BOOK XIX.

Hearing thus Sudeva's language — Rituparna, king of men

With a gentle voice and blandly — thus to Vahuca began.

“Where the princess Damayanti — doth her Swayembara hold

In one day to far Vidarbha — Vahuca, I fain would go.”

In these words the unknown Nala — by his royal lord addressed

All his heart was torn with anguish — thus the lofty-minded thought —

“Can she speak thus, Damayanti — thus with sorrow frantic act?

Is't a stratagem thus subtly — for my sake devised and plann'd?

To desire this deed unholy— is that holy princess driven

Wrong'd by me, her basest husband — miserable, mind-estranged!

Fickle is the heart of woman — grievous too is my offence!

Hence she thus might act ignobly — in her exile, reft of friends,

Soul-disturbed by her great sorrow — in the excess of her despair.

No! she could not thus have acted — she with noble offspring blest.

Where the truth, and where the falsehood — setting forth, I best shall judge,

I the will of Rituparna — for mine own sake, will obey.”

Thus within his mind revolving — Vahuca, his wretched mind,

With his folded hands addressed he — Rituparna, king of men:

“I thy mandate will accomplish — I will go, O king of men,

In a single day, O raja — to Vidarbha's royal town.”

Vahuca of all the coursers — did a close inspection make

Entering in the royal stable — by Bhangasuri's command.

Ever urged by Rituparna — Vahuca, in horses skilled,

Long within himself debating — which the fleetest steeds to choose,

He approached four slender coursers — fit, and powerful for the road,

Blending mighty strength with fleetness — high in courage and in blood;

Free from all the well-known vices — broad of nostril — large of jaw;

With the ten good marks distinguished— born in Sindhu— fleet as wind.

As he gazed upon those coursers — spoke the king, almost in wrath:

“Is then thus fulfilled our mandate?— think not to deceive us so.

How will these my coursers bear us — slight in strength and slightly breathed —

How can such a way be travelled — and so long, by steeds like these?” —

“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.”

“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.

Urged by Vahuca, those coursers — to the utmost of their speed,

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,the chariot — of the king of heaven that drives?

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.