the courts you can think of. I am sure the greatest men and princes will attend, if not on my account, at least for the sake of