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

279 When the king returned to his court, after the labours of the day, he found a messenger waiting there from King Vickramadetea, to enquire whether any virgin had been delivered of a male child in any part of Somekaunt's dominions. The king informed this messenger, who was an officer of Vickramadetea's household, of the story of the three brothers, and how he had been enabled to decide it by the aid of Shalivahan, together with the circumstances which had attended the birth of the latter, and directed him to lose no time in communicating the whole story to Vickramadetea. The officer returned in haste to his sovereign, and informed him of all these particulars, adding that Shalivahan was then thirteen years old. King Vickramadetea, on hearing this, was struck to the heart, being fully under the impression that, in accordance with the prediction, his life would shortly be sacrificed by this youth. It occurred to him that perhaps it was so willed by the Supreme Ruler of the universe, as the period of his earthly existence was now, in the usual course of nature, drawing to a close. He despatched a messenger, instantly with a letter to King Somekaunt, requesting that he would send Shalivahan to his court with as little delay as possible, being very desirous of seeing him. The messenger reached his destination in due time, and delivered his master's epistle to King Somekaunt, who stated in reply that he was extremely sorry he could not comply with Vickramadetea's request in this instance, as the youth Shalivahan was of so proud a temper, that when sent for to decide the case of the brothers he refused to come to the court, and that he had been obliged to go to Shalivahan's own dwelling to have the matter settled. He said, how- ever, that he would try, and with that view sent an officer to Shalivahan's house to make known to him King Vickra- madetea's wishes regarding him; but he refused to attend the call, notwithstanding the most earnest entreaties. "I see no occasion," said he, "to travel so far. I have nothing to do with King Vickramadetea. I therefore hope you will