Chapter XXI: 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.