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

said the king, "may God deliver you from the hands of
the enemy! May He, in his infinite mercy, keep a constant
watch over you!" "I beg to acquaint your majesty that
my valour is so great, that the Daityas are not equal to
contend with me. I am sure of winning the battle, and
putting them to flight." Now the king thought that this
reply of Vejydhwaj merited reproof, as he deemed it highly
impróper in any one, however great, to speak thus confi-
dently before him. But being quite taken up with the
feigned warrior, he said, "Vejydhwaj, I will take as much
care of your wife as I would of my own child; depend on me,
and go with confidence on your mission. May success
attend you!" Vejydhwaj thanked the king for his kind
welcome and still kinder promise, and set off on his journey,
whipping his horse as he ascended with great rapidity to
the heavens, amidst the wondering gaze of the king and the
crowd there assembled. He was soon lost to sight. The
king and all about him concluded that he had reached
heaven, and they were confirmed in their belief when some
little time after they heard the sounds of drums and martial
instruments high above their heads. The noise and con-
fusion which followed these sounds also told them that the
combatants were engaged in furious warfare, and, as if in
confirmation of this, they saw blood-stained arrows fall
to the earth. They raised their eyes towards the firma-
ment, and, while gazing intently upwards, saw the left hand
of a man fall, severed from the body, then the right
one, and soon after the body itself, dreadfully wounded and
mangled. At first they were in doubt as to the identity
of the body, and thought it to be that of some obscure
soldier, but they were soon able to satisfy themselves on
that point, for the head came whizzing through the air,
and fell beside the body. The face bore a parting smile,
and it was that of the warrior who, a short time before,
appeared before them full of life and hope, and who had
discoursed with them in all confidence, when leaving his
wife under the protection of the king.