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 entered here unseen;
As I entered in thy chamber--none hath seen, and none might stay.
This, the object of my mission,--fairest, from the highest gods,
Thou hast heard me, noble princess--even as thou wilt, decide."