The Mahabharata, of, Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, BOOK 3, (Nalopakhyana Parva) SECTION LXVII

  

The Mahabharata, of, Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, BOOK 3, (Nalopakhyana Parva)

SECTION LXVII

"Vrihadaswa said, 'After the snake had vanquished, Nala, the ruler of the

Nishadhas, proceeded, and on the tenth day entered the city of Rituparna.

And he approached the king, saying, 'My name is Vahuka. There is no one

in this world equal to me in managing steeds. My counsel also should be

sought in matters of difficulty and in all affairs of skill. I also

surpass others in the art of cooking. In all those arts that exists in

this world, and also in every thing difficult of accomplishment, I will

strive to attain success, O Rituparna, do thou maintain me.' And

Rituparna replied, 'O Vahuka, stay with me! May good happen to thee. Thou

wilt even perform all this. I have always particularly desired to be

driven fast. Do thou concert such measures that my steeds may become

fleet. I appoint thee the superintendent of my stables. Thy pay shall be

ten thousand (coins). Both Varshneya and Jivala shall always be under thy

direction. Thou wilt live pleasantly in their company. Therefore, O

Vahuka, stay thou with me.'"

"Vrihadaswa continued, 'Thus addressed by the king, Nala began to dwell

in the city of Rituparna, treated with respect and with Varshneya and

Jivala as his companions. And residing there, the king (Nala),

remembering the princess of Vidarbha, recited every evening the following

sloka: 'Where lieth that helpless one afflicted with hunger and thirst

and worn with toil, thinking of that wretch? And upon whom also doth she

now wait?' And once as the king was reciting this in the night, Jivala

asked him saying, 'O Vahuka, whom dost thou lament thus daily? I am

curious to hear it. O thou blest with length of days, whose spouse is she

whom thus lamentest?' Thus questioned, king Nala answered him, saying, 'A

certain person devoid of sense had a wife well-known to many. That wretch

was false in his promises. For some reason that wicked person was

separated from her. Separated from her, that wretch wandered about

oppressed with woe, and burning with grief he resteth not by day or

night. And at night, remembering her, he singeth this sloka. Having

wandered over the entire world, he hath at last found a refuge, and

undeserving of the distress that hath befallen him, passeth his days,

thus remembering his wife. When calamity had overtaken this man, his wife

followed him into the woods. Deserted by that man of little virtue, her

life itself is in danger. Alone, without knowledge of ways, ill able to

bear distress, and fainting with hunger and thirst, the girl can hardly

protect her life. And, O friend, she hath been deserted by that man of

small fortune and having little sense, with the wide and terrible forest,

ever abounding in beasts of prey'--

"Thus remembering Damayanti, the king of the Nishadhas continued to live

unknown in the abode of that monarch!"

SECTION LXVIII

"Vaisampayana said, 'After Nala, despoiled of his kingdom, had, with his

wife, become a bondsman, Bhima with the desire of seeing Nala sent out

Brahmanas to search for him. And giving them profuse wealth, Bhima

enjoined on them, saying, 'Do ye search for Nala, and also for my

daughter Damayanti. He who achieveth this task, viz., ascertaining where

the ruler of the Nishadhas is, bringeth him and my daughter hither, will

obtain from me a thousand kine, and fields, and a village resembling a

town. Even if failing to bring Damayanti and Nala here, he that succeeds

learning their whereabouts, will get from me the wealth represented by a

thousand kine.' Thus addressed, the Brahmanas cheerfully went out in all

directions seeking Nala and his wife in cities and provinces. But Nala or

his spouse they found not anywhere. Until at length searching in the

beautiful city of the Chedis, a Brahmana named Sudeva, during the time of

the king's prayers, saw the princess of Vidarbha in the palace of the

king, seated with Sunanda. And her incomparable beauty was slightly

perceptible, like the brightness of a fire enveloped in curls of smoke.

And beholding that lady of large eyes, soiled and emaciated he decided

her to be Damayanti, coming to that conclusion from various reasons. And

Sudeva said, 'As I saw her before, this damsel is even so at present. O,

I am blest, by casting my eyes on this fair one, like Sree herself

delighting the worlds! Resembling the full moon, of unchanging youth, of

well-rounded breasts, illumining all sides by her splendour, possessed of

large eyes like beautiful lotuses, like unto Kama's Rati herself the

delight of all the worlds like the rays of the full moon, O, she looketh

like a lotus-stalk transplanted by adverse fortune from the Vidarbha lake

and covered with mire in the process. And oppressed with grief on account

of her husband, and melancholy, she looketh like the night of the full

moon when Rahu hath swallowed that luminary, or like a stream whose

current hath dried up. Her plight is very much like that of a ravaged

lake with the leaves of its lotuses crushed by the trunks of elephants,

and with its birds and fowls affrighted by the invasion. Indeed, this

girl, of a delicate frame and of lovely limbs, and deserving to dwell in

a mansion decked with gems, is (now) like an uprooted lotus-stalk

scorched by the sun. Endued with beauty and generosity of nature, and

destitute of ornaments, though deserving of them, she looketh like the

moon 'new bent in haven' but covered with black clouds. Destitute of

comforts and luxuries, separated from loved ones and friends, she liveth

in distress, supported by the hope of beholding her lord. Verily, the

husband is the best ornament of a woman, however destitute of ornaments.

Without her husband beside her, this lady, though beautiful, shineth not.

It is a hard feat achieved by Nala in that he liveth without succumbing

to grief, though separated from such a wife. Beholding this damsel

possessed of black hair and of eyes like lotus-leaves, in woe though

deserving of bliss, even my heart is pained. Alas! when shall this girl

graced with auspicious marks and devoted to her husband, crossing this

ocean of woe, regain the company of her lord, like Rohini regaining the

Moon's? Surely, the king of the Nishadhas will experience in regaining

her the delight that a king deprived of his kingdom experienceth in

regaining his kingdom. Equal to her in nature and age and extraction,

Nala deserveth the daughter of Vidarbha, and this damsel of black eyes

also deserveth him. It behoveth me to comfort the queen of that hero of

immeasurable prowess and endued with energy and might, (since) she is so

eager to meet her husband. I will console this afflicted girl of face

like the full moon, and suffering distress that she had never before

endured, and ever meditating on her lord.'

"Vrihadaswa continued, 'Having thus reflected on these various

circumstances and signs, the Brahmana, Sudeva, approached Damayanti, and

addressed her, saying, 'O princess of Vidarbha, I am Sudeva, the dear

friend of thy brother. I have come here, seeking thee, at the desire of

king Bhima. Thy father is well, and also thy mother, and thy brothers.

And thy son and daughter, blessed with length of days, are living in

peace. Thy relatives, though alive, are almost dead on thy account, and

hundreds of Brahmanas are ranging the world in search of thee."

"Vrihadaswa continued, 'O Yudhishthira, Damayanti recognising Sudeva,

asked him respecting all her relatives and kinsmen one after another.

And, O monarch, oppressed with grief, the princess of Vidarbha began to

weep bitterly, at the unexpected sight of Sudeva, that foremost of

Brahmanas and the friend of her brother. And, O Bharata, beholding

Damayanti weeping, and conversing in private with Sudeva, Sunanda was

distressed, and going to her mother informed her, saying, 'Sairindhri is

weeping bitterly in the presence of a Brahmana. If thou likest, satisfy

thyself.' And thereupon the mother of the king of the Chedis, issuing

from the inner apartments of the palace, came to the place where the girl

(Damayanti) was with that Brahmana. Then calling Sudeva, O king, the

queen-mother asked him, 'Whose wife is this fair one, and whose daughter?

How hath this lady of beautiful eyes been deprived of the company of her

relatives and of her husband as well? And how also hast thou come to know

this lady fallen into such a plight? I wish to hear all this in detail

from thee. Do truly relate unto me who am asking thee about this damsel

of celestial beauty.' Then, O king, thus addressed by the queen-mother,

Sudeva, that best of Brahmanas, sat at his ease, and began to relate the

true history of Damayanti.'"

SECTION LXIX

"Sudeva said, 'There is a virtuous and illustrious ruler of the

Vidarbhas, Bhima by name. This blessed lady is his daughter, and widely

known by the name of Damayanti. And there is a king ruling the Nishadhas,

named Nala, the son of Virasena. This blessed lady is the wife of that

wise and righteous monarch. Defeated at dice by his brother, and

despoiled of his kingdom, that king, accompanied by Damayanti, went away

without the knowledge of any one. We have been wandering over the whole

earth in search of Damayanti. And that girl is at last found in the house

of thy son. No woman existeth that is her rival in beauty. Between the

eye-brows of this ever-youthful damsel, there is an excellent mole from

birth, resembling a lotus. Noticed by us (before) it seems to have

disappeared, covered, (as her forehead is) with (a coat of) dust even

like the moon hid in clouds. Placed there by the Creator himself as an

indication of prosperity and wealth, that mole is visible faintly, like

the cloud-covered lunar crescent of the first day of the lighted

fortnight. And covered as her body is with dust, her beauty hath not

disappeared. Though careless of her person, it is still manifest, and

shineth like gold. And this girl--goddess-like--capable of being

identified by this form of hers and that mole, hath been discovered by me

as one discovereth a fire that is covered, by its heat!'

"O king, hearing these words of Sudeva, Sunanda washed the dust that

covered the mole between Damayanti's eye-brows. And thereupon it became

visible like the moon in the sky, just emerged from the clouds. And

seeing that mole, O Bharata, Sunanda and the queen-mother began to weep,

and embracing Damayanti stood silent for a while. And the queen-mother,

shedding tears as she spoke, said in gentle accents, 'By this thy mole, I

find that thou art the daughter of my sister. O beauteous girl, thy

mother and I are both daughters of the high-souled Sudaman, the ruler of

the Dasarnas. She was bestowed upon king Bhima, and I on Viravahu. I

witnessed thy birth at our father's palace in the country of the

Dasarnas. O beautiful one, my house is to thee even as thy father's. And

this wealth, O Damayanti, is thine as much as mine.' As this, O king,

Damayanti bowing down to her mother's sister with a glad heart, spake

unto her these words, 'Unrecognised, I have still lived happily with

thee, every want of mine satisfied and myself cared for by thee. And

happy as my stay hath been, it would, without doubt, be happier still.

But, mother, I have long been an exile. It behoveth thee, therefore, to

grant me permission (to depart). My son and daughter, sent to my father's

palace, are living there. Deprived of their father, and of their mother

also, how are they passing their days stricken with sorrow. If thou

wishest to do what is agreeable to me, do thou without loss of time,

order a vehicle, for I wish to go to the Vidarbhas.' At this, O king, the

sister to (Damayanti's) mother, with a glad heart, said, 'So be it'. And

the queen-mother with her son's permission, O chief of the Bharatas, sent

Damayanti in handsome litter carried by men, protected by a large escort

and provided with food and drink and garments of the first quality. And

soon enough she reached the country of the Vidarbhas. And all her

relatives, rejoicing (in her arrival) received her with respect. And

seeing her relatives, her children, both her parents, and all her maids,

to be well, the illustrious Damayanti, O king, worshipped the gods and

Brahmanas according to the superior method. And the king rejoiced at

beholding his daughter gave unto Sudeva a thousand kine and much wealth

and a village. And, O king, having spent that night at her father's

mansion and recovered from fatigue, Damayanti addressed her mother,

saying, 'O mother, if thou wishest me to live, I tell thee truly, do thou

endeavour to bring Nala, that hero among men.' Thus addressed by

Damayanti, the venerable queen became filled with sorrow. And bathed in

tears, she was unable to give any answer. And beholding her in that

plight, all the inmates of the inner apartments broke out into

exclamation of 'Oh!' And 'Alas'! and began to cry bitterly. And then the

queen addressed the mighty monarch Bhima, saying, 'Thy daughter Damayanti

mourneth on account of her husband. Nay, banishing away all bashfulness,

she hath herself, O king, declared her mind to me. Let thy men strive to

find out (Nala) the righteous.' Thus informed by her the king sent the

Brahmanas under him in all directions, saying, 'Exert ye to discover

Nala.' And those Brahmanas, commanded by the ruler of the Vidarbhas (to

seek Nala) appeared before Damayanti and told her of the journey they

were about to undertake. And Bhima's daughter spake unto them saying, 'Do

ye cry in every realm and in every assembly, 'O beloved gambler, where

hast thou gone cutting off half of my garment, and deserting the dear and

devoted wife asleep in the forest? And that girl, as commanded by thee

stayeth expecting thee, clad in half a piece of cloth and burning with

grief! O king, O hero, relent towards, and answer, her who incessantly

weepeth for that grief. This and more ye will say, so that he may be

inclined to pity me. Assisted by the wind, fire consumeth the forest.

(Further, ye will say that) the wife is always to be protected and

maintained by the husband. Why then, good as thou art and acquainted with

every duty, hast thou neglected both the duties? Possessed of fame and

wisdom, and lineage, and kindness, why hast thou be unkind? I fear, this

is owing to the loss of my good luck! Therefore, O tiger among men, have

pity on me. O bull among men! I have heard it from thee that kindness is

the highest virtue. Speaking so, if anybody answereth you, that person

should by all means, be known, and ye should learn who he is, and where

he dwelleth. And ye foremost of regenerate ones, do ye bring me the words

of him who hearing this your speech will chance to answer. Ye should also

act with such care that no one may know the words ye utter to be at my

command, nor that ye will come back to me. And ye should also learn

whether that answers is wealthy, or poor, or destitute of power, in fact

all about him.'

"Thus instructed by Damayanti, O king, the Brahmanas set out in all

directions in search of Nala overtaken with such disaster. And the

Brahmanas, O king, searched for him in cities and kingdoms and villages,

and retreats of ascetics, and places inhabited by cow-herds. And, O

monarch, wherever they went they recited the speeches that Damayanti had

directed them to do."

SECTION LXX

"Vrihadaswa said, 'After a long time had passed away, a Brahmana named

Parnada returned to the city (of the Vidarbhas), and said unto the

daughter of Bhima, 'O Damayanti, seeking Nala, the king of Nishadhas, I

came to the city of Ayodhya, and appeared before the son of Bhangasura.

And, O best of women, I repeated those words of thine in the presence of

the blessed Rituparna. But hearing them neither that ruler of men, nor

his courtiers, answered anything, although I uttered them repeatedly.

Then, after I had been dismissed by the monarch, I was accosted by a

person in the service of Rituparna, named Vahuka. And Vahuka is the

charioteer of that king, of unsightly appearance and possessed of short

arms. And he is skillful in driving with speed, and well acquainted with

the culinary art. And sighing frequently, and weeping again and again, he

inquired about my welfare and afterwards said these words, 'Chaste women,

although fallen into distress, yet protect themselves and thus certainly

secure heaven. Although they may be deserted by their lords, they do not

yet become angry on that account, for women that are chaste lead their

lives, encased in the armour of virtuous behaviour. It behoveth her not

to be angry, since he that deserted her was overwhelmed with calamity,

and deprived of every bliss. A beauteous and virtuous woman should not be

angry with one that was deprived by birds of his garment while striving

to procure sustenance and who is being consumed with grief. Whether

treated well or ill, such a wife should never indulge in ire, beholding

her husband in that plight, despoiled of kingdom and destitute of

prosperity, oppressed with hunger and overwhelmed with calamity.' Hearing

these words of his, I have speedily come here. Thou hast now heard all.

Do what thou thinkest proper, and inform the king of it.'

"O king, having heard these words of Parnada, Damayanti with tearful eyes

came to her mother, and spake unto her in private, 'O mother, king Bhima

should not, by any means, be made acquainted with my purpose. In thy

presence will I employ that best of Brahmanas, Sudeva! If thou desirest

my welfare, act in such a way that king Bhima may not know my purpose.

Let Sudeva without delay go hence to the city of Ayodhya, for the purpose

of bringing Nala, O mother, having performed the same auspicious rites by

virtue of which he had speedily brought me into the midst of friends.'

With these words, after Parnada had recovered from fatigue, the princess

of Vidarbha worshipped him with profuse wealth and also said, 'When Nala

will come here, O Brahmana, I will bestow on thee wealth in abundance

again. Thou hast done me the immense service which none else, indeed, can

do me, for, (owing to that service of thine), O thou best of the

regenerate ones, I shall speedily regain my (lost) lord.' And thus

addressed by Damayanti, that high-minded Brahmana comforted her, uttering

benedictory words of auspicious import, and then went home, regarding his

mission to have been successful. And after he had gone away, Damayanti

oppressed with grief and distress, calling Sudeva, addressed him, O

Yudhishthira, in the presence of her mother, saying, 'O Sudeva, go thou

to the city of Ayodhya, straight as a bird, and tell king Rituparna

living there, these words: 'Bhima's daughter, Damayanti will hold another

Swayamvara. All the kings and princes are going thither. Calculating the

time, I find that the ceremony will take place tomorrow. O represser of

foes, if it is possible for thee, go thither without delay. Tomorrow,

after the sun hath risen, she will choose a second husband, as she doth

not know whether the heroic Nala liveth or not. And addressed by her, O

monarch thus, Sudeva set out. And he said unto Rituparna, all that he had

been directed to say.'"

SECTION LXXI

"Vrihadaswa continued, 'Having heard the words of Sudeva king Rituparna,

soothing Vahuka with gentle words, said, 'O Vahuka, thou art well-skilled

in training and guiding horses. If it pleases thee, I intend to go to

Damayanti's Swayamvara in course of a single day.' Thus addressed, O son

of Kunti, by that king, Nala felt his heart to be bursting in grief. And

the high-souled king seemed to burn in sorrow. And he thought within

himself, 'Perhaps Damayanti in doing this is blinded by sorrow. Or,

perhaps, she hath conceived this magnificent scheme for my sake. Alas,

cruel is the deed that the innocent princess of Vidarbha intends to do,

having been deceived by my sinful and low self of little sense. It is

seen in the world that the nature of woman is inconstant. My offence also

hath been great; perhaps she is acting so, because she hath no longer any

love for me owing to my separation from her. Indeed, that girl of slender

waist, afflicted with grief on my account and with despair, will not

certainly do anything of the kind, when especially, she is the mother of

offspring (by me). However whether this is true or false, I shall

ascertain with certitude by going thither. I will, therefore, accomplish

Rituparna's and my own purpose also.' Having resolved thus in his mind,

Vahuka, with his heart in sorrow, spake unto king Rituparna, with joined

hands, saying, 'O monarch, I bow to thy behest, and, O tiger among men, I

will go to the city of the Vidarbhas in a single day. O king!' Then, O

monarch, at the command of the royal son of Bhangasura, Vahuka went to

the stables and began to examine the horses. And repeatedly urged by

Rituparna to make haste, Vahuka after much scrutiny and careful

deliberation, selected some steeds that were lean-fleshed, yet strong and

capable of a long journey and endued with energy and strength of high

breed and docility, free from inauspicious marks, with wide nostrils and

swelling cheeks, free from faults as regards the ten hairy curls, born in

(the country of) Sindhu, and fleet as the winds. And seeing those horses,

the king said somewhat angrily, 'What is this, that thou wishest to do?

Thou shouldst not jest with us. How can these horses of mine, weak in

strength and breath, carry us? And how shall we be able to go this long

way by help of these?' Vahuka replied, 'Each of these horses bears one

curl on his forehead, two on his temples, four on his sides, four on his

chest, and one on his back. Without doubt, these steeds will be able to

go to the country of the Vidarbhas. If, O king, thou thinkest of choosing

others, point them out and I shall yoke them for thee.' Rituparna

rejoined, 'O Vahuka, thou art versed in the science of horses and art

also skillful (in guiding them). Do thou speedily yoke those that thou

thinkest to be able.' Thereupon the skillful Nala yoked upon the car four

excellent steeds of good breed that were, besides, docile and fleet. And

after the steeds had been yoked, the king without loss of time mounted

upon the car, when those best of horses fell down upon the ground on

their knees. Then, O king, that foremost of men, the blessed king Nala

began to soothe horses endued with energy and strength. And raising them

up with the reins and making the charioteer Varshneya sit on the car, he

prepared to set out with great speed. And those best of steeds, duly

urged by Vahuka, rose to the sky, confounding the occupant of the

vehicle. And beholding those steeds gifted with the speed of the wind

thus drawing the car, the blessed king of Ayodhaya was exceedingly

amazed. And noticing the rattle of the car and also the management of the

steeds, Varshneya reflected upon Vahuka's skill in guiding horses. And he

thought, 'Is he Matali, the charioteer of the king of the celestials? I

find the same magnificent indications in the heroic Vahuka. Or, hath

Salihotra versed in the science of horses taken this human shape so

beautiful? Or, is it king Nala the reducer of hostile towns that hath

come here? Or, it may be that this Vahuka knoweth the science that Nala

knoweth, for I perceive that the knowledge of Vahuka is equal to that of

Nala. Further, Vahuka and Nala are of the same age. This one, again, may

not be Nala of high prowess, but somebody of equal knowledge. Illustrious

persons, however, walk this earth in disguise in consequence of

misfortune, or agreeably to the ordinance of the scriptures. That this

person is of unsightly appearance need not change my opinion; for Nala, I

think, may even be despoiled of his personal features. In respect of age

this one equals Nala. There is difference, however, in personal

appearance. Vahuka, again is endued with every accomplishment. I think,

therefore, he is Nala.' Having thus reasoned long in his mind, O mighty

monarch, Varshneya, the (former) charioteer of the righteous Nala, became

absorbed in thought. And that foremost of kings Rituparna, also,

beholding the skill of Vahuka in equestrian science experienced great

delight, along with his charioteer Varshneya. And thinking of Vahuka's

application and ardour and the manner of his holding the reins, the king

felt exceedingly glad.'"