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[118]—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[119]—born in Sindhu[120]—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?"—
Vahuca spake.
"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."
Rituparna spake.
"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,[121] 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.