Of the food prepared by Nala--well the flavour did she know;
Tasting it she shrieked in transport--"Nala is yon charioteer."
Trying then a new emotion--of her mouth ablution made:[132]
She her pair of infant children--with Kesinia sent to him.
Soon as he young Indrasena--and her little brother saw,
Up he sprang, his arms wound round them--to his bosom folding both;
When he gazed upon the children--like the children of the gods,
All his heart o'erflowed with pity--and unwilling tears broke forth.
Yet Nishadha's lord perceiving--she his strong emotion marked,
From his hold released the children--to Kesinia speaking thus:
"Oh! so like mine own twin children--was yon lovely infant pair,
Seeing them thus unexpected--have I broken out in tears:
If so oft thou comest hither--men some evil will suspect,
We within this land are strangers--beauteous maiden, part in peace."

BOOK XXIV.

Seeing the profound emotion--of that wisest king of men,
Passing back in haste, Kesinia--told to Damayanti all:
Then again did Damayanti--mission to Kesinia give,
To approach her royal mother--in her haste her lord to see.
"Vahuca we've watched most closely--Nala we suspect him still;
Only from his form we doubt him--this myself would fain behold.
Cause him enter here, my mother--to my wishes condescend;
Known or unknown to my father--let it be decided now."
By that handmaid thus accosted--then the queen to Bhima told
All his daughter's secret counsel--and the raja gave assent.
Instant from her sire the princess--from her mother leave obtained,
Bade them make king Nala enter--in the chamber where she dwelt.
Sudden as he gazed upon her--upon Damayanti gazed,
Nala, he was seized with anguish--and with tears his eyes o'erflowed.
And when Damayanti gazed on--Nala, thus approaching near,
With an agonizing sorrow--was the noble lady seized.
Clad, then, in a scarlet mantle--hair dishevelled, mire-defiled,[133]
Unto Vahuca this language--Damayanti thus addressed:
"Vahuca beheld'st thou ever--an upright and noble man,
Who departed and abandoned--in the wood, his sleeping wife?
The beloved wife, and blameless--in the wild wood, worn with grief?
Who was he who thus forsook her?--who but Nala, king of men?
To the lord of earth, from folly--what offence can I have given?
That he fled, within the fores