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

196
CHAPTER XIII.
Veytal proceeds with his tale.
“ KING CHAKRADUNT himself accompanied Charoo
beyond the city gate, and at parting addressed him thus :—
‘ My dear Charoo, you will, I doubt not, by God’s blessing
succeed in your enterprise. Lose no time, therefore, in
returning to us. You will gladden us by your early
re-appearance.’ Charoo renewed his thanks to the king,
and went his way. He travelled northward, and in due
course of time arrived at the capital city of Badrikadar,
which was not only famed for its wealth and situation, but
was also much esteemed and held in high repute by Hindus
as a place especially devoted to worship and for pilgrimage.
In this city there was a temple dedicated to Shree Narayen,
to which Charoo immediately repaired, and made his invo-
cation in the manner prescribed by Hindu law. On his
way to the famed mount it was his good fortune to meet
with an aged and venerable hermit, whose solemn counte-
nance and devout appearance caused Charoo to throw himself
humbly at his feet. The hermit desired him to rise, and
bestowed upon him his benediction. He was pleased to see
a youth of such a comely and handsome bearing as Charoo,
who, although he had then attained only his seventeenth
year, yet exhibited the proportions of a full-grown man.
The hermit, addressing him, said, ‘Young man, where are
you going, and what is your name? Are you married?
Are your parents still living, and what calling do your family
pursue? Do not dissemble, but speak the truth.’ Charoo
sighed, and then faithfully informed him of every particular
respecting himself and the mission on which he was engaged.
The hermit recommended him to accompany him to his abode,
and on their arrival there Charoo earnestly solicited the