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

230 man with much earnestness, “stay a moment!” and with- out loss of time he raised himself a little with much difficulty, and, taking a piece of stone, knocked out the jewels from where they had been placed, and held them towards the brahmin, but lo! the god had disappeared! and instead of him was seen Vishnoo, in his natural form, the rays which illuminated his countenance lighting up the whole room, who, with pleasure beaming from his eyes at the disinterestedness of the nobleman, said, “Oh, virtuous and munificent man!—ask for whatever thou wilt, without any reserve, as I am exceedingly pleased with thee for thy liberality and charitable disposition.” “Great and merci- ful being!” cried Kerna, “what pangs of hunger have I not endured! All I ask of thee now is some food, that I may appease the cravings of my stomach.” Vishnoo smiled, and said, “Thou hast been renowned during life for thy liberality in bestowing many things on the poor, but no food hast thou been known to give them: how then canst thou now expect food for thyself? But do not despair, but rely on me;—try and recollect whether thou hast on any occasion pointed with thine own hand to a place where a traveller might find food.” Kerna thanked Vishnoo for reminding him of the circumstance, and said that one day, as he was proceeding to the king’s palace in great haste, he met a travelling mendicant who asked to be directed to some place where he might obtain food and lodging for the night, and that he had pointed with his finger to a place where he doubtless procured both. Vishnoo then said, “Put into thy mouth the very same finger with which thou pointedst out the place, and thou wilt be relieved from hunger.” Kerna instantly did as he was ordered, and a delicate and nourishing juice oozed out of his finger end, which completely satisfied his hunger. He thanked Vishnoo for such a miraculous interposition, and begged hard to be allowed to live a little longer in the world, that he might gratify his desire of supplying food to the poor. Vishnoo approved highly of this desire on the part of Kerna, and