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

223
Indra, to whose palace I have the honor of being invited.’
The manner in which she addressed Charoo was at first
somewhat distant, but her regard and affection for him
overcame every other feeling, and she informed him that
she would use her utmost endeavours to please Indra by
playing the most charming and pleasant airs she knew, that
they might captivate the monarch and ensure for her a safe
and speedy return; but if, on the contrary, Indra should
be displeased with her, she must only submit patiently to
whatever he might think fit to inflict upon her. Charoo,
on hearing this, was greatly alarmed, and would on no
account be left behind: he insisted on going with her, and
she was at last prevailed upon to agree to it. She there-
fore transformed him into a Bhrumer,* thereby enabling
him to accompany her without being noticed. They
accordingly entered the palace of Indra together, and found
the monarch seated in the subha, surrounded by innumer-
able angels. On approaching him, Chitrangee prostrated
herself, and then stood apart, with her eyes cast on the
ground. Indra commanded her to be seated, and having
enquired about her health, made known to her the reason
why she had been sent for, which was that he might hear
her sing and see her perform before him. She bowed low,
and proceeded to gratify him, by commencing to sing in
such a bewitching tone of voice as to charm Indra and the
whole court. In addition to this, she intermingled extem-
pore passages in her song, descriptive of the virtue and
amiable qualities of Indra, which secured his approbation,
as much by her words as by the sweetness of her voice and
the graceful movements of her delicate and lovely form.
The angels, likewise, who surrounded the person of Indra,
seemed to enjoy the scene exceedingly: they were lost in
admiration of the sylph-like movements and musical tones of
Chitrangee,—so much so, that they looked like so many
marble statues, so steadfastly and silently did they gaze on

• A large black bee.