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

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boldly and fearlessly addressed. “Well, Josey-bawa,”
said he, “be so kind as to inform me whether there is any
good conquest in store for our court for the present year.”
The Josey could not help smiling at the youth’s mode of
expression, and the subject of his address. He replied,
“I can tell you what you desire to know, but you must
first let me have some duxina.”* “You may depend on
me,” replied the child; “I will give it to you, and, what is
more, from this day forward you must not go from door to
door.” At this speech the Josey laughed heartily, and
said, “O prince of boys!—an opportunity of achieving
a great and splendid victory lies before you, and one which
only you are destined to obtain.” No sooner did these
words fall from the Josey’s lips than Shalivahan, much
pleased with it, presented him with an earthen pot. The
poor Josey accepted the proffered gift without any demur,
and took it to his lodgings, where, having placed the pot
on the ground, he was agreeably surprised to find it converted
into pure gold! This miraculous occurrence convinced him
that there was some unusual and important faculty attach-
ing to the boy who had presented him with it,—in short,
the Josey believed him to belong to a superior or divine
order of beings.
Shalivahan was not over fond of study, nor eager for
learning, but he was possessed of so excellent a memory
that anything he had once read he could repeat by heart.
He could also successfully perform what he had but once
before seen done. His grasp of memory and the quickness
of his apprehension were among his most remarkable
characteristics, and they secured for him the well-merited
praise of all who knew him.
In a distant country lived a wealthy merchant called
Dhunnanjye, who had three sons, all well educated and
great proficients in their business. This merchant was also
a man of great tact and experience, but he was so old and

• Money or presents.