DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0415
332 INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
because even now they are hastening one and all to
the swayamvara of Damayanti, the renowned daughter
of Bhima, the fairest woman upon earth. O slayer of
drought demons, every king seeks to woo this maid of
transcending beauty, for she is the pearl of all the
world."
As Narada spake, the other gods drew nigh and listened
to his stately utterance. Then together they exclaimed
with rapture: "We also will go thither. . . ." In an in-
stant they were hastening through the air in their chariots
towards the city of Vidarbha to mingle with the wooers
of Bhima's fair daughter.
Meanwhile Nala had set forth with joy, his heart full
of love for Damayanti. The gods beheld him standing
upon the surface of the earth with radiance like to the sun,
and they arrested their course, gazing in mute wonder,
for he was as comely as the god of love. Then, dropping
down through the blue air, they hailed the stately hero,
saying: " Do as we now beseech thee, O most excellent of
princes; be thou the bearer of our message."
Nala adored the gods with folded hands and promised
to obey their will, saying humbly: "Who are ye that now
command my service?"
Indra spoke and said: "Lo! we are the dread guar-
dians of the world. I am Indra, lord of heaven; yon
is Agni, god of fire; here is Varuna, king of the waters;
and there is Yama, lord of the dead.1 Thou must inform
Damayanti that we have come to woo her and say to her:
' Choose for thine husband one of the celestial beings'."
Nala made answer with folded hands, saying: "Send
me not, I entreat thee, upon this mission. How can 1,
who am enamoured with the maiden, plead aright the cause
'At the period the poem was composed there were onlv four "guardians"; 'a
there were eight.
because even now they are hastening one and all to
the swayamvara of Damayanti, the renowned daughter
of Bhima, the fairest woman upon earth. O slayer of
drought demons, every king seeks to woo this maid of
transcending beauty, for she is the pearl of all the
world."
As Narada spake, the other gods drew nigh and listened
to his stately utterance. Then together they exclaimed
with rapture: "We also will go thither. . . ." In an in-
stant they were hastening through the air in their chariots
towards the city of Vidarbha to mingle with the wooers
of Bhima's fair daughter.
Meanwhile Nala had set forth with joy, his heart full
of love for Damayanti. The gods beheld him standing
upon the surface of the earth with radiance like to the sun,
and they arrested their course, gazing in mute wonder,
for he was as comely as the god of love. Then, dropping
down through the blue air, they hailed the stately hero,
saying: " Do as we now beseech thee, O most excellent of
princes; be thou the bearer of our message."
Nala adored the gods with folded hands and promised
to obey their will, saying humbly: "Who are ye that now
command my service?"
Indra spoke and said: "Lo! we are the dread guar-
dians of the world. I am Indra, lord of heaven; yon
is Agni, god of fire; here is Varuna, king of the waters;
and there is Yama, lord of the dead.1 Thou must inform
Damayanti that we have come to woo her and say to her:
' Choose for thine husband one of the celestial beings'."
Nala made answer with folded hands, saying: "Send
me not, I entreat thee, upon this mission. How can 1,
who am enamoured with the maiden, plead aright the cause
'At the period the poem was composed there were onlv four "guardians"; 'a
there were eight.