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

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told him that he would obtain another life in the person of
Shreeyal, after which Vishnoo disappeared.’ The Rishee,
having ended this recital, added that the fame of Kerna
had not become extinct even to that day. He again
recommended Charoo to start immediately for the city of
Shree Ramashwer, where he said he would obtain what he
desired. Charoo accordingly set out, after partaking of a
slight repast, and thanking the hermit most sincerely for
his friendly advice.
“ Charoo travelled along for many days until he arrived
at the holy city, and a long and very tedious journey it
proved to be. The first thing he did on his arrival was to
perform his ablutions in the sea, and he afterwards visited
the temple dedicated to Shree Ramashwer, where he
worshipped the idol with much reverence and sincerity.
He then formed an establishment in the most eligible
locality, engaged men to prepare rich food and confec-
tionaries, and invited daily a number of holy and devout
brahmins to partake of them ; he likewise distributed a
sufficient quantity anong the poor and indigent, and a
further quantity was also daily thrown into the sea, in the
name of God, for the fishes ; in short, he did all he had
been instructed to do by the hermit. He continued this
for a whole month, and at length the fishes who were fed
daily assembled together in the sea, and resolved to recom-
pense their benefactor to the utmost of their power.* They
decided that their chief should assume the human form,
and present himself before their friend and benefactor.
Accordingly, when Charoo came one day, as usual, to the
beach to throw the food into the sea, the chief of the fishes
came up and asked him how he could serve him, in return
for his daily and profuse liberality to them. Charoo, not
knowing his interrogator, passed him unnoticed, and after
throwing in the food, bent his steps back to his dwelling.
The chief, observing this, approached Charoo a second time,
and made himself known, adding that if he refused them
the satisfaction of showing their gratitude in some way,