I described your G.o.dlike presence--but the maid with beauteous face Chooses me, bereft of reason--O most excellent of G.o.ds!

Thus she spake, that maiden princess,--"Let the G.o.ds together come, Come with thee, Oh king of mortals,--where the Swayembara meets; There will I, before their presence--choose thee, raja, for my lord.

So to thee, O strong armed warrior--may no blame, no fault ensue."

Thus it was, even as I tell you--word for word did it befall.

Plainly have I spoke, the judgment--rests with you, of G.o.ds the chief!

BOOK V.

Came the day of happy omen[42]--moonday meet, and moment apt; Bhima to the Swayembara--summoned all the lords of earth.

One and all, upon the instant--rose th' enamoured lords of earth, Suitors all to Damayanti--in their loving haste they came.

They, the court with golden columns[43]--rich, and glittering portal arch, Like the lions on the mountains--entered they the hall of state.

There the lords of earth were seated--each upon his several throne; All their fragrant garlands wearing--all with pendant ear-gems rich.

Arms were seen robust and vigorous--as the ponderous battle mace, Some like the five-headed serpents--delicate in shape and hue:[44]

With bright locks profuse and flowing--fine formed nose, and eye and brow, Shone the faces of the rajas--like the radiant stars in heaven.

As with serpents, Bhogavati[45]--the wide hall was full of kings; As the mountain caves with tigers--with the tiger-warriors full.

Damayanti in her beauty--entered on that stately scene, With her dazzling light entrancing--every eye and every soul.

O'er her lovely person gliding--all the eyes of those proud kings; There were fixed, there moveless rested--as they gazed upon the maid.

Then as they proclaimed the rajas--(by his name was each proclaimed) In dismay saw Bhima's daughter--five in garb, in form the same.

On those forms, all undistinguished--each from each, she stood and gazed.

In her doubt Vidarbha's princess--Nala's form might not discern,[46]

Whichsoe'er the form she gazed on--him her Nala, him she thought.

She within her secret spirit--deeply pondering, stood and thought: "How shall I the G.o.ds distinguish?--royal Nala how discern?"

Pondering thus Vidarbha's maiden--in the anguish of her heart-- Th' attributes of the immortals--sought, as heard of yore, to see.

"Th' attributes of each celestial--that our aged sires describe, As on earth they stand before me--not of one may I discern."

Long she pondered in her silence--and again, again she thought.

To the G.o.ds, her only refuge--turned she at this trying hour.

With her voice and with her spirit--she her humble homage paid.

Folding both her hands and trembling--to the G.o.ds the maiden spake: "As when heard the swan's sweet language--chose I then Nishadha's king, By this truth I here adjure ye--oh, ye G.o.ds, reveal my lord; As in word or thought I swerve not--from my faith, all-knowing powers, By this truth I here adjure ye--oh, ye G.o.ds, reveal my lord.

As the G.o.ds themselves have destined--for my lord Nishadha's king; By this truth I here adjure ye--oh, ye G.o.ds, my lord reveal.

As my vow, so pledged to Nala--holily must be maintained, By this truth I here adjure ye--oh, ye G.o.ds, my lord reveal.

Each the form divine a.s.sume ye--earth's protectors, mighty lords; So shall I discern my Nala--I shall know the king of men."

As they heard sad Damayanti--uttering thus her piteous prayer, At her high resolve they wonder--steadfast truth and fervent love, Holiness of soul, and wisdom--to her lord her constant faith.

As she prayed, the G.o.ds obedient--stood with attributes revealed: With unmoistened skins the Immortals--saw she, and with moveless eyes;[47]

Fresh their dust-unsullied garlands--hovered they, nor touched the earth.

On his shadow garland-drooping[48]--soiled with dust and moist with sweat, On the earth Nishadha's monarch--stood confessed, with twinkling eyes; On the G.o.ds an instant gazed she--then upon the king of men; And of right king Bhima's daughter--named Nishadha's king her lord.

Modestly the large-eyed maiden--lifted up his garment's hem, Round his shoulders threw she lightly--the bright zone of radiant flowers; So she chose him for her husband--Nala, that high-hearted maid.

Then alas! alas! burst wildly,--from that conclave of the kings, And "well done, well done," as loudly--from the G.o.ds and sages broke; All in their extatic wonder--glorified Nishadha's king.

Then to royal Damayanti--Virasena's kingly son, To that slender waisted damsel--spake he comfort in his joy; "Since thou'st own'd me for thine husband--in the presence of the G.o.ds, For thy faithful consort know me--aye delighting in thy words.

While this spirit fills this body--maiden with the smile serene!

Thine am I, so long thine only--this the solemn truth I vow."

Thus he gladdened Damayanti--with the a.s.surance of his faith; And the happy pair devoutly[49]--worshipped then the present G.o.ds.

Chosen thus Nishadha's monarch--the bright guardians of the world, In their gladness all on Nala--eight transcendant gifts bestowed; To discern the visible G.o.dhead--in the sacrifice, a gait Firm and n.o.ble, Sachi's husband--Indra to king Nala gave.

Agni gave his own bright presence[50]--whensoe'er the monarch called.

All the worlds instinct with splendour--through his power Hutasa gave.

Subtle taste in food gave Yama--and in virtue eminence; Varun gave obedient water--to be present at his call; Garlands too of matchless fragrance;--each his double blessing gave.[51]

Thus bestowed their gracious favours--to the heavens the G.o.ds returned; And the rajas, who with wonder--Nala's marriage saw confirmed With the gentle Damayanti--as they came, in joy returned.

Thus the kings of earth departed;--Bhima in his joy and pride, Solemnized the stately bridals--of the maiden and the king.

Fitting time when there he'd sojourned,--best of men, Nishadha's king; Courteous parting with king Bhima--to his native city went.

Having gained the pearl of women--the majestic lord of earth Lived in bliss, as with his Sachi,[52]--he that those old giants slew.

In his joy the elated monarch--shining radiant as the sun, Ruled the subjects of his kingdom--with a just and equal sway.

Of the horse the famous offering[53]--like Nahucha's mighty son, Every sacrifice performed he--with rich gifts to holy men.

And full oft in flowering gardens--and delicious shady groves, Like a G.o.d, the royal Nala--took with Damayanti joy.

So begat from Damayanti--Nala, of heroic soul, Indrasena one fair daughter--Indrasen one beauteous son.

Thus in sacrifice and pleasance--took his joy the king of men, So the earth with riches teeming--ruled the sovereign of the earth.

BOOK VI.

Nala, chosen by Bhima's daughter--the bright guardians of the world, As they parted thence, with Kali[54]--Dwapara approaching saw.

Kali as he saw, did Indra--did the giant-killer say, "Here, with Dwapara attended--whither, Kali, dost thou go?"

Kali spake, "the Swayembara--we of Damayanti seek; Her I go to make my consort--into her mine heart hath pa.s.sed."

"Closed and ended is that bridal,"--Indra answered with a smile, "Nala she hath chosen for husband--in the presence of us all."

Thus addressed by Indra, Kali--in the transport of his wrath, All the heavenly G.o.ds saluting,--thus his malediction spake, "Since before the Immortals' presence--she a mortal spouse did choose, Of her impious crime most justly--heavy be the penal doom."

Kali hardly thus had spoken--than the heaven-born G.o.ds replied: "With our full and liberal sanction--Damayanti chose her lord.

Who to Nala, with all virtue--rich endowed, would not incline?

He that rightly knows each duty--he who ever rightly acts, He who reads the whole four Vedas--the Puranas too the fifth,[55]

In his palace with pure offerings--ever are the G.o.ds adored, Gentle to all living creatures--true in word and strict in vow; Good and constant he, and generous--holy, temperate, patient, pure; His are all these virtues ever--equal to the earth-guarding G.o.ds.

Thus endowed, the n.o.ble Nala--he, O Kali, that would curse, On himself recoil his curses--only fatal to himself.

Nala, gifted with such virtues--he, O Kali, who would curse-- Be he plunged in h.e.l.l's dark torments--in the deep and vasty lake."

Thus the G.o.ds to Kali speaking--to their native heavens arose.

Soon as they had parted, Kali--thus to Dwapara began: "I my wrath can curb no longer--I henceforth in Nala dwell; From his kingdom will I cast him--from his bliss with his sweet bride.

Thou within the dice embodied--Dwapara my cause a.s.sist."

BOOK VII.

Bound by that malignant treaty--Kali with his dark ally, Haunted they the stately palace--where Nishadha's monarch ruled; Watching still the fatal instant--in Nishadha long they dwelt.

Twelve long years had pa.s.sed ere Kali--saw that fatal instant come.

Nala after act uncleanly--the ablution half performed,[56]

Prayed at eve, with feet unwashen--Kali seized the fatal hour.

Into Nala straight he entered--and possessed his inmost soul.

Pushkara in haste he summoned--come with Nala play at dice, Ever in the gainful hazard--by my subtle aid thou'lt win, Even the kingdom of Nishadha--even from Nala all his realm.

Pushkara by Kali summoned--to his brother Nala came, In the dice of dice embodied[57]--Dwapara stood silent by.

Pushkara the hero-slayer--to king Nala standing near: "Play we with the dice, my brother,"--thus again, again he said.

Long the lofty-minded raja--that bold challenge might not brook, In Vidarbha's princess' presence--deemed he now the time for play.

For his wealth, his golden treasures--for his chariots, for his robes, Then possessed by Kali, Nala--in the game was worsted still.

He with love of gaming maddened,--of his faithful friends not one Might arrest the desperate frenzy--of the conqueror of his foes.

Came the citizens a.s.sembling--with the counsellors of state, To behold the king approached they--to restrain his dread disease.

Then the charioteer advancing[58]--thus to Damayanti spake: "All the city, n.o.ble princess--stands a.s.sembled at the gate, Say thou to Nishadha's monarch--'All his subjects here are met; Ill they brook this dire misfortune[59]--in their justice-loving king'."

Then, her voice half choked with anguish--spake the sorrow-stricken queen, Spirit-broken, Bhima's daughter--to Nishadha's sovereign spake, "Raja, lo! the a.s.sembled city--at the gate their king to see: With the counsellors of wisdom--by their loyal duty led.