Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/89

Rh dishes in the past, recognized the mode of cooking as King Nala's.

Then she knew that Vahuka must in spite of his disguise be none other than King Nala. But she imposed yet another test on him. "O Keshini," she said, "take my son Indrasena and his sister to Vahuka and see whether he recognizes them." Keshini did as she was ordered, and King Nala on seeing them burst into tears. "Fair serving maid," he said, "the prince and princess resemble my own children so closely that I could not keep from weeping." Keshini told his words and conduct to Queen Damayanti. And she, now certain that Vahuka was her beloved, resolved to meet him. She went to her mother the queen of Vidarbha and said, "King Rituparna's charioteer is none other than my husband Nala. I wish to meet him. Therefore ask my father King Bhima's permission for my husband to meet me in the palace or for me to go to him in the stables, where he looks after King Rituparna's horses." The queen asked leave of King Bhima and the latter agreed that King Nala might enter Damayanti's apartments.

Damayanti matted her hair and covered her head with dust and clay to meet him. When King Nala entered she addressed him thus, "O Vahuka, what do you think of a man who could forsake his wife in the forest, when she had done him no evil, but had borne him children? Yet that was what King Nala did; he who had held my hand before the fire and in the presence of the Immortals. Tell me, O Vahuka, what do you think of King Nala's conduct?" King Nala's eyes filled with tears of sorrow and shame. "My queen, I am guiltless. It was not I but the evil god Kali who lost me my kingdom.