  Vahuca spake. "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." Rituparna spake. "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 king To 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. 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, 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. |
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