Chapter 76

“Vrihadaswa said, ‘Beholding the agitation of the virtuous and wise Nala,Kesini returned unto Damayanti and related everything unto her. Andthereupon Damayanti with a sorrowful heart and eager to behold Nala,again despatched Kesini to her mother, asking her to say on her behalf:Suspecting Vahuka to be Nala, I have tried him in various ways. My doubtnow only relates to his appearance. I intend to examine him myself. Omother, either let him enter the palace, or give me permission to go tohim. And arrange this with the knowledge of my father or without it. Andthus addressed to Damayanti, that lady communicated unto Bhima theintention of his daughter, and upon learning it the king gave hisconsent. And, O bull of the Bharata race, having obtained the consentboth of her father and mother, Damayanti caused Nala to be brought to herapartments. And as soon as he saw Damayanti unexpectedly, king Nala wasoverwhelmed with grief and sorrow, and bathed in tears. And that best ofwomen, Damayanti, also, upon beholding king Nala in that condition, wassorely afflicted with grief. And, O monarch, herself clad in a piece ofred cloth, and wearing matted locks, and covered with dirt and dust,Damayanti then addressed Vahuka, saying, ‘O Vahuka, hast thou ever seenany person acquainted with duty, who hath gone away, deserting hissleeping wife in the forest? Who, except the virtuous Nala, could goaway, deserting in the woods, his dear and unoffending wife overcome withfatigue? Of what offence was I guilty in the eyes of that monarch sincemy early youth that he should go away deserting me in the woods whileasleep overcome with fatigue? Why should he whom I formerly chose inpreference to the gods themselves abandon his ever-devoted and lovingwife who had become the mother also of his children? Before the fire, andin presence also of the celestials, he had taken my hand, vowing, ‘VerilyI will be thine.’ Oh, where was that vow when he deserted me. O represserof foes.’ While Damayanti was saying all this, tears of sorrow began toflow plentifully from her eyes. And beholding her thus afflicted withgrief, Nala also, shedding tears, black of those of the gazelle withextremities of reddish hue, said, ‘O timid one, neither the loss of mykingdom nor my desertion of thee was my act. Both were due to Kali. And,O foremost of virtuous women, lamenting for me day and night, andovercome with sorrow, thou hadst in the woods cursed Kali, and so hebegan to dwell in my body, burning in consequence of thy curse. Indeedburning with thy curse, he lived within me like fire within fire. Oblessed girl, that our sorrows might terminate, that wretch have Iovercome by my observances and austerities. The sinful wretch hathalready left me, and it is for this that I have come hither. My presencehere, O fair lady, is for thy sake. I have no other object. But, O timidone, can any other woman, forsaking her loving and devoted husband, everchoose a second lord like thee? At the command of the king, messengersare ranging this entire earth, saying, ‘Bhima’s daughter will, of her ownaccord, choose a second husband worthy of her.’ Immediately on hearingthis, the son of Bhangasura hath arrived here.’ Hearing theselamentations of Nala, Damayanti, frightened and trembling, said withjoined hand, ‘It behoveth thee not, O blessed one, to suspect any faultin me. O ruler of the Nishadhas, passing over the celestials themselves,I choose thee as my lord. It was to bring thee hither that the Brahmanashad gone out in all directions, even to all the sides of the horizon,singing my words, in the form of ballads. At last, O king, a learnedBrahmana named Parnada had found thee in Kosala in the palace ofRituparna. When thou hadst returned a fit answer to those words of his,it was then, O Naishadha, that I devised this scheme to recover thee.Except thee, O lord of earth, there is no one in this world, who in oneday can clear, O King, a hundred yojanas with horses. O monarch, touchingthy feet I can swear truly that I have not, even in thought, committedany sin. May the all-witnessing Air that courseth through this world,take my life, if I have committed any sin. May the Sun that ever courseththrough the sky take my life, if I have committed any sin. May the Moon,that dwelleth within every creature as a witness, take my life, if I havecommitted any sin. Let the three gods that sustain the triple worlds intheir entirety, declare truly, or let them forsake me today.’ And thusaddressed by her, the Wind-god said from the sky, ‘O Nala, I tell theetruly that she hath done no wrong. O king, Damayanti, well guarding thehonour of thy family, hath enhanced it. Of this we are the witnesses, aswe have been her protectors for these three years. It is for thy sky thatshe hath devised this unrivalled scheme, for, except thee, none on earthis capable of travelling in a single day a hundred yojanas. O monarch,thou hast obtained Bhima’s daughter, and she hath also obtained thee.Thou needst not entertain any suspicion but be united with thy partner.’And after the Wind-god had said this, a floral shower fell there and thecelestial kettle-drum began to play, and auspicious breezes began toblow. And beholding those wonders, O Bharata, king Nala, the represser offoes, cast away all his doubts in respect of Damayanti. And then thatlord of earth, remembering the king of serpents, wore that pure garmentand regained his native form. And beholding her righteous lord in his ownform, Bhima’s daughter of faultless limbs embraced him, and began to weepaloud. And king Nala also embraced Bhima’s daughter devoted to him, asbefore, and also his children, and experienced great delight. And buryingher face in his bosom, the beauteous Damayanti of large eyes began tosigh heavily, remembering her griefs. And overwhelmed with sorrow, thattiger among men stood for some time, clasping the dust-covered Damayantiof sweet smiles. And, O king, the queen-mother then, with a glad heart,told Bhima all that had passed between Nala and Damayanti. And the mightymonarch answered, ‘Let Nala pass this day in peace, to-morrow I shall seehim after his bath and prayers, with Damayanti by his side.’ And, O king,they passed that night pleasantly, in relating to each other the pastincidents of their life in the forest. And with hearts filled with joy,the princess of Vidarbha and Nala began to pass their days in the palaceof king Bhima, intent upon making each other happy. And it was in thefourth year (after the loss of his kingdom) that Nala was re-united withhis wife, and all his desires gratified, once more experienced thehighest bliss. And Damayanti rejoiced exceedingly in having recovered herlord even as fields of tender plants on receiving a shower. And Bhima’sdaughter, thus recovering her lord, obtained her wish, and blazed forthin beauty, her weariness gone, her anxieties dispelled and herselfswelling with joy, ever like a night that is lit by the bright disc ofthe moon!”