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

70 that he had been devoured by wild beasts while traversing the forest; others that he had been carried away by the fairies, for his rare beauty and perfection; and others, again, that he had most assuredly been drowned in the lake before them. In the midst of so much confusion and uncertainty as to the fate of the prince, the king, overcome by his affection for his son, began in the most piteous manner to smite his head and breast, and to throw himself on the ground, weeping bitter tears, and lamenting his loss in terms of the most piercing anguish. ‘Oh, what a dire calamity is this which has befallen me!’ said he; ‘he in whom all my hopes were centred is suddenly torn away, and I am left lonely and desolate in the midst of riches and splendour. Alas! how have I deserved such a fate! May not my subjects think that I hated to see my successor during my lifetime, and therefore brought him to this desert to rid myself of him by foul means? And yet, oh, my God! thou knowest the sad and desolate state of my heart!’ In this way he continued for some time, and having worked himself up to a state of frenzy by continually dwelling on his lost child, he unsheathed his sword, and meditated putting an end to his miserable existence with his own hand. The minister, observing this movement on the part of the king, fortunately arrived at his side in time to prevent the dreadful purpose, and, in a soothing tone, addressed the king thus:—‘My lord and king, what would you do? Consider, I entreat you, the power of the Almighty Being who at your request granted you this son. He can, if He choose, restore him to you again. It is not for us, poor finite beings, the creatures of a day, to arraign the wise decrees of the great Ruler. If, as we have but too great a reason to believe, and which we all equally with yourself deeply lament, your son is by some mystery or unaccountable accident summoned away from this life and all its brief and transitory pleasures, let us hope he is now in a place of happiness. Remember that we have had innumerable instances of every living creature being under the influence of some peculiar fate. As the