Nala and Damayanti and Other Poems | Page 7

who reads the whole four Vedas--the Puranas too the fifth,[55]
In his palace with pure offerings--ever are the gods adored,
Gentle to all living creatures--true in word and strict in vow;
Good and constant he, and generous--holy, temperate, patient, pure;
His are all these virtues ever--equal to the earth-guarding gods.
Thus endowed, the noble Nala--he, O Kali, that would curse,
On himself recoil his curses--only fatal to himself.
Nala, gifted with such virtues--he, O Kali, who would curse--
Be he plunged in hell's dark torments--in the deep and vasty lake."
Thus the gods to Kali speaking--to their native heavens arose.
Soon as they had parted, Kali--thus to Dwapara began:
"I my wrath can curb no longer--I henceforth in Nala dwell;
From his kingdom will I cast him--from his bliss with his sweet bride.
Thou within the dice embodied--Dwapara my cause assist."
BOOK VII.
Bound by that malignant treaty--Kali with his dark ally,
Haunted they the stately palace--where Nishadha's monarch ruled;
Watching still the fatal instant--in Nishadha long they dwelt.
Twelve long years had passed ere Kali--saw that fatal instant come.
Nala after act uncleanly--the ablution half performed,[56]
Prayed at eve, with feet unwashen--Kali seized the fatal hour.
Into Nala straight he entered--and possessed his inmost soul.
Pushkara in haste he summoned--come with Nala play at dice,
Ever in the gainful hazard--by my subtle aid thou'lt win,
Even the kingdom of Nishadha--even from Nala all his realm.
Pushkara by Kali summoned--to his brother Nala came,
In the dice of dice embodied[57]--Dwapara stood silent by.
Pushkara the hero-slayer--to king Nala standing near:
"Play we with the dice, my brother,"--thus again, again he said.
Long the lofty-minded raja--that bold challenge might not brook,
In Vidarbha's princess' presence--deemed he now the time for play.
For his wealth, his golden treasures--for his chariots, for his robes,
Then possessed by Kali, Nala--in the game was worsted still.
He with love of gaming maddened,--of his faithful friends not one
Might arrest the desperate frenzy--of the conqueror of his foes.
Came the citizens assembling--with the counsellors of state,
To behold the king approached they--to restrain his dread disease.
Then the charioteer advancing[58]--thus to Damayanti spake:
"All the city, noble princess--stands assembled at the gate,
Say thou to Nishadha's monarch--'All his subjects here are met;
Ill they brook this dire misfortune[59]--in their justice-loving king'."
Then, her voice half choked with anguish--spake the sorrow-stricken queen,
Spirit-broken, Bhima's daughter--to Nishadha's sovereign spake,
"Raja, lo! the assembled city--at the gate their king to see:
With the counsellors of wisdom--by their loyal duty led.
Deign thou, monarch, to admit them,"--thus again, again she said.
To the queen with beauteous eyelids--uttering thus her sad lament,
Still possessed by wicked Kali--answered not the king a word.
Then those counsellors of wisdom--and those loyal citizens,
"'Tis not he," exclaimed in sorrow,--and in shame and grief went home.
Thus of Pushkara and Nala--still went on that fatal play;
Many a weary month it lasted--and still lost the king of men.
BOOK VIII.
Damayanti then beholding--Punyasloka, king of men,[60]
Undistracted, him distracted--with the maddening love of play.
In her dread and in her sorrow--thus did Bhima's daughter speak;
Pondering on the weighty business--that concerned the king of men.
Trembling at his guilty frenzy--yet to please him still intent.
Nala, 'reft of all his treasures--when the noble woman saw,
Thus addressed she Vrihatsena,--her old faithful slave and nurse,
Friendly in all business dextrous--most devoted, wise in speech:
"Vrihatsena, go, the council--as at Nala's call convene,
Say what he hath lost of treasure--and what treasure yet remains."
Then did all that reverend council--Nala's summons as they heard,
"Our own fate is now in peril"--speaking thus, approach the king.
And a second time his subjects--all assembling, crowded near,
And the queen announced their presence;--of her words he took no heed.
All her words thus disregarded--when king Bhima's daughter found,
To the palace, Damayanti--to conceal her shame returned.
When the dice she heard for ever--adverse to the king of men,
And of all bereft, her Nala--to the nurse again she spake:
"Go again, my Vrihatsena,--in the name of Nala, go,
To the charioteer, Varshneya,--great the deed must now be done."
Vrihatsena on the instant--Damayanti's words she heard,
Caused the charioteer be summoned--by her messengers of trust.
Bhima's daughter to Varshneya--winning with her gentle voice,
Spake, the time, the place well choosing--for the deed, nor spake in vain:
"Well thou know'st the full reliance--that in thee the king hath placed,
In his fatal hour of peril--wilt not thou stand forth to aid?
As by Pushkara is worsted--ever more and more the king,
More and more the fatal frenzy--maddens in his heart for play.
As to Pushkara obedient--ever fall the lucky dice,
Thus those dice to royal Nala--still with adverse fortune fall.
Nor the voice of friend or kindred--as beseems him, will he hear;
Even to me he will not listen--in the madness of his heart.
Of the lofty-minded Nala--well I know 'tis not the sin,
That my words this senseless monarch--in his frenzy will not hear.
Charioteer, to thee my refuge--come I, do thou my behest;
I am not o'er calm in spirit--haply he may perish thus.
Yoke the much-loved steeds of Nala--fleet of foot, as thought, are they,
In the chariot place our children--to Cundina's city go.[61]
Leave the children with my kindred--and the chariot and the steeds;
Then or dwell there at thy