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

272 infirm that he began to lay aside all thoughts of further gain, and thought it advisable to settle his worldly affairs by apportioning his property to his sons. Being wise and discreet, he made his arrangements in a very judicious manner: he buried, under one of the corner-posts of the cot whereon he slept, a quantity of rice-husks, under the second some clay, under the third a sheet of paper, and under the fourth a quantity of coals. Some time after, as he found his illness was fast gaining upon him, and that he had but a short time to live, he called his three sons to his bed-side, and said to them, "My dear children, I have bequeathed my property to you in equal shares. I have buried all that I die possessed of under the cot which now supports me. The eldest is to receive what I have buried under the two posts at the head of the cot, the next that which is under the right-hand post at the foot, and the youngest that which is under the left-hand post; but I hope you will not, until after my decease, separate yourselves from me, nor have any interest apart from mine. I trust you will always endeavour to acquire a good reputation, and take delight in assisting others. Those who derive their enjoyments from such noble sources, deserve admira- tion and applause, and will most assuredly secure them." Soon after instructing them in this wise, the old man expired. The three brothers, having with all due reverence and respect performed the last sad rites for their father, lived together in the greatest harmony and love. Some time after, a slight altercation took place between them, and they each and all determined to share their father's legacy, which was buried under the corner-posts of the cot. With this view they entered the chamber, and dug up the ground, but what was their surprise when, instead of gold, as they had all along expected, they found nothing but what has been already mentioned! "Alas!" said they, "how sanguine were we that our father had in store for us some valuable treasure, such as gold, silver, and precious stones, of which we knew him to be possessed, and here we have