03.071
Bṛhadaśva said.
Then, when Satyavikrama Rtuparna arrived at Vidarbha in the evening, the people informed King Bhima. (03-71-1)
He, following Bhīma's words, the king entered the city of Kuṇḍina, making the sound of his chariot echo in all ten directions. (03-71-2)
Then Nala's horses there heard that chariot-sound, and, having heard it, they were thrilled, just as formerly in Nala's presence. (03-71-3)
Damayantī heard the sound of Nala's chariot, which was deep like the roaring of a cloud at the onset of the rainy season. (03-71-4)
Damayanti, the daughter of Bhīma, thought that the sound of the chariot produced by Nala's horses, when reined in by Nala, was just like what she had heard before. (03-71-5)
Those who were in the palace, the peacocks, the elephants in the stables, and the horses there heard the sound of the king’s chariots. (03-71-6)
O king, having heard the roar of the chariot, the elephants and also the peacocks, looking up, cried out as if they had seen the advent of rain clouds. (03-71-7)
Damayanti said.
Just as the thunderous sound of this chariot, as if filling the earth, delights my mind, so does this king Nala. (03-71-8)
Today, if I do not see Nala, whose face is like the moon and who is a hero of countless virtues, I will surely perish. (03-71-9)
If today I do not enter the space between the arms of that hero and feel his pleasant touch, I will certainly perish without doubt. (03-71-10)
If Nala, whose sound is like thunder, does not come to me today, I, who shine like gold, will surely perish without doubt. (03-71-11)
O king, if that lion-striding, intoxicated elephant-subduer does not come to me, I shall certainly perish without doubt. (03-71-12)
I do not remember ever uttering a single falsehood, nor do I recall saying anything unkind; nor do I remember speaking words that were stale, even among the most independent and great souls. (03-71-13)
My Naiṣadha (Nala), though a lord, patient, heroic, gentle, subdued, and self-controlled, is humble, obedient, and in private seems almost unmanly.
As I, completely absorbed, remember his qualities day and night, my heart is torn with sorrow because of being deprived of my beloved. (03-71-15)
Bṛhadaśva said;
Thus, lamenting as if she had lost her senses, she, O Bhārata, ascended the great mansion in order to see the illustrious one. (03-71-16)
Then, in the middle chamber, he saw the chariot with king Ṛtuparṇa, accompanied by Vārṣṇeya and Bāhuka. (03-71-17)
Then, having alighted from the excellent chariot, Vārṣṇeya Bāhuka untied those horses and then stationed the chariot. (03-71-18)
Having descended from the chariot seat, King R̥tuparṇa approached Bhīma, the mighty warrior, O great king. (03-71-19)
Bhima received him with supreme honor; thereafter, the woman, having suddenly and instantly arrived, indeed does not find the mantra. (03-71-20)
"What is your purpose? Welcome to you!" Thus the king asked, O Bhārata, but the king did not recognize him, who had come for the sake of his daughter. (03-71-21)
King Rituparṇa, who was wise and truly courageous, did not see any king or prince at all. He heard neither the story of the Svayamvara nor of any meeting with the brāhmaṇas. (03-71-22)
Then, considering with his mind, the king, lord of Kosala, greeted your honor and said to him, "I have arrived." (03-71-23)
The king Bhima, also smiling, pondered in his mind the reason for that person's coming from more than a hundred yojanas away. (03-71-24)
He passed by many villages without entering them, as was the case. A small task had been specified as his reason for coming. (03-71-25)
Not so; the king, having honored him, dismissed him. Saying again and again, "Let him rest," (and) "You are weary." (03-71-26)
He, having been honored, joyful in spirit and delighted, the king accompanied by the royal messengers, entered the assigned palace. (03-71-27)
When King Ṛtuparṇa, accompanied by Vārṣṇeya, had set out, Bāhuka mounted the chariot and proceeded to the chariot-hall. (03-71-28)
He released those horses, tended to them as prescribed by the treatises, and after comforting them himself, sat down upon the seat of the chariot. (03-71-29)
But Damayanti, afflicted by grief, seeing the king whose voice was broken, the charioteer's son, the Vṛṣṇi, and Bāhuka in such a state, (03-71-30)
The princess of Vidarbha thought, 'Whose chariot noise is this? It was great like that of Nala, but I do not see Nala (the Nishadha king).' (03-71-31)
Surely, it is Vārṣṇeya who has been trained in that art; therefore, the sound of his chariot has become as great as Nala's. (03-71-32)
Indeed, perhaps this is Ṛtuparṇa, also just as king Nala; therefore, this chariot sound is perceived like that of the king of Niṣadha (Nala). (03-71-33)
O king, thus having considered, Damayanti, O lord of the people, sent a messenger to search for the prince of Niṣadha. (03-71-34)
