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

246 not to impose upon him so painful a task, and added, “I have travelled far and long to find you, and having so far attained my wish do not deprive me of your presence, and thus place me in uncertainty as to your fate, and the vicis- situdes attendant thereon. You cannot imagine the grief I shall experience on your account, or you would not be so cruel. Remain with me, and I may perhaps be of service to you, in enabling you to repossess yourself of your own body. I have not the least doubt that my family will be provided for during my absence.” The king replied, “You have, my dear Somedut, by what you have already done, fully established in my mind a firm belief of your integrity and honesty of purpose, and of the great love you bear for me; nothing more is wanted. It is, however, indispensably necessary that you should do what I now desire, otherwise I shall never regain my own body and my kingdom. King Gopichund is a very eminent and learned monarch; if you will sell me to him I shall cause him to offer up a certain sacrifice, by which I hope to attain my end. Moreover, I wish you and my minister to appear at Gopichund’s court this day three months, in the guise of mendicants, and at the last oblation of the sacrifice you must demand me of him. He cannot decline giving me up to you or to any other person, as the sacrifice would in that case become useless. I trust, therefore, you will see the necessity of doing as I desire you; and be sure that you and my minis- ter do not fail to be present at the time I have now appointed.” The brahmin, finding he had no alternative, at length consented, but with the greatest reluctance, and proceeded accordingly towards the city where king Gopichund lived. He carried the parrot on his hand, and in this way went from street to street throughout the town, and it so happened that he met Gopichund himself, with his retinue, returning from an airing. Gopichund, seeing the bird perched on Somedut’s hand, was struck with the beauty of its plumage, and asked him if it was for sale, and what he would take for it. The brahmin replied that the parrot was