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

49 upon her, and plans for her future conduct. We will leave her for the present, and return to Koobjuck, the sentinel, whom we left reigning in the place of his king and the rightful owner of the throne. This man exercised all the authority with which his new position had invested him, with the iron hand of a despot. His subjects were becoming discontented and insubordinate, under the accumulation of the evils that had been heaped upon them by the new monarch. They began even to doubt the identity of the person now ruling with their old and revered monarch Vickramadetea; and, as we said before, the belief in transmigration being common in the city, they were in a manner convinced that the new monarch be- fore them was but an usurper, who by some unknown and unaccountable means had contrived to assume the body of Vickram. Nevertheless, they submitted to his oppressive measures. The original gifts and grants in lands and villages bestowed by Vickram were revoked and taken back, as crown property, and from those who were allowed to retain them, which in some few cases happened, he demanded a moiety of the whole produce; from those who were in the receipt of annual nemnooks* and pensions, he deducted a third; many of the officers' salaries were reduced to the smallest possible pittance; and his subjects were otherwise subjected to great and glaring injustice, and were consequently one and all much distressed. It happened that about this time a brahmin named Somedut arrived at Koobjuck's court, to receive his annual gifts. He was a sage, a learned man, and an ornament to his calling and society. Koobjuck enquired of his ministers who this brahmin was. They replied, "Can your majesty be ignorant of one who has for a long time enjoyed your majesty's warmest friendship? He has been in the habit of coming here regularly every year to receive his customary allowances. His reputation for wisdom and learning is well known to your majesty, as well as to all your subjects."

• Stipends. H