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

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me. Your condescension emboldens me to prefer a request
which I would otherwise have never ventured to do. I will
explain to you first why I have travelled so far, and then
tell you what it is I desire of you.' He then told them in
detail every circumstance with which it was necessary for
him to acquaint them, and concluded by requesting that
they would be kind enough to take him to the Chitrakoot
mountain and afterwards bring him back to their abode.
The birds readily consented to do so, and assured Charoo
that they would do all in their power to promote his designs,
what he had already asked them being a mere trifle. After
this, Charoo desired them to proceed with their meal, and
he himself fell to heartily. On the following day the royal
bird directed the one whose duty it was to go that day for
their daily allowance of fruit, to take up Charoo to the
mountain of Chitrakoot, and to bring him back again, if he
wished to return that day, or whenever he liked. The bird
accordingly, with Charoo sitting on his back, flew away with
incredible speed, and soon conveyed him to the top of the
mountain. At parting, the bird told him he would return
that way with the fruits at noon, and that until then he
might walk into the town and inspect the novelties there to
be seen. 'You must return to this place by that time,'
continued the bird, 'and if I am not here, wait awhile for
me, as this is the spot we daily frequent.' Charoo thanked
the bird, and then directed his steps towards the gate
of the city, on entering which he observed a great many
men in various attitudes,—some were seated, others lying,
and some standing on their feet, but all appeared to have
lost the power of motion. He approached several, and
found them all inanimate,—they could neither move nor utter
a word. Charoo passed through several of the streets, and
saw that in the shops, which were open, men were apparently
busily engaged in counting money, and filling up bags with
it, while others were in the act of locking up chests, but all
in the same fixed attitude, without a single sign of life or
motion. Charoo then amused himself by changing the