03.064
Bṛhadaśva said.
When the Nāga had disappeared, Nala the king of Nishadha departed and, on the tenth day, entered the city of Ṛtuparṇa. (03-64-1)
He approached the king, saying "I am Bāhuka." There is no one on earth equal to me in driving horses. (03-64-2)
I should be consulted in financial hardships and expert matters. I also especially know the preparation of food better than others. (03-64-3)
Rtuparna, I shall strive to accomplish all the arts in this world and whatever other difficult things there are; carry me.
Rituparna said.
Reside, Bāhuka. Good fortune to you. You will accomplish all this. My mind is always especially set on swift movement. (03-64-5)
So you undertake that task by which my horses may become swift; you are the superintendent of horses; your salary will be hundreds of hundreds. (03-64-6)
"These two, Vārṣṇeya and Jīvala, will always attend upon you; together with them you will find joy. Come, live with me, O Bāhuka." (03-64-7)
Bṛhadaśva said.
Thus addressed, Nala was honored and dwelled there, in the city of Ṛtuparṇa, together with Vārṣṇeya and Jīvāla. (03-64-8)
There, residing, the king, constantly thinking of Vaidarbhi, would recite this one verse every evening. (03-64-9)
Where, indeed, does that ascetic woman, afflicted by hunger and thirst and tired, lie down now? Remembering that slow (one), whom does she attend to today? (03-64-10)
Thus, as the king was speaking, at night Jivala said: "I wish to hear, O Bāhuka, why you always grieve with such longing." (03-64-11)
King Nala spoke to him: 'There was a woman greatly esteemed by someone dull-witted, and he was even more firmly (attached) to her.' (03-64-12)
He, indeed, was separated from her for some reason; and being parted, the fool of dull mind wanders about, afflicted by sorrow. (03-64-13)
He, burning with grief and untiring day and night, at night remembers her and keeps singing one verse. (03-64-14)
He, wandering the whole earth and occasionally finding something, lives undeservingly, constantly recalling that pain again and again. (03-64-15)
But although the woman had followed that man even in hardship in the forest, abandoned by that one of little merit, if she lives, it is difficult. (03-64-16)
If a single young girl who is ignorant and unaccustomed to the roads, and afflicted by hunger and thirst, survives, it is indeed difficult. (3-64-17)
O dear, you have been abandoned in the great and terrible forest, always inhabited by wild beasts, by that dull-witted man of little merit. (03-64-18)
Thus, the king of Niṣadha, remembering Damayantī, lived incognito in the residence of that king. (03-64-19)
