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 n.o.ble-minded--of such shameless guilt suspect, Thou, when I the G.o.ds 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 G.o.ds 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 G.o.ds sweet music sounded--on the zephyr floating light.

As on this surpa.s.sing 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."

VRIHADASVA _spake_.

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.

BOOK XXV.

When that night was pa.s.sed and over--Nala, that high-gifted king, Wedded to Vidarbha's daughter--in fit hour her sire beheld.

Humbly Nala paid his homage--to the father of his queen, Reverently did Damayanti--pay her homage to her sire.

Him received the royal Bhima--as his son, with highest joy, Honoured, as became him, n.o.bly:--then consoled that monarch wise Damayanti, to king Nala--reconciled, the faithful wife.

Royal Nala, all these honours--as his homage meet, received; And in fitting terms, devotion--to his royal sire declared.

Mighty then, through all the city--ran the wakening sound of joy; All in every street exulting--at king Nala's safe return.

All the city with their banners--and with garlands decked they forth.

All the royal streets, well watered--and with stainless flowers were strewn; And from door to door the garlands--of festooning flowers were hung; And of all the G.o.ds the altars--were with fitting rites adorned.

Rituparna heard of Nala--in the form of Vahuca, Now re-wed, to Damayanti--and the king of men rejoiced.

To the king, before his presence--Nala courteous made excuse.

In his turn Ayodhya's monarch--in like courteous language spake.

He, received thus hospitably--wondering to Nishadha's king, "Bliss be with thee, reunited--to thy queen:" 'twas thus he said.

"Have I aught offensive ever--done to thee, or said, O king Whilst unknown, within my palace--thou wert dwelling, king of men?

If designed or undesigning--any single act I've done I might wish undone, thy pardon--grant me, I beseech thee, king."

NALA _spake_.

"Not or deed or word discourteous--not the slightest hast thou done; Hadst thou, I might not resent it--freely would I pardon all.

Thou of old, my friend, my kinsman--wert, O sovereign of men, From this time henceforth thy friendship--be my glory and my joy.

Every wish antic.i.p.ated--pleasantly I dwelt with thee, As in mine own royal palace--dwelt I ever, king, in thine.

My surpa.s.sing skill in horses--all is thine that I possess; That on thee bestow I gladly--if, O king, it seem thee good."

Nala thus to Rituparna--gave his subtle skill in steeds, Gladly he received the present--with each regulation meet.

Gifted with that precious knowledge--then Bhangasuri the king, Home returned to his own city--with another charioteer.

Rituparna thus departed--Nala, then the king of men, In the city of Kundina--sojourned for no length of time.

BOOK XXVI.

There a month when he had sojourned--of king Bhima taking leave, Guarded but by few attendants--to Nishadha took his way.

With a single splendid chariot--and with elephants sixteen, And with fifty armed hors.e.m.e.n--and six hundred men on foot; Making, as 'twere, earth to tremble--hastening onward, did the king, Enter awful in his anger--and terrific in his speed.

Then the son of Virasena--to king Pushkara drew near; "Play we once again," then said he--"much the wealth I have acquired: All I have, even Damayanti--every treasure I possess, Set I now upon the hazard--Pushkara, thy kingdom thou: In the game once more contend we--'tis my settled purpose this, Brother, at a single hazard--play we boldly for our lives.

From another he who treasures--he who mighty realm hath won, 'Tis esteemed a bounden duty--to play back the counter game.

If thou shrinkest from the hazard--be our game the strife of swords, Meet we in the single combat--all our difference to decide.

An hereditary kingdom--may by any means be sought, Be re-won by any venture--this the maxim of the wise.

Of two courses set before thee--Pushkara, the option make, Or in play to stand the hazard--or in battle stretch the bow."

By Nishadha's lord thus challenged--Pushkara, with smile suppressed, As secure of easy victory--answered to the lord of earth; "Oh what joy! abundant treasures--thou hast won, again to play; Oh what joy! of Damayanti--now the hard-won prize is mine: Oh what joy! again thou livest--with thy consort, mighty armed!

With the wealth I win bedecked--soon shall Bhima's daughter stand, By my side, as by great Indra--stands the Apsara in heaven.[137]

Still on thee hath dwelt my memory--still I've waited, king, for thee; In the play I find no rapture--but 'gainst kinsmen like thyself.

When this day the round-limbed princess--Damayanti, undespised, I shall win, I rest contented--still within mine heart she dwells."

Hearing his contemptuous language--franticly thus pouring forth, With his sword th' indignant Nala--fain had severed off his head.

But with haughty smile, with anger--glaring in his blood-red eyes, "Play we now, nor talk we longer--conquered, thou'lt no longer talk."

Then of Pushkara the gaming--and of Nala straight began: In a single throw by Nala--was the perilous venture gained; Pushkara, his gold, his jewels--at one hazard all was won!

Pushkara, in play thus conquered--with a smile the king rejoined: "Mine again is all this kingdom--undisturbed, its foes o'ercome.

Fallen king! Vidarbha's daughter--by thine eyes may ne'er be seen.

Thou art now, with all thy household--unto abject slavery sunk.

Not thyself achieved the conquest--that subdued me heretofore!

'Twas achieved by mightier Kali--that thou didst not, fool, perceive.

Yet my wrath, by him enkindled--will I not 'gainst thee direct; Live thou henceforth at thy pleasure--freely I thy life bestow, And of thine estate and substance--give I thee thy fitting share.

Such my pleasure, in thy welfare--hero, do I take delight, And mine unabated friendship--never shall from thee depart.

Pushkara, thou art my brother--may'st thou live an hundred years!"

Nala thus consoled his brother--in his conscious power and strength, Sent him home to his own city--once embracing, once again.

Pushkara, thus finding comfort--answered to Nishadha's lord, Answered he to Punyasloka--bowing low with folded hands: "Everlasting be thy glory! may'st thou live ten thousand years!

That my life to me thou grantest--and a city for mine home!"

Hospitably entertained--there a month when he had dwelt, Joyful to his own proud city--Pushkara, with all his kin, With a well-appointed army--of attendant slaves an host, Shining like the sun departed,--in his full meridian orb.

Pushkara thus crowned with riches--thus unharmed, when he dismissed,[138]

Entered then his royal city--with surpa.s.sing pomp, the king: As he entered, to his subjects--Nala spake the words of peace.