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

58 transported with ecstacy at the many and varied sources of enjoyment and pleasure that were there to be met with. The brahmin found that the Princess Pudmavuntty, the mistress of all these rarities, was herself the rarest of all rarities. She was so handsome that fancy could not possibly picture a more perfect being. She was dressed in the richest and costliest linen, and wore precious stones of immense value and in great quantity. When she saw the brahmin advancing towards her, she welcomed him in a very courteous manner, and thus spoke to him :—" I have long been expecting a person like yourself; your looks convince me that you will soon become master of the art by which alone any one can obtain my hand. I sincerely hope you will not prove unworthy of the venture you have made, but that, by a successful execution of your arduous task, you will succeed in establishing a right to claim me in marriage." The supposed brahmin replied that he would strive his utmost to become capable of giving adequate proof of his sincerity. He then approached the vessel, called to mind the supreme power of God, and, before ascending in the sinka, took a small portion of a peculiar description of grass, and, having pronounced some words connected with a charm over it, threw it into the oil which was boiling up, and descended at once into it through the sinka that was suspended. It is wonderful to relate that the oil suddenly became cold and calm! He remained for a few moments in it, turning from one side to another, and he sustained not the slightest injury thereby. The princess, seeing this success, came running with a garland of flowers in her hand to encircle the neck of her future lord, as is usually the case among princesses. She had herself witnessed the prodigy, and there was no mistaking it. She requested him to embrace the earliest opportunity for solemnising their marriage ceremony; and, putting forth her hand, while encircling his neck with the string of flowers, she said, "I am fully satisfied with your might, and will irrevocably become yours. Pray make haste and come out." "You