Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/80

74 snake reared its head and struck at Nala, biting him in the heel. As it bit him it assumed once more the form in which Nala had first seen it. Nala turned towards the snake in anger. But it said in a soothing voice, "Do not fear, Nishada King, you will suffer no harm from my bite. But an enemy has possessed you and my poison will torture him until it forces him to leave your body and to torment you no more. My advice to you now is that you should go to Ayodhya, the city of King Rituparna, and teach him your skill in horses and in driving chariots, and learn from him in return his skill as a dicer. For in dicing he has no equal in all the land of the Aryas. King Rituparna will befriend you, and through his help you will recover your wife and your son and your daughter. So do not be downcast with grief. And when you wish to look like your former self, put on these two pieces of cloth and let your thoughts rest on me." With these words the snake king gave Nala two pieces of rich cloth. Then, moving away swiftly through the ferns and grass, he vanished from the sight of his companion. But King Nala took the snake king's advice and bent his steps towards Ayodhya, reaching it on the tenth day. Then he asked to see King Rituparna and in due time King Rituparna gave him audience. Nala bowed humbly before King Rituparna. "O King," he said, "I am called Vahuka and I am most skilful in judging and in managing horses and especially in driving chariots. I am also a skilled accountant, and I have no equal as a cook. Take me, therefore, I pray you, into the royal service."

Now King Rituparna desired a skilful charioteer above all things, so he was pleased at Nala's words. "O Vahuka!" he cried, "I take you into my service,