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

47 her slave accompanying them. At the temple she directed the barber to shave off her hair. He could not restrain his laughter on hearing this strange bidding, and hesitated to obey ; but being pressed by her, and fearing her rage, he set about quietly removing this ornament of womanly beauty. At the same time the poor barber feared that this might be a whim of the moment on the part of the dame, and that when it passed away he might be called upon to account for the extraordinary deed ; so he proceeded to acquit himself of the task with considerable hesitation. Be- fore the barber placed his hand upon her clustering tresses, she repeatedly desired him to make no one acquainted with what he was then about to do : it was an affair of as much secrecy, she said, as it was of great moment and urgency. After having her head completely shaved, she undressed herself, and delivered her clothes to the slave, directing her to return with them in the evening. She then performed her ablutions, bathed in the lake, threw ashes on her body, and thus, in a complete state of nudity, prostrated herself before the idol, and addressed herself to deep and solemn meditation. She thought that she was about to receive the reward of all the sacrifices and indignities to her person she had borne for the last few days. She remained in that attitude for some time, inwardly addressing herself to the goddess, beseeching that all her failings and crimes might be forgiven, and that she might, according to the promise vouchsafed to her the previous evening, be received into the heavens.. As the sun began to reach its meridian, the heat grew oppressive in the temple ; and the deluded being, pros- trated in all humility before the shrine of Kallika, found it would be intolerable so to remain much longer. She changed her posture, and happening at the same time to look up to the sky through one of the openings for light in the temple, she beheld the parrot perched on a tree oppo- site, and exulting as it were over her misfortune: She immediately recognised the bird, and seemed quite abashed as well as surprised at seeing him alive, after she had, as