  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. "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!" Vahuca spake. "'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." Kesinia spake. "Knows the charioteer Varshneya—whither royal Nala went? Of his fortune hath he told thee—Vahuca, what hath he said?" Vahuca spake. "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." Kesinia spake. "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? 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." Vrihadasva spake. 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 preserve Over 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. |
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