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

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saluted the bird, and when asked whether it was his inten-
tion to return, he replied in the affirmative. The bird
desired him to sit on his back as before, and in the shortest
possible time he was once more transported to the abode of
the royal geese, who received him with a hearty welcome,
and regaled him in the best possible manner. He spent
that night in their company, and the next morning, after
returning suitable thanks to them, he set forward on
his journey.
“In a few days he arrived at the city of Badrikadar, and
hastened to the hermit’s cell, who had ever some advice in
store for the unfortunate Charoo. He related all that had
occurred to him since his last visit, after which the hermit
told him that there was a certain king in Marwar whose
dominions were very extensive. ‘The black mountain into
which Chitrangee has been transformed must be in his
territory,’ said he; ‘go therefore to his court, in the guise
of a Mahaunt,* and tell him that a new black mountain
has just sprung up in his kingdom, which will daily increase,
and in time not only cover his whole realm, but will also
kill all the inhabitants, without a single exception. This
will throw him into great consternation, and I have no
doubt he will ask your advice as to what steps he ought to
adopt to prevent the evil; you can then tell him he must
employ a large number of masons and stonecutters to hew it
down.’ Thanking the hermit for this piece of friendly
advice, Charoo set out for Marwar.
“When he arrived he saw the mountain situated there:
it was of a jet black colour. He crossed about sixteen yojuns
to the southward, and entered the king’s court, where he
was very kindly received. When the counterfeit Mahaunt
had represented fully the mischief that would accrue by the
increase of the black mountain, the king exhibited much
astonishment and fear. After in vain trying to devise in his
own mind some means to avert the danger, he asked the

• A devotee.