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

216 saluted the bird, and when asked whether it was his inten- tion to return, he replied in the affirmative. The bird desired him to sit on his back as before, and in the shortest possible time he was once more transported to the abode of the royal geese, who received him with a hearty welcome, and regaled him in the best possible manner. He spent that night in their company, and the next morning, after returning suitable thanks to them, he set forward on his journey. “In a few days he arrived at the city of Badrikadar, and hastened to the hermit’s cell, who had ever some advice in store for the unfortunate Charoo. He related all that had occurred to him since his last visit, after which the hermit told him that there was a certain king in Marwar whose dominions were very extensive. ‘The black mountain into which Chitrangee has been transformed must be in his territory,’ said he; ‘go therefore to his court, in the guise of a Mahaunt,* and tell him that a new black mountain has just sprung up in his kingdom, which will daily increase, and in time not only cover his whole realm, but will also kill all the inhabitants, without a single exception. This will throw him into great consternation, and I have no doubt he will ask your advice as to what steps he ought to adopt to prevent the evil; you can then tell him he must employ a large number of masons and stonecutters to hew it down.’ Thanking the hermit for this piece of friendly advice, Charoo set out for Marwar. “When he arrived he saw the mountain situated there: it was of a jet black colour. He crossed about sixteen yojuns to the southward, and entered the king’s court, where he was very kindly received. When the counterfeit Mahaunt had represented fully the mischief that would accrue by the increase of the black mountain, the king exhibited much astonishment and fear. After in vain trying to devise in his own mind some means to avert the danger, he asked the

• A devotee.