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

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upon. Their carriage and demeanour were so much in keeping with their garbs, and they presented such an apt personification of devotion and a religious life, that the most renowned of the priests and devotees received them with every mark of respect and deference, placing them on two seats immediately fronting the sacrificial pit. The time having at length arrived for the great sacrifice, Bhutty and Somedut burned incense, and offered up sweet perfumes, with other ingredients of a like nature, as prescribed by the Hindu rites. Gopichund having performed the last oblation, Bhutty and Somedut advanced towards him, and, after bestowing their joint blessings on him, addressed him in these words :—“ O king !—we have travel- led an immense distance to assist at this great sacrifice, and we are sanguine that after what we have seen performed you will not hesitate to grant the request we are about to prefer to you. It is this conviction of your acquiescence to our wishes which emboldens us to address you, and by your compliance you will most assuredly secure to yourself the merit of genuine piety, and a strict regard to the dictates of your faith and religion.” The king said, “ O revered mendicants !—I am ready and willing to meet your wishes so far as it lies in my power; be pleased therefore to let me know your desire.” “ Your majesty,” said they, “ possesses a parrot of rare acquirements; we wish to obtain possession of it, in preference to anything else that it is in your royal power to bestow. We demand the bird in charity, and will feel ourselves richly remunerated,--far more so than if you had deigned to bestow half your king- dom upon us.” The king appeared greatly disconcerted at this request, for he valued the parrot almost as dearly as he did his own life. It had nearly the same effect on him as if a poisoned arrow had lodged in his heart, for he fainted and fell heavily to the ground. His minister, who was present, raised him up, and applied restoratives, which brought him back to consciousness. He advised the king not to allow himself to be thus afflicted, as it tended to