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

33
In the same city with Dushwant resided a dancing-girl,
named Kamsaina, who, having become acquainted with the
high reputation which the merchant had attained for pro-
fuseness and generosity, resolved upon calling daily at his
house to amuse him with her singing. One day it occurred
to her that she had dreamed over-night of Dushwant having
injured her chastity. Under this impression she proceeded
to the palace of the king, laid a formal complaint against the
merchant, and demanded justice. The king, upon the girl's
declaration, decided that Dushwant should pay the custom-
ary fine for such offences—1,25,000 rupees. After the
decision had been recorded, Dushwant was sent for to ap-
pear before the king and his council, there to be subjected
to interrogatories before the public assembly. As he was
ignorant of the cause which procured him the honor of the
king's summons, and being, as our readers will have per-
ceived, innocent of any guilt, he was naturally enough
thrown into a maze of perplexity ; and his astonishment may
be better imagined than described, when the king made
known to him the accusation that had been brought against
him. By dint of cross-questioning and much labour he
made the girl acknowledge, though not in direct terms, that
her charge was founded on a mere dream, which had become
so deeply rooted in her mind as to appear a reality.
Having gained this advantage over his opponent, the mer-
chant addressed the king in the following words :—" This
being only, as your majesty has seen, a charge founded on
a dream, or coined to extort money from me, I do not see
that I am liable to the fine your majesty has been pleased
to inflict upon me ; and I trust you will see the impropriety
of enforcing it in a case, like the present, of an imaginary
wrong said to have been done." The girl on this became
so exasperated as to indulge in the most abusive epithets
and unbecoming language towards Dushwant, notwithstand-
ing that she was in the presence of the king and his whole
court. This so affected poor Dushwant, that he agreed to
pay the fine, and thus put a stop to the volley of abusive
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