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.
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