Nalopakhyana Parva — Nala's beholding his Children

Brihadashva said : Having heard all these, Damayanti became afflicted with sorrow; and, suspecting that le must be Nala, addressed Keshini, saying,

"O Keshini, do you go again and scrutinize the conduct of Bahuka; and keeping yourself in silence at his side, behold all his bevaviours.

O beautiful one, find out the cause, whenever he does anything; and marks well whenever he performs anything skillful.

O Keshini, whenever he may ask fire or water, you will not be in a hurry to give it; and thus obstruct him.

"Seeing all these, do you let me know his conduct, as also what human or super-human will be seen in Bahuka. Do you also report to me what else you will see in him."

Thus spoken by Damayanti, Keshini went away. Having learnt the behaviours of that person, who was versed in the knowledge of horses, Keshini returned.

She reported to Damayanti the whole history, mentioning what human superhuman she saw in Bahuka.

Keshini said: O Damayanti, I have never heard or seen before any person of his character, having so great a 'power over the elements.'

Whenever he comes to a narrow hole, he never stoops low; rather the hole opens wide at his touch; and he easily passes through it.

Thus a small hole grows largely wide at his coming. There were sent by the king (Bhima) various sorts of food, as also flesh of many animals, for Rituparna. There were also many vessels sent for washing the flesh.

Those vessels, whenever looked at by him (Bahuka), became at once filled with water. Thereupon Bahuka washed them and set himself to cooking. Then again he grasped a handful of grass and held it to the sun, where suddenly fire blazed up.

Beholding that greatest wonder, I was struck with astonishment and have come hither. Also another great wonder was marked by me in him.

O beautiful one, although he touched fire, still he was not burnt. The water, falling at his command, flowed rapidly.

I have marked another wonder, which was extraordinarily great, that he took some flowers in his hands and pressed them slowly. Although these flowers were pressed by him with the hands, yet they, instead of losing their original forms, became more fragrant and beautiful than before. Observing those marks of wonder, I have hastily come here.

Brihadashva said : Having heard of those wonderful behaviours of that righteous one and having known him by his acts, Damayanti considered that Nala was obtained.

Again, by these marks suspecting Bahuka to be her husband, Damayanti wept and again addressed Keshini in a sweet speech, "O handsome one, do you go again and fetch here from the kitchen, without the knowledge of Bahuka, some meat cooked by him." The beneficent lady instantly went to Bahuka; and immediately returned, taking some hot meat therefrom.

O descendant of the Kuru race, thereupon Keshini gave the meat to Damayanti, who had, during the past days, very often tasted meat boiled by Nala.

Thus tasting the meat brought by her female servant, she decided the charioteer to be Nala himself; and, inuch aggrieved, she wept bitterly. Overtaken by great calamity, she then washed her face. O Bharata, thereafter she sent her two children with Keshini. Bahuka recognised Indrasena with her brother. Thereupon the monarch (in the guise of Bahuka) came up speedily and, embracing his children, placed them on his lap. Then again, embracing his children, who were like the children of the celestials, Bahuka became filled with the greatest misery and wept bitterly in a soft voice. Thus having cxprcsscd his mental derangement over and over again, the prince of the Nishadhas left the children all on a sudden and spoke Keshini there words,

"O beauteous one, these twins are like iny own children. Hence seeing them suddenly, I shed tears.

If you come to me very often, people may think evil; because we are men of other country. So, O handsome one, do you go away hence with ease."