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

203 last grand entertainment, which hospitality Charoo could not well refuse, so he consented. Next day the birds regaled him on the choicest and most delicate fruits, and in the evening he took his leave and set out on his return. The birds accompanied him a great distance, and expressed much sorrow and many good wishes at parting. “Charoo travelled with all haste to the city of Badrika- dar: on approaching the cottage of the hermit he went in, and communicated to him his success, at the same time returning him sincere and heartfelt thanks for the valuable information he had given him; and on the following day, having received the hermit’s blessing, he renewed his jour- ney. In a few days he arrived safely at the court of the king of Kanchunpoory, who instantly recognised him, and received him with every demonstration of pleasure and a right hearty welcome. He led him to the apartment of the princess, who expressed as much joy at his return as if he were already her lawful husband. ‘Dear Charoo,’ said she, ‘I do not know how I shall be able to prove to you my gratitude for so great a regard as you have shown for me in the hazardous task you have performed. I see from your face that you have succeeded. Please, then, disclose to me all you know. I am so impatient to hear it that I have not known a moment's rest since you left us, and I have been continually watching for your return. Let me now have the pleasure of listening to your adventures, in which there must be a great deal of the wonderful.’ Charoo, being thus pressed, after acknowledging her love and sympathy, began his narrative. He had related about two- thirds, when the princess desired him to stop, saying she was perfectly satisfied, and declaring to the king her inten- tion of receiving Charoo for her husband forthwith. Preparations were accordingly made, in a style befitting the occasion, for the celebration of the marriage. “Had the Princess Chitrangee heard the whole relation of Charoo’s adventures, she could not have fulfilled her promise of marrying him, as she would on the instant have