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

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you bring me relief?" Somedut replied, 'that as yet he did
not know whether or not he could afford the prince
any relief, " but," said he, " if you will deign to acquaint
me with the cause, it may not be out of my power to devise
some measures by which the wishes of your heart may be
accomplished. I must inform you that I do not request
your confidence from any motives of curiosity, .but only
because you seem troubled and ill at ease. The hand of death
is apparently on you, and unless some speedy remedy be
applied to check the tyrant in his course, I fear lest you may
succumb. Pray, therefore, unbosom yourself to me. I
may possibly possess the means of alleviating your sorrow,
if not of removing its cause." 'The prince then enquired of
the brahmin who he was, whence he had come, and where he
was travelling to. The brahmin having satisfied the prince
on these several points, the latter began as follows :—
" About two yojuns* from where we now stand, there is
a subterranean dwelling, with a gate leading to it, wherein
dwells with her father a princess named Pudmavuntty; it is
a stately palace which they inhabit. He who is to win the
hand of this princess, who is transcendantly beautiful,
must consent to a condition, one of the most difficult and
hazardous that can well be imagined. It is this : a vessel,
filled with oil and other inflammatory liquids in a boiling
state, is placed on a furnace, and the man, whoever he is,
must bathe himself in it by the aid of a sinkat† suspended
over the same. If he effects this without injury to himself,
the princess will accept him for her future lord and master.
She is without exception the most beautiful woman the
world ever produced. I have several times attempted to go
through the ordeal, but have not had sufficient courage to
proceed with it. On each occasion of my failure I have
returned to this place, and in silence poured out the inward
workings of my heart before the shrine of the god to whom
* A measure of length, equal to four coss, or eight English miles.
† A sling, the string or loop of which is attached to either end of
a pole or yoke, to receive the burden.