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

14
They were bitterly complaining of their hard lot, and were
loud in their bewailings ; they were heard to raise their
voice and exclaim, “ Almighty Creator of all things ! consider
the vast and boundless difference between the rich and the
poor : while we are every day, every hour, and every mo-
ment of our lives, exposed to the most harassing fatigues,
painful privations, and the direst of calamities, which may
be summed in the brief monosyllable ‘ want,’—want of the
necessaries of life, of food and clothing for ourselves and
families—want of comfort—want of everything, in short,
that can make life desirable, or even tolerable,—the rich
are permitted to roll in wealth, with a superfluity of all
that is denied to us, and of the ‘things which are essential
to life. What have these done to secure for themselves so
enviable a lot, and what have we been found wanting in to
deserve so much misery ? We have parted with ‘ the little
we possessed, consisting of the ornaments used in our profes-
sion, and which were our all, in order to procure the bare
means of subsistence for to-day ; tomorrow we may meet
with death staring us in the face !”
Having disburdened themselves of their griefs in this
wise, they laid themselves down. The parrot, who had
heard every word they uttered from his lofty perch, was
much affected at the affliction of the poor and wretched
Bahooroopees, as expressed in their words. He deigned to
address them as follows :—“ Strangers,” said he, “ whence
come ye, and whither are you bound ? Pray inform me,
what are your respective callings or professions, the tribes
to which each belong, your countries and your religions, and
your reasons for thus bewailing ?” These sympathising
words, delivered also in a tone of voice peculiar for its
sweetness, caused the Bahooroopees to start up and listen
attentively whence the voice proceeded, but they could not
discover it ; at last, after much trouble and some little
delay, they saw the parrot perched up aloft on one of the
furthermost branches of the tree under which they were all
assembled. The chief of the company was delighted that