ted by a sacred promise--to the everlasting gods;
Thus engaged to plead for others--for myself I may not plead.
This my duty; yet hereafter--come I on my own behalf,
Then I'll plead mine own cause boldly--weigh it, beauteous, in thy thought."
Damayanti smiled serenely,--and with tear-impeded speech,
Uttered brokenly and slowly--thus to royal Nala spake:--
"Yet I see a way of refuge--'tis a blameless way, O king;
Whence no sin to thee, O raja,--may by any chance arise.
Thou, O noblest of all mortals--and the gods by Indra led,
Come and enter in together--where the Swayembara meets;
Then will I, before the presence--of the guardians of the world,
Name thee, lord of men! my husband--nor to thee may blame accrue."
By the maiden of Vidarbha--royal Nala thus addressed,
Back again returned, where waited--eager, the expecting gods.
Him, the guardians of the world, the mighty--ere he yet drew near, beheld,
Him they saw, and bade him instant--all his tidings to unfold--
"Was she seen of thee, O monarch--Damayanti with soft smile?
Spake she of us all? what said she?--tell, O blameless lord of earth."

NALA _spake_.

To the bower of Damayanti--on your solemn mission sent,
Entered I the lofty portal--by the aged warders watched;
Mortal eye might not behold me--there as swift I entered in;
None save that fair raja's daughter--through your all prevailing power.
And her virgin handmaids, saw I--and by them in turn was seen;
And they all in mute amazement--gazed upon me as I stood.
I described your godlike presence--but the maid with beauteous face
Chooses me, bereft of reason--O most excellent of gods!
Thus she spake, that maiden princess,--"Let the gods together come,
Come with thee, Oh king of mortals,--where the Swayembara meets;
There will I, before their presence--choose thee, raja, for my lord.
So to thee, O strong armed warrior--may no blame, no fault ensue."
Thus it was, even as I tell you--word for word did it befall.
Plainly have I spoke, the judgment--rests with you, of gods the chief!

BOOK V.

Came the day of happy omen[42]--moonday meet, and moment apt;
Bhima to the Swayembara--summoned all the lords of earth.
One and all, upon the instant--rose th' enamoured lords of earth,
Suitors all to Damayanti--in their loving haste they came.
They, the court with golden c