BOOK XXII.

“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.

“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.”

“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.”

“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!”

“‘ 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.”

“Knows the charioteer Varshneya — whither royal Nala went?

Of his fortune hath he told thee — Vahuca, what hath he said?”

“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.”

“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?

Even as thou commanded'st, sits she — sadly waiting thy return,

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.”

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.