BOOK XX.

Hearing thus Sudeva's language—Rituparna, king of menWith a gentle voice and blandly—thus to Vahuca began."Where the princess Damayanti—doth her Swayembara holdIn one day to far Vidarbha—Vahuca, I fain would go."In these words the unknown Nala—by his royal lord addressedAll his heart was torn with anguish—thus the lofty-minded thought—"Can she speak thus, Damayanti—thus with sorrow frantic act?Is't a stratagem thus subtly—for my sake devised and plann'd?To desire this deed unholy[118]—is that holy princess drivenWrong'd by me, her basest husband—miserable, mind-estranged!Fickle is the heart of woman—grievous too is my offence!Hence she thus might act ignobly—in her exile, reft of friends,Soul-disturbed by her great sorrow—in the excess of her despair.No! she could not thus have acted—she with noble offspring blest.Where the truth, and where the falsehood—setting forth, I best shall judge,I the will of Rituparna—for mine own sake, will obey."Thus within his mind revolving—Vahuca, his wretched mind,With his folded hands addressed he—Rituparna, king of men:"I thy mandate will accomplish—I will go, O king of men,In a single day, O raja—to Vidarbha's royal town."Vahuca of all the coursers—did a close inspection makeEntering in the royal stable—by Bhangasuri's command.Ever urged by Rituparna—Vahuca, in horses skilled,Long within himself debating—which the fleetest steeds to choose,He approached four slender coursers—fit, and powerful for the road,Blending mighty strength with fleetness—high in courage and in blood;Free from all the well-known vices—broad of nostril—large of jaw;With the ten good marks distinguished[119]—born in Sindhu[120]—fleet as wind.As he gazed upon those coursers—spoke the king, almost in wrath:"Is then thus fulfilled our mandate?—think not to deceive us so.How will these my coursers bear us—slight in strength and slightly breathed—How can such a way be travelled—and so long, by steeds like these?"—

Vahucaspake.

"Two on th' head, one on the forehead—two and two on either flank—Two, behold, the chest discloses—and upon the crupper one—These the horses to Vidharba—that will bear us, doubt not thou;Yet, if others thou preferest—speak, and I will yoke them straight."

Rituparnaspake.

"In the knowledge thou of horses—Vahuca, hast matchless skill;Whichso'er thou think'st the fittest—harness thou without delay."

Then those four excelling horses—nobly bred—of courage high,In their harness to the chariot—did the skilful Nala yoke.—To the chariot yoked, as mounted—in his eager haste the kingTo the earth those best of horses—bowed their knees and stooped them down.Then the noblest of all heroes—Nala, with a soothing voice,Spake unto those horses, gifted—both with fleetness and with strength.Up the reins when he had gathered—he the charioteer bade mount,First, Varshneya, skilled in driving—at full speed then set he forth.Urged by Vahuca, those coursers—to the utmost of their speed,All at once in th' air sprung upward—as the driver to unseat.Then, as he beheld those horses—bearing him as fleet as wind,Did the monarch of Ayodhya—in his silent wonder sit.When the rattling of the chariot—when the guiding of the reins,When of Vahuca the science—saw he, thus Varshneya thought:"Is it Matali,[121]the chariot—of the king of heaven that drives?Lo, in Vahuca each virtue—of that godlike charioteer!Is it Salihotra skilful—in the race, the strength of steeds,That hath ta'en a human body—thus all-glorious to behold?Is't, or can it be, king Nala—conqueror of his foemen's realms?Is the lord of men before us?"—thus within himself he thought."If the skill possessed by Nala—Vahuca possesseth too,Lo, of Vahuca the knowledge—and of Nala equal seems;And of Vahuca and Nala—thus alike the age should be.If 'tis not the noble Nala—it is one of equal skill.Mighty ones, disguised, are wandering—in the precincts of this earth.They, divine by inborn nature—but in earthly forms concealed.His deformity of body—that my judgment still confounds;Yet that proof alone is wanting—what shall then my judgment be?In their age they still are equal—though unlike that form misshaped,Nala gifted with all virtues—Vahuca I needs must deem."Thus the charioteer Varshneya—sate debating in his mind;Much, and much again he pondered—in the silence of his thought.But the royal Rituparna—Vahuca's surpassing skill,With the charioteer Varshneya—sate admiring, and rejoiced.In the guiding of the coursers—his attentive hand he watched,Wondered at his skill, consummate—in consummate joy himself.

Over rivers, over mountains—through the forests, over lakes,Fleetly passed they, rapid gliding—like a bird along the air.As the chariot swiftly travelled—lo, Bhangasuri the kingSaw his upper garment fallen—from the lofty chariot seat;Though in urgent haste, no sooner—he his fallen mantle saw,Than the king exclaimed to Nala—"Pause, and let us take it up:Check, an instant, mighty-minded!—check thy fiery-footed steeds,While Varshneya, swift dismounting—bears me back my fallen robe."Nala answered, "Far behind us—doth thy fallen garment lie;Ten miles,[122]lo, it lies behind us—turn we not, to gain it, back."Answered thus by noble Nala—then Bhangasuri the king,Bowed with fruit, within the forest—saw a tall Vibhitak[123]tree:Gazing on that tree, the raja—spake to Vahuca in haste,"Now, O charioteer, in numbers, thou shalt see my passing skill.Each one knows not every science—none there is that all things knows:Perfect skill in every knowledge—in one mind there may not be.On yon tree are leaves how many?—Vahuca, how many fruit?Say, how many are there fallen?—one above a hundred, there.One leaf is there 'bove a hundred—and one fruit, O Vahuca!And of leaves are five ten millions[124]—hanging on those branches two.Those two branches if thou gather—and the twigs that on them grow,On those two are fruits two thousand—and a hundred, less by five."Then, when he had check'd the chariot—answered Vahuca the king,"What thou speakest, to mine eyesight—all invisible appears;Visible I'll make it, counting—on yon boughs the leaves and fruit:Then, when we have strictly numbered—I mistrust mine eyes no more.In thy presence, king, I'll number—yonder tall Vibhitak-tree.Whether it may be, or may not—this not done, I cannot know.I will number, thou beholding—all its fruits, O king of men,But an instant let Varshneya—hold the bridles of the steeds."To the charioteer the raja—answered, "Time is none to stay."Vahuca replied, all eager—his own purpose to fulfil,"Either stay thou here an instant—or go onward in thy speed,With the charioteer Varshneya—go, for straight the road before."Answered him king Rituparna—with a bland and soothing voice:"Charioteer! on earth thine equal—Vahuca, there may not be;By thy guidance, skilled in horses!—to Vidarbha I would go:I in thee have placed reliance—interrupt not then our course:Willingly will I obey thee—Vahuca, in what thou ask'st,If this day we reach Vidarbha—ere the sun hath sunk in night."Vahuca replied, "No sooner—have I numbered yonder fruit,To Vidarbha will I hasten—grant me then my prayer, O king."Then the raja, all reluctant—"Stay then, and begin to count;Of one branch one part, O blameless—from the tall Vibhitak tree,Man of truth, begin to number—and make glad thine inmost heart."From the chariot quick alighting—Nala tore the branch away.Then, his soul possess'd with wonder—to the raja thus he said;"Having counted, an thou sawest—even so many fruits there are,Marvellous thy power, O monarch—by mine eyes beheld and proved,Of that wonder-working science—fain the secret would I hear."Then the raja spake in answer—eager to pursue his way,"I of dice possess the science—and in numbers thus am skilled."Vahuca replied; "That science—if to me thou wilt impart,In return, O king, receive thou—my surpassing skill in steeds."Then the raja Rituparna—by his pressing need induced,Eager for that skill in horses—"Be it so," thus 'gan to say;"Well, O Vahuca, thou speakest—thou my skill in dice receive,And of steeds thy wondrous knowledge—be to me a meet return."Rituparna, all his science—saying this, to Nala gave.Soon as he in dice grew skilful—Kali from his body passed:He Karkotaka's foul poison—vomiting from out his mouth,Went from forth his body Kali[125]—tortured by that fiery curse.Nala, wasted by that conflict—came not instant to himself,But, released from that dread venom—Kali his own form resumed:And Nishadha's monarch, Nala—fain would curse him in his ire.Him addressed the fearful Kali—trembling, and with folded hands;"Lord of men, restrain thine anger—I will give thee matchless fame;Indrasena's wrathful mother—laid on me her fatal curse,[126]When by thee she was deserted—since that time, O king of men,I have dwelt in thee in anguish—in the ecstacy of pain.By the King of Serpents' poison—I have burned by night, by day;To thy mercy now for refuge—flee I, hear my speech, O king:Wheresoe'er men, unforgetful—through the world shall laud thy name,Shall the awful dread of Kali[126]—never in their soul abide.If thou wilt not curse me, trembling—and to thee for refuge fled."Thus addressed, the royal Nala—all his rising wrath suppressed,And the fearful Kali entered—in the cloven Vibhitak tree:[127]To no eyes but those of Nala—visible, had Kali spoken.Then the monarch of Nishadha—from his inward fever freed,When away had vanished Kali—when the fruits he had numbered all,Triumphing in joy unwonted—blazing in his splendour forth,Proudly mounting on the chariot—onward urged the rapid steeds.But that tree by Kali entered—since that time stands aye accursed.Those fleet horses, forward flying—like to birds, again, again,All his soul elate with transport—Nala swifter, swifter drove;With his face towards Vidarbha—rode the raja in his pride:And when forward Nala journeyed—Kali to his home returned.So released from all his sufferings—Nala went, the king of men,Dispossessed by Kali, wanting—only now his proper form.

With the evening in Vidarbha—men at watch, as they drew near,Mighty Rituparna's coming—to king Bhima did proclaim.Then that king, by Bhima's mandate—entered in Kundina's walls,All the region round him echoing[128]—with the thunders of his car.But the echoing of that chariot—when king Nala's horses heard,In their joy they pawed and trampled[129]—even as Nala's self were there.Damayanti, too, the rushing—of king Nala's chariot heard.As a cloud that hoarsely thunders—at the coming of the rains.All her heart was thrilled with wonder—at that old familiar sound.On they seemed to come, as Nala—drove of yore his trampling steeds:Like it seemed to Bhima's daughter—and e'en so to Nala's steeds.On the palace roofs the peacocks—th' elephants within their stalls,And the horses heard the rolling—of the mighty monarch's car.Elephants and peacocks hearing—the fleet chariot rattling on,Up they raised their necks and clamoured—as at sound of coming rain.[130]

Damayantispake.

"How the rolling of yon chariot—filling, as it seems, th' earth,Thrills my soul with unknown transport—it is Nala, king of men.If this day I see not Nala—with his glowing moonlike face,Him, the king with countless virtues—I shall perish without doubt.If this day within th' embraces—of that hero's clasping arms,I the gentle pressure feel not—without doubt I shall not live.If 'tis not, like cloud of thunder—he that comes, Nishadha's king,I this day the fire will enter—burning like the hue of gold.In his might like the strong lion—like the raging elephant,Comes he not, the prince of princes—I shall perish without doubt.Not a falsehood I remember—I remember no offence;Not an idle word remember—in his noble converse free.Lofty, patient, like a hero—liberal beyond all kings,Nought ignoble, as the eunuch—even in private, may he do.As I think upon his virtues—as I think by day, by night,All my heart is rent with anguish—widowed of in own beloved."Thus lamenting, she ascended—as with frenzied mind possessed,To the palace roof's high terrace—to behold the king of men.In the middle court high seated—in the car, the lord of earth,Rituparna with Varshneya—and with Vahuca she saw,When Varshneya from that chariot—and when Vahuca came down,He let loose those noble coursers—and he stopped the glowing car.From that chariot-seat descended—Rituparna, king of men,To the noble monarch Bhima—he drew near, for strength renowned.Him received with highest honour—Bhima, for without due cause,Deemed not he, the mighty raja—with such urgent speed had come."Wherefore com'st thou! hail and welcome"—thus that gracious king enquires;For his daughter's sake he knew not—that the lord of men had come.But the raja Rituparna—great in wisdom as in might,When nor king within the palace—nor king's son he could behold,Nor of Swayembara heard he—nor assembled Brahmins saw.Thus within his mind deep pondering—spoke of Kosala the lord."Hither, O majestic Bhima—to salute thee am I come."But king Bhima smiled in secret—as he thought within his mind,"What the cause of this far journey—of a hundred Yojanas.Passing through so many cities—for this cause he set not forth;For this cause of little moment—to our court he hath not come:What the real cause, hereafter—haply I may chance to know."After royal entertainment—then the king his guest dismissed:"Take then thy repose," thus said he—"weary of thy journey, rest."He refreshed, with courteous homage—of that courteous king took leave,Ushered by the royal servants—to th' appointed chamber went:There retired king Rituparna—with Varshneya in his suite.Vahuca, meantime, the chariot—to the chariot-house had led,There the coursers he unharnessed—skilfully he dressed them there,And with gentle words caressed them—on the chariot seat sate down.But the woeful Damayanti—when Bhangasuri she'd seen,And the charioteer Varshneya—and the seeming Vahuca,Thought within Vidarbha's princess—"Whose was that fleet chariot's sound?Such it seems as noble Nala's—yet no Nala do I see.Hath the charioteer Varshneya—Nala's noble science learned?Therefore did the thundering chariot—sound as driven by Nala's self?Or may royal Rituparna—like the skilful Nala drive,Therefore did the rolling chariot—seem as of Nishadha's king?"Thus when Damayanti pondered—in the silence of her soul,Sent she then her beauteous handmaid—to that king her messenger.

Damayantispake.

"Go, Kesinia, go, enquire thou—who is yonder charioteer,On the chariot seat reposing—all deformed, with arms so short?Blessed maid, approach, and courteous—open thou thy bland discourse:Undespis'd, ask thou thy question—and the truth let him reply.Much and sorely do I doubt me—whether Nala it may be,As my bosom's rapture augurs—as the gladness of my heart.Speak thou, ere thou close the converse—even as good Parnada spakeAnd his answer, slender-waisted—undespis'd, remember thou."Then to Vahuca departing—went that zealous messenger,On the palace' loftiest terrace—Damayanti sate and gazed.

Kesiniaspake.

"Happy omen mark thy coming—I salute thee, king of men:Of the princess Damayanti—hear, O lord of men, the speech:'From what region came ye hither—with what purpose are ye come?'Answer thou, as may beseem you—so Vidarbha's princess wills."

Vahucaspake.

"Soon a second Swayembara, heard the king of Kosala,Damayanti holds: to-morrow—will it be, the Brahmin said:Hearing this, with fleetest coursers—that a hundred yojanas' speed,Set he forth, the wind less rapid,—and his charioteer am I."

Kesiniaspake.

"Who the third that journeys with you—who is he, and what his race?Of what race art thou? this office—wherefore dost thou undertake!"

Vahucaspake.

"'Tis the far-renowned Varshneya—Punyasloka's charioteer:He, when Nala fled an exile—to Bhangasuri retired.Skilful I in taming horses—and a famous charioteer.Rituparna's chosen driver—dresser of his food am I."

Kesiniaspake.

"Knows the charioteer Varshneya—whither royal Nala went?Of his fortune hath he told thee—Vahuca, what hath he said?"

Vahucaspake.

"He of the unhappy Nala—safe the children borne away,Wheresoe'er he would, departed—of king Nala knows he nought:Nothing of Nishadha's raja—fair one! living man doth know.Through the world, concealed, he wanders—having lost his proper form.Only Nala's self of Nala—knows, and his own inward soul,Of himself to living mortal—Nala will no sign betray."

Kesiniaspake.

"He that to Ayodhya's city—went, the holy Brahmin first,Of his faithful wife these sayings—uttered once and once again;'Whither went'st thou then, O gamester—half my garment severing off;Leaving her within the forest—all forsaken, thy belov'd?Even as thou commanded'st, sits she—sadly waiting thy return,Day and night, consumed with sorrow—in her scant half garment clad.O to her for ever weeping—in the extreme of her distress,Grant thy pity, noble hero—answer to her earnest prayer.'Speak again the words thou uttered'st—words of comfort to her soul,The renowned Vidarbha's princess—fain that speech would hear again,When the Brahmin thus had spoken—what thou answered'st back to him,That again Vidarbha's princess—in the self-same words would hear."

Vrihadasvaspake.

Of king Nala, by the handmaid—fair Kesinia thus addressed,All the heart was wrung with sorrow—and the eyes o'erflowed with tears.But his anguish still suppressing—inly though consumed, the king,With a voice half choked with weeping—thus repeated his reply."Even in the extreme of misery—noble women still preserveOver their own selves the mastery—by their virtues winning heaven;By their faithless lords abandoned—anger feel they not, e'en then;In the breastplate of their virtue—noble women live unharmed.By the wretched, by the senseless—by the lost to every joy,She by such a lord forsaken—to resentment will not yield.Against him, by hunger wasted—of his robe by birds despoiled,Him consumed with utmost misery—still no wrath, the dark-hued feels;Treated well, or ill-entreated—when her husband 'tis she sees,Spoiled of bliss, bereft of kingdom—famine wasted, worn with woe."In these words as spake king Nala—in the anguish of his heart,Could he not refrain from weeping—his unwilling tears burst forth.Then departing, fair Kesinia—told to Damayanti all,All that Vahuca had spoken—all th' emotion he betrayed.

Hearing this, fair Damayanti—all abandoned to her grief.Thinking still that he was Nala—to Kesinia spake again."Go, Kesinia, go, examine—Vahuca, and all his acts,Silent take thy stand beside him—and observe whate'er he does;Nor, Kesinia, be there given him—fire his labours to assist:Neither be there given him water—in thy haste, at his demand:All, when thou hast well observed him—every act to me repeat,Every act that more than mortal—seems in Vahuca, relate."Thus addressed by Damayanti—straight Kesinia went again,Of the tamer of the horses—every act observed, came back;Every act as she had seen it—she to Damayanti told:Every more than mortal wonder—that in Vahuca appeared.

Kesiniaspake.

"Very holy is he, never—mortal man, in all my life,Have I seen, or have I heard of—Damayanti, like to him.He drew near the lowly entrance—bowed not down his stately head;On the instant, as it saw him—up th' expanding portal rose.For the use of Rituparna—much and various viands came;[131]Sent, as meet, by royal Bhima—and abundant animal food.These to cleanse, with meet ablution—were capacious vessels brought;As he looked on them, the vessels—stood, upon the instant, full.Then, the meet ablutions over—Vahuca went forth, and took,Of the withered grass a handful—held it upward to the sun:On the instant, brightly blazing—shone the all-consuming fire.Much I marvelled at the wonder—and in mute amazement stood;Lo, a second greater marvel—sudden burst upon my sight!He that blazing fire stood handling—yet unharmed, unburned, remained.At his will flows forth the water—at his will it sinks again.And another greater wonder—lady, did I there behold:He the flowers which he had taken—gently moulded in his hands,In his hands the flowers, so moulded—as with freshening life endued,Blossomed out with richer fragrance—stood erect upon their stems:All these marvels having noted—swiftly came I back to thee."

Damayantispake.

Damayanti when these wonders—of the king of men she heard,Thought yet more king Nala present—thought her utmost wish achieved.Deeming still her royal consort—in the form of Vahuca,With a gentle voice and weeping—to Kesinia spake again:"Go, again, Kesinia, secret—and by Vahuca unseen,Of those viands bring a portion—by his skilful hand prepared:"She to Vahuca approaching—unperceived stole soft awayOf the well-cooked meat a morsel—warm she bore it in her haste,And to Damayanti gave it—fair Kesinia, undelayed.Of the food prepared by Nala—well the flavour did she know;Tasting it she shrieked in transport—"Nala is yon charioteer."Trying then a new emotion—of her mouth ablution made:[132]She her pair of infant children—with Kesinia sent to him.Soon as he young Indrasena—and her little brother saw,Up he sprang, his arms wound round them—to his bosom folding both;When he gazed upon the children—like the children of the gods,All his heart o'erflowed with pity—and unwilling tears broke forth.Yet Nishadha's lord perceiving—she his strong emotion marked,From his hold released the children—to Kesinia speaking thus:"Oh! so like mine own twin children—was yon lovely infant pair,Seeing them thus unexpected—have I broken out in tears:If so oft thou comest hither—men some evil will suspect,We within this land are strangers—beauteous maiden, part in peace."

Seeing the profound emotion—of that wisest king of men,Passing back in haste, Kesinia—told to Damayanti all:Then again did Damayanti—mission to Kesinia give,To approach her royal mother—in her haste her lord to see."Vahuca we've watched most closely—Nala we suspect him still;Only from his form we doubt him—this myself would fain behold.Cause him enter here, my mother—to my wishes condescend;Known or unknown to my father—let it be decided now."By that handmaid thus accosted—then the queen to Bhima toldAll his daughter's secret counsel—and the raja gave assent.Instant from her sire the princess—from her mother leave obtained,Bade them make king Nala enter—in the chamber where she dwelt.Sudden as he gazed upon her—upon Damayanti gazed,Nala, he was seized with anguish—and with tears his eyes o'erflowed.And when Damayanti gazed on—Nala, thus approaching near,With an agonizing sorrow—was the noble lady seized.Clad, then, in a scarlet mantle—hair dishevelled, mire-defiled,[133]Unto Vahuca this language—Damayanti thus addressed:"Vahuca beheld'st thou ever—an upright and noble man,Who departed and abandoned—in the wood, his sleeping wife?The beloved wife, and blameless—in the wild wood, worn with grief?Who was he who thus forsook her?—who but Nala, king of men?To the lord of earth, from folly—what offence can I have given?That he fled, within the forest—leaving me, by sleep oppressed?Openly, the gods rejected—was he chosen by me, my lord:Could he leave the true, the loving—her that hath his children borne!By the nuptial fire, in presence—of the gods, he clasped my hand,'I will be,'[134]this truth he plighted—whither did he then depart?"While all this in broken accents—sadly Damayanti spoke,From her eyes the drops of sorrow—flowed in copious torrents down.Those dark eyes, with vermeil corners—thus with trembling moisture dewed,When king Nala saw, and gazed on—to the sorrowful he spake."Gaming that I lost my kingdom—'twas not mine own guilty deed,It was Kali wrought within me—hence it was I fled from thee;Therefore he, in th' hour of trial—smitten by thy scathing curse,In the wild wood as thou wanderest—grieving night and day for me,Kali dwelt within my body—burning with thy powerful curse,Ever burning, fiercer, hotter—as when fire is heaped on fire.He, by my religious patience—my devotion, now subdued,Lo! the end of all our sorrows—beautiful! is now at hand.I, the evil one departed, hither have made haste to come;For thy sake, O round-limbed! only;—other business have I none.Yet, O how may high-born woman—from her vowed, her plighted lord,Swerving, choose another husband—even as thou, O trembler, would'st?Over all the earth the heralds—travel by the kings command,'Now the daughter of king Bhima—will a second husband choose,'Free from every tie, as wills she—as her fancy may beseem,'Hearing this, came hither speeding—king Bhangasuri in haste."Damayanti, when from Nala—heard she this his grievous charge,With her folded hands, and trembling—thus to Nala made reply:"Do not me, O noble-minded—of such shameless guilt suspect,Thou, when I the gods rejected—Nala, wert my chosen lord.Only thee to find, the Brahmins—went to the ten regions forth,Chaunting to their holy measures—but the words that I had taught.Then that Brahmin wise, Parnada—such the name he bears, O king,Thee in Kosala, the palace—of king Rituparna saw.There to thee, my words addressed he—answer there from thee received.I this subtle wile imagined—king of men, to bring thee here.Since, beside thyself, no mortal—in the world, within the day,Could drive on the fleetest coursers—for a hundred Yojanas.To attest this truth, O monarch!—thus I touch thy sacred feet;Even in heart have I committed—never evil thought 'gainst thee.He through all the world that wanders—witness the all-seeing wind,[135]Let him now of life bereave me—if in this 'gainst thee I've sinned:And the sun that moveth ever—over all the world, on high,Let him now of life bereave me—if in this 'gainst thee I've sinned.Witness, too, the moon that permeates—every being's inmost thought;Let her too of life bereave me—if in this 'gainst thee I've sinned.These three gods are they that govern—these three worlds, so let them speak;This my sacred truth attest they—or this day abandon me."Thus adjured, a solemn witness—spake the wind from out the air;"She hath done or thought no evil—Nala, 'tis the truth we speak:King, the treasure of her virtue—well hath Damayanti kept,We ourselves have seen and watched her—closely for three livelong years.This her subtle wile she plotted—only for thy absent sake,For beside thyself no mortal—might a hundred Yojanas drive.Thou hast met with Bhima's daughter—Bhima's daughter meets with thee,Cast away all jealous scruple—to thy bosom take thy wife."Even as thus the wind was speaking—flowers fell showering all around:[136]And the gods sweet music sounded—on the zephyr floating light.As on this surpassing wonder—royal Nala stood and gazed,Of the blameless Damayanti—melted all his jealous doubts.Then by dust all undefiled—he the heavenly vest put on,Thought upon the King of Serpents—and his proper form resumed.In his own proud form her husband—Bhima's royal daughter saw,Loud she shrieked, the undespised—and embraced the king of men.Bhima's daughter, too, king Nala—shining glorious as of old,Clasped unto his heart, and fondled—gently that sweet infant pair.Then her face upon his bosom—as the lovely princess laid,In her calm and gentle sorrow—softly sighed the long-eyed queen:He, that form still mire-defiled—as he clasped with smile serene,Long the king of men stood silent—in the ecstacy of woe.All the tale of Damayanti—and of Nala all the tale,To king Bhima in her transport—told Vidarbha's mother-queen.Then replied that mighty monarch—"Nala, his ablutions done,Thus rejoined to Damayanti—I to-morrow will behold."

Vrihadasvaspake.

They the livelong night together—slow related, each to each,All their wanderings in the forest—and each wild adventure strange.In king Bhima's royal palace—studying each the other's bliss,With glad hearts, Vidarbha's princess—and the kingly Nala dwelt.In their fourth year of divorcement—reunited to his wife,Richly fraught with every blessing—at the height of joy he stood.Damayanti too re-wedded—still increasing in her bliss,Like as the glad earth to water—opens its half-budding fruits,She of weariness unconscious,—soothed each grief, and full each joy,Every wish fulfilled, shone brightly—as the night, when high the moon.

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