Nala and Damayanti and Other Poems | Page 4

as heard the kings of men,
All obeyed king Bhima's summons--all to Bhima's court drew near;
Elephants, and steeds, and chariots--swarmed along the sounding land;
All with rich and various garlands[26]--with his stately army each--
All the lofty-minded rajas--Bhima with the arm of strength,
As beseemed, received with honour--on their thrones of state they sate.
At this very hour the wisest--of the sages, the divine,
Moving in their might ascended--up from earth to Indra's world.[27]
Great in holiness and wisdom--Narada and Parvata[28]
Honoured entered they the palace--of the monarch of the gods.
Them salutes the cloud-compeller[29]--of their everlasting weal,
Of their weal the worlds pervading--courteous asks the immortal lord.
NARADA _spake_.
Well it fares with us, Immortal--in our weal the world partakes--
In the world, O cloud-compeller--well it fares with all her kings.
VRIHADASVA _spake_.
He that Bali slew and Vritra--asked of Narada again--
All earth's just and righteous rulers--reckless of their lives in fight--
Who the shafts' descending death-blow--meet with unaverted eye--
Theirs this everlasting kingdom[30]--even as Kamadhuk is mine.[31]
Where are they, the Kshetriya heroes?--wherefore see I not approach
All the earth's majestic guardians--all mine ever-honoured guests.
Thus addressed by holy Sakra[32]--Narada replied and said:
"Hear me now, O cloud-compeller--why earth's kings appear not here.
Of Vidarbha's king the daughter--Damayanti, the renowned;
Through the earth the loveliest women--in her beauty she transcends--
Soon she holds her Swayembara--soon her lord the maid will choose.
Thither all the kings are hastening--thither all the sons of kings.
Suitors for her hand the rajas--her of all the world the pearl,
O thou mighty giant slayer!--one and all approach to woo."
As they spake, the world-protectors[33]--with the god of fire drew near;
Of the immortals all, the highest--stood before the king of gods.
As they all stood silent hearing--Narada's majestic speech,
All exclaimed in sudden rapture--thither we likewise will go;
All the immortals on the instant,--with their chariots, with their hosts,
Hastened down towards Vidarbha--where the lords of earth were met.
Nala, too, no sooner heard he--of that concourse of the kings,
Set he forth, with soul all sanguine--full of Damayanti's love.
Saw the gods, king Nala standing--on the surface of the earth;
Standing in transcendent beauty--equal to the god of love.[34]
Him beheld the world's high guardians--in his radiance like the sun;
Each arrested stood and silent--at his peerless form amazed.
All their chariots the celestials--in the midway air have checked.
Through the blue air then descending--they Nishadha's king address.
Ho! what, ho! Nishadha's monarch--Nala, king, for truth renowned;
Do our bidding, bear our message--O, most excellent of men.
BOOK III.
Nala made his solemn promise,--"all your bidding will I do;"
Then with folded hands adoring--humbly of their will enquired.
"Who are ye? to whom must Nala--as your welcome herald go?
What is my commanded service?--tell me, mighty gods, the truth."
Spake the sovereign of Nishadha--Indra answered thus and said:--
"Know us, the Immortals, hither--come for Damayanti's love.
Indra I, and yon is Agni,--and the king of waters there--
Slayer he of mortal bodies,--Yama, too, is here, O king!
Thou, O Nala, of our coming,--must to Damayanti tell:
Thee to see, the world's dread guardians--Indra and the rest came down,
Indra, Agni, Varun, Yama,--each to seek thine hand are come.
One of these celestial beings,--choose, O maiden, for thy lord."
Nala, thus addressed by Indra--with his folded hands replied:
"Thus with one accord commanding--on this mission send not me.
How can man, himself enamoured--for another plead his cause?
Spare me then, ye gods, in mercy--this unwelcome service, spare."
THE GODS _spake_.
"I will do your bidding freely--thus thou'st said, Nishadha's king;
Wilt thou now belie thy promise?--Nala, go, nor more delay."
By the gods adjured so sternly--thus rejoined Nishadha's king--
"Strictly guarded is yon palace--how may I find entrance there?"
"Thou shalt enter;" thus did Indra--to the unwilling king reply.
In the bower of Damayanti--as they spake, king Nala stood.
There he saw Vidarbha's maiden--girt with all her virgin bands;
In her glowing beauty shining--all excelling in her form;
Every limb in smooth proportion--slender waist and lovely eyes;
Even the moon's soft gleam disdaining--in her own o'erpowering light.
As he gazed, his love grew warmer--to the softly smiling maid,
Yet to keep his truth, his duty--all his passion he suppressed.
Then Nishadha's king beholding--all those maids with beauteous limbs
From their seats sprang up in wonder--at his matchless form amazed.
In their rapture to king Nala--all admiring, homage paid;
Yet, not venturing to accost him,--in their secret souls adored.
"Oh the beauty! oh the splendour!--oh the mighty hero's strength!
Who is he, or God, or Yaksha--or Gandharba may he be."
Not one single word to utter,--dared that fair-limbed maiden band;
All struck dumb before his beauty--in their bashful silence stood.
Smiling, first, upon the monarch--as on her he gently smiled,
Damayanti, in her wonder--to the hero Nala spake:--
"Who art thou of form so beauteous--thou that wakenest all my love;
Cam'st thou here like an immortal--I would know thee, sinless chief.
How hast entered in our palace?--how hast entered all unseen?
Watchful are our chamber wardens--stern the mandate of the king."
By the maiden of Vidarbha--Nala thus addressed, replied:--
"Know, O loveliest, I am Nala--here the messenger of gods,
Gods desirous to possess thee;--one of these, the lord of heaven
Indra, Agni, Varun, Yama,--choose thou, princess, for thy lord.
Through their power, their power almighty--I have