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

69 imagined, was transported with joy on seeing the lake; he alighted from his horse with great alacrity, but ere he quenched his own thirst he led his noble steed, who had borne by far the greater part of the fatigues of the day, into the lake. He then secured him to a tree, and approached the margin of the water, where, by repeated draughts of the liquid element, he satisfied his burning thirst. The water deities, observing his hands submerged in the water, took hold of them, and immediately conveyed him to their stately abode at the bottom. “The king, his father, having in vain waited in painful suspense for the reappearance of his son from the woods in which he had lost sight of him, at length grew fearful that some unforeseen accident had occurred; he therefore, with his officers and servants, explored all the surrounding caves, bushes, and hollows, in hope of discovering the prince, but all to no purpose: they were, after a long and fruitless search, growing very apprehensive lest some accident had deprived the youth of his life. They still continued their search, however, and at last came upon the prince's horse, which he had left tied to a tree when he approached the lake to quench his thirst. They went up to the horse, and found him tied; this so added to their grief that they were completely overwhelmed, and plunged into the most painful solicitude at not discovering the slightest trace of the young prince. Some of the followers, alarmed at the dreadful agitation evinced by the king, and thinking the prince might have been drowned in the lake, proposed to dive into it and bring up the body. They were perfect adepts in diving, but, notwithstanding all their exertions, not the slightest trace of the lost prince could be found. Long and painful was the suspense in which the now miserable and, as he thought, bereaved father and his followers remained. Various conjectures were formed of the probable mischance which had deprived them of their beloved and only prince, and the king of his heir and successor to the throne, procured by such an amount of prayer and devotion. Some said