Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/84

78 him, especially if his mind is clouded by calamity.' Hearing these words I left the city of Ayodhya and with all speed returned to tell you."

Damayanti, on hearing Parnada's story, knew that Vahuka must be her husband King Nala, so she hastened to her mother the queen and said, "O my mother, I beg you to send Sudeva to the court of King Rituparna to see if King Nala is there. But do not let my father King Bhima know that I have sent him." The queen consented, and sent for Sudeva; and Damayanti said to him. "Go as swiftly as you can to Ayodhya the city of King Rituparna and say to the king, 'My lord King, hasten to Vidarbha. For Damayanti, daughter of King Bhima is once more about to hold a Swayamwara. And all the Aryan heroes are thronging to it. For her husband King Nala has fled away and no one knows whether he is alive or dead.'"

Sudeva bowed and departed. Soon he reached the city of Ayodhya and there gave Damayanti's message to King Rituparna. The king at once decided to go to Vidarbha, for the fame of Damayanti's beauty had spread over all the earth. Immediately he bade Vahuka harness the fastest horses in his stables that he might hurry with all speed to the Swayamwara of Queen Damayanti. King Nala's heart was heavy when he heard of Damayanti's Swayamwara. "The fault is mine," he said to himself: "I forfeited her love by forsaking her. But if I go to Vidarbha she will perhaps remember me again. And if not, still I shall once more feast my eyes on her beauty." But aloud he said, "If you wish it, O King, I will drive you to Vidarbha in a single day." So saying, he went to the royal stables and chose horses from Sind, slight, strong and enduring