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

 

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

SECTION LXII

"Nala said, 'Surely, thy father's kingdom is as my own. But thither I

will not, by any means, repair in this extremity. Once I appeared there

in glory, increasing thy joy. How can I go there now in misery,

augmenting thy grief?'

"Vrihadaswa continued, 'Saying this again and again unto Damayanti, king

Nala, wrapped in half a garment, comforted his blessed wife. And both

attired in one cloth and wearied with hunger and thirst, in course of

their wanderings, at last they came to a sheltered shed for travellers.

And arrived at this place, the king of the Nishadhas sat down on the bare

earth with the princes of Vidarbha. And wearing the same piece of cloth

(with Damayanti), and dirty, and haggard, and stained with dust, he fell

asleep with Damayanti on the ground in weariness. And suddenly plunged in

distress, the innocent and delicate Damayanti with every mark of good

fortune, fell into a profound slumber. And, O monarch, while she slept,

Nala, with heart and mind distraught, could not slumber calmly as before.

And reflecting on the loss of his kingdom, the desertion of his friends,

and his distress in the woods, he thought with himself, 'What availeth my

acting thus? And what if I act not thus? Is death the better for me now?

Or should I desert my wife? She is truly devoted to me and suffereth this

distress for my sake. Separated from me, she may perchance wander to her

relatives. Devoted as she is to me, if she stayeth with me, distress will

surely be hers; while it is doubtful, if I desert her. On the other hand,

it is not unlikely that she may even have happiness some time.'

Reflecting upon this repeatedly, and thinking of it again and again, he

concluded, O monarch, that the desertion of Damayanti was the best course

for him. And he also thought, 'Of high fame and auspicious fortune, and

devoted to me, her husband, she is incapable of being injured by any one

on the way on account of her energy.' Thus his mind that was influenced

by the wicked Kali, dwelling upon Damayanti, was made up for deserting

her. And then thinking of his own want of clothing, and of her being clad

in a single garment, he intended to cut off for himself one half of

Damayanti's attire. And he thought, 'How shall I divide this garment, so

that my beloved one may not perceive?' And thinking of this, the royal

Nala began to walk up and down that shed. And, O Bharata, pacing thus to

and fro, he found a handsome sword lying near the shed, unsheathed. And

that repressor of foes, having, with that sword cut off one half of the

cloth, and throwing the instrument away, left the daughter of Vidharbha

insensible in her sleep and went away. But his heart failing him, the

king of the Nishadhas returned to the shed, and seeing Damayanti (again),

burst into tears. And he said, 'Alas! that beloved one of mine whom

neither the god of wind nor the sun had seen before, even she sleepeth

to-day on the bare earth, like one forlorn. Clad in this severed piece of

cloth, and lying like one distracted, how will the beauteous one of

luminous smiles behave when she awaketh? How will the beautiful daughter

of Bhima, devoted to her lord, all alone and separated from me, wander

through these deep woods inhabited by beasts and serpents? O blessed one,

may the Adityas and the Vasus, and the twin Aswins together with the

Marutas protect thee, thy virtue being thy best guard.' And addressing

thus his dear wife peerless on earth in beauty, Nala strove to go, reft

of reason by Kali. Departing and still departing, king Nala returned

again and again to that shed, dragged away by Kali but drawn back by

love. And it seemed as though the heart of the wretched king was rent in

twain, and like a swing, he kept going out from cabin and coming back

into it. At length after lamenting long and piteously, Nala stupefied and

bereft of sense by Kali went away, forsaking that sleeping wife of his.

Reft of reason through Kali's touch, and thinking of his conduct, the

king departed in sorrow, leaving his, wife alone in that solitary

forest.'"

SECTION LXIII

Vrihadaswa said, "O king, after Nala had gone away, the beauteous

Damayanti, now refreshed, timorously awoke in that lonely forest. And O

mighty monarch, not finding her lord Naishadha, afflicted with grief and

pain, she shrieked aloud in fright, saying, 'O lord? O mighty monarch! O

husband, dost thou desert me? Oh, I am lost and undone, frightened in

this desolate place. O illustrious prince, thou art truthful in speech,

and conversant with morality. How hast thou then, having pledged thy

word, deserted me asleep in the woods? Oh, why hast thou deserted thy

accomplished wife, even devoted to thee, particularly one that hath not

wronged thee, though wronged thou hast been by others? O king of men, it

behoveth thee to act faithfull, according to those words thou hadst

spoken unto me before in the presence of the guardians of the worlds. O

bull among men, that thy wife liveth even a moment after thy desertion of

her, is only because mortals are decreed to die at the appointed time. O

bull among men, enough of this joke! O irrepressible one, I am terribly

frightened. O lord, show thyself. I see thee! I see thee, o king! Thou

art seen, O Naishadha, Hiding thyself behind those shrubs, why dost thou

not reply unto me? It is cruel of thee, O great king, that seeing me in

this plight and so lamenting, thou dost not, O king, approach and comfort

me. I grieve not for myself, nor for anything else. I only grieve to

think how thou wilt pass thy days alone, O king. In the evening oppressed

with hunger and thirst and fatigue, underneath the trees, how wilt it

take with thee when thou seest me not?' And then Damayanti, afflicted

with anguish and burning with grief, began to rush hither and thither,

weeping in woe. And now the helpless princess sprang up, and now she sank

down in stupor; and now she shrank in terror, and now she wept and wailed

aloud. And Bhima's daughter devoted to her husband, burning in anguish

and sighing ever more, and faint and weeping exclaimed, 'That being

through whose imprecation the afflicted Naishadha suffereth this woe,

shall bear grief that is greater than ours. May that wicked being who

hath brought Nala of sinless heart this, lead a more miserable life

bearing greater ills.'

"Thus lamenting, the crowned consort of the illustrious (king) began to

seek her lord in those woods, inhabited by beasts of prey. And the

daughter of Bhima, wailing bitterly, wandered hither and thither like a

maniac, exclaiming, 'Alas! Alas! Oh king!' And as she was wailing loudly

like a female osprey, and grieving and indulging in piteous lamentations

unceasingly, she came near a gigantic serpent. And that huge and hungry

serpent thereupon suddenly seized Bhima's daughter, who had come near and

was moving about within its range. And folded within serpent's coils and

filled with grief, she still wept, not for herself but for Naishadha. And

she said 'O lord, why dost thou not rush towards me, now that I am

seized, without anybody to protect me, by this serpent in these desert

wilds? And, O Naishadha, how will it fare with thee when thou rememberest

me? O lord, why hast thou gone away, deserting me today in the forest?

Free from thy course, when thou wilt have regained thy mind and senses

and wealth, how will it be with thee when thou thinkest of me? O

Naishadha, O sinless one, who will soothe thee when thou art weary, and

hungry, and fainting, O tiger among kings?' And while she was wailing

thus, a certain huntsman ranging the deep woods, hearing her

lamentations, swiftly came to the spot. And beholding the large-eyed one

in the coils of the serpent, he rushed towards it and cut off its head

with his sharp weapon. And having struck the reptile dead, the huntsman

set Damayanti free. And having sprinkled her body with water and fed and

comforted her. O Bharata, he addressed her saying, 'O thou with eyes like

those of a young gazelle, who art thou? And why also hast thou come into

the woods? And, O beauteous one, how hast thou fallen into this extreme

misery' And thus accosted, O monarch, by that man, Damayanti, O Bharata,

related unto him all that had happened. And beholding that beautiful

woman clad in half a garment, with deep bosom and round hips, and limbs

delicate and faultless, and face resembling the full moon, and eyes

graced with curved eye-lashes, and speech sweet as honey, the hunter

became inflamed with desire. And afflicted by the god of love, the

huntsman began to soothe her in winning voice and soft words. And as soon

as the chaste and beauteous Damayanti, beholding him understood his

intentions, she was filled with fierce wrath and seemed to blaze up in

anger. But the wicked-minded wretch, burning with desire became wroth,

attempted to employ force upon her, who was unconquerable as a flame of

blazing fire. And Damayanti already distressed upon being deprived of

husband and kingdom, in that hour of grief beyond utterance, cursed him

in anger, saying, 'I have never even thought of any other person than

Naishadha, therefore let this mean-minded wrath subsisting on chase, fall

down lifeless.' And as soon as she said this, the hunter fell down

lifeless upon the ground, like a tree consumed by fire." 131

SECTION LXIV

"Vrihadaswa continued, 'Having destroyed that hunter Damayanti of eyes

like lotus leaves, went onwards through that fearful and solitary forest

ringing with the chirp of crickets. And it abounded with lions, and

leopards, and Rurus and tigers, and buffaloes, and bears and deer. And it

swarmed with birds of various species, and was infested by thieves and

mlechchha tribes. And it contained Salas, and bamboos and Dhavas, and

Aswatthas, and Tindukas and Ingudas, and Kinsukas, and Arjunas, and

Nimvas, and Tinisas and Salmalas, and Jamvus, and mango trees, and

Lodhras, and the catechu, and the cane, and Padmakas, and Amalahas, and

Plakshas, and Kadamvas, and Udumvaras and Vadaris, and Vilwas, and

banians, and Piyalas, and palms, and date-trees, and Haritakas and

Vibhitakas. And the princess of Vidarbha saw many mountains containing

ores of various kinds, and groves resounding with the notes of winged

choirs, and many glens of wondrous sight, and many rivers and lakes and

tanks and various kinds of birds and beasts. And she saw numberless

snakes and goblins and Rakshasas of grim visage, and pools and tanks and

hillocks, and brooks and fountains of wonderful appearance. And the

princess of Vidarbha saw there herds of buffaloes. And boars, and bears

as well as serpents of the wilderness. And safe in virtue and glory and

good fortune and patience, Damayanti wandered through those woods alone,

in search of Nala. And the royal daughter of Bhima, distressed only at

her separation from her lord, was not terrified at aught in that fearful

forest. And, O king, seating herself down upon a stone and filled with

grief, and every limb of hers trembling with sorrow on account of her

husband, she began to lament thus: 'O king of the Nishadhas, O thou of

broad chest and mighty arms, whither hast thou gone, O king, leaving me

in this lone forest? O hero, having performed the Aswamedha and other

sacrifices, with gifts in profusion (unto the Brahmanas), why hast thou,

O tiger among men, played false with me alone? O best of men, O thou of

great splendour, it behoveth thee. O auspicious one, to remember what

thou didst declare before me, O bull among kings! And, O monarch, it

behoveth thee also to call to mind what the sky-ranging swans spake in

thy presence and in mine. O tiger among men, the four Vedas in all their

extent, with the Angas and the Upangas, well-studied, on one side, and

one single truth on the other, (are equal). Therefore, O slayer of foes,

it behoveth thee, O lord of men, to make good what thou didst formerly

declare before me. Alas, O hero! warrior! O Nala! O sinless one being

thine, I am about to perish in this dreadful forest. Oh! wherefore dost

thou not answer me? This terrible lord of the forest, of grim visage and

gaping jaws, and famishing with hunger, filleth me with fright. Doth it

not behove thee to deliver me? Thou wert wont to say always, 'Save thee

there existeth not one dear unto me.' O blessed one, O king, do thou now

make good thy words so spoken before. And, O king, why dost thou not

return an answer to thy beloved wife bewailing and bereft of sense,

although thou lovest her, being loved in return? O king of the earth, O

respected one, O represser of foes, O thou of large eyes, why dost thou

not regard me, emaciated, and distressed and pale, and discoloured, and

clad in a half piece of cloth, and alone, and weeping, and lamenting like

one forlorn, and like unto a solitary doe separated from the herd? O

illustrious sovereign, it is, I, Damayanti, devoted to thee, who, alone

in this great forest, address thee. Wherefore, then, dost thou not reply

unto me? Oh, I do not behold thee today on this mountain, O chief of men,

O thou of noble birth and character with every limb possesed of grace! In

this terrible forest, haunted by lions and tigers, O king of the

Nishadhas, O foremost of men, O enhancer of my sorrows, (Wishing to know)

whether thou art lying down, or sitting, or standing, or gone, whom shall

I ask, distressed and woe-stricken on thy account, saying, 'Hast thou

seen in this woods the royal Nala?' Of whom shall I in this forest

enquire alter the departed Nala, handsome and of high soul, and the

destroyer of hostile arrays? From whom shall I today hear the sweet

words, viz., 'That royal Nala, of eyes like lotus-leaves, whom thou

seekest, is even here?' Yonder cometh the forest-king, that tiger of

graceful mien, furnished with four teeth and prominent cheeks. Even him

will I accost fearlessly: Thou art the lord of all animals, and of this

forest the king. Know me for Damayanti, the daughter of the king of the

Vidarbhas, and the wife of Nala, destroyer of foes, and the king of the

Nishadhas. Distressed and woe-stricken, I am seeking my husband alone in

these woods. Do thou, O king of beasts, comfort me (with news of Nala) if

thou hast seen him. Or, O lord of the forest, if thou cannot speak of

Nala, do thou, then, O best of beasts, devour me, and free me from this

misery. Alas! hearing my plaintive appeal in the wilderness, this king of

mountains, this high and sacred hill, crested with innumerable [...?-JBH]

rolleth towards the sea. Let me, then, for tidings of the king, ask this

king of mountains, this high and sacred hill, crested with innumerable

heaven-kissing and many-hued and beauteous peaks, and abounding in

various ores, and decked with gems of diverse kings, and rising like a

banner over this broad forest, and ranged by lions and tigers and

elephants and boars and bears and stags, and echoing all around with (the

notes of) winged creatures of various species, and adorned with kinsukas

and Asokas and Vakulas and Punnagas, with blossoming Karnikaras, and

Dhavas and Plakshas, and with streams haunted by waterfowls of every

kind, and abounding in crested summits, O sacred one! O best of

mountains! O thou of wondrous sight! O celebrated hill! O refuge (of the

distressed)! O highly auspicious one! I bow to thee, O pillar of the

earth! Approaching, I bow to thee. Know me for a king's daughter, and a

king's daughter-in-law, and king's consort, Damayanti by name that lord

of earth who ruleth the Vidarbhas, that mighty warrior-king Bhima by

name, who protecteth the four orders, is my sire. That best of kings

celebrated the Rajasuya and Aswamedha sacrifices, with profuse gifts to

the Brahmanas. Possessed of beautiful and large eyes, distinguished for

devotion to the Vedas, of unblemished character, truth-telling, devoid of

guile, gentle, endued with prowess, lord of immense wealth, versed in

morality, and pure, he having vanquished all his foes, effectually

protecteth the inhabitants of Vidarbha. Know me, O holy one, for his

daughter, thus come to thee. That best of men--the celebrated ruler of

the Nishadha--known by the name of Virasena of high fame, was my

father-in-law. The son of that king, heroic and handsome and possessed of

energy incapable of being baffled, who ruleth well the kingdom which hath

descended to him from his father, is named Nala. Know, O mountain, that

of that slayer of foes, called also Punyasloka, possessed of the

complexion of gold, and devoted to the Brahmanas, and versed in the

Vedas, and gifted with eloquence,--of that righteous and Soma-quaffing

and fire-adoring king, who celebrateth sacrifices and is liberal and

warlike and who adequately chastiseth (criminals), I am the innocent

spouse--the chief of his queens--standing before thee. Despoiled of

prosperity and deprived of (the company of my) husband without a

protector, and afflicted with calamity, hither have I come, O best of

mountains, seeking my husband. Hast thou, O foremost of mountains, with

thy hundreds of peaks towering (into the sky) seen king Nala in this

frightful forest? Hast thou seen my husband, that ruler of the Nishadhas,

the illustrious Nala, with the tread of a mighty elephant, endued with

intelligence, long-armed, and of fiery energy, possessed of prowess and

patience and courage and high fame? Seeing me bewailing alone,

overwhelmed with sorrow, wherefore, O best of mountains, dost thou not

today soothe me with thy voice, as thy own daughter in distress? O hero,

O warrior of prowess, O thou versed in every duty, O thou adhering to

truth--O lord of the earth, if thou art in this forest, then, O king,

reveal thyself unto me. Oh, when shall I again hear the voice of Nala,

gentle and deep as that of the clouds, that voice, sweet as Amrita, of

the illustrious king, calling me Vidharva's daughter, with accents

distinct, and holy, and musical as the chanting of the Vedas and rich,

and soothing all my sorrows. O king, I am frightened. Do thou, O virtuous

one, comfort me.'

"Having addressed that foremost of mountain thus, Damayanti then went in

a northerly direction. And having proceeded three days and nights, that

best of women came to an incomparable penance grove of ascetics,

resembling in beauty a celestial grove. And the charming asylum she

beheld was inhabited and adorned by ascetics like Vasishtha and Bhrigu

and Atri, self-denying and strict in diet, with minds under control,

endued with holiness, some living on water, some on air, and some on

(fallen) leaves, with passions in check, eminently blessed, seeking the

way to heaven, clad in barks of trees and deer-skins, and with senses

subdued. And beholding that hermitage inhabited by ascetics, and

abounding in herds of deer and monkeys, Damayanti was cheered. And that

best of women, the innocent and blessed Damayanti, with graceful

eye-brows, and long tresses, with lovely hips and deep bosom, and face

graced with fine teeth and with fine black and large eyes, in her

brightness and glory entered that asylum. And saluting those ascetics

grown old in practising austerities, she stood in an attitude of

humility. And the ascetics living in that forest, said, 'Welcome!' And

those men of ascetic wealth, paying her due homage, said, 'Sit ye down,

and tell us what we may do for thee.' That best of women replied unto

them, saying, 'Ye sinless and eminently blessed ascetics, is it well with

your austerities, and sacrificial fire, and religious observances, and

the duties of your own order? And is it well with the beasts and birds of

this asylum? And they answered, 'O beauteous and illustrious lady,

prosperity attendeth us in every respect. But, O thou of faultless limbs,

tell us who thou art, and what thou seekest. Beholding thy beauteous form

and thy bright splendour, we have been amazed. Cheer up and mourn not.

Tell us, O blameless and blessed one, art thou the presiding deity of

this forest, or of this mountain, or of this river?' Damayanti replied

unto those ascetics, saying, 'O Brahmanas, I am not the goddess of this

forest, or of this mountain, or of this stream. O Rishis of ascetic

wealth, know that I am a human being. I will relate my history in detail.

Do ye listen to me. There is a king--the mighty ruler of the

Vidarbhas--Bhima by name. O foremost of regenerate ones, know me to be

his daughter. The wise ruler of the Nishadhas, Nala by name, of great

celebrity, heroic, and ever victorious in battle, and learned, is my

husband. Engaged in the worship of the gods, devoted to the twice-born

ones, the guardian of the line of the Nishadhas, of mighty energy,

possessed of great strength, truthful, conversant with all duties, wise,

unwavering in promise, the crusher of foes, devout, serving the gods,

graceful, the conqueror of hostile towns, that foremost of kings, Nala by

name, equal in splendour unto the lord of celestials, the slayer of foes,

possessed of large eyes, and a hue resembling the full moon, is my

husband. The celebrator of great sacrifices, versed in the Vedas and

their branches, the destroyer of enemies in battle, and like unto the sun

and the moon in splendour, is he. That king devoted to truth and religion

was summoned to dice by certain deceitful persons of mean mind and

uncultured soul and of crooked ways, and skilful in gambling, and was

deprived of wealth and kingdom. Know that I am the wife of that bull

among kings, known to all by the name of Damayanti, anxious to find out

my (missing) lord. In sadness of heart am I wandering among woods, and

mountains, and lakes, and rivers, and tanks and forests, in search of

that husband of mine--Nala, skilled in battle, high-souled, and

well-versed in the use of weapons, O hath king Nala, the lord of the

Nishadhas, come to this delightful asylum of your holy selves? It is for

him, O Brahmanas, that I have come to this dreary forest full of terrors

and haunted by tigers and other beasts. If I do not see king Nala within

a few days and nights, I shall seek my good by renouncing this body. Of

what use is my life without that bull among men? How shall I live

afflicted with grief on account of my husband?'

Unto Bhima's daughter, Damayanti, lamenting forlorn in that forest, the

truth-telling ascetics replied, saying, 'O blessed and beauteous one, we

see by ascetic power that the future will bring happiness to thee, and

that thou wilt soon behold Naishadha. O daughter of Bhima, thou wilt

behold Nala, the lord of the Nishadhas, the slayer of foes, and the

foremost of the virtuous freed from distress. And O blessed lady, thou

wilt behold the king--thy lord--freed from all sins and decked with all

kinds of gems, and ruling the selfsame city, and chasting his enemies,

and striking terror into the hearts of foes, and gladdening the hearts of

friends, and crowned with every blessing.'

"'Having spoken unto that princess--the beloved queen of Nala--the

ascetics with their sacred fires and asylum vanished from sight. And

beholding that mighty wonder, the daughter-in-law of king Virasena,

Damayanti of faultless limbs, was struck with amazement. And she asked

herself, 'Was it a dream that I saw? What an occurrence hath taken place!

Where are all those ascetics? And where is that asylum? Where, further,

is that delightful river of sacred waters--the resort of diverse kinds of

fowls? And where, again, are those charming trees decked with fruits and

flowers?' And after thinking so for some time, Bhima's daughter,

Damayanti of sweet smiles melancholy and afflicted with grief on account

of her lord, lost the colour of her face (again). And going to another

part of the wood, she saw an Asoka tree. And approaching that first of

trees in the forest, so charming with blossoms and its load of foliage,

and resounding with the notes of birds, Damayanti, with tears in her eyes

and accents choked in grief, began to lament, saying, 'Oh, this graceful

tree in the heart of the forest, decked in flowers, looketh beautiful,

like a charming king of hills. O beauteous Asoka, do thou speedily free

me from grief. Hast thou seen king Nala, the slayer of foes and the

beloved husband of Damayanti,--freed from fear and grief and obstacles?

Hast thou seen my beloved husband, the ruler of the Nishadhas, clad in

half a piece of cloth, with delicate skin, that hero afflicted with woe

and who hath come into this wilderness? O Asoka tree, do thou free me

from grief! O Asoka, vindicate thy name, for Asoka meaneth destroyer of

grief. And going round that tree thrice, with an afflicted heart, that

best of women, Bhima's daughter, entered a more terrible part of the

forest. And wandering in quest of her lord, Bhima's daughter beheld many

trees and streams and delightful mountains, and many beasts and birds,

and caves, and precipices, and many rivers of wonderful appearance. And

as she proceeded she came upon a broad way where she saw with wonder a

body of merchants, with their horses and elephants, landing on the banks

of a river, full of clear and cool water, and lovely and charming to

behold, and broad, and covered with bushes of canes, and echoing with the

cries of cranes and ospreys and Chakravakas, and abounding in tortoises

and alligators and fishes, and studded with innumerable islets. And as

soon as as she saw that caravan, the beauteous and celebrated wife of

Nala, wild like a maniac, oppressed with grief, clad in half a garment,

lean and pale and smutted, and with hair covered with dust, drew near and

entered into its midst. And beholding her, some fled in fear, and some

became extremely anxious, and some cried aloud, and some laughed at her,

and some hated her. And some, O Bharata, felt pity for, and even

addressed, her, saying, 'O blessed one, who art thou, and whose? What

seekest thou in woods? Seeing thee here we have been terrified. Art thou

human? Tell us truly, O blessed one if thou art the goddess of this wood

or of this mountain or of the points of the heaven. We seek thy

protection. Art thou a female Yaksha, or a female Rakshasa, or a

celestial damsel? O thou of faultless features, do thou bless us wholly

and protect us. And, O blessed one, do thou so act that his caravan may

soon go hence in prosperity and that the welfare of all of us may be

secured.' Thus addressed by that caravan, the princess Damayanti, devoted

to her husband and oppressed by the calamity that had befallen her,

answered, saying, 'O leader of the caravan, ye merchants, ye youths, old

men, and children, and ye that compose this caravan, know me for a human

being. I am the daughter of a king, and the daughter in-law of a king,

and the consort also of a king, eager for the sight of my lord. The ruler

of the Vidarbhas is my father, and my husband is the lord of the

Nishadhas, named Nala. Even now I am seeking that unvanquished and

blessed one. If ye have chanced to see my beloved one, king Nala, that

tiger among men, that destroyer of hostile hosts, O tell me quick.'

Thereupon the leader of that great caravan, named Suchi, replied unto

Damayanti of faultless limbs, saying, 'O blessed one, listen to my words.

O thou of sweet smiles, I am a merchant and the leader of this caravan. O

illustrious lady, I have not seen any man of the name of Nala. In this

extensive forest uninhabited by men, there are only elephants and

leopards and buffaloes, and tigers and bears and other animals. Except

thee, I have not met with any man or woman here, so help us now

Manibhadra, the king of Yakshas!' Thus addressed by them she asked those

merchants as well as the leader of the host saying, 'It behoveth you to

tell me whither this caravan is bound.' The leader of the band said, 'O

daughter of a great king, for the purpose of profit this caravan is bound

direct for the city of Suvahu, the truth-telling ruler of the Chedis.'"

SECTION LXV

"Vrihadaswa said, 'Having heard the words of the leader of that caravan,

Damayanti of faultless limbs proceeded with that caravan itself anxious

to behold her lord. And after having proceeded for many days the

merchants saw a large lake fragrant with lotuses in the midst of that

dense and terrible forest. And it was beautiful all over, and exceedingly

delightful, (with banks) abounding in grass and fuel and fruits and

flowers. And it was inhabited by various kinds of fowls and birds, and

fall of water that was pure and sweet. And it was cool and capable of

captivating the heart. And the caravan, worn out with toil, resolved to

halt there. And with the permission of their leader, they spread

themselves around those beautiful woods. And that mighty caravan finding

it was evening halted at that place. And (it came to pass that) at the

hour of midnight when everything was hushed and still and the tired

caravan had fallen asleep, a herd of elephants in going towards a

mountain stream to drink of its water befouled by their temporal juice,

saw that caravan as also the numerous elephants belonging to it. And

seeing their domesticated fellows the wild elephants infuriated and with

the temporal juice trickling down rushed impetuously on the former, with

the intention of killing them. And the force of the rush of those

elephants was hard to bear, like the impetuosity of peaks lessened from

mountain summits rolling towards the plain. The rushing elephants found

the forest paths to be all blocked up, for the goodly caravan was

sleeping obstructing the paths around that lake of lotuses. And the

elephants all of a sudden, began to crush the men lying insensible on the

ground. And uttering cries of 'Oh!' and 'Alas!' the merchants, blinded by

sleep, fled, in order to escape that danger, to copses and woods for

refuge. And some were slain by the tusks, and some by the trunks, and

some by the legs of those elephants. And innumerable camels and horses

were killed, and crowds of men on foot, running in fright, killed one

another. And uttering loud cries some fell down on the ground, and some

in fear climbed on trees, and some dropped down on uneven ground. And, O

king, thus accidentally attacked by that large herd of elephants, that

goodly caravan suffered a great loss. And there arose a tremendous uproar

calculated to frighten the three worlds, 'Lo! a great fire hath broken

out. Rescue us.

Do ye speedily fly away. Why do ye fly? Take the heaps of jewels

scattered around. All this wealth is a trifle. I do not speak falsely, 'I

tell you again, (exclaimed some one) think on my words, O ye distracted

one!' With such exclamation they ran about in fright. And Damayanti awoke

in fear and anxiety, while that terrible slaughter was raging there. And

beholding slaughter capable of awaking the fear of all the worlds, and

which was so unforeseen, the damsel of eyes like lotus leaves rose up,

wild with fright, and almost out of breath. And those of the caravan that

had escaped unhurt, met together, and asked one another, 'Of what deed of

ours is this the consequence? Surely, we have failed to worship the

illustrious Manibhadras, and likewise the exalted and graceful

Vaisravana, the king of the Yaksha. Perhaps, we have not worshipped the

deities that cause calamities, or perhaps, we have not paid them the

first homage. Or, perhaps, this evil is the certain consequence of the

birds (we saw). Our stars are not unpropitious. From what other cause,

then hath this disaster come?' Others, distressed and bereft of wealth

and relatives, said, 'That maniac-like woman who came amongst this mighty

caravan in guise that was strange and scarcely human, alas, it is by her

that this dreadful illusion had been pre-arranged. Of a certainty, she is

a terrible Rakshasa or a Yaksha or a Pisacha woman. All this evil is her

work, what need of doubts? If we again see that wicked destroyer of

merchants, that giver of innumerable woes, we shall certainly slay that

injurer of ours, with stones, and dust, and grass, and wood, and cuffs.'

And hearing these dreadful words of the merchants, Damayanti, in terror

and shame and anxiety, fled into the woods apprehensive of evil. And

reproaching herself she said, 'Alas! fierce and great is the wrath of God

on me. Peace followeth not in my track. Of what misdeed is this the

consequence? I do not remember that I did ever so little a wrong to any

one in thought, word, or deed. Of what deed, then, is this the

consequence? Certainly, it is on account of the great sins I had

committed in a former life that such calamity hath befallen me, viz., the

loss of my husband's kingdom, his defeat at the hands of his own kinsmen,

this separation from my lord and my son and daughter, this my unprotected

state, and my presence in this forest abounding in innumerable beasts of

prey!'"

"The next day, O king, the remnant of that caravan left the place

bewailing the destruction that had overtaken them and lamenting for their

dead brothers and fathers and sons and friends. And the princess of

Vidarbha began to lament, saying, 'Alas! What misdeed have I perpetrated!

The crowd of men that I obtained in this lone forest, hath been destroyed

by a herd of elephants, surely as a consequence of my ill luck. Without

doubt, I shall have to suffer misery for a long time. I have heard from

old men that no person dieth ere his time; it is for this that my

miserable self hath not been trodden to death by that herd of elephants.

Nothing that befalleth men is due to anything else than Destiny, for even

in my childhood I did not commit any such sin in thought, word, or deed,

whence might come this calamity. Methinks, I suffer this severance from

my husband through the potency of those celestial Lokapalas, who had come

to the Swayamvara but whom I disregarded for the sake of Nala.' Bewailing

thus, O tiger among kings, that excellent lady, Damayanti, devoted to her

husband, went, oppressed with grief and (pale) as the autumnal moon, with

those Brahmanas versed in the Vedas that had survived the slaughter of

the caravan. And departing speedily, towards evening, the damsel came to

the mighty city of the truth-telling Suvahu, the king of the Chedis. And

she entered that excellent city clad in half a garment. And the citizens

saw her as she went, overcome with fear, and lean, melancholy, her hair

dishevelled and soiled with dust, and maniac-like. And beholding her

enter the city of the king of the Chedis, the boys of the city, from

curiosity, began to follow her. And surrounded by them, she came before

the palace of the king. And from the terrace the queen-mother saw her

surrounded by the crowd. And she said to her nurse, 'Go and bring that

woman before me. She is forlorn and is being vexed by the crowd. She hath

fallen into distress and standeth in need of succour. I find her beauty

to be such that it illumineth my house. The fair one, though looking like

a maniac, seemeth a very Sree with her large eyes.' Thus commanded, the

nurse went out and dispersing the crowd brought Damayanti to that

graceful terrace. And struck with wonder, O king, she asked Damayanti,

saying, 'Afflicted though thou art with such distress, thou ownest a

beautiful form. Thou shinest like lightning in the midst of the clouds.

Tell me who thou art, and whose. O thou possessed of celestial splendour,

surely, thy beauty is not human, bereft though thou art of ornaments. And

although thou art helpless, yet thou art unmoved under the outrage of

these men.' Hearing these words of the nurse, the daughter of Bhima said,

Know that I am a female belonging to the human species and devoted to my

husband. I am a serving woman of good lineage. I live wherever I like,

subsisting on fruit and roots, and whom a companion, and stay where

evening overtaketh me. My husband is the owner of countless virtues and

was ever devoted to me. And I also, on my part, was deeply attached to

him, following him like his shadow. It chanced that once he became

desperately engaged at dice. Defeated at dice, he came along into the

forest. I accompanied my husband into the woods, comforting the hero clad

in a single piece of cloth and maniac-like and overwhelmed with calamity.

Once on a time for some cause, that hero, afflicted with hunger and

thirst and grief, was forced to abandon that sole piece of covering in

the forest. Destitute of garment and maniac-like and deprived of his

senses as he was, I followed him, myself in a single garment. Following

him, I did not sleep for nights together. Thus passed many days, until at

last while I was sleeping, he cut off half of my cloth, and forsook me

who had done him no wrong. I am seeking my husband but unable to find him

who is of hue like the filaments of the lotus, without being able to cast

my eyes on that delight of my heart, that dear lord who owneth my heart

and resembleth the celestials in mien, day and night do I burn in grief."

"Unto Bhima's daughter thus lamenting with tearful eyes, and afflicted

and speaking in accents choked in grief, the queen-mother herself said,

'O blessed damsel, do thou stay with me. I am well pleased with thee. O

fair lady, my men shall search for thy husband. Or, perhaps he may come

here of his own accord in course of his wanderings. And, O beautiful

lady, residing here thou wilt regain thy (lost) lord.' Hearing these

words of the queen mother, Damayanti replied, 'O mother of heroes, I may

stay with thee on certain conditions. I shall not eat the leavings on any

dish, nor shall I wash anybody's feet, nor shall I have to speak with

other men. And if anybody shall seek me (as a wife or mistress) he should

be liable to punishment at thy hands. And, further, should he solicit me

over and over again, that wicked one should be punished with death. This

is the vow I have made. I intend to have an interview with those

Brahmanas that will set out to search for my husband. If thou canst do

all this, I shall certainly live with thee. If it is otherwise, I cannot

find it in my heart to reside with thee.' The queen-mother answered her

with a glad heart, saying, 'I will do all this. Thou hast done well in

adopting such a vow!'"

"Vrihadaswa continued, 'O king, having spoken so unto the daughter of

Bhima, the queen-mother, O Bharata, said to her daughter named Sunanda,

'O Sunanda, accept this lady like a goddess as thy Sairindhri! Let her be

thy companion, as she is of the same age with thee. Do thou, with heart

free from care, always sport with her in joy.' And Sunanda cheerfully

accepted Damayanti and led her to her own apartment accompanied by her

associates. And treated with respect, Damayanti was satisfied, and she

continued to reside there without anxiety of any kind, for all her wishes

were duly gratified.'"

SECTION LXVI

"Vrihadaswa said, 'O monarch, having deserted Damayanti, king Nala saw a

mighty conflagration that was raging in that dense forest. And in the

midst of that conflagration, he heard the voice of some creature,

repeatedly crying aloud, 'O righteous Nala, come hither.' And answering,

'Fear not,' he entered into the midst of the fire and beheld a mighty

Naga lying in coils. And the Naga with joined hands, and trembling, spake

unto Nala, saying, 'O king, that I am a snake, Karkotaka by name. I had

deceived the great Rishi Narada of high ascetic merit, and by him have I

been cursed in wrath, O king of men, even in words such as these: 'Stay

thou here like an immobile thing, until one Nala taketh thee hence. And,

indeed, on the spot to which he will carry thee, there shalt thou he

freed from my curse. It is for that curse of his that I am unable to stir

one step. I will instruct thee in respect of thy welfare. It behoveth

thee to deliver me. I will be thy friend. There is no snake equal to me.

I will be light in thy hands. Taking me up, do thou speedily go hence.'

Having said this, that prince of snakes became as small as the thumb. And

taking him up, Nala went to a spot free from fire. Having reached an open

spot where there was no fire, Nala intended to drop the serpent, upon

which Karkotaka again addressed him, saying, 'O king of the Nishadhas,

proceed thou yet, counting a few steps of thine; meanwhile, O

mighty-armed one, I will do thee great good.' And as Nala began to count

his steps, the snake bit him at the tenth step. And, lo! As he was bit,

his form speedily underwent a change. And beholding his change of form,

Nala was amazed. And the king saw the snake also assume his own form. And

the snake Karkotaka, comforting Nala, spake unto him, 'I have deprived

thee of thy beauty, so that people may not recognise thee. And, O Nala,

he by whom thou hast been deceived and cast into distress, shall dwell in

thee tortured by my venom. And, O monarch, as long as he doth not leave

thee, he will have to dwell in pain in thy body with thee every limb

filled with my venom. And, O ruler of men I have saved from the hands of

him who from anger and hate deceived thee, perfectly innocent though thou

art and undeserving of wrong. And, O tiger among men, through my grace,

thou shalt have (no longer) any fear from animals with fangs from

enemies, and from Brahmanas also versed in the Vedas, O king! Nor shalt

thou, O monarch, feel pain on account of my poison. And, O foremost of

kings, thou shalt be ever victorious in battle. This very day, O prince,

O lord of Nishadhas, go to the delightful city of Ayodhya, and present

thyself before Rituparna skilled in gambling, saying, 'I am a charioteer,

Vahuka by name.' And that king will give thee his skill in dice for thy

knowledge of horses. Sprung from the line of Ikswaku, and possessed of

prosperity, he will be thy friend. When thou wilt be an adept at dice,

thou shalt then have prosperity. Thou wilt also meet with thy wife and

thy children, and regain thy kingdom. I tell thee this truly. Therefore,

let not thy mind be occupied by sorrow. And, O lord of men, when thou

shouldst desire to behold thy proper form, thou shouldst remember me, and

wear this garment. Upon wearing this, thou shalt get back thy own form.'

And saying this, that Naga then gave unto Nala two pieces of celestial

cloth. And, O son of the Kuru race, having thus instructed Nala, and

presented him with the attire, the king of snakes, O monarch, made

himself invisible there and then!'"