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

14 They were bitterly complaining of their hard lot, and were loud in their bewailings ; they were heard to raise their voice and exclaim, “ Almighty Creator of all things ! consider the vast and boundless difference between the rich and the poor : while we are every day, every hour, and every mo- ment of our lives, exposed to the most harassing fatigues, painful privations, and the direst of calamities, which may be summed in the brief monosyllable ‘ want,’—want of the necessaries of life, of food and clothing for ourselves and families—want of comfort—want of everything, in short, that can make life desirable, or even tolerable,—the rich are permitted to roll in wealth, with a superfluity of all that is denied to us, and of the ‘things which are essential to life. What have these done to secure for themselves so enviable a lot, and what have we been found wanting in to deserve so much misery ? We have parted with ‘ the little we possessed, consisting of the ornaments used in our profes- sion, and which were our all, in order to procure the bare means of subsistence for to-day ; tomorrow we may meet with death staring us in the face !” Having disburdened themselves of their griefs in this wise, they laid themselves down. The parrot, who had heard every word they uttered from his lofty perch, was much affected at the affliction of the poor and wretched Bahooroopees, as expressed in their words. He deigned to address them as follows :—“ Strangers,” said he, “ whence come ye, and whither are you bound ? Pray inform me, what are your respective callings or professions, the tribes to which each belong, your countries and your religions, and your reasons for thus bewailing ?” These sympathising words, delivered also in a tone of voice peculiar for its sweetness, caused the Bahooroopees to start up and listen attentively whence the voice proceeded, but they could not discover it ; at last, after much trouble and some little delay, they saw the parrot perched up aloft on one of the furthermost branches of the tree under which they were all assembled. The chief of the company was delighted that