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

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imagined, was transported with joy on seeing the lake; he
alighted from his horse with great alacrity, but ere he
quenched his own thirst he led his noble steed, who had
borne by far the greater part of the fatigues of the day, into
the lake. He then secured him to a tree, and approached
the margin of the water, where, by repeated draughts of
the liquid element, he satisfied his burning thirst. The
water deities, observing his hands submerged in the water,
took hold of them, and immediately conveyed him to their
stately abode at the bottom.
“The king, his father, having in vain waited in painful
suspense for the reappearance of his son from the woods in
which he had lost sight of him, at length grew fearful that
some unforeseen accident had occurred; he therefore, with
his officers and servants, explored all the surrounding caves,
bushes, and hollows, in hope of discovering the prince, but
all to no purpose: they were, after a long and fruitless
search, growing very apprehensive lest some accident had
deprived the youth of his life. They still continued their
search, however, and at last came upon the prince's horse,
which he had left tied to a tree when he approached the
lake to quench his thirst. They went up to the horse, and
found him tied; this so added to their grief that they were
completely overwhelmed, and plunged into the most painful
solicitude at not discovering the slightest trace of the young
prince. Some of the followers, alarmed at the dreadful
agitation evinced by the king, and thinking the prince might
have been drowned in the lake, proposed to dive into it and
bring up the body. They were perfect adepts in diving,
but, notwithstanding all their exertions, not the slightest
trace of the lost prince could be found. Long and painful
was the suspense in which the now miserable and, as he
thought, bereaved father and his followers remained. Various
conjectures were formed of the probable mischance which
had deprived them of their beloved and only prince, and
the king of his heir and successor to the throne, procured
by such an amount of prayer and devotion. Some said