SECTION –LXXIII
(Nalopakhyana Parva Continued)
"Vrihadaswa said, 'After Rituparna of
prowess incapable of being baffled had, in the evening, arrived at the city of
the Vidarbhas, the people brought unto king Bhima the tidings (of his arrival).
And at the invitation of Bhima, the king (of Ayodhya) entered the city of
Kundina, filling with the rattle of his car all the ten points, direct and
transverse, of the horizon. And the steeds of Nala that were in that city heard
that sound, and hearing it they became delighted as they used to be in the
presence of Nala himself. And Damayanti also heard the sound of that car driven
by Nala, like the deep roar of the clouds in the rainy season. And Bhima and
the steeds (of Nala) regarded the clatter of that car to be like that which
they used to hear in days of yore when king Nala himself urged his own steeds.
And the peacocks on the terraces, and the elephants in the stables, and the
horses also, all heard the rattle of Rituparna's car. And hearing the sound, so
like the roar of the clouds, the elephants and the peacocks, O king, began to
utter their cries, facing that direction, and filled with delight such as they
experience when they hear the actual roar of the clouds. And Damayanti said,
'Because the rattle of his car filling the whole earth, gladdens my heart, it
must be King Nala (that has come). If I do not see Nala, of face bright as the
moon, that hero with countless virtues, I shall certainly die. If I am not
clasped today in that hero's thrilling embrace, I shall certainly cease to be.
If Naishadha with voice deep as that of the clouds doth not come to me today, I
shall enter into a pyre of golden brilliance. If that foremost of kings,
powerful as a lion and gifted with the strength of an infuriated elephant, doth
not present himself before me, I shall certainly cease to live. I do not
remember a single untruth in him, or a single wrong done by him to others.
Never hath he spoken an untruth even in jest. Oh, my Nala is exalted and
forgiving and heroic and magnificent and superior to all other kings, and
faithful to his marriage vow and like unto a eunuch in respect of other
females. Night and day dwelling upon his perceptions, my heart, in absence of
that dear one, is about to burst in grief.'
"Thus bewailing as if devoid of sense,
Damayanti, O Bharata, ascended the terrace (of her mansion) with the desire of
seeing the righteous Nala. And in the yard of the central mansion she beheld
king Rituparna on the car with Varshneya and Vahuka. And Varshneya and Vahuka,
descending for that excellent vehicle, unyoked the steeds, and kept the vehicle
itself in a proper place. And king Rituparna also, descending from the car,
presented himself before king Bhima possessed of terrible prowess. And Bhima
received him with great respect, for in the absence of a proper occasion, a
great person cannot be had (as a guest). And honoured by Bhima, king Rituparna
looked about him again and again, but saw no traces of the Swayamvara. And the
ruler of the Vidarbhas, O Bharata, approaching Rituparna, said, 'Welcome! What
is the occasion of this thy visit?' And king Bhima asked this without knowing
that Rituparna had come to obtain the hand of his daughter. And king Rituparna,
of unbaffled prowess and gifted with intelligence, saw that there were no other
kings or princes. Nor did he hear any talk relating to the Swayamvara, nor saw
any concourse of Brahmanas. And at this, the king of Kosala reflected a while
and at length said, 'I have come here to pay my respects to thee.' And the king
Bhima was struck with astonishment, and reflected upon the (probable) cause of
Rituparna's coming, having passed over a hundred yojanas. And he reflected,
'That passing by other sovereigns, and leaving behind him innumerable
countries, he should come simply to pay his respect to me is scarcely the
reason of his arrival. What he assigneth to be the cause of his coming
appeareth to be a trifle. However, I shall learn the true reason in the
future.' And although king Bhima thought so, he did not dismiss Rituparna
summarily, but said unto him again and again, 'Rest, thou art weary.' And
honoured thus by the pleased Bhima, king Rituparna was satisfied, and with a
delighted heart, he went to his appointed quarters followed by the servants of
the royal household."
"Vrihadaswa continued, 'And, O king, after
Rituparna had gone away with Varshneya, Vahuka took the car to the stables. And
there freeing the steeds, and tending them according to rule, and soothing them
himself, sat down on a side of the car. Meanwhile, the princess of Vidharva,
Damayanti, afflicted with grief, having beheld the royal son of Bhangasura, and
Varshneya of the Suta race, and also Vahuka in that guise, asked herself,
'Whose is this car-rattle? It was loud as that of Nala, but I do not see the
ruler of the Nishadhas. Certainly, Varshneya hath learnt the art from Nala, and
it is for this the rattle of the car driven by him hath been even like that of
Nala. Or, is Rituparna equally skilled with Nala so that the rattle of his car
seemeth to be like that of Nala?' And reflecting thus, O monarch, the blessed
and beauteous girl sent a female messenger in search of Nishada."
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