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

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infirm that he began to lay aside all thoughts of further
gain, and thought it advisable to settle his worldly affairs
by apportioning his property to his sons. Being wise and
discreet, he made his arrangements in a very judicious
manner: he buried, under one of the corner-posts of the
cot whereon he slept, a quantity of rice-husks, under the
second some clay, under the third a sheet of paper, and
under the fourth a quantity of coals. Some time after, as
he found his illness was fast gaining upon him, and that
he had but a short time to live, he called his three sons to
his bed-side, and said to them, "My dear children, I have
bequeathed my property to you in equal shares. I have
buried all that I die possessed of under the cot which now
supports me. The eldest is to receive what I have buried
under the two posts at the head of the cot, the next that
which is under the right-hand post at the foot, and the
youngest that which is under the left-hand post; but I hope
you will not, until after my decease, separate yourselves
from me, nor have any interest apart from mine. I trust
you will always endeavour to acquire a good reputation,
and take delight in assisting others. Those who derive
their enjoyments from such noble sources, deserve admira-
tion and applause, and will most assuredly secure them."
Soon after instructing them in this wise, the old man expired.
The three brothers, having with all due reverence and
respect performed the last sad rites for their father, lived
together in the greatest harmony and love. Some time
after, a slight altercation took place between them, and they
each and all determined to share their father's legacy,
which was buried under the corner-posts of the cot. With
this view they entered the chamber, and dug up the ground,
but what was their surprise when, instead of gold, as they
had all along expected, they found nothing but what has
been already mentioned! "Alas!" said they, "how
sanguine were we that our father had in store for us some
valuable treasure, such as gold, silver, and precious stones,
of which we knew him to be possessed, and here we have