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

minister. “They were both young men of promise and
education, and, being almost of the same age and engaged
in similar pursuits, they conceived a liking for each other,
which soon ripened into friendship. They passed nearly the
whole of their time together, and were never happy but in
each other's society. The king found that this intimacy
interfered with his arrangements for his son's future pros-
pects in life, and he was therefore determined at all hazards
to put an end to their intercourse if possible. He called
Sewdass to him one day, and kindly said, ‘ My son, you
have now nearly arrived at the age of discretion, and how
is it that you spend so much of your valuable time, which
should be more usefully and profitably engaged, in the
company of my minister's son, in frivolous undertakings
and unprofitable tasks ? You can gain nothing by his
conversation, for he is greatly your inferior. You might
spend your time in laying up stores of knowledge, in the
study of the various branches of science, and in the improve-
ment of your mind, by preparing it for the duties you may
be called upon to perform at a future period. Turn, then,
my son, from the path you are now pursuing into that
which must lead you to honour, fame, and renown.’ Thus
spoke the good king, but, alas ! how short-lived was the
impression of this fatherly admonition on the young prince !
Not that he was totally devoid of feeling and respect for his
royal parent, but his strong affection for the minister's son
carried all before it, and would not admit of his giving him
up altogether.
“ The minister one day found the king in a very angry
mood, and the latter, conscious of having been observed by
the former, said to him, ‘ Vichakshun, you have come at a
time when my wrath is greatly kindled. Know you not
what my commands were touching the intimacy and friend-
ship which exists between Prince Sewdass and your son ?
Have I not commanded that it should be discontinued ? I
now give you to understand that if you do not exert your
influence to put an immediate stop to it, you will incur my
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