All this the ministers did, and the Khanin and her son were hospitably entertained.
Thus Vikramâditja was brought up in a strange land, but was exercised in all kinds of arts; and increased in strength, well-favoured in mind and body. He learned wisdom of the wise, and the use of arms from men of valour; from the soothsayer learned he cunning arts, and trading from sagacious traders; from robber bands learned he the art of robbery, and from fraudulent dealers to lie.
It happened that while they were yet dwelling in this place, a caravan of five hundred merchants came by, and encamped on the banks of a stream near at hand.
As these men had journeyed along they had found a boy at play in a wolf’s den.
“How can a child live thus in a wolf’s den?” said one of the merchants; and with that they set themselves to lure the child to them.
“How canst thou, a child of men, live thus in common with a wolf’s cubs?” inquired they. “It were better thou camest with us.”
But the child answered, “I am in truth a wolf-child, and had rather remain with my wolf-parents.”
But Galbischa, the chief of the merchants, said, “It must not be. A child of men must be brought up with men, and not with wolves.” So the merchants took the boy with them, and gave him the name of Schalû[4].
Thus it came to pass that the child was with them, when they encamped the night after they had taken him, in the neighbourhood of the city where Vikramâditja and his mother lived. In the night the wolves came near, and began to howl[5]. Therefore, the merchants asked Schalû in sport, “What are the wolves saying?”
But Schalû answered in all seriousness, “These wolves that you hear are my parents; and they are saying to me, ‘Years ago a party of women passed by this way, and left thee with us as soon as thou wert born; and we have nurtured thee, and made thee strong and brave; and thou, without regard to our affection to thee, hast gone away with strangers. Nevertheless, because we love thee, we will give thee yet this piece of advice. To-night, there will be heavy torrents of rain, and the river by which your caravan is encamped, will overflow its banks. While the merchants, therefore, are engaged in hurry and confusion seeking shelter, then break thou away from them, darling, and come back to us. This further warning give we thee, that in the neighbourhood prowls a robber.’”