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

63
"In the great and flourishing town of Bhadravutty," said
he, "there reigned once a just and noble king named Bhu-
drasain. He was held in great repute for his virtues, and
was endowed with qualities that rendered him deservedly
esteemed by his subjects and all who knew him. It is
therefore not to be wondered at that his kingdom was in
profound peace, and the people contented and happy. They
worshipped God according to their respective forms of
religion, without let or hindrance, as this prince made it a
point never to interfere with the consciences of his subjects,
but to allow them to remain free and unshackled. In a
word, they were mutually happy and free, both the sovereign
and his subjects. Providence had in its liberality showered
its choicest blessings upon this monarch, and there was but
one drawback to the otherwise perfect bliss that he might
be said to enjoy : this was nothing less than the want of a
son to bear the weight of his crown and wield his sceptre
during his declining years. The monarch was at this period
advanced in years, though not to that extent when the hope
of an issue is generally said to be lost. He was therefore
very anxious to have the pleasure of seeing one of his line
seated on the throne, ere he closed his earthly career. It
was his constant practice to beseech heaven to grant his
request, and no amount of charity was grudged in order
to propitiate the gods, and to secure the prayers of the holy
men to this end. One day, the king being seated in the
audience hall, surrounded by his ministers and others, his
mind still occupied with the paramount wish of his heart,
a hermit called Soodew* arrived from the remote city of
Dwarka. His form and person were far from prepossess-
ing : with a face pale and languid, eyes sunken, and grisly
hair, he might have been taken for one of those beings who
are said to spend the best part of their lives in deserts, far
from the habitations of man. But he was a sage, profoundly
skilled in the sciences, and in all the branches of useful

• This hermit would seem to be the same who taught King Vick-
  ramadeten the art of transmigration.
  D