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 surpa.s.sing 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 pa.s.sed: 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.

BOOK XXI.

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 hoa.r.s.ely 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 peac.o.c.ks--th' elephants within their stalls, And the horses heard the rolling--of the mighty monarch's car.

Elephants and peac.o.c.ks hearing--the fleet chariot rattling on, Up they raised their necks and clamoured--as at sound of coming rain.[130]

DAMAYANTI _spake_.

"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 n.o.ble converse free.

Lofty, patient, like a hero--liberal beyond all kings, Nought ign.o.ble, 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 n.o.ble coursers--and he stopped the glowing car.

From that chariot-seat descended--Rituparna, king of men, To the n.o.ble 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 a.s.sembled 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.

Pa.s.sing 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 n.o.ble Nala's--yet no Nala do I see.

Hath the charioteer Varshneya--Nala's n.o.ble 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.

BOOK XXII.

DAMAYANTI _spake_.

"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 spake And 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.

KESINIA _spake_.

"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."

VAHUCA _spake_.

"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."

KESINIA _spake_.