Nala and Damayanti and Other Poems

Lived of yore, a raja, Nala,--Virasena's mighty son, Gifted he with every virtue,--beauteous, skilled in taming steeds: Head of all the kings of mortals--like the monarch of the...

Damayanti, ever after--she the swan's sweet speech had heard-- With herself she dwelt no longer--all herself with Nala dwelt. Lost in thought she sate dejected--pale her melanch...

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 heral...

To the gods performed her homage--smiled she, and to Nala spake:-- "Pledge to me thy faith,[35] O raja--how that faith, may I requite? I myself, and whatsoever--in the world I h...

Came the day of happy omen[42]--moonday meet, and moment apt; Bhima to the Swayembara--summoned all the lords of earth. One and all, upon the instant--rose th' enamoured lords o...

Nala, chosen by Bhima's daughter--the bright guardians of the world, As they parted thence, with Kali[54]--Dwapara approaching saw. Kali as he saw, did Indra--did the giant-kill...

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...

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 s...

Scarce Varshneya had departed--still the king of men played on, Till to Pushkara his kingdom--all that he possessed, was lost. Nala then, despoiled of kingdom--smiling Pushkara...

"Mighty is thy father's kingdom--once was mine as mighty too; Never will I there seek refuge--in my base extremity. There I once appeared in glory--to the exalting of thy pride;...

Scarcely had king Nala parted--Damayanti now refreshed, Wakened up, the slender-waisted--timorous in the desert wood. When she did not see her husband--overpowered with grief an...

Slain that savage wild-beast hunter--onward went the lotus-eyed, Through the dread, and desert forest--ringing with the cricket's song; Full of lions, pards, and tigers--stags,...

[93]This, the lovely princess hearing--from the captain of the band, With the caravan set forward--seeking still her royal lord. Long their journey through the forest--through t...

Damayanti when deserting--royal Nala fled, ere long Blazing in the forest jungle--he a mighty fire beheld; Thence as of a living being--from the midst a voice he heard: "Hasten,...

Vanished thus the King of Serpents--set Nishadha's raja forth, Rituparna's royal city--on the tenth day entered he. Straight before the royal presence--"Vahuca am I," he said, "...

Nala thus bereft of kingdom--with his wife to slavery sunk, Forth king Bhima sent the Brahmins--Nala through the world to seek. Thus the royal Bhima charged them--with abundant...

"In Vidarbha the just monarch--Bhima, in his glory dwells. Of that king is she the daughter--Damayanti is her name; And the raja of Nishadha--Nala, Virasena's son, Of that king...

Long the time that passed, a Brahmin--wise Parnada was his name, Home returning to the city--thus to Bhima's daughter spake: "Damayanti! royal Nala--as I sought Nishadha's king,...

Hearing thus Sudeva's language--Rituparna, king of men With a gentle voice and blandly--thus to Vahuca began. "Where the princess Damayanti--doth her Swayembara hold In one day...

Over rivers, over mountains--through the forests, over lakes, Fleetly passed they, rapid gliding--like a bird along the air. As the chariot swiftly travelled--lo, Bhangasuri the...

With the evening in Vidarbha--men at watch, as they drew near, Mighty Rituparna's coming--to king Bhima did proclaim. Then that king, by Bhima's mandate--entered in Kundina's wa...

"Go, Kesinia, go, enquire thou--who is yonder charioteer, On the chariot seat reposing--all deformed, with arms so short? Blessed maid, approach, and courteous--open thou thy bl...

Hearing this, fair Damayanti--all abandoned to her grief. Thinking still that he was Nala--to Kesinia spake again. "Go, Kesinia, go, examine--Vahuca, and all his acts, Silent ta...

Seeing the profound emotion--of that wisest king of men, Passing back in haste, Kesinia--told to Damayanti all: Then again did Damayanti--mission to Kesinia give, To approach he...

When that night was passed and over--Nala, that high-gifted king, Wedded to Vidarbha's daughter--in fit hour her sire beheld. Humbly Nala paid his homage--to the father of his q...

There a month when he had sojourned--of king Bhima taking leave, Guarded but by few attendants--to Nishadha took his way. With a single splendid chariot--and with elephants sixt...

[Footnote 78: p. 36. l. 15. _--soma quaffing, fire adoring_. Soma, the juice of the Asclepias acida, the moon plant. Drinking the expressed juice of this plant is a holy ceremon...