“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.
Cookies on Poetry Cove