MATH or MAGIC!

When Damayanti reached the country of the Vidarbhas, all her relatives rejoiced and received her with respect. Seeing her relatives, her children, both her parents, and all her maids, to be well, the illustrious Damayanti worshipped the gods and brahmanas. King Bhima rejoiced at beholding his daughter and gave unto the brahmana Sudeva a thousand kine, a village and much wealth.

Damayanti rested well that night in her father's mansion and recovered from her fatigue. Then she confided in her mother: "If thou wishest me to live, I tell thee truly, do thou endeavour to bring here Nala, that hero among men."
The queen conveyed this to the king who again sent the brahmanas in all directions, saying: "Exert ye to discover Nala."

Before setting out on their journey, the brahmanas appeared before Damayanti and she briefed them: "Do ye sing in every realm and in every assembly, 'O beloved gambler, where hast thou gone, cutting off half of her garment, and deserting the dear and devoted wife asleep in the forest? And that girl, as commanded by thee stayeth expecting thee, clad in half a piece of cloth and burning with grief! O king, O hero, relent and answer her who incessantly weepeth for that grief."

"Speaking so, if anybody answereth you, that person should by all means, be identified, and ye should learn who he is, and where he dwelleth. And ye foremost of the twice-born, do ye bring me the words of him who hearing this your speech will chance to answer. Ye should also act with such care that no one may know the words ye utter to be at my behest, nor that ye will report back to me. And ye should also learn whether he that answers is wealthy, or poor, or destitute of power, in fact all about him."

The brahmanas set out in all directions in search of Nala. In every court they went, they recited the ballad composed by Damayanti. After a long while, one brahmana named Parnada came back and said unto Damayanti: "Searching for king Nala, I came to the city of Ayodhya, and appeared before the son of Bhangasura. I repeated those words of thine in the presence of the blessed Rituparna. But hearing them neither that ruler of men, nor his courtiers, answered anything, although I uttered them repeatedly. Then, after I had been dismissed by the monarch, I was accosted by a person named Vahuka, who is the charioteer of that king."

"He was of unsightly appearance and possessed of short arms. He is skillful in driving with speed, and well acquainted with the culinary art. Sighing frequently, and weeping again and again, he inquired about my welfare and said these words: 'Chaste women, although fallen into distress, yet protect themselves and thus certainly secure heaven. Although they may be deserted by their lords, they do not yet become angry on that account, for women that are chaste lead their lives, encased in the armour of virtuous behaviour. It behoveth her not to be angry, since he that deserted her was overwhelmed with calamity, and deprived of every bliss. A beauteous and virtuous woman should not be angry with one that was deprived by birds of his garment while striving to procure sustenance and who is being consumed with grief. Whether treated well or ill, such a wife should never indulge in ire, beholding her husband in that plight, despoiled of kingdom and destitute of prosperity, oppressed with hunger and overwhelmed with calamity.' Hearing these words of his, I have speedily come here. Thou hast now heard all. Do what thou thinkest proper, and inform the king of it."

Damayanti broke into tears when she heard that Nala had been located. After Parnada had recovered from his fatigue, the Damayanti worshipped him with profuse wealth and said: "When Nala will come here, O brahmana, I will bestow on thee wealth in abundance again. Thou hast done me an immense service which none else, indeed, can do me, and which will speedily enable me to regain my lord." That high-minded brahmana comforted her, uttering benedictory words of auspicious import, and then went home, regarding his mission to have been successful.

Then Damayanti called for Sudeva brahmana and addressed him in the presence of her mother: "O brahmana, go thou to the city of Ayodhya, straight as a bird, and tell king Rituparna these words: 'King Bhima's daughter, Damayanti, will have another svayamvara. All the kings and princes are going thither. The ceremony will take place tomorrow. O represser of foes, if it is possible for thee, go thither without delay. Tomorrow, after the sun hath risen, she will choose a second husband, as she doth not know whether the heroic Nala liveth or not."

Sudeva reached Ayodhya and made his announcement to king Rituparna about Damayanti's svayamvara being held the next morning. Coaxing Vahuka with gentle words, the king said, 'O Vahuka, thou art well-skilled in training and guiding horses. If it pleases thee, I intend to go to Vidarbha in the course of a single day."

Nala felt his heart to be bursting in grief and sorrow. He thought within himself: "Perhaps Damayanti in doing this is blinded by sorrow. Or perhaps, she hath conceived this magnificent scheme for my sake. It is seen in the world that the nature of woman is inconsistent. My offence also hath been great; perhaps she is acting so, because she hath no longer any affection for me due to my long separation from her. Indeed, that girl of slender waist, afflicted with grief on my account, certainly will not do anything of this kind, especially when she is the mother of (my) children. Whether it is true or false, I shall ascertain with certitude by going thither. I will therefore accomplish Rituparna's and my own purpose also."

Having resolved thus in his mind, Vahuka, sorrowfully replied unto king Rituparna, with joined palms: "O monarch, I bow to thy behest. I can reach the city of the Vidarbhas within a single day."

Vahuka went to the stables and examined the horses. After careful scrutiny and deliberation, he selected some steeds that were lean-fleshed, yet strong and capable of a long journey, of high breed yet docile, free from inauspicious marks, of wide nostrils and swelling cheeks, free from faults as regards the ten hairy curls, born in Sindhu, and fleet as the winds.

Seeing those horses, the king said somewhat angrily: "How can these horses, who seem weak in strength and breath, carry us? And how shall we be able to go this long way by help of these?"

Vahuka replied: "Each of these horses bears one curl on his forehead, two on his temples, four on his sides, four on his chest, and one on his back. Without doubt, these steeds will be able to go to the country of the Vidarbhas."

The skillful Nala yoked upon the car four excellent steeds of good breed that were, besides, docile and fleet. King Rituparna immediately mounted upon the car, when those best of horses fell down upon the ground on their knees. Nala began to soothe the horses endued with energy and strength, and raised them up by the reins. Seating the other charioteer, Varshneya, on the car too, he prepared to set out with great speed.

Those best of steeds, duly urged by Vahuka, rose into the sky, confounding the other occupants of the vehicle. The blessed king of Ayodhya was exceedingly amazed and pleased. Varshneya, no mean charioteer himself, reflected upon Vahuka's skill in guiding the horses and wondered. Is he Matali, the charioteer of the king of the celestials? Or, hath Salihotra, versed in the science of horses, taken this form? Or, is it king Nala, the reducer of hostile towns, that hath come here?