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قراءة كتاب Nala and Damayanti and Other Poems
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اللغة: English
الصفحة رقم: 5
hither—come for Damayanti's love.
Indra I, and yon is Agni,—and the king of waters there—
Slayer he of mortal bodies,—Yama, too, is here, O king!
Thou, O Nala, of our coming,—must to Damayanti tell:
Thee to see, the world's dread guardians—Indra and the rest came down,
Indra, Agni, Varun, Yama,—each to seek thine hand are come.
One of these celestial beings,—choose, O maiden, for thy lord."
Nala, thus addressed by Indra—with his folded hands replied:
"Thus with one accord commanding—on this mission send not me.
How can man, himself enamoured—for another plead his cause?
Spare me then, ye gods, in mercy—this unwelcome service, spare."
The Gods spake.
"I will do your bidding freely—thus thou'st said, Nishadha's king;
Wilt thou now belie thy promise?—Nala, go, nor more delay."
By the gods adjured so sternly—thus rejoined Nishadha's king—
"Strictly guarded is yon palace—how may I find entrance there?"
"Thou shalt enter;" thus did Indra—to the unwilling king reply.
In the bower of Damayanti—as they spake, king Nala stood.
There he saw Vidarbha's maiden—girt with all her virgin bands;
In her glowing beauty shining—all excelling in her form;
Every limb in smooth proportion—slender waist and lovely eyes;
Even the moon's soft gleam disdaining—in her own o'erpowering light.
As he gazed, his love grew warmer—to the softly smiling maid,
Yet to keep his truth, his duty—all his passion he suppressed.
Then Nishadha's king beholding—all those maids with beauteous limbs
From their seats sprang up in wonder—at his matchless form amazed.
In their rapture to king Nala—all admiring, homage paid;
Yet, not venturing to accost him,—in their secret souls adored.
"Oh the beauty! oh the splendour!—oh the mighty hero's strength!
Who is he, or God, or Yaksha—or Gandharba may he be."
Not one single word to utter,—dared that fair-limbed maiden band;
All struck dumb before his beauty—in their bashful silence stood.
Smiling, first, upon the monarch—as on her he gently smiled,
Damayanti, in her wonder—to the hero Nala spake:—
"Who art thou of form so beauteous—thou that wakenest all my love;
Cam'st thou here like an immortal—I would know thee, sinless chief.
How hast entered in our palace?—how hast entered all unseen?
Watchful are our chamber wardens—stern the mandate of the king."
By the maiden of Vidarbha—Nala thus addressed, replied:—
"Know, O loveliest, I am Nala—here the messenger of gods,
Gods desirous to possess thee;—one of these, the lord of heaven
Indra, Agni, Varun, Yama,—choose thou, princess, for thy lord.
Through their power, their power almighty—I have entered here unseen;
As I entered in thy chamber—none hath seen, and none might stay.
This, the object of my mission,—fairest, from the highest gods,
Thou hast heard me, noble princess—even as thou wilt, decide."
Wilt thou now belie thy promise?—Nala, go, nor more delay."
By the gods adjured so sternly—thus rejoined Nishadha's king—
"Strictly guarded is yon palace—how may I find entrance there?"
"Thou shalt enter;" thus did Indra—to the unwilling king reply.
In the bower of Damayanti—as they spake, king Nala stood.
There he saw Vidarbha's maiden—girt with all her virgin bands;
In her glowing beauty shining—all excelling in her form;
Every limb in smooth proportion—slender waist and lovely eyes;
Even the moon's soft gleam disdaining—in her own o'erpowering light.
As he gazed, his love grew warmer—to the softly smiling maid,
Yet to keep his truth, his duty—all his passion he suppressed.
Then Nishadha's king beholding—all those maids with beauteous limbs
From their seats sprang up in wonder—at his matchless form amazed.
In their rapture to king Nala—all admiring, homage paid;
Yet, not venturing to accost him,—in their secret souls adored.
"Oh the beauty! oh the splendour!—oh the mighty hero's strength!
Who is he, or God, or Yaksha—or Gandharba may he be."
Not one single word to utter,—dared that fair-limbed maiden band;
All struck dumb before his beauty—in their bashful silence stood.
Smiling, first, upon the monarch—as on her he gently smiled,
Damayanti, in her wonder—to the hero Nala spake:—
"Who art thou of form so beauteous—thou that wakenest all my love;
Cam'st thou here like an immortal—I would know thee, sinless chief.
How hast entered in our palace?—how hast entered all unseen?
Watchful are our chamber wardens—stern the mandate of the king."
By the maiden of Vidarbha—Nala thus addressed, replied:—
"Know, O loveliest, I am Nala—here the messenger of gods,
Gods desirous to possess thee;—one of these, the lord of heaven
Indra, Agni, Varun, Yama,—choose thou, princess, for thy lord.
Through their power, their power almighty—I have entered here unseen;
As I entered in thy chamber—none hath seen, and none might stay.
This, the object of my mission,—fairest, from the highest gods,
Thou hast heard me, noble princess—even as thou wilt, decide."
BOOK IV.
To the gods performed her homage—smiled she, and to Nala spake:—
"Pledge to me thy faith,[35] O raja—how that faith, may I requite?
I myself, and whatsoever—in the world I have, is thine
In full trust is thine[36]—O grant me—in thy turn thy love, O king!
Tis the swan's enamouring language—that hath kindled all my soul.
Only for thy sake, O hero—are the assembled rajas met.
But if thou mine homage scornest—scornest me, all honoured king,
Poison for thy sake, fire, water,—the vile noose will I endure."[37]
So, when spake Vidarbha's maiden—Nala answered thus, and said:—
"With the world's dread guardians present—wilt thou mortal husband choose?
We with them, the world's creators—with these mighty lords compared,
Lowlier than the dust they tread on—raise to them thy loftier mind.
Man the gods displeasing, hastens—to inevitable death—
Fair limbed! from that fate preserve me—choose the all excelling gods.
Robes by earthly dust unsullied—crowns of amaranthine flowers,
Every bright celestial glory—wedded to the gods, enjoy.
He, who all the world compressing[38]—with devouring might consumes,
Sovereign of the gods, Hutása,—where is she who would not wed?
He, in awe of whose dread sceptre[39]—all the assembled hosts of men,
Cultivate eternal justice—where is she who would not wed?
Him the all-righteous, lofty minded,—slayer of the infernal host,[40]
Of all gods, the mighty monarch,—who is she that would not wed?
Nor let trembling doubt arrest thee—in thy mind if thou couldst choose.[41]
Varuna, amongst earth's guardians,—hear the language of a friend."
To the sovereign
"Pledge to me thy faith,[35] O raja—how that faith, may I requite?
I myself, and whatsoever—in the world I have, is thine
In full trust is thine[36]—O grant me—in thy turn thy love, O king!
Tis the swan's enamouring language—that hath kindled all my soul.
Only for thy sake, O hero—are the assembled rajas met.
But if thou mine homage scornest—scornest me, all honoured king,
Poison for thy sake, fire, water,—the vile noose will I endure."[37]
So, when spake Vidarbha's maiden—Nala answered thus, and said:—
"With the world's dread guardians present—wilt thou mortal husband choose?
We with them, the world's creators—with these mighty lords compared,
Lowlier than the dust they tread on—raise to them thy loftier mind.
Man the gods displeasing, hastens—to inevitable death—
Fair limbed! from that fate preserve me—choose the all excelling gods.
Robes by earthly dust unsullied—crowns of amaranthine flowers,
Every bright celestial glory—wedded to the gods, enjoy.
He, who all the world compressing[38]—with devouring might consumes,
Sovereign of the gods, Hutása,—where is she who would not wed?
He, in awe of whose dread sceptre[39]—all the assembled hosts of men,
Cultivate eternal justice—where is she who would not wed?
Him the all-righteous, lofty minded,—slayer of the infernal host,[40]
Of all gods, the mighty monarch,—who is she that would not wed?
Nor let trembling doubt arrest thee—in thy mind if thou couldst choose.[41]
Varuna, amongst earth's guardians,—hear the language of a friend."
To the sovereign