DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0444
360 INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
her swayamvara. All the kings and all the sons of kings are
hastening as aforetime to Vidarbha. To-morrow at dawn she
will choose for herself a new lord, for no one knoweth whether
Nala liveth or not."'
So Sudeva went unto Ayodhya and spake as Dama-
yanti desired of him, and then said: " If thou wouldst
win the princess, O Rituparna, thou must go swifdy, for
when the sun rises she will choose her a second husband."
Rituparna at once sent for Vahuka, and said: " O
skilled charioteer, I must needs hasten to Vidarbha in
a single day, because that the fair Damayanti holdeth
her swayamvara at dawn to-morrow."
At these words the heart of Nala was torn with grief,
and he said unto himself: "Is this but a stratagem to
deceive me ? Or is she whom I wronged estranged in
mind ? Hath she grown fickle of heart, she who hath
been soul-stricken by grief in the depths of despair ?"
Then he spake unto Rituparna and said: "As thou
desirest so will I do, O Rituparna. 1 will drive thee in
a single day to Vidarbha."
Having promised thus, he went forth and selected
four steeds of high courage with the ten good marks,
which were as swift as the wind. He yoked them in
haste, spake to them soothingly, and then set forth with
Rituparna and Varshneya also at full speed. The rajah
sat in silent wonder as the chariot went swiftly, and to
himself he said: " Vahuka hath the god-like skill of the
charioteer of heaven. . . . Can he be Nala, who hath
taken himself another body? If he is not Nala, he is one
who hath equal skill. Great men are wandering at times
to and fro in disguise—gods who are hidden in human
form."
'Ten twists or "eddies" of hair called A-vartas—one on forehead, two on breast,
one on each flank hollow, Sec.
her swayamvara. All the kings and all the sons of kings are
hastening as aforetime to Vidarbha. To-morrow at dawn she
will choose for herself a new lord, for no one knoweth whether
Nala liveth or not."'
So Sudeva went unto Ayodhya and spake as Dama-
yanti desired of him, and then said: " If thou wouldst
win the princess, O Rituparna, thou must go swifdy, for
when the sun rises she will choose her a second husband."
Rituparna at once sent for Vahuka, and said: " O
skilled charioteer, I must needs hasten to Vidarbha in
a single day, because that the fair Damayanti holdeth
her swayamvara at dawn to-morrow."
At these words the heart of Nala was torn with grief,
and he said unto himself: "Is this but a stratagem to
deceive me ? Or is she whom I wronged estranged in
mind ? Hath she grown fickle of heart, she who hath
been soul-stricken by grief in the depths of despair ?"
Then he spake unto Rituparna and said: "As thou
desirest so will I do, O Rituparna. 1 will drive thee in
a single day to Vidarbha."
Having promised thus, he went forth and selected
four steeds of high courage with the ten good marks,
which were as swift as the wind. He yoked them in
haste, spake to them soothingly, and then set forth with
Rituparna and Varshneya also at full speed. The rajah
sat in silent wonder as the chariot went swiftly, and to
himself he said: " Vahuka hath the god-like skill of the
charioteer of heaven. . . . Can he be Nala, who hath
taken himself another body? If he is not Nala, he is one
who hath equal skill. Great men are wandering at times
to and fro in disguise—gods who are hidden in human
form."
'Ten twists or "eddies" of hair called A-vartas—one on forehead, two on breast,
one on each flank hollow, Sec.