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

CHAPTER XIV. Continuation of the tale—Being interrupted by the Princess Pudma- vutty, Veytal relates the story of the Angel of the Sea and the Two Birds. “IT would be difficult to conceive the extent of the grief which weighed down Charoo at being compelled to refuse the generous and disinterested offer his father-in-law had made him—that of the crown and the hand of his youngest daughter Soondra.* As he wended his lonely way in pro- secution of his journey, he scarcely noticed external objects, so fully absorbed was he in contemplation of past events, and of the bereavement under which he was then suffering. His days were spent in tears and lamentations, and his nights in restless inquietude. The image of his wife was ever before his eyes; and he travelled along for a time without any settled purpose, and without knowing whither he went. At length he collected his scattered thoughts, and directed his steps towards the city of Badrikadar. Having arrived there, he hastened to the hermit’s cell, there to unburden himself of his load of grief, in the hope of finding relief. He prostrated himself, as was customary, at the hermit’s feet, and then at once entered into a relation of his distressing case, at the conclusion of which he besought the venerable man’s advice. The hermit, after a long silence, during which he carefully weighed in his mind the circumstances related, directed Charoo to visit once more the friendly geese, and by their aid make another journey to the Chitrakoot mountain, where he would doubtlessly discover a solution of the mystery in which the sudden death of the princess his wife was shrouded, and

• Signifying, Handsome. BB