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

231

told him that he would obtain another life in the person of Shreeyal, after which Vishnoo disappeared.’ The Rishee, having ended this recital, added that the fame of Kerna had not become extinct even to that day. He again recommended Charoo to start immediately for the city of Shree Ramashwer, where he said he would obtain what he desired. Charoo accordingly set out, after partaking of a slight repast, and thanking the hermit most sincerely for his friendly advice. “ Charoo travelled along for many days until he arrived at the holy city, and a long and very tedious journey it proved to be. The first thing he did on his arrival was to perform his ablutions in the sea, and he afterwards visited the temple dedicated to Shree Ramashwer, where he worshipped the idol with much reverence and sincerity. He then formed an establishment in the most eligible locality, engaged men to prepare rich food and confec- tionaries, and invited daily a number of holy and devout brahmins to partake of them ; he likewise distributed a sufficient quantity anong the poor and indigent, and a further quantity was also daily thrown into the sea, in the name of God, for the fishes ; in short, he did all he had been instructed to do by the hermit. He continued this for a whole month, and at length the fishes who were fed daily assembled together in the sea, and resolved to recom- pense their benefactor to the utmost of their power.* They decided that their chief should assume the human form, and present himself before their friend and benefactor. Accordingly, when Charoo came one day, as usual, to the beach to throw the food into the sea, the chief of the fishes came up and asked him how he could serve him, in return for his daily and profuse liberality to them. Charoo, not knowing his interrogator, passed him unnoticed, and after throwing in the food, bent his steps back to his dwelling. The chief, observing this, approached Charoo a second time, and made himself known, adding that if he refused them the satisfaction of showing their gratitude in some way,