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

Mahaunt's advice, who answered thus:—' Is there not a minister or an astrologer at your majesty's court, who can by his judgment and wisdom suggest some plan? If there be none such, my advice would be that you employ immediately a large number of stonecutters and labourers to hew down the mountain, and thus save your kingdom from the utter ruin with which it is threatened. Be not apprehensive, but act as I have now suggested.' The king asked the minister why he had not mentioned to him the sudden appearance of the mountain, and appeared much enraged. The minister begged his majesty's pardon, and without any loss of time employed a great many stonecutters and others to demolish the black mountain. Next day the king set off to see it, accompanied by the Mahaunt, the minister, and some other officials, and was much astonished at its size and peculiar colour. The labourers were all very busy, cutting it away piecemeal; and there seemed a fair chance of its being speedily removed altogether, to judge from the great number of men employed. The Măhaunt was very liberally enter- tained for some time by the king and his courtiers, as a benefactor who had by his timely notice and advice saved their country from ruin. At length he asked for permission to depart, which gave the king much concern, as he would fain have retained him in the palace. With this view the king said he would confer on him the honors and emoluments of his minister, to which the Mahaunt replied, 'I have no incli- nation whatever to remain, however exalted the position you may allot to me. I was on my way to Swethbund Ramesh- wer on a pilgrimage, when I saw the great evil which was impending over your kingdom; I therefore turned from my way to acquaint you with it. It is the duty of every man to act thus when it lies in his power.' The king and his courtiers conceived a great regard and veneration for this Mahaunt, and they pressed him very much to accept diffe- rent costly presents, all of which, however, he firmly declined. The king then thanked him in the most grateful manner, and said he had been instrumental, under Providence, in cc