Chapter 56

“Vrihadaswa said, ‘Damayanti, having bowed down unto the gods, thusaddressed Nala with a smile, ‘O king, love me with proper regard, andcommand me what I shall do for thee. Myself and what else of wealth ismine are thine. Grant me, O exalted one, thy love in full trust. O king,the language of the swans in burning me. It is for thy sake, O hero, thatI have caused the kings to meet. O giver of proper honour, if thouforsake me who adore thee, for thy sake will I resort to poison, or fire,or water or the rope.’ Thus addressed by the daughter of the king of theVidarbhas, Nala answered her saying, ‘With the Lokapalas present,choosest thou a man? Do thou turn thy heart to those high-souled lords,the creators of the worlds, unto the dust of whose feet I am not equal.Displeasing the gods, a mortal cometh by death. Save me, O thou offaultless limbs! Choose thou the all-excelling celestials. By acceptingthe gods, do thou enjoy spotless robes, and celestial garlands ofvariegated hues, and excellent ornaments. What woman would not choose asher lord Hutasana–the chief of the celestials, who compassing the earthswalloweth it? What woman would not choose him as her lord the dread ofwhose mace induceth all creatures to tread the path of virtue? And whatwoman would not choose as her lord the virtuous and high-souled Mahendra,the lord of the celestials, the chastiser of Daityas and Danavas? Or, ifthou couldst choose in thy heart Varuna amongst the Lokapalas, do sounhesitatingly. O accept this friendly advice.’ Thus addressed byNaishadha, Damayanti, with eyes bathed in tears of grief spake thus untoNala, ‘O lord of the earth, bowing to all the gods, I choose thee for mylord. Truly do I tell thee this.’ The king, who had come as the messengerof the gods, replied unto the trembling Damayanti standing with foldedhands, ‘O amiable one, do as thou pleasest. Having given my pledge, Oblessed one, unto the gods in especial, how can I, having come on other’smission, dare seek my own interest? If seeking my own interest consistswith virtue, I will seek it, and do thou also, O beauteous one, actaccordingly.’ Then Damayanti of luminous smiles slowly spake unto kingNala, in words choked with tears, ‘O lord of men I see a blameless way,by which no sin whatever will attach unto thee. O king, do thou, Oforemost of men, come to the Swayamvara in company with all the godsheaded by Indra. There, O Monarch, in the presence of the Lokapalas Iwill, O tiger among men, choose thee–at which no blame will be thine.’Thus addressed, O monarch, by the daughter of Vidarbha, king Nalareturned to where the gods were staying together. And beholding himapproach those great gods, the Lokapalas, eagerly asked him about allthat had happened saying, ‘Hast thou, O king, seen Damayanti of sweetsmiles? What hath she said unto us all? O sinless monarch, tell useverything.’ Nala answered, ‘Commanded by you I entered Damayanti’spalace furnished with lofty portals guarded by veteran warders bearingwands. And as I entered, no one perceived me, by virtue of your power,except the princess. And I saw her hand-maids, and they also saw me. And,O exalted celestials, seeing me, they were filled with wonder. And as Ispake unto her of you, the fair-faced maiden, her will fixed on me, O yebest of the gods, chose me (for her spouse).’ And the maiden said, ‘Letthe gods, O tiger among men, come with thee to the Swayamvara, I will intheir presence, choose thee. At this, O thou of mighty arms, no blamewill attach to thee.’ ‘This is all, ye gods, that took place, as I havesaid. Finally, everything rests with you, ye foremost of celestials.'”