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

279
When the king returned to his court, after the labours of
the day, he found a messenger waiting there from King
Vickramadetea, to enquire whether any virgin had been
delivered of a male child in any part of Somekaunt's
dominions. The king informed this messenger, who was an
officer of Vickramadetea's household, of the story of the
three brothers, and how he had been enabled to decide it
by the aid of Shalivahan, together with the circumstances
which had attended the birth of the latter, and directed
him to lose no time in communicating the whole story to
Vickramadetea. The officer returned in haste to his
sovereign, and informed him of all these particulars, adding
that Shalivahan was then thirteen years old.
King Vickramadetea, on hearing this, was struck to the
heart, being fully under the impression that, in accordance
with the prediction, his life would shortly be sacrificed by
this youth. It occurred to him that perhaps it was so
willed by the Supreme Ruler of the universe, as the period
of his earthly existence was now, in the usual course of
nature, drawing to a close. He despatched a messenger,
instantly with a letter to King Somekaunt, requesting that
he would send Shalivahan to his court with as little delay
as possible, being very desirous of seeing him. The
messenger reached his destination in due time, and delivered
his master's epistle to King Somekaunt, who stated in reply
that he was extremely sorry he could not comply with
Vickramadetea's request in this instance, as the youth
Shalivahan was of so proud a temper, that when sent for
to decide the case of the brothers he refused to come to the
court, and that he had been obliged to go to Shalivahan's
own dwelling to have the matter settled. He said, how-
ever, that he would try, and with that view sent an officer
to Shalivahan's house to make known to him King Vickra-
madetea's wishes regarding him; but he refused to attend
the call, notwithstanding the most earnest entreaties. "I
see no occasion," said he, "to travel so far. I have nothing
to do with King Vickramadetea. I therefore hope you will