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

260 there ; and on the princes and nobles he bestowed ornaments, apparel, elephants, horses, and other costly articles; in a word, he treated them with profuse liberality, and feasted them with great magnificence. Before they parted, the religious men bestowed their blessings on the king, and the princes and nobles made professions of never-dying friendship and gratitude. Thus ended the great sacrificial day. Bhutty and Somedut no sooner became possessed of the parrot than they commenced their homeward journey, and did not slacken their pace until they reached Oojein, some few days after. In the evening, after dark, Bhutty took the parrot in his hand and went into the apartment of the queen (Vickramadetea's wife) without the knowledge of the wicked Koobjuck the usurper, and informed her in a few words of his object in visiting her at such an unusual hour. On hearing the welcome intelligence of the near presence of her lord and master, she was transported with joy. She requested him to acquaint her with the particulars of his visit to the court of Gopichund, the renowned monarch. It was indeed affecting to witness the eager inquiry which marked every feature of the queen, and the intense interest with which she listened to the minister; and how much the more when she found that her lord, in the guise of the parrot, still retained the use of his speech!—for he entered into a relation of all that had happened to him since he first set out from his palace. Great was the affection she displayed towards the parrot,—her humble demeanour towards him was exactly that of a loving wife to her husband. At the end of the relation she addressed herself thus to the bird:—"My lord and husband!—will you be pleased to instruct me how I can help you to regain your own body? The space of six months which I have demanded at the hands of the wicked Koobjuck, before I admit him into my apartment, will expire to-morrow, and he has promised to show me then the miracle of transmigration. He has not, since the day on which he vainly strove by every means at his command to make me subservient to his pleasure, held