विक्रम चरित (उज्जैन सम्राट् विक्रमादित्य - पराक्रम, न्याय एवं ३२ पुतलियों की कथा सटीक)
Vikram Charita or Adventures of Vikramaditya King of Ujjain
कवि हरिदास / परम्परा द्वारा
पृष्ठ 126, कुल 308 में से
संदर्भ में पढ़ें114
feelings, and said, ‘Your kindness overpowers me! What
you have proposed is quite agreeable to me, and accords
with my wishes. I will do as you please. But hearken to
what I have to say : it is now broad daylight; if I were
to accompany you into the city, it is more than probable
that we should attract attention. Some of the king’s attend-
ants or domestics might meet us, and, seeing me in your
company, would immediately suspect you of having become
possessed of me by some foul means. Acting upon such a
conclusion they will most assuredly separate us, do you
some grievous harm, or detain you in custody. What will
then become of me? Your kindness and humane disposi-
tion have greatly pleaded for you, and I feel now that I
could not have fallen into better hands. Would you then
be so cruel as to work your own ruin and mine, by exposing
yourself to the consequences of being seen with me in the
public thoroughfare? Let me entreat you to consent to
pass the day with me in some secluded place, and we can
enter the city at night.’ She displayed such evident signs
of sincerity in all she said, that the thief was quite vain
enough to think he had touched her heart. He therefore
thought the advice good, and accordingly resolved upon
acting on it. They went into one of the gardens, which
were numerous in the outskirts of the town, there to
await the approach of night. The princess first alighted
from the horse, and the thief followed. She then opened
the saddle-bags, took out some gold coins, and, giving them
to her companion, said, ‘Go you to the market-place and
procure some provisions for us, and, above all, do not forget
to purchase a vessel that will contain food for two.’ The
thief was so smitten with the charms of the princess, and so
thoroughly convinced of his feelings being reciprocated,
that no suspicion found an entrance for a moment into his
mind, so completely had the princess hoodwinked him. He
set off for the market, as he had been bidden, and purchased
all that he had been directed, as well as various other
articles which he thought would be acceptable to the princess.