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.
BOOK XX.
Over rivers, over mountains—through the forests, over lakes,
Fleetly passed they, rapid gliding—like a bird along the air.
As the chariot swiftly travelled—lo, Bhangasuri the king
Saw his upper garment fallen—from the lofty chariot seat;
Though in urgent haste, no sooner—he his fallen mantle saw,
Than the king exclaimed to Nala—"Pause, and let us take it up:
Check, an instant, mighty-minded!—check thy fiery-footed steeds,
While Varshneya, swift dismounting—bears me back my fallen robe."
Nala answered, "Far behind us—doth thy fallen garment lie;
Ten miles,[122] lo, it lies behind us—turn we not, to gain it, back."
Answered thus by noble Nala—then Bhangasuri the king,
Bowed with fruit, within the forest—saw a tall Vibhitak[123] tree:
Gazing on that tree, the raja—spake to Vahuca in haste,
"Now, O charioteer, in numbers, thou shalt see my passing skill.
Each one knows not every science—none there is that all things knows:
Perfect skill in every knowledge—in one mind there may not be.
On yon tree are leaves how many?—Vahuca, how many fruit?
Say, how many are there fallen?—one above a hundred, there.
One leaf is there 'bove a hundred—and one fruit, O Vahuca!
And of leaves are five ten millions[124]—hanging on those branches two.
Those two branches if thou gather—and the twigs that on them grow,
On those two are fruits two thousand—and a hundred, less by five."
Then, when he had check'd the chariot—answered Vahuca the king,
"What thou speakest, to mine eyesight—all invisible appears;
Visible I'll make it, counting—on yon boughs the leaves and fruit:
Then, when we have strictly numbered—I mistrust mine eyes no more.
In thy presence, king, I'll number—yonder tall Vibhitak-tree.
Whether it may be, or may not—this not done, I cannot know.
I will number, thou beholding—all its fruits, O king of men,
But an instant let Varshneya—hold the bridles of the steeds."
To the charioteer the raja—answered, "Time is none to stay."
Vahuca replied, all eager—his own purpose to fulfil,
"Either stay thou here an instant—or go onward in thy speed,
With the charioteer Varshneya—go, for straight the road before."
Answered him king Rituparna—with a bland and soothing voice:
"Charioteer! on earth thine equal—Vahuca, there may not be;
By thy guidance, skilled in horses!—to Vidarbha I would go:
I in thee have placed reliance—interrupt not then our course:
Willingly will I obey thee—Vahuca, in what thou ask'st,
If this day we reach Vidarbha—ere the sun hath sunk in night."
Vahuca replied, "No sooner—have I numbered yonder fruit,
To Vidarbha will I hasten—grant me then my prayer, O king."
Then the raja, all reluctant—"Stay then, and begin to count;
Of one branch one part, O blameless—from the tall Vibhitak tree,
Man of truth, begin to number—and make glad thine inmost heart."
From the chariot quick alighting—Nala tore the branch away.
Then, his soul possess'd with wonder—to the raja thus he said;
"Having counted, an thou sawest—even so many fruits there are,
Marvellous thy power, O monarch—by mine eyes beheld and proved,
Of that wonder-working science—fain the secret would I hear."
Then the raja spake in answer—eager to pursue his way,
"I of dice possess the science—and in numbers thus am skilled."
Vahuca replied; "That science—if to me thou wilt impart,
In return, O king, receive thou—my surpassing skill in steeds."
Then the raja Rituparna—by his pressing need induced,
Eager for that skill in horses—"Be it so," thus 'gan to say;
"Well, O Vahuca, thou speakest—thou my skill in dice receive,
And of steeds thy wondrous knowledge—be to me a meet return."
Rituparna, all his science—saying this, to Nala gave.
Soon as he in dice grew skilful—Kali from his body passed:
He Karkotaka's foul poison—vomiting from out his mouth,
Went from forth his body Kali[125]—tortured by that fiery curse.
Nala, wasted by that conflict—came not instant to himself,
But, released from that dread venom—Kali his own form resumed:
And Nishadha's monarch, Nala—fain would curse him in his ire.
Him addressed the fearful Kali—trembling, and with folded hands;
"Lord of men, restrain thine anger—I will give thee matchless fame;
Indrasena's wrathful mother—laid on me her fatal curse,[126]
When by thee she was deserted—since that time, O king of men,
I have dwelt in thee in anguish—in the ecstacy of pain.
By the King of Serpents' poison—I have burned by night, by day;
To thy mercy now for refuge—flee I, hear my speech, O king:
Wheresoe'er men, unforgetful—through the world shall laud thy name,
Shall the awful dread of Kali[126]—never in their soul abide.
If thou wilt not curse me, trembling—and to thee for refuge fled."
Thus addressed, the royal Nala—all his rising wrath suppressed,
And the fearful Kali entered—in the cloven Vibhitak tree:[127]
To no eyes but those of Nala—visible, had Kali spoken.
Then the monarch of Nishadha—from his inward fever freed,
When away had vanished Kali—when the fruits he had numbered all,
Triumphing in joy unwonted—blazing in his splendour forth,
Proudly mounting on the chariot—onward urged the rapid steeds.
But that tree by Kali entered—since that time stands aye accursed.
Those fleet horses, forward flying—like to birds, again, again,
All his soul elate with transport—Nala swifter, swifter drove;
With his face towards Vidarbha—rode the raja in his pride:
And when forward Nala journeyed—Kali to his home returned.
So released from all his sufferings—Nala went, the king of men,
Dispossessed by Kali, wanting—only now his proper form.