"Vrihadaswa said, 'Damayanti, having bowed down unto the gods, thus
addressed Nala with a smile, "O king, love me with proper regard, and
command me what I shall do for thee. Myself and what else of wealth is
mine are thine. Grant me, O exalted one, thy love in full trust. O king,
the language of the swans is burning me. It is for thy sake, O hero,
that I have caused the kings to meet. O giver of proper honour, if thou
forsake 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 the Vidarbhas, 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 of faultless limbs! Choose thou the all-excelling
celestials. By accepting the gods, do thou enjoy spotless robes, and
celestial garlands of variegated hues, and excellent ornaments. What
woman would not choose as her lord Hutasana--the chief of the
celestials, who encompassing the earth swalloweth it? What woman would
not choose him as her lord the dread of whose mace induceth all
creatures to tread the path of virtue? And what woman would not choose
as her lord the virtuous and high-souled Mahendra, the lord of the
celestials, the chastiser of Daityas and Danavas? Or, if thou couldst
choose in thy heart Varuna amongst the _Lokapalas_, do so
unhesitatingly. O accept this friendly advice." Thus addressed by
Naishadha, Damayanti, with eyes bathed in tears of grief spake thus unto
Nala, "O lord of the earth, bowing to all the gods, I choose thee for my
lord. Truly do I tell thee this." The king, who had come as the
messenger of the gods, replied unto the trembling Damayanti standing
with folded hands, "O amiable one, do as thou pleasest. Having given my
pledge, O blessed one, unto the gods in especial, how can I, having come
on other's mission, dare seek my own interest? If seeking my own
interest consists with virtue, I will seek it, and do thou also, O
beauteous one, act accordingly." Then Damayanti of luminous smiles
slowly spake unto king Nala, 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, O foremost of men, come to the _Swayamvara_ in company
with all the gods headed by Indra. There, O Monarch, in the presence of
the _Lokapalas_ I will, O tiger among men, choose thee--at which no
blame will be thine." Thus addressed, O monarch, by the daughter of
Vidarbha, king Nala returned to where the gods were staying together.
And beholding him approach those great gods, the _Lokapalas_, eagerly
asked him about all that had happened saying, "Hast thou, O king, seen
Damayanti of sweet smiles? What hath she said unto us all? O sinless
monarch, tell us everything." Nala answered, "Commanded by you I entered
Damayanti's palace furnished with lofty portals guarded by veteran
warders bearing wands. 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 I spake unto her of you, the fair-faced maiden, her will
fixed on me, O ye best of the gods, chose me (for her spouse). And the
maiden said, 'Let the gods, O tiger among men, come with thee to the
_Swayamvara_, I will in their presence, choose thee. At this, O thou of
mighty arms, no blame will attach to thee.' This is all, ye gods, that
took place, as I have said. Finally, everything rests with you, ye
foremost of celestials."'"