Chapter XX: 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.