BOOK II.
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 melancholy cheek, Damayanti sate and yielded--all her soul to sighs of grief.
Upward gazing, meditative--with a wild distracted look, Wan was all her soft complexion--and with passion heart-possessed,[23] Nor in sleep nor gentle converse--nor in banquets found she joy; Night nor day she could not slumber--Woe! oh woe! she wept and said.
Her no longer her own mistress--from her looks, her gesture, knew Damayanti's virgin handmaids--to Vidarbha's monarch they Told how pined his gentle daughter--for the sovereign of men.
This from Damayanti's maidens--when the royal Bhima heard, In his mind he gravely pondered--for his child what best were done.
"Wherefore is my gentle daughter--from herself in mind estranged ?" When the lord of earth his daughter--saw in blooming youth mature, Knew he for the Swayembara[24]--Damayanti's time was come.
Straight the lord of many peasants[25]--summoned all the chiefs of earth, "Come ye to the Swayembara--all ye heroes of the world!" Damayanti's Swayembara--soon as heard the kings of men, All obeyed king Bhima's summons--all to Bhima's court drew near; Elephants, and steeds, and chariots--swarmed along the sounding land; All with rich and various garlands[26]--with his stately army each-- All the lofty-minded rajas--Bhima with the arm of strength, As beseemed, received with honour--on their thrones of state they sate.
At this very hour the wisest--of the sages, the divine, Moving in their might ascended--up from earth to Indra's world.[27] Great in holiness and wisdom--Narada and Parvata[28] Honoured entered they the palace--of the monarch of the gods.
Them salutes the cloud-compeller[29]--of their everlasting weal, Of their weal the worlds pervading--courteous asks the immortal lord.
NARADA _spake_.
Well it fares with us, Immortal--in our weal the world partakes-- In the world, O cloud-compeller--well it fares with all her kings.
VRIHADASVA _spake_.
He that Bali slew and Vritra--asked of Narada again-- All earth's just and righteous rulers--reckless of their lives in fight-- Who the shafts' descending death-blow--meet with unaverted eye-- Theirs this everlasting kingdom[30]--even as Kamadhuk is mine.[31] Where are they, the Kshetriya heroes ?--wherefore see I not approach All the earth's majestic guardians--all mine ever-honoured guests.
Thus addressed by holy Sakra[32]--Narada replied and said: "Hear me now, O cloud-compeller--why earth's kings appear not here.
Of Vidarbha's king the daughter--Damayanti, the renowned; Through the earth the loveliest women--in her beauty she transcends-- Soon she holds her Swayembara--soon her lord the maid will choose.
Thither all the kings are hastening--thither all the sons of kings.
Suitors for her hand the rajas--her of all the world the pearl, O thou mighty giant slayer!--one and all approach to woo." As they spake, the world-protectors[33]--with the god of fire drew near; Of the immortals all, the highest--stood before the king of gods.
As they all stood silent hearing--Narada's majestic speech, All exclaimed in sudden rapture--thither we likewise will go; All the immortals on the instant,--with their chariots, with their hosts, Hastened down towards Vidarbha--where the lords of earth were met.
Nala, too, no sooner heard he--of that concourse of the kings, Set he forth, with soul all sanguine--full of Damayanti's love.
Saw the gods, king Nala standing--on the surface of the earth; Standing in transcendent beauty--equal to the god of love.[34] Him beheld the world's high guardians--in his radiance like the sun; Each arrested stood and silent--at his peerless form amazed.
All their chariots the celestials--in the midway air have checked.
Through the blue air then descending--they Nishadha's king address.
Ho! what, ho! Nishadha's monarch--Nala, king, for truth renowned; Do our bidding, bear our message--O, most excellent of men..